Thing 1 has been off at EFY this entire week. When I dropped her off on Monday in Provo, I felt the tiniest stirrings of jealousy. I would have loved to have done something like that when I was a teen, and further would love to do something like that as an adult.

Oh wait. I do. It's call Women's Conference. Never mind.

I have not heard one thing from her this entire week. No texts. No phone calls. Nothing. I am assuming that is because she is having the time of her life and her family is in the furthest reaches of her mind. As it should be. I am excited to see her tomorrow and hear all about her adventures.

My friend was telling me how she had sent her child off to a Lutheran Youth camp, and you can get live feed of the services. EFY is sort of like that, minus the live feed, I told her. Although, I would give my eye teeth to have a live feed to see what they were experiencing. I am sure it is incredible! Dances, service projects, concerts, games, pizza, classes, boys, testimony sharing/building... I would pay every single penny again. I know it will be worth the investment!

My sister was a counselor, and she told me that the counselors take their job incredibly serious. They pray for each teen they are over, specifically, by name. I have been praying too, and I know God will touch her in the way she needs to be.

*****
Thing 2 & Thing 3 have had 2 sleep-overs with cousins this past week, and I have to say that I remember why I was such a great, organized, clean Mommy when I only had 1 or 2 children. There were fewer people to take care of, and fewer people to clean up after. My house has stayed relatively clean this week, and that's because there has only been Moxie and I around during the day to mess it up.

I have been able to stay on top of the laundry, the dishes and the bed making. I don't feel myself irritated because every single room has enormous amounts of crap littering every doorway. Which leads me nicely into my next random thought: I will be glad when school starts simply because I will be able to stay on top of stuff easier when we are back to a normal schedule.

*****
I think I may have over extended myself this next school year. I am on the PTA board for both the Elementary school and the Junior High School. I am the moron person in charge of all the media/pr/newsletters for the Elementary school, and I'm also the choir teacher--unpaid I might add.

At the Junior High, I was tricked coerced asked to chair the committee that runs the career day for the entire school. THE ENTIRE SCHOOL. Which means assemblies, and finding 45 people to come and speak about their professions, and all the coordinating. Oh the coordinating. It's the ENTIRE school, people.

Oy vay!

Someone told me a while back that I needed to get more involved. Because clearly, I had too much time on my hands if was able to run a house, AND blog. I should get "more involved with my church and the community".

Whatever.

When they turned around, I flipped them off.

Do you think that was rude?

*****
Moxie has no hair. Well, she has hair, but not enough to fix. Only, she wants her hair fixed. She brings me barrette after barrette to put in her hair. But, it falls out as soon as I take my hand off it. Not being able to wear her barrette really frustrates her.

This has been our morning:

Moxie: {pound pound pounding on my arm} Mama! {then hands me the barrette}

Me: You want your hair fixed? (she nods her head) OK.

Moxie: Mama! {pound pound pounding on my arm, handing me another barrette}

Me: You want your hair fixed again? (she nods head) OK. It's going to fall out. (shakes her head no.)

Moxie: MAMA! {POUNDING on my arm, throws the barrette at me}

Sigh.

Rinse and repeat, all day long. Oh the woes of being bald-ish.

*****

Now she is sitting behind me at my computer desk, singing to her baby doll. What a wonderful way to blog!

*****
It's my 20 year high school reunion coming up in the next month. I have vacillated back and forth as to whether or not I wanted to attend. I will admit, that I am curious to see everyone. But, with the advent of Facebook, I have been able to see who I want to see, talk with those I have wanted to talk with and reconnect. I honestly see no reason to attend the event.

I talked to one of my friends that graduated a year before me, and she told me that while she did attend her 20 year, she wished she hadn't. She told me it was the same as it had always been. People claim to change, but they fall back into their old roles with ease.

I just don't think I want to travel down that road.

I know there are a few people who read my blog that I went to high school with, and I mean no offense. I hope none is taken.

Don't get me wrong, I loved high school. For the most part. But, I am different than who I was, and I like who I am. However, I think people have a hard time seeing the new person. All they see is "who you used to be". Does any of this even make sense?

*****
Have a great weekend! Make sure to comment on the MckLinky, if you post your randomness with tunes! I wanna make fun of see what you listen to!

1. Stay (Wasting Time- Live) - Dave Matthews Band
2. Realize - Colbie Caillat
3. Arms of A Woman - Amos Lee
4. Hide & Seek - Imogen Heap
5. Flying Horses (Live) - Dispatch
6. That Feel - Tom Waits
7. Rewrite - Sia
8. The Real Thing - Phil Lesh & Friends
9. Vienna (live) - The Fray
10. The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson

Bonus: First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes

I was about 10 when we first got cable. I remember it vividly... all of those channels to choose from. All of those different places that the television was coming from, and it wasn't from where I was living. The whole world had suddenly opened up to me, and I wanted to see every. single. inch. of it before I died.

I would faithfully watch the Chicago WGN 9 news every night before bed (if you watch it now, some of the anchors ARE THE SAME!). I would anxiously wait to see the sights of the city... vowing to myself that someday--SOMEDAY-- I would live there. The city was fascinating to me. It was so big, and had so many things to do and see... So many opportunities!

