Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Betty Beauty

I discovered a new blog.

It's a shopping blog, but it's FUN.

Here's the link.

One of the products I discovered: http://www.bettybeauty.com/

I DO NOT think my Betty will ever be ready for that.

Monday, February 26, 2007

Blog Challenge: Countdown (again)

10 Favorites

Color: Red
Food: Cereal
Month: February (it's my birthday month, and it's short!)
Song: Right now it's "Irreplaceable" by Beyonce
Movie: "Gone With the Wind" I watched it with Camryn yesterday (it was on TMC). She loved it. It was her first time seeing it.
Sport: Hands down it's Auburn University football.
Season: Spring
Day of the Week: Tuesday or Saturday (if there is nothing to do)
Ice Cream Flavor: Chocolate Raspberry Truffle
Time of Day: afternoon, after the kids come home

9 Currents

Mood: I'm good right now. Frustrated because Quinn is bored and getting into stuff because Lillian is asleep.
Clothes: Jeans and my ScrapShare t-shirt (in Texas orange)
Taste: I have no idea what I taste like right now. (ha!)
Desktop: I'm at the kitchen desk. Silestone countertop in Amarillo Palmira. Pretty clean. No clutter. Maybe it means the desktop picture on this computer. THAT is a picture of the IllumiNations fireworks going off at EPCOT. It's my wallpaper on this computer.
Toenail Color: Some shade of OPI polish put on at my last pedicure, which was on December 23. It's time for another one.
Time: 1:45 pm est
Surroundings: I'm in the kitchen.
Thoughts: Watching the clock, 'cause I have to go get my daughter at 2:30 pm and I would like to get down to my scrap room before that. Doesn't look like it's going to happen, though.
Wonderings: I wonder if my ScrapShare Secret Valentine box is EVER going to arrive. It's almost March!

8 Firsts

Best Friend: Probably Suzanne W. or Dana E. or Kelly T. They all lived in my neighborhood.
Kiss: 7th grade.
Screen Name: Samford95 (My college + grad year)
Pet: Bo & Prissy (cats)
Piercing: My ears, 3rd grade (double pierced in 9th grade)
Crush: 2nd grade.
Computer: Apple IIe way back when I was in elementary school
Home Location: suburb of Birmingham, AL

7 Lasts

Cigarette: never (the smell nauseates me)
Drink: iced tea sweetened with Splenda ("adult beverage" Feb 14th, a Mai Tai at Red Robin)
Kiss: Yikes. Last night before bed, from my hubby. I forgot to kiss him goodbye this morning! I have kissed my younger son and daughter since then, though, so I guess they're my last kisses.
Movie seen at the theater: The Nativity Story
Phone Call: to a book club to cancel my account
CD played: "Crazy Frog" on the way to Camryn's school today.
Gift received: 12 yellow roses from my husband (It was a total guilt purchase because he didn't get me a Valentine gift...)

6 Have You Evers

Dated One Of Your Best Friends: Yep. Twice. I married the last one.
Broken the Law: Yep. Speeding.
Been Arrested: Nope.
Skinny Dipped: Yep, but only in my own pool. Never anywhere else.
Been on TV: Yes, on a local Saturday music video show in Birmingham. It was hosted by a VJ; he interviewed kids from local high schools, and I was on there. I sounded so stupid and Southern.
Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: No

5 Things

You've Eaten Today: I've only eaten 2 things today: cream chipped beef on toast (breakfast) and Chef Boyardee mini ravioli with meatballs (lunch). No snacks in between.
You've Done Today: Went to the bathroom, made the bed, straightened the den, folded sheets, sorted clothes to wash.
You Can Hear Right Now: Quinn making monster truck sounds at the kitchen table, plastic Lego wheels turning on the table, my daughter's spy watch alarm going off in another room (MUST.STOP.THAT), Nelly Furtado singing "Say It Right" on Sirius radio, keyboard clicking
You Can't Live Without: my family, iced tea, music, books, scrapbooking
You Do When You're Bored: pick at my fingernails/cuticles, read, get on the internet, take a hot bath, scrapbook

4 places you've been today

To Camryn's school and back, the laundry room, the mailbox, my bedroom

3 people you can tell anything to

Stan, my sister (Brooke), Malinda

2 Choices

1. Black or White: Black
2. Hot or Cold: Hot

1 thing you wanna do before you die

Stay in that suite in Cinderella's castle at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Top Ten Things I Would Not Miss (#2 in a series)

The last blog was Top Ten Things I Would Miss if They Were Gone.

So it seems fitting that this one should be titled:

"Top Ten Things I Would NOT Miss if They Were Gone/Fell Off the Face of the Earth/Went Into Rehab and Never Came Back"

I forgot to say in my previous Top Ten blog that these are in no particular order. Number one is no more important than number ten. They're just ordered that way because that's the way they came to me.