I just knew that Chicago was the place were I was meant to be.

Later in life when I was actually able to live there? Well, it was a dream come true. Jefe seems to remember it differently. But, I was ecstatic to finally be fulfilling one of my hearts desires!

Well, maybe not the actual ghetto that we were living in, or the small town that had NOTHING to do but go to Wal-Mart... but it was the idea. I was there and Chicago was finally within my grasp.

I had accomplished something on my silly list of "things to do before I die". I was living in Chicago... A Suburb... But close enough that I could watch the news everyday, and actually know the places they were talking about. I could hop on the train whenever I wanted or drive into city and feel the pulse that is a living, breathing Chicago.

I must be honest here now. It broke my heart to leave Chicago. It really did. My sweet Jefe wanted to bring us all "home". He wanted the kids to be raised knowing their extended family. I understand all of that, and actually do see the value in it. He wanted the kids to be raised with more "choices" for dating than what was being presented to them.

I get it.

My parents thought that it was Jefe that didn't want to move "home". I would try to tell them that as much as I love the mountains, I was actually living where I had always dreamed of as a child. I was living my version of the dream.

I know that it will probably hurt my parents feelings to realize that I was the one who didn't want to leave Chicago. But, it's true. I didn't. If I didn't have children, I can truthfully say that I probably would never have moved back to Utah. I was very happy there. It was my dream city.

I don't think that even Jefe knew that. I mean he knew that I didn't want to move, and that he brought me back to Utah kicking and screaming...but I don't think that he knew as child, I dreamed of living in Chicago.

I remember the first time we drove through the city. We had flown out there to find a place to live while he was going to law school. Jefe drove us into Chicago, and then I drove us around.

I remember the exact place that he pulled over so that I could drive. I remember driving past County Hospital (Yes. THE County Hospital in the T.V. show ER) and thinking "Oh my gosh! I am finally here! I have arrived!"

Every time Jefe would go into the city, I was jealous. It sounds crazy, I know. But, it was me who had wanted to move to Chicago. I pushed, and plotted. It was me who loved that city. He was the lucky little booger that got to go there every freaking day. Jefe will tell you how much it sucked, but he was living my dream of working in Chicago... and I lived it through him.

I am a freak. I know.

But, I really love Chicago.

I have been feeling "homesick" lately. I miss that vibrant city of diversity. I miss the weather (yes. I know its humid. so?). I miss my friends, my church and my house. I recently found out that my house has been abandoned. My beautiful home, where I brought my babies to, is sitting there vacant and unloved.

Sometimes I lay awake at night, plotting how I can return to the state that I love so much. I feel like it is home. I may have been raised elsewhere, but Illinois is my home. It's where I 'grew up'. It's where I learned how to love; how to forgive; how to serve and how to be ME.

I am just grateful that I was able to live that dream. Thank you Jefe.

Jefe is a good man, even if he does hate Chicago. I still love it.

And I still love him.

I was able to buy a size 10 pant at Kohls yesterday. I was pretty stoked! They make my bum look way cute, if I do say so myself! I was pretty excited to wear them on my shopping trip today. I wore my new hip jeans, my rockin' new hoodie and my uber high heeled boots. I only had 1 store to go to... and I'm a get-in-get-out kind of girl-- so I figured my boots would be fun. Who knows, maybe I would even like being all girlie.

I set out on my adventure... and do you know what I forgot to do when I bought my awesome size 10 pants? I forgot to sit down in them. Don't laugh! You know you do it too... you try on the pants, but you have to sit down in them just to make sure they don't make your eyes pop out.

Umm. Yeah.

I forgot to do that. Do you know how long of a drive 7 miles is when you are wearing pants that make your eyes want to pop right out of your head? Pretty dang long. I had to undo not only the 2 buttons, but the zipper too... or else I may have puked up my spleen. I should have just turned around right then, but I reasoned with myself that I only had 1 store, so I should just endure and get the jaunt over with.

After the 3rd store, my feet were starting to hurt. Bad. Picture me, hobbling through Wal-mart--looking for that coveted gift-- with sore feet, my buttons AND zipper undone on my pants because now I just couldn't even breathe with the dang pants on. I had my tank and shirt pulled WAY down so as to not expose myself and Moxie decided that now, right now! In the middle of Wal-mart, NOW DAMMIT! would be a good time to have her first melt down.

Yeah. Good times.

Then I smell her. Boy Howdy did she ever stink. I think there was a small explosion. For reals. I riffle through my bag, with screaming baby, throbbing feet and too tight, undone pants only to realize-- I HAVE NO DIAPERS OR WIPES!

Yeah.

The good times just keep on a rollin'!

I hobble over to the baby isle, pick up a pack of diapers, wipes, and some formula, cause lets face it... the kid was starving too. Mother of year? Yeah. I think not.

I hobble down to the restroom area, open up the diapers and then proceed to the family restroom. I knock on the door, only to hear a man, yes a MAN! yell out occupied. A man? In the family bathroom? Are you kidding me? So I turned around and went into the regular bathroom. I set us up to change her pants and my mind starts wandering...