(1) Polly Pockets

Moms of daughters, stand with me on this one. Let's rid the world of these little rubber menaces with their shoes no bigger than boogers. I hate these things. My older daughter knows that she will not be allowed to bring any more Polly Pocket dolls, accessories, body parts, teeny tiny wigs, etc. into this home. If she receives any as gifts, they are to remain unopened until we can have them sprinkled with holy water and returned to the nearest Target store.

(2) The Rebel Flag

There are so many things I could say about this, but I won't bore you. Yes, it has a place in history, but it has been abused by hate groups and therefore should not be flown publicly anywhere by any government entity. And that's all I have to say about that.

(3) High heeled shoes

I know some gals like the heels, but they're just darned uncomfortable. Give me my butt ugly but oh so comfy Crocs any day. They're not fashionable, but my back doesn't hurt when I wear them, so I know they work. I wish I could wear them to church without people looking at me cross-eyed.

(4) Valentine's Day

I know my husband loves me, so there really is no need for him to go spend an arm and two legs on Valentine crap. I'd actually be mad if he freed captive flowers by paying the ransom florists want for them on Valentine's Day. So why did I get all in a wad when I didn't get so much as a CARD on February 14th? I dunno. But I was convinced it meant something and I stayed mad for about 4 days or so afterwards, rubbing it in whenever I could. I got him and the kids card each, plus candy (for the kids) and Peeps hearts for my hubby (he loves those Peep things! Ick!) But I got squat. I hate Valentine's Day.

(5) Marilyn Manson

Personally I have never, ever listened to a Marilyn Manson song, but I imagine that it would sound much like chewing on tin foil feels. I can't get past his eyes. They creep me out, dude. If I see his picture in People magazine, I have to cover it with my hand. I can't even bring myself to touch the paper, so I just let my hand hover over the picture so he's not staring at me while I read. I'm afraid his evilness is going to burn my oh-so-innocent skin, so his photograph cannot be touched.

Did I mention he creeps me OUT?

(6) Telephones

I know. It's a bold statement. But I would not miss telephones if they went away. Give me an instant messaging system, some email and a microphone that works through my computer and I'm good.

I hate answering the phone. It always rings when I am the least likely to want to chat. I love caller ID and use it. Yep, I screen. I'm a screener. Love it, use it, will never get rid of it. Mine comes through my satellite TV so I don't even have to get up to check the phone if'n I don't wanna.

(7) Telemarketing

See number 6 for an explanation.

(8) Snow

Yes, it is pretty. I will admit that. But I'm not a person who likes cold weather OR grey days. When it snows, the skies are grey and I get sad and icky. I'm not a winter person.

(9) Judgment

No, I don't mean like the final judgment that is discussed in Revelation. I'm talking about judgment of others. Can't we just all get along? All that "I'd like to buy the world a Coke" and live in perfect harmony stuff? Why do we feel the need to pass judgment on others?

I admit, I'm guilty, and the view from up here is mighty nice, but I hate when someone with an ivory tower higher than mine passes judgment on me. Wow. That hurts. And it reminds me that I do it, too.

I have a love/hate relationship with judgment, so if one day it just disappeared, that would be great. No more worries.

(10) Money

I wish we could all just use the barter system. Money is so overrated.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

"Ten Things" (#1 in a series)

Today I'm going to begin a blog series. In the car today I was thinking about things about which to blog, and I came up with so many lists I wanted to make. The list kept getting longer and longer, and by the time I reached Camryn's school I was scribbling furiously so I wouldn't forget any of the topics.

Before I start the serious blogging, I have to relay what I saw on today's backwoods journey.

A mailbox.

But it wasn't any old mailbox.

It was a new mailbox owned, obviously, by a person who is at the same time lazy AND inventive.
You see, instead of fastening the mailbox to the wooden post with whatever rational people use to fasten mailboxes to posts, this person had used the Southern handyman's best friend.

Duct tape.

Brand new, shiny mailbox. Brand new yellow wooden post. Duct taped. Together.

Ahhhh, necessity is the mother of invention. It's also the 1st cousin, evidently.

Now, on with the blog.

TOP TEN THINGS I WOULD MISS... if they went away or were never invented

(1) My microwave

Nothing says, "I love you" to my kids like a nice, warm Hot Pocket for breakfast. (There are some things that should NOT be nuked, though. Fish sticks. Tater tots. A boy's gloves soaked by the snow. You catch my drift...)

(2) Water heaters

I don't know how the Little Family on the Prairie took proper baths. If I had to boil my bath water and/or wash my tushie in Laura's funky stew, I think I'd just prefer to stink (you know they shared tubs back then, right? It was a waste to replace the hot water for each person!)