"Man. My feet hurt. These pants did NOT feel this tight in the store. How did they trick me like that? I wonder if my kids would freak out if I made them eat Lasagna for dinner? I need a diet coke. I'm totally getting a diet coke after this. And chocolate. Oh. I need to pee too. Yeah. After I finish this, I'm totally going to pee. Where will I put Moxie? I hope she won't crawl under the stall. Maybe if I hurry? . . . "

That's when out of the corner of my eye I see a dude walk in the bathroom, take one look at me and promptly turn around. I snickered to myself, because what a dork-wad that he went in the wrong bathroom! Can't he read? I keep on spacing off when I notice another, different dude walk into the bathroom and promptly turn around and walk out.


HA HA HA HA!

What complete DORK WADS!
I mean really?!
How hard is it to just look at the picture?? For Pete's sake, Can't they read??
Good-freaking-grief! My feet hurt and I can't breathe!
Go in the right bathroom, will ya? You dumb dorky dudes!

I'm still spacing, when a THIRD dude walks in, walks out but then he does something totally different... HE WALKS BACK IN!
I look at him, a little horrified, as we walks behind me (unbuttoning his pants, I might add) and says: "Ummm. Lady? I think you are in the wrong bathroom."

Suddenly the lights come on in my brain, and I realize that the sinks I had been staring at in the mirrors? Ummm. Yeah. They were in fact NOT sinks, but urinals.

URINALS!

For the love of all that's holy, they were URINALS! In the boys bathroom.

I quickly gathered up my stuff, and slithered across the hall to the GIRLS bathroom (and had to go past all the dudes that were outside waiting-- talking like a bunch of-- dare I say it? GIRLS!)

Then, as I am standing in the check-out line? Yeah. I look back, and who is in line behind me? The dude. The dude who pointed out just exactly WHERE I HAD BEEN....

Ummm. Yeah.

Who's the dork wad now?

Ummm. Me.
With my too tight pants, uber high-heeled boots, sore feet, wrong bathroom entering, sorry self. I AM the dork-wad.

Hear me roar.

Me: Well good morning Sunshine!

Thing 1: Mom. (extremely grumpy) There is a marching band in our back yard.

Me: (laughing) No there's not. You were dreaming.

Thing1: Yes there is Mom. I can hear it. It's really loud and they woke me up.

Me: (laughing because now she's pouting and scowling!) Really? You really think there is a marching band in our backyard? What are they doing? Practicing?

Thing1: I dunno. But they are banging on drums and blowing tubas. It's freaking annoying and I want to sleep.

Me: There is not a marching band in our backyard.

Thing 3: (running into the room) Mom! There's a marching band in our backyard!

Me: Oh for Google's sake (I totally borrowed that from Pensievity)! There is not a marching band in our backyard. You guys are hearing things.

Thing3: Nut-uh, Mom. There totally is! (cocking her head to one side) Hear it?

Me: (looking out the back window) Well I'll be damed! There is a marching band in our backyard.

The Diamond of Darkhold (The Ember Series, #4) by Jeanne DuPrau


My rating: 3 of 5 stars




The Diamond of Darkhold is the fourth book in the Ember Series. The book wraps up the series quite nicely, and ties it all up with a pretty bow.

It is slated for kids in grades 4th and up. I would not have a problem with my 5th grader reading it. It has great plot development(for kids) and opens up opportunities for excellent dialogue. There is one scene where a family butchers a sheep for food, but in all fairness the sheep was already dead (and people need to eat...).

Doon and Lina set off on an expedition back to Ember to solve the mystery of the mysterious book "For Ember" that they buy from roamer. They discover that their city has been taken over by a group of people, scavenging for food and other things. It surprises the kids at how much this really bothers them.

They are trying to find "something to help the people of Ember and Sparks" because finding food after the "end of the world" is quite difficult. What they find is a fantastic find and enables them to trade with other colonies for supplies. The "founders" were quite clever making this avaliable to The People of Ember, but my question is why did they think it would be a good idea to send them on a wild goose hunt? Couldn't they have come up with a better system so that the "knowledge" of the outside world wasn't lost?

The subject matter is handled tastefully and is not portrayed in a scary way at all.

I liked this book alright. My children really liked it. It's not as good as the City of Ember, but it works for kids and finishes up the series nicely.

Thing 2: Tomorrow is a holiday.

Me: It is? What holiday is it?

Thing 2: Pearl Harbor Day.

Me: (snorting) Pearl Harbor Day? What's that?

Thing 2: I dunno. Some holiday about Pearl Harbor. But, Dad stays home from work so it's cool!

Me: (laughing) No, silly. It's not Pearl Harbor Day tomorrow. It's Pioneer Day.

Thing 2: (blinks at me)

Me: I'm serious. It's not Pearl Harbor Day. It's Pioneer Day. There are Parades!

Thing 2 (A dog barks in the distance) still staring, but starting to shake his head 'No'

Me: Really. I'm not kidding. We celebrate Pioneers. Not the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (which happened in DECEMBER)

Thing 2: Mom. Stop it. It's Pearl Harbor Day. You can't trick me.