(3) Cars

I'd probably weigh a lot less if I had to put 4 kids on the back of my bicycle, though.

(4) America's Funniest Home Videos (or AFV as they prefer nowadays)

Once they dumped that "I think my corny jokes are so funny, but I'm the only one laughing," Bob Saget, the show is actually not painful to watch. It's an enjoyable show that my whole family can sit in front of on a Sunday evening. We get the biggest kick out of it! I think I am more entertained by my husband and kids laughing than I am by the videos on the show.

(5) Internet

OH MY GOSH. How did I not think of this one first? I met my husband on the internet. I practically live my life on the web. How did I ever get along without thee, oh fiber optic cables of bliss? I guess Al Gore was good for something (I know, I know. He didn't invent the internet. It was a JOKE. He did invent global warming, though.)

(6) Tea bags and Splenda

(Technically that's two, but it's my blog, so shut up.)

I can't go a day without a tall frosty glass of iced tea sweetened with Splenda. I'll probably die an early death because the Splenda is eating up my insides, but I'll make sure everyone at the funeral gets a glass of iced tea, dahlin'!

(7) Elastic

Sometimes a girl just has to get out of her jeans, and it's at that time that elastic waisted pants are a girl's best friend.

Rule #1 of buffet grazing: NEVER wear jeans with buttons or zippers. If you're going to cram salad, soup, mac & cheese, rolls and assorted cakes and pies down your throat, you cannot be wearing anything constricting.

And that's just a little tip from me to you. No need to pay me. Just pass it on, friend. Pass it on.

(8) People magazine

My People usually comes on Friday or Saturday. There are 2 rules about my People: #1 I READ IT FIRST. No one else puts their grubby mitts on my magazine before I do. #2 I must take a long, hot, bubblish bath while reading People, so I can savor each delectable word without interruptions.

(9) The radio, or just music in general

What would life be without a soundtrack?

(10) My camera

'Cause when I'm old and grey and unable to do anything but sit in a chair, I want to remember every moment I lived. Even if I can't remember who I am or who my loved ones are, I want to know that the person in the photographs enjoyed a great life.

Monday, February 19, 2007

Pair of Noids

I am a paranoid person.

My husband jokingly says I have the biggest "pair of noids" he's ever seen.

Case in point:

Saturday night my hubby and I saw Billy Joel in concert.

Tangent: Billy rocked the Bi Lo center. There was no opening act. It was just Billy and a piano and his band. He started with songs from the 70s and progressed chronologically. The crowd was great, and Billy just did his thing and made us all feel like he was sitting in our den playing the piano. It was a GREAT night. Imagine singing "Piano Man" to the original Piano Man along with about 30,000 people who no longer feel like strangers because you've just spent 2 hours with them, listening to the great Billy Joel. What a NIGHT!

(An aside to my sister and her friend Val: get thee to TicketMaster and secure tickets for the concert at the BJCC on 2/26. It's a night you won't forget!!)


So back to my story.

We sat down in our seats about 30 minutes before showtime. A single guy with beer and pizza in hand soon came and sat right in front my husband. No big deal.

I sent my husband to fetch me a pizza (I'd not eaten dinner yet.) While he was gone, the pizza/beer guy got up to leave, too (as he left I got a great glimpse of his buttcrack. He was wearing grey Hanes, by the way.) The guy hadn't yet touched his pizza.

Hubby came back. A yuppish couple came and took their seats right beside beer/pizza guy (I should probably call him crack dealer, 'cause I saw more of his quarter slot than I did his face that night...)

Yuppish guy knocked over crack guy's beer. He went and bought crack guy a new beer.

Crack guy came back. He drank the beer that Yuppish guy brought him. Then he got up and got another beer and drank that one.

This is where my paranoia started.

I suddenly realized that crack guy never touched his pizza. The beer didn't touch the pizza, so I wondered why he didn't eat it.

Also, crack guy was acting terribly strange. He kept bouncing his knee up and down like he was nervous, all the while darting his eyes around the arena. Crack guy never applauded, never acted like he was even into the concert. He didn't even turn his head toward the stage.

He drank a third beer, then left.

In my mind I swear to God I was thinking the pizza box contained a bomb.

When crack guy left halfway through the show, I was almost sweating. I just knew I was a goner. I (seriously!) thought crack guy was sent to plant the bomb and then he was going to remotely detonate it after he got up and left.

See? I told you I'm paranoid. Go ahead. Roll your eyes. I know. It's an illness.

But one day I'll be a hero, and you'll be clamoring to say you know me when they interview you on the Today show.

Just promise me you'll brush your teeth and take the curlers outta your hair before you go on camera. And don't use the word "ain't" please.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Copycat Blog

My friend Stacy copied this blog from someone whose blog she stalks, so I'm copying both of them! I love telling everyone about me, because I'm such a narcissist. HA! (Man... now I have to go to dictionary.com to make sure I spelled that right, 'cause I'm a narcissist and a perfectionist... and I tend to use periods a lot..... like this.... And yes! I did spell narcissist correctly. HA!)

1. Is your second toe longer than your first? Nope. And you know which celebrity has strange toes like that? Reese Witherspoon. I've been a faithful reader of People magazine for years, so I have the scoop, doncha' know. Reese has weird toes. Next time you see a picture of her feet in a strappy sandal, I know you'll agree with me.

2. Do you have a favorite type of pen? I really love my scrapbooking pens. They're called Zig Writers and I love 'em. For everyday I love blue Bic pens with medium tips (no fine tips, please!) I love a good pen. I always find myself drooling in the pen aisle at Staples.

3. Look at your planner for March 14, what are you doing? What, and get up OFF THIS COUCH? Let me see if I can get one of the kids to bring it to me... For now, though, I'm going to press on. (Follow up: nothing.)

4. What color are your toenails usually? Half red or dark pink and half natural. I wish I had the time and money to get a regular pedicure. The last lady that gave me a pedi was so nice. She told me to come back so she could work on the deep cracks in my heels. I have yet to return, but I want to so badly.

5. What was the last thing you highlighted? My bank statement. I use a highlighter to mark things off as I reconcile my bank statement in Quicken.

6. What color are your bedroom curtains? They're a very pretty grey, kind of sheer on top with satiny bottoms. I bought them at Target last year after we moved into our house, but they've yet to be hung.

7. What color are the seats in your car? Black leather. No, I'm not looking forward to summer. The car was used and had low miles and enough add-ons to make me look past the black interior.

8. Have you ever had a black and white cat? Harry was dark grey on top with a white underbelly. I had a cat named Mollie that was solid grey with a touch of white near her trachea; she looked like a Hostess cupcake with cream filling (am I a foodie, or what?) I had a cat named Sally that was 100% black, but no, I've never owned a true black and white cat.

9. What is the last thing you put a stamp on? a package of Creative Memories sticker letters that I was sending to a member of my scrapbooking board as an RAK (random act of kindness).

10. Do you know anyone who lives in Wyoming? Not that I know of, really. (I just put that "really" there because I hate ending a sentence with a preposition.)

11. Why did you withdraw cash from the ATM the last time? I don't use the ATM. I don't even know my pin number. I cash a big check at the beginning of the month, so I always have cash on me, and if I don't, then I don't need to be shopping (or I use my debit or a check).

12. Who is the last baby that you held? That's a hard one. I haven't held a baby in a long time. I guess I'd have to say my friend Stacy B's daughter. She has a baby girl named Sophie that I held very briefly at a scrapbook workshop in November.

13. Do you know of any twins with rhyming names? No, even though I do have roots in Alabama and currently live in South Carolina. You would think I'd know at least one pair of twins with rhyming names!

14. Do you like Cinnamon toothpaste? I really prefer mint, but I use Close Up because that's what my husband uses. He's such a creature of habit. He uses Close Up toothpaste, wears Speed Stick deodorant/anti-perspirant and has a standing favorite at nearly every restaurant we go to. Since my husband does 75% of the grocery shopping, we only have Close Up.

15. What kind of car were you driving 2 years ago? 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette mini van in a lovely shade of maroon. The kids called her Ruby.

16. Pick one: Miami Hurricanes or Florida Gators. Neither. War Eagle! Love my Auburn Tigers.

17. Last time you went to Six Flags? May 1999. Camryn was 17 months-old. We left her with my in-laws and went to Atlanta to spend the day at Six Flags. It was a disaster. The park was only half open, because there wasn't enough staff to fill the summer jobs (most of their staff is comprised of students, and schools weren't out yet.) We got our ticket and parking money back and went downtown to the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch. We were served by a transvestite waiter named Michelle whose Adam's Apple was bigger than my fist. Fun day.

18. Do you have any wallpaper in your house? No. Not in this house. In our old house there was either wallpaper or a border in almost every room.

19. Closest thing to you that is yellow: an umbrella from the kids' Fisher Price Little People stuff that should be in the playroom and not laying in the den floor. Lillian was licking it like an ice cream cone earlier, crazy nut.