Me: I'm not. I'm totally serious. We celebrate the day the pioneers came into the valley. It's a big holiday in Utah.

Thing 2: That's the dumbest thing you have ever tried to tell me. Pioneer Day. As if.

Clearly, I am lacking in the teaching department.

*disclaimer: my children were born in Illinois, where they have Casimir Pulaski Day.*


*****

We had a great escape over here in Crazyland this past week. We inherited one duck, then it increased to three ducks. Then back down to two ducks, then one duck and now zero ducks.

Yup. Two escaped. Jumped right out of their bucket. The last one died of a broken, left behind heart. It was sad. There was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth over here. I have finally pulled myself together.

Jefe was even a little sad because he had visions of the ducks following us around everywhere we went. The kids were worried there wasn't a duck heaven. I assured them that not only was their a duck heaven, but there were little lakes for them to swim in too.

I hope I didn't lie.

*****

Make sure you check over HERE on Monday. There is going to be a pretty sweet giveaway.

Just sayin'.

*****
Thirty-one days until school starts. Not that I'm counting or anything. OK. I am. I like having my kids home, but I like having the schedule that school necessitates. I used to think Schedule, schmedule. But, now? I am a believer. I drank the kool-aide! (sorry Sher!) But its true.

I can't wait for school to start so we can get back to a regular schedule around here. Regular bedtimes, get up times... You know. Routine. Me likes me some routine!

*****

I was going through my draft folder last night, and I couldn't believe all the posts I have saved to draft. TONS of them. I start stuff, and then get sidetracked and never get back to finish them off. There's some funny stuff in there, if I do say so myself. I think once the whole schedule gets back to normal, I will finish off the draft folder.

I mean, I know you are dying to know about the time I mistook a condom for a piece of chocolate.

Yeah.

I thought so!

*****
It really is a state holiday over here in Crazyland. Everyone gets the day off... well, most everyone. The banks are closed, and there is no mail delivery. So, its a holiday.

We're being lazy bones. Laying around. Reading books. Typing on the computer. That sort of holiday regime. It's nice.

Thing 1 is painting the basement to earn some spending money for her big EFY adventure next week. I hope she has a fantabulous time. I'm incredibly excited and nervous for her!


1. Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal) - Fergie
2. You have Been Loved - Sia
3. Trouble (live) - Ray LaMontagne
4. When The Sand Runs Out - Rascal Flatts
5. Wonderwall - Ryan Adams
6. Photograph - Def Leppard
7. You Get What You Give - New Radicals
8. Hell Yeah - Montgomery Gentry
9. If Everyone Cared - Nickelback
10. Daydreamer - Adele

Bonus: Moment of Surrender - U2

Every summer I look for what I like to call "Beach Reads". Books that require very little thought, and yet are still entertaining. Finding books like these that are light on Sex has been hard, but Firefly Lane totally fit the bill!

There was some sex, but not descriptive and there was mild language (the f-bomb was dropped a few times). I would give it a solid PG-13 rating. It's light, it's fluff and its the perfect summer read.

It was a quick, light, easy read. At first, I had thought it was going to also be a predictable one as well. I was pleasantly surprised when there was a twist in the plot that I had not anticipated.

We follow two girls-- best friends-- on their journey through life. We see the pivotal moment when they met, and all the adventures that ensued because of their friendship. Each knows things about the other that no one else does... making them the truest definition of 'soul sisters'.

One of the main characters has set the goal to be a national news correspondent. While reading, I kept envisioning in my mind the current, various news anchors/TV hosts and wondered if this was what their life was like? Who wouldn't want all that fame, money and fortune? But, it turns out that what our mothers have taught us really is true. In the final analysis the only thing that matters is people and the relationships you make. No amount of money will ever replace feelings of loneliness. Family and friends are what bring you the most joy.

Kristin Hannah set this book in the pacific northwest. It was delightful to read about places I have seen and visited. I have a long standing love affair with the northwest, and it seems so does Ms.Hannah. I picked up another one of her books on a recent jaunt to the library. We will see if this next story is as entertaining as my first read of hers.

If you ever fall off the Sears Tower, just go real limp, because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will try to catch you because, hey, free dummy.
- Jack Handy, Deep Thoughts (SNL)

This week I turned into Holly Homemaker. Don't worry. It's not sticking. I got a hairbrained idea that I could sew. Which is rather funny, considering this post I did. All I can say is my sisters assured me that it would be easy-peasy and it would be not hard at all.

They lied.

The thing you have to know about my family is this: There is not one thing that my Mother cannot do. She sews like Vera Wang and cooks better than Julia Child. Clinton and Stacy would never kick her off their show and Trading Spaces would have nothing to trade with her.

My sisters all inherited her genes.

Me on the other hand? I am my Father's daughter. I'm a geek. I like computers, and cameras and Sci-Fi. So saying sewing and Motherboard would be something akin to an oxy moron.

My sisters and I went to a hip, upscale fabric store and I purchased enough fabric to make skirts for my girls. Five skirts to be exact. I'm not sure what I was thinking, other than my sister said it would be easy.

It took me two days to make one skirt.

Only four more to go. Thing 1 is requesting some for her EFY adventure that is happening the last week of July. I wonder if I can actually do this.

Ugh.

Holly Homemaker I am not.

*****

So, remember this post I did yesterday about my farm?

Yeah. My kids found baby ducks in our yard yesterday. They were trying to help the Mama Duck find her lost babies, but in the process they scared the Mama Duck away and one of the babies is now lost in our backyard. We did manage to rescue one, but now I have a real baby duck in my tub.

I'm a little stressed about it because it jumps out of the box we put it in and then runs and hides under the couch. A loose duck in your house is NOT a good thing. Just sayin'.

I found an IFA store near by that just happens to sell ducks (why?). So we're making the trek there to see if they can teach us how to care for this fowl thing. My kids are convinced they are keeping it. As a pet.

They have even named it Daisy. That is unless its a dude duck, then its Donald.

Oye Vay.

*****
The girls and Jefe are heading out a girls weekend camping expedition. Sounds perfectly lovely.

Thing 2 and I are heading out on a Harry Potter expedition.

Which sounds like more fun??

*****
I better run. The duck is quacking which is making the dog do a freak-out bark which is scaring Moxie and she is screaming.

Good times abound in Crazyland.

*****
I have a Mr. Linky up, but apparently he is still being a butt-head. So, if there is no Mr. Linky, make sure you link up in the comments!


1. Breathe Me - Sia
2. Better Days - Amos Lee
3. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - Vampire Weekend
4. The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson
5. What You Want - John Butler Trio
6. First Day Of My Life - Bright Eyes
7. Your Body Is A Wonderland - John Mayer
8. Til The Sun Turns Black - Ray LaMontagne
9. Cold Beverage - G. Love & Special Sauce
10. The Real Thing - Phil Lesh & Friends

Bonus: Hide & Seek - Imogen Heap

Mr. Linky is being a brat and won't come out to play... so if you're playing, make sure to link in the comments!

During my 38 years of life, I have seen some strange, strange things.

Like the time I lived in Washington, and there was a guy that had an enormous Afro, and his preferred method of transportation was roller skating. I passed him every single morning... roller skating to work. In an apple orchard.

Or the lady that used to spend her days walking up and down the street in front of my house when we were in college. That in and of itself isn't all that bizarre. What is bizarre is the fact that any time someone would pass her in their car, she would immediately squat and point. She would follow you with her finger until you were past, and then she would start walking again. It was sort of funny when school was starting because this road was a 4 lane road. She often times got stuck in front of my house, squatting and pointing.

Or how about the dude in the 7-11? That's not too weird, except that he was wearing a pink leotard and a fluffy pink tu-tu with pink ruffle socks. Yeah. That was weird, and it happened last night.

I got a hankering for a diet coke about 10-ish last night, and we had none in the house. I knew that tomorrow would be awful if I didn't have my version of my morning cup of Joe, so I headed out for the Sev.

I pulled into the parking lot next to the only other car there... a grey government vehicle with about 5 Barbie dolls lined up in the back window. I remember that because I did a double take to see if there were kids things in there. I mean, who puts Barbie dolls in the the back window of their car? Apparently the pink tu-tu man.

He was standing at the counter, fiddling with paper and looking around rather skittishly. I tried not to show any emotion when I realized the tu-tu wearer was not a woman, but in fact a man. I got my big gulp, headed over to get my 12 pack when the Sev worker hollered out to see if the tu-tu man needed anything more. He kept wandering around the store, looking around, and fiddling.

He finally left and the worker girl and I met at the big gulp machine and snickered and giggled. We were minding our own business, laughing about the tu-tu fairy man, when 4 teenage boys came running into the store yelling that a man in the parking lot was waving a gun around.

I sort of wigged out a little. Call me crazy, but my vehicle was parked next to the tu-tu fairy man. Remember? He had Barbies in his back window.What if he came back into the store and started shooting us??

I watched, and listened to the kids talk to the Sev worker. I saw that the tu-tu, gun brandishing fairy was pulling out of his parking stall, so I nonchalantly walk out to my car, and immediately start reciting his license plate... which by the way, was a government plate.

Niiiiiiccccceeee!

I wrote it all down, and the Sev worker called the police who promptly came and took our statements. They watched the surveillance video and told us they had the name and address of the pink wearing tu-tu fairy man.

It was frightening, exciting and strange. All at the same time.

Yup. That was definitely something you don't see every day.

1. I had a dream about your Dad (the neighbor). He was trying to get me to eat more burgers.

2. Google totally answers my questions faster than God does.

3. I don't need a compass. I have GPS in my uterus. (said to the 13 year old boy in my Sunday School Class)

4. This dress makes me look fu-gly. (said in RS. I was supposed to be portraying the Virgin Mary)

5. The weight-loss God hates me.

6. You are the best Chicken renters I have ever had!

7. H & H? WTH??

8. Between Husband and Wife is totally gay. With a capitol G.

9. I think I broke a bone in my face I laughed so hard!

10. If you touch your sister one more time, I'm gonna touch you. Just sayin'.

This movie was created by shooting 60.000 pictures, developing 9.600 prints and then shot over 1.800 pictures again. No post production! Incredibly talented people! Thanks to one of my favorite blogs, Photojojo for pointing it out!


ps. Did you see the interview of MomBabe and I on this blog? Pretty sweet, eh?