20. Last person to give you a business card? The guy that came to inspect our house last Tuesday.

21. Who is the last person you wrote a check to? Creating Keepsakes magazine (I finally subscribed.)

22. Closest framed picture to you? a set of Charleston prints hanging on my den wall.

23. Last time you had someone cook for you? Lastnight. We celebrated Valentine's Day at Red Robin.

24. Have you ever applied for welfare? No

25. How many e-mails do you have? Two. One is a business (Longaberger) address for customers to email me and the other is personal.

26. Last time you received flowers? I dunno. My husband has a patient for whom he changes a medically necessary contact lens every month. He doesn't charge her (she could put it in herself, but she's afraid of putting her fingers in her eyes.) So, she just brings him little treats now and then. Most of the time she brings flowers, and he passes them on to me. I would never have known, but a friend of ours that works with the patient spilled the beans. I thought he was just being nice and bringing me flowers!

27. Do you think the sanctity of marriage is meant for only a man & woman? Yes. God's word says so.

28. What are you listening to right now? Just a minute ago it was Christina Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man" but now Prince's "Kiss" is on. Love the iPod.

29. Do you play air guitar? Nope. Air drums, usually on the steering wheel in my car. Remember my Tide To Go blog? Yeah.

30. Do you take anything in your coffee? I don't drink coffee. My mom used to awaken me and my sister when we were kids, and she had the worst coffee breath. It kinda turned me off of coffee.

31. Do you have any Willow Tree figurines? No. I'm really not a knick knack person.

32. What is your high school mascot's rival? Hmmm... my high school mascot was a rocket. I guess the closest rival would be either a Wildcat or a Blue Devil.

33. Last person you spoke to from high school? Either Laura Kimbrell (via email) or Randy Dale (in person at my wedding 11 years ago). I didn't even go to my reunion. I didn't really care to see anyone I went to high school with.

34. Last time you used hand sanitizer? Yesterday after I shopped at Hobby Lobby. I keep a pump of it in the car.

35. Would you like to learn to play the drums? Nah. There are too many other things I want to learn to do. I do love me a good drumline, though. I could listen to drumlines for hours.

36. What color are the blinds in your living room? White. I love my mini blinds! They're durable foam wood; they look like plastic, but they don't discolor like plastic. The blinds and the room darkening shades for the bedroom were ordered before we even moved into the house. I don't get people who have no window coverings. I don't want the neighbors or looky loos peeping in on me in my red flannel PJs! Once it's dark out, the blinds get closed.

37. What is in your inbox at work? Hmmmm... if my work is being a stay-at-home mom, then my inboxes would be laundry baskets and sinks full of dishes. Right now I have 3 loads of laundry to do and a dishwasher to empty and refill with what's in the sink.

38. Last thing you read in the newspaper? either the Sunday crossword puzzle or the comics or the USA Today weekend insert. I don't remember. We did get a paper today, but I haven't yet read it.

39. What was the last pageant you attended? Pageant? I guess that would be Miss Rendezvous 1991. I was the editor of the yearbook my senior year and we sponsored the pageant.

40. What is the last place you bought pizza from? Little Caesar's, Monday night (I just realized we had the same thing last Monday night, too. I love that Hot & Now.)

41. Have you ever worn a crown? Do the paper ones from Burger King count?

42. What is the last thing you stapled? Instructions for a scrapbook swap I joined.

43. Did you ever drink clear Pepsi? Once, but never again.

44. Are you ticklish? Highly. Never, EVER touch my back without me knowing you're there. It sends my muscles into spasms.

45. Last time you saw fireworks? July 4th.

46. Where is question number 46? I looked back at Stacy's blog and she's missing #46, too. Must be highly classified.

47. Who is the last person that left you a message & you actually returned their call? My housekeeper. She left a message this afternoon when my daughter was on the phone with her best friend (we don't have call waiting). I called her back tonight.

48. Last time you parked under a carport? I've never owned a home or lived in a home with a carport.

49. Do you have a black dog? No I'm not really a dog person. We just have the one cat now.

50. Do you have any pickles in your fridge? Of course I do. I recently found Bread & Butter gherkins at Big Lots. Next to sweet gherkins, Bread and butter pickles are my favorite!! I was so excited that the pickles on my burger at Red Robin tonight were bread & butter. They're the yummiest! I'm also a fan of sweet pickle relish; there is a food service sized jar in my fridge (a gag gift from my husband, which is funny, 'cause relish makes him gag...) I also love dill pickle spears and those big honkin' dill pickles. Yum. Now my mouth is watering!

51. Do you find Dan French irresistible? Who the heck is Dan French?

52. Who has the prettiest eyes that you know of? My children all have gorgeous blue eyes, each a varying shade. That is their daddy's genes coming out. My eyes are boring green.