In Spain, attempting to obtain a chicken salad sandwich,you wind up with a dish whose name, when you look it up in your Spanish-English dictionary, turns out to mean: Eel with big abscess. - Dave Barry


I love Harry Potter! Big time. I cannot wait for Wednesday! Just to wet your appetite for all things Harry, take a gander at the trailer. I have been re-reading the books. I read book seven and now I'm re-reading six. When I read them (or listen to them), it's like my long, lost friend has come home.

Are you going?

*****

My good friend, Sher is a famous musician. Did you know that? Have you heard her music? Well, now you can. She did an interview with Greg Hansen, and her music is playing in the background. If you click over to her blog, she has a link to be able to download one of her songs for free. Go listen to her interview and hear her cute voice. Not to mention her awesome music!

*****

Whenever I am stressed, or have anxiety, I have recurring nightmares. They are a variation on a theme of: I'm getting called on a mission again, with the same people and to the same place. Only this time, I'm leaving behind my kids and Jefe. The other variation is that I'm getting ready to graduate from High school, only I realize that I had an Algebra class that I had sluffed the entire year. In order to graduate I have to go convince the teacher to not only pass me, but teach me in a 30 minute period all the crap I needed to know to pass the end of year test. I always wake up from that dream feeling like I'm having a panic attack.

Typically when those variations of the anxiety/stress dreams occur, I don't even realize that I'm on overload. It used to really annoy me when I would have my recurring nightmares. Then, I started realizing it was a gift. When my nightmares occur, I wake up and take an evaluation of what's going on in my life that might be causing me to feel anxiety or stress. Then, rather than ignoring it, I deal with it. Usually.

Why the nightmares then last night? Because I feel a ton of anxiety about my dog. It sounds stupid and ridiculous, even why I type that, but I am. I have to take her to the vet on Friday, and I have been putting it off for a very long time. You see, she's dying. I know this. My kids do not.

I don't think it's time to put her down yet, but it's getting closer. When that time does come I don't think I will have the strength to do it. Jefe will have to take her. So the anxiety I feel today is because I will finally learn all that is wrong with my crazy boxer dog. And it makes me sad... and a little scared. Jefe is gone to scout camp, so this is something I will have to do all alone. That scares me too.

*****

Which brings me to my next random thought... Death. I have a firm knowledge and belief in the afterlife, however, death still scares me. A lot. It's uncertain, unknown and something that you have to do all alone. I'm not an "all alone" kind of gal. I like people. Lots and lots of people and doing the whole death gig means that for a while, you'll be alone. That sort of scares me.

I am one that doesn't like change or doing things that I have no idea what to expect. If I can talk to someone, research it, understand it, then I have no fears... but this death gig is something where my usual tactics won't help. All I can do is pray. And sometimes, God isn't as easy to understand as Google is.

(no one is dying in my life. except the dog.)

*****

Have you grabbed your SAVE THE CHICKENS button yet? You should. You can totally join the revolution! It's the coolest revolution/movement around right now. The Chicken movement. Anyone whose anyone is touting those buttons. Are you cool?



<a target="_blank" href="http://wheredidiputthat.blogspot.com/2009/07/let-operation-save-chickens-commence.html"><br/><br/><img border="0" alt="Crazyland" src="http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj281/themotherboard/chicken.jpg" alt="the real save the chicken" /></a>
*****

Moxie loves to play in the shower while the water is running. It's actually quite the good little babysitter. I'll put her in the shower after I get out and she will play in there the whole time I get dressed for the day.

Yesterday I put her in there, and she was babbling away, laughing and having a great time. The big kids think she speaks Klingon because she just babbles. She even uses the voice inflections. It's hilarious!

So, while I was getting ready yesterday, she was in the shower playing when I started to hear banging on the shower door:"Mama! blah blah blah blah! Mama! blah blah blah blah! Mama!"
I went over to check what was going on, and when I opened the door, she did it again: "Mama! blah blah blah blah! (then she pointed)"

What did appear to my wandering eyes? Tiny little poop littering my shower.

Thanks Moxie.

*****

Thing 2 came home from a sleep-over with his cousin early this morning to get ready to go to scout camp. He crawled in bed with me and said: "I have a hard time sleeping when I go to sleep-overs. But, when I stay in hotels I don't have a hard time. It's weird." I asked him why he thought that was and he said: "It's cause I miss my family when I go to sleep-overs." I snuggled him tighter and told him I missed him too.

I have the sweetest boy on the planet!

*****
Have a great weekend. I'm going be mowing the lawn and building a fence around the chickens. Please save me from myself and leave a comment to the HOA as to why my cousin should keep her chickens.
Just remember this: The Chicken God hates me.
'Nuff said.