53. Last time you saw a semi truck? Last night on I-85 on the way home from dinner.

54. Do you remember Ugly Kid Joe? The name rings a bell but I'd have to Google it to refresh my memory. Singing group?

55. Do you have a little black dress? The word "little" describes nothing in my closet. I have a black dress, yes. It ain't little, though. It's more like a "big black tent".

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Blog Challenge: Dear Cupid

Write a letter to Cupid.
Say what's on your mind about Valentine's Day.
Is it a bunch of bunk?
Another chance for Hallmark to make some money?
Are you a romantic at heart?
Do you have hints for your Valentine?
Do you have a Valentine's memory to reminisce about?


Dear Cupid....

I think Valentine's Day is stupid. I think jacking up the prices on flowers that are already too expensive is outrageous. I think not being able to eat in a restaurant on Valentine's Day because everyone is taking their sweeties out to eat stinks. Why on earth do we have this holiday?

I'm sorry, but I've never been a fan of your day, Cupid. I never really had a Valentine when I wanted one (unless you count my parents...) I guess that's where my dislike of your holiday comes from. I even had a boy break up with me on V day. How sad is that?

Now that I'm married and have a permanent Valentine (which some people would really love to have, I know...) my Valentine never really acknowledges the day. Perhaps it's because my birthday is a mere 9 days before Love Day and our anniversary falls 25 days before it, too. I don't know. But that stinks, too. I would love some little gift (even though I act like it's no big deal 'cause I don't want to start a fight with my Valentine...), but I guess my sweetie thinks he's off the hook because of our other two special days.

Cupid, could you send him a link to my blog?

Monday, February 12, 2007

There's a Feline in my Fridge

My daughter's furbaby, Harry, died yesterday.

Photobucket

I was, to say the least, in complete shock. Harry showed no signs of being sick.

I had been "given" the day off by my husband; he took our kids to his mother's house for the day, so I was just relaxing. I had just gotten up off the couch after watching all the DVR recordings I'd saved. I went downstairs to scrapbook for a bit, and as soon as I sat in my chair I heard cat wailing.

I'd heard this wail before, and it usually meant that a cat was trapped somewhere. I got up and went in search of whoever was trapped, but instead I found Harry laying on the rug in the downstairs den. He looked okay, so I thought his claw might be caught in the rug.

As I got closer, I realized something was wrong. He was obviously in pain. That's when the blood came.

I rushed him to the emergency vet clinic. He died on the way. I remember screaming when I realized he was dead, because my immediate thought was, "Oh, Lord. I have to tell Camryn her sweet Harry is dead." It was, at the time, an unfathomable thought.

Camryn adored Harry. They just had that bond that few people get with a pet. She actually called him her child. He was her constant companion when she was home; he slept on her bed all day and all night, every night. He cried pitifully when she was away for too long, visiting a friend overnight or her grandparents for a week at a time.

I was not looking forward to Camryn's return home, although she did know beforehand that he had passed away. I was literally nauseous over how she was going to react when she saw him. I could not eat; all I could do was think about Camryn and how she was going to deal with this tragedy.

I know it's silly. I would rather lose a cat than one of my own human children, but Harry was one of my first "kids". My husband and I adopted him from the Humane Society, and within days of him moving in with us, he developed a bad upper respiratory infection. I nursed him back to health (it took almost 4 weeks for him to completely recover). When I took him back to the vet for a checkup, she was surprised to see him. She confessed that his URI was so bad she didn't expect him to live. Good thing she didn't tell me that, because I don't think I would've fought so hard for him to live. I guess that's why this has hit me so hard. He was my baby, too.

Camryn finally arrived home around 8 pm. She said goodbye for over an hour, sobbing and stroking his soft fur. We clipped some of that fur and finally said goodbye around 9 pm. We sealed him up and put him in the downstairs refrigerator until tomorrow when we can all gather as a family to bury Harry in the yard. Camryn wants his grave to be right outside her bedroom window, so most likely that's where he will be.

The vet and his staff gave me all the supplies for burying Harry in our yard in a way that wild animals won't dig him up. They also took an impression (in clay) of his paws for us. They were incredibly kind and generous. They didn't even ask for a penny for anything.

Camryn is already talking about getting a kitten. I think we need to focus on our other cat, Beeson, for awhile.

I'm not ready to go through this again anytime soon.

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Aiden Josiah

I did a scrapbooking layout for my older son's book yesterday. I had 3 really random pictures that I wanted to use, and I couldn't figure out how to tie them together. So, I came up with this:

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I created 4-2.75" squares in Microsoft Word and just filled them in with Aiden's favorite things. Three of those things were (somewhat) depicted in the pictures on the page. The sumo wrestler picture was taken at the Japanese restaurant, which has the shrimp sauce Aiden loves. The middle picture shows his nose with a tinge of dried up blood on it, which is there because the kid CANNOT stop picking, and the picture on the far right shows Aiden opening his new Star Wars Game Cube game, with which he is obsessed.