1. Voices Carry - Til Tuesday
2. Telling Them - Starsailor
3. Alison (Live) - Elvis Costello
4. When You Say Nothing At All - Alison Krauss
5. Crystal Village - Pete Yorn
6. Til Kingdom Come - Coldplay
7. The Sensual World - Kate Bush
8. Robot Rock/ Oh Yeah - Daft Punk
9. Filthy/Gorgeous - Scissor Sisters
10. Afternoon Delight - Will Ferrel

Bonus: Breathe Me - Sia *one of my new favorites! Thanks Barbaloot!*

Remember that post I did a while back about how asking me to tend your critters was a bad idea? A very, very bad idea? Then remember how my cousin asked me to tend her chickens and one of them died? Yeah. Bad, bad idea.

I am jinxed when it comes to tending chickens. Seriously. My cousin went out of town again this past week, and guess who was left tending the chickens? Thing 2 and Me. Guess what died while they were gone? Yup. Another chicken.

To say I am feeling a little skittish around the chickens is an understatement. The Chicken God hates me because whenever we are left in charge, he calls another one home. To chicken heaven.

Her neighbors are not fond of the chickens either. Apparently, lots of people are breaking their "HOA" rules, but guess which rule it is that's being enforced? Yup, you guessed it. The no chicken rule.

My cousin and her husband really love those smelly chickens. It has been one craptastic year and those chickens make their day a little brighter, a little happier. Besides, whats not to love about farm fresh eggs first thing in the morning?

They have named all the chickens too. All 20 something of them. Secretly, I think the chickens are kind of cool looking. I had no idea there were that many different kinds of chickens. The only troubling part is how do you tell the hen from the rooster? I mean, I know how... but how? Ack!

Jefe felt sorry for my cousin when they were telling him how chickens + neighbors + HOA = no chickens. They were being forced to get rid of them. They were sad, and it made Jefe's heart grow three sizes that day. For real. It must have. How else do you explain the 3 chicken coops that are now in my backyard?

Now, lest you think we were driving across town with 3 chicken coops strapped to the top of our car (which would have been funny), let me explain that my cousin lives right behind me. We had no idea each other lived where they did when we were purchasing our homes. It was just sheer dumb luck. And divine intervention.

We actually share backyards. Except for that pesky fence between our yards. So, rather than driving across town toting chickens, we drove around the block instead. With chicken coops on the back of a trailer. It actually was rather funny to see the people's faces driving by when they realized what was on the back of our trailer!



<a target="_blank" href="http://wheredidiputthat.blogspot.com/2009/07/let-operation-save-chickens-commence.html"><br/><br/><img border="0" alt="Crazyland" src="http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj281/themotherboard/chicken.jpg" alt="the real save the chicken" /></a>

Here's where Operation SAVE THE CHICKENS comes into play...

Remember? The chicken God hates me! They die-- I said DIE--when they are in my care! I don't want to kill the chickens that made Jefe's heart grow 3 sizes in one day! For Pete's sake! That would be an atrocity to END all atrocities.

SAVE THE CHICKENS from Motherboard!

Seriously.

SAVE THE CHICKENS.

I don't need any more Chicken's hanging over my head. I have way too much to talk to my maker about when I enter those pearly gates. I don't want to have to answer for more dead chickens. Besides, my cousin wants her chickens back. She loves them. And so do her kids and husband.

Take my nifty little button up there for your blog, and help me help myself by SAVING THE CHICKENS!

I'm thinking what with the Tens of Tens of us that read this blog, if we put the save the chicken buttons up on our blogs, we can start a movement. A SAVE THE CHICKENS movement. I've always wanted to be a part of a movement.

You will need to sign in the comments about how we need to save the chickens from motherboards jinx. Then maybe, just maybe, the HOA's hearts will grow 3 sizes in one day and they will be persuaded to let her keep her chickens.

Leave me a comment. Or four.

Tell me how the HOA needs to let my adorable cousin keep her chickens.

Or maybe how their hearts could grow 3 sizes in one day too-- if they just let her keep her chickens.

You could say in the comments "SAVE THE CHICKENS! Motherboard is a chicken killer."
Or not.

If nothing else, just say"Chickens are our friends. Not food." or "Chickens have feelings too."
Then I think I will print them all off and give them to my cousin to submit to her HOA.

Power to the people! (and the chickens!)

Let's band together people, for the common good of chickens everywhere, and SAVE THE CHICKENS. From Motherboard.

Don't take too long to think about it: fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. Make sure it's the first fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes. Tag 15 friends (or not), including me because I'm interested in seeing what books my friends chose.

(in no particular order)

1.The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

2. To Kill a Mockingbird: Lee Harper

3. Queen Bee's & Wanna Bee's - Rosalind Wiseman

4. The Road - Cormac McCarthy

5. Drowing Ruth - Christina Schwartz

6. The Bean Trees - Barbara Kingsolver

7. Harry Potter 1-7 (duh!) - J.K. Rowling

8. The City of Ember - Jeanne DePrau

9. Widow of the South - Robert Hicks

10. The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield

11. Wicked - Gregory McGuire

12. Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Picoult

13. Me Talk Pretty One Day - David Sedaris

14. Where The Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak

15. Elegant Gathering of White Snow - Kris Radish

While I was getting gas recently, I sent my son into the store to get us each a bottle of soda. He did as he was told, and came out and handed me the change. There was more change than we were supposed to have. It wasn't much, only like a dollar or two, but still.