Coming up with things to write about Aiden wasn't as easy as I thought it would be . I mean, I am with him most of the day everyday, but still, I had to think hard about this one. There were obvious things that Aiden loves (the nose picking, the Game Cube, Star Wars). Then there were the not so easy to remember little quirks, like the fact that my sweet son hates jeans (he prefers elastic waists like his mom), loves shrimp sauce and Bruster's Ice Cream and at least once a day asks when we're going back to Disney World.

I loved doing this page. It made me sit and reflect about what makes Aiden so unique. It made me just sit and ponder my son. It made me love him even more, if that's possible.

I love my boy, but I found a new appreciation for him yesterday. I couldn't wait to pick him up from school and celebrate his uniqueness. He's truly one of a kind, freckles and all.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

The One With the Puke (OR: Why I Love My Hubby)

My sweet 4 year-old son (finally) had his well check at the doctor yesterday.

If you're a mom, you know what that means.

Uh-huh. SHOTS.

My husband took Quinn to the doctor. When they returned home, there were tears in Quinn's eyes, a Band-Aid on one of his fingers, and a catch in his walk (the shots went in his legs, so he considered himself crippled...)

My husband and I have experienced it all before; our oldest two children had similar reactions to the dreaded 4 year shots. Bless their hearts.

Eventually Quinn realized that he could once again use his legs and the finger with the Band Aid on it. He had a few doses of Tylenol and was feeling pretty near normal at bedtime.

At approximately 2:30 am I heard the wail of a cry growing closer and closer as it approached my bedroom.

Then I heard the sound every parent dreads hearing in the middle of the night (or anytime, really).

THE BARF.

My husband jumped up and grabbed the trash can and let Quinn finish losing his shrimp dinner. Then he set about cleaning Quinn, the carpet, the hardwoods in the hall, and the spot beside Quinn's bed.

What a guy. I love that man. He never shrinks from responsibility when it comes to me and our children. He is a true helpmate.

Meanwhile, I got the much easier job of changing and cuddling my sick boy.

While I don't relish the upchuck, I do enjoy cuddling my children when they're ill. It's one of the best times to be a mom. The kids are usually so compliant, so drained of energy, so willing to be snuggled and held close. They just sit still and let you rub their hair and their feverish brows.

It's the height of maternal bliss.

Monday, February 05, 2007

Verne Troyer



It's my birthday!

I'm 34 today.

I could use a new bumper, too.

Maybe some new tail lights.

(Use of the commercial in this blog in no way implies an endorsement of Geico Insurance.)

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Blog Challenge: First...

When is the first time you...

fell in love ? I honestly fell in LOVE for the first time when I met my husband in August 1994. I had other boyfriends, but I never really knew what love was until I met Stan.

lost someone close to you? I've blogged about this. Leah Osborn, December 15, 1980. She was a 2nd grade classmate who was killed in an tragic accident.

drank alcohol? Gosh. Um, maybe 1992 when I went to Europe? I didn't turn 21 until 1994, so I wasn't legal until then, so I didn't drink But I drank in Europe (bad, bad Sangria) because they have no legal drinking age. My first legal drink was a wine cooler. Love that Bartles & Jaymes!

got kissed? My 7th grade boyfriend (if you can call it that). He came over to my house to watch movies one night and he gave me a brief peck on the lips. Woo. Hoo.

went to the hospital? I had some surgery when I was 4. I'm still not clear on what kind of surgery, but it had something to do with my urethra (?) All I remember is that I was not allowed to run for a couple of weeks afterwards, and I got some cool lace up cards during my hospital stay!

got your heart broken? May 1993

lost a pet? Odie, my dog, was hit by the school bus one morning as I was eating cereal. Someone came to the door to tell us. My mom put him in a box (and he bit her while she was doing it) and we took him to the vet, but he couldn't be saved.

smoked a cigarette? haven't ever.

broke a bone? no bones broken in my 33 years.

got a job? Hmmmm.... I worked as a tea pourer for Wednesday night suppers at church when I was in junior high and high school, but I can't remember if I got paid for that. My first official job for which I had to interview was in college. I worked in the alumni department at my university.

got cheated on? I don't know for sure that I was ever cheated on, but I have my suspicions.

rode the city bus? Los Angeles, July 4, 1987, from our hotel to the Hard Rock Cafe. It was closed when we got there.

went to a concert? Amy Grant, 1986. We had floor seats, 9 rows from the stage. My parents would NOT stand up. I was mortified.