I was in a hurry. Did I go back into the store? Or did I hurry on to my appointment, because we were already late?

I quizzed my son, while I finished pumping the gas. Did he think this was more money than he should have gotten back? He just looked at me and shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno Mom".

I ran into the store and told the woman that she had given my son too much change back, and I handed her back her dollar. She looked at me rather funny and said: "It's just a dollar. No one would have known", as she snatched the dollar from my hand.

"That's true. But, now my son knows that I am honest. That matters more to me than keeping a stupid dollar." and I turned and promptly left the store.

Thing 2 was interested as to why I did that. The lady didn't care, so why did I? "Because", I told him, "it is the right thing to do. Even when it is not popular. It's always the right choice to be honest. No matter what."

Later that week, I was shopping at Wal-mart... alone. That is something that rarely happens. Me + alone.

I had made all of my purchases and as I was loading them into the cart, I noticed a small $2.00 item that I had neglected to put on the shelf. I grabbed it and said "Oh. This slipped through. I need to pay for this too."

There was a rather long line behind me and the man whose turn was next, sighed and said quite loudly "It's just two bucks. They would have never known, nor would they miss it." Then, he spent the few seconds it took me to take care of that final transaction huffing and puffing.

He was right.

Wal-mart would have never missed my $2.00 Burts Bee's Wax that I was buying. It was a huge pain to pull my wallet out again, and I made everyone else wait. But, I would have missed that little piece of integrity that would have been lost had I not been honest.

What an interesting study it was for me to see that "just a couple of bucks" meant to several people it was OK to not be honest. Is it ever Ok to not be honest? I don't think so. What you trade is your integrity. That is something that is more important to me.

We were late for our appointment, my son and I, but he now knows that his mother is honest.

I made all the people behind me in the line at Wal-mart wait. But now I know that I am honest. Not because anyone else was watching, but because it was right.

See those awesome buttons up there? I actually have one in my sidebar. (click on the nifty button to get your own!) That's my blogging mantra for the summer. If I'm around, I'm around. If not, eh, who cares? There are things to do, people to see, books to read, a house to clean and kids to keep from killing each other. If I have subscribers/readers by the end of the summer, then that's the chocolate coating to my Sundae.

It's so easy to get caught up in blogging about life, that you can actually forget to live your life.

I'm going to live life this summer. (and blog about it later.)

*****
I bought my kids disposable cameras and we are heading into "the city" tomorrow to pretend we are tourists. We're going to ride the train, then hit all the touristy spots. Thing 1 is going to put her 3 years of French to use and pretend to be an exchange student from France. It should be fun. If we get any good pictures from the day, I'll be sure to pass them on your way.

*****
All of my cute teeny-bopper friends on Facebook have been making these album covers. I had seen it going around with my older friends, but chose to pass. However, I was bored yesterday and the computer was calling my name... so I answered.

This is what I made:

If you want to make one too, here are the instructions:

1. Go to wikipedia and hit random. The first article that comes up is the name of your band.
2. Go to random quotations and scroll to the very last quote. The last 4-5 words are going to be the name of your album.
3. Go to flickr, and hit explore last 7 days. The 3rd picture is your Album cover.
4. Photoshop, picassa or whatever other photo altering tool you have and put the band name and name of album on the photo (I used picassa because, even though I have photoshop its beyond me how to ues it...). It's fun. I promise.

*****

Speaking of Facebook, I had a really funny status update I was going to do. But, then I thought it was a little morbid, so I didn't use it.

"All we have to fear is fear itself. And Michael Jackson. But, he's dead, so I guess its just fear."


What do you think? Too much?

*****
There's a contest on the MMB for some Shelf Reliance stuff. You should pop on over there and enter to win. While you're there, nominate your favorite blog for the coveted blog spotlight.

*****
There are a few little bloggy get togethers going on this week. With this gal and her sister on Friday, and this gal on Saturday.

I'm going. Are you?

*****
We had a lovely 4th of July. The weather was perfect. We grilled, and had WAY more food than we had people. Isn't that what the 4th is about? Good food and left overs? Yes? Well, then it was a good day.

Now back to the grind stone.


1. Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day
2. Ol' 55 - Tom Waits
3. 19 Somethin' - Mark Wills
4. She's My Man - Scissor Sisters
5. Perfect Symmetry - Keane
6. Fix You - Coldplay
7. Hallelujah - Ryan Adams
8. Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkle *I wanted to name one of my babies this*
9. Heartbreak Even - Ani DeFranco
10. Is She Really Going Out With Him (Live) - Joe Jackson

Bonus: Something To Be Proud Of - Montgomery Gentry

Thing 3: Mom? Can we play beauty parlor?

Me: Sure. Get a brush

(Thing 3 brushes my hair)

Me: This is fun.

Thing3: Now I'm going to give you a pedicure. (starts rubbing my feet with lotion)

Me: (moans) Oh. That feels good! Let's play Beauty Parlor every day!

Thing 3: Mom, you need a 'real' pedicure.

Me: I do? Why?

Thing 3: Because your feet are nasty!

How do you argue with that?? I did what any of you would have done... I booked a 'real' pedicure with these guys.