Met someone famous? My dad used to take me and my sister to the car show in Birmingham every year. There was usually a marginal celebrity there signing autographs. TV's "Boss Hogg" (Sorrell Booke) from "The Dukes of Hazzard" was the first celebrity I met. The next year it was then Miss America Vanessa Williams, before the nude photo scandal.

dyed your hair? High school?

got your own cell phone? College, and only after I had a flat tire on the way to school one morning (I commuted). It was a super trendy bag phone (ha!)

snuck out the house? Never. Really. I was boring. I respected my parents too much.

drove a car? Sometime in 1988 when I turned 15 and got my learner's permit.

got your own digital camera? My oldest child was about 6 months-old, so it was 1998. We bought a top of the line Sony Mavica that had to have disks for picture storage. We bought it to sell stuff on Ebay. I had a very lucrative Ebay career in the late 90s! I loved selling on Ebay when it was so new to everyone and people were stupid when they bid!

how old are you now? Today I am 33. Tomorrow I will be 34!

Friday, February 02, 2007

Ahhhh.... Friday

It's Friday.

I love Friday.

Normally I get 5 hours to myself on Fridays, but today was different. Because of yesterday's snow, there was a 2-hour delay for the schools today.

That meant that no one got to school until 10:30 am. Since my 4 year-old gets out of school at 11:30, his class didn't even meet today. Therefore, I had 2 days' worth of errands to run with a 4 year-old in tow, and I had roughly 3 hours to do it all.

First we hit the AC Moore to do a return. As the cashier was finishing up, Quinn (my 4 year-old) said, " I HAVE TO GO POTTY!"

When Quinn says that, he means, like, NOW. So, off we went to find a bathroom.

Lord love a duck, I don't know what happened in that restroom before we entered, but whatever it was created a stench that almost made me lose my strawberry Pop Tart. Seriously bad stench. That was the fastest pit stop I've ever made with a child. I had to GET OUT of there.

(I shudder even remembering it...)

We bought what we came for and left quickly. I had to have a squirt of hand sanitizer after that experience. I made sure both Quinn and I got a large glob (I honestly felt like rubbing myself down with hand sanitizer, but there just wasn't time...)

Oh, one quick thing... as we were exiting AC Moore, Quinn stepped on the automatic door opener thing and said, so sweetly, "Here, Mommy! I'll hold the door for you!" Melted my heart. I love that kid. I could do a whole blog about how much I love him. Maybe later.

Our next stop was Bed, Bath and Beyond. I needed a new frying pan ('cause I can bring home the bacon... fry it up in a pan... and never ever let you forget you're a man... remember that commercial? Was that for Charlie fragrance?)

Got my pan and several other things ('cause I can't get out of BB&B cheaply!) As I was shopping, one of the sales people on the floor saw Quinn in the buggy and asked if school was still out today. I felt behooved (is that a word?) to explain to this perfect stranger the circumstances which had led to Quinn being with me today. As I watched his eyes glaze over, I realized that HE DID NOT CARE and I moved on.

I'm such a chatty Cathy sometimes, and I HATE IT. It is exactly what my mom used to do, and I remember ducking in embarrassment every time she did it.

Oh, good goobledygoo.

I have become my mother!

After BB&B we went over to Ulta because I needed 2 things. I told Quinn to hold me accountable by repeating the phrase, "Get in, get out; get in, get out." He did just that, and we were out of there in a flash.

It was about that time that I realized that I had not put on a smear of makeup today. Normally, not a problem, but I just happen to have a huge post-zit scab on my chin. Oh, so pretty. I'm sure the Ulta lady was thanking the makeup gods that I had come to my senses and decided to purchase something to slap on my face.

Quinn and I had lunch with Daddy at Moe's (WELCOME TO MOE'S! Love those fish tacos!) and then we made a final quick dash into Target. (I swear, the lady at the register only asked me three times if I wanted to apply for the Target credit card. GET A HEARING AID, lady. I said no. THREE. TIMES.)

Whew.

Next was pickup time for my 6 year-old son, Aiden, and his 2 year-old sister, Lillian.

Lillian, it turns out, had a massive diaper blowout at school today. She wasn't wearing a thing that I had put on her that morning except her little red hairbow. She had on the emergency sweatsuit that's been in her backpack forever, but she wasn't even wearing socks, and she had on some ratty looking sneakers. Every stitch she had worn to school was in a plastic produce bag in which dirty clothing gets sent home.

I hate those bags. You just KNOW that it ain't gonna smell good when you open it up. Not a good surprise.

I got everyone home, unloaded the children, their assorted bags and the day's purchases. I threw the contents of that aforementioned plastic bag in the washing machine, and then I sat down and read email for a few minutes. Thirty minutes later, it was time to pick up my oldest child from school.

Now it's ten minutes until 6 pm and dinner is cooking.

I'm so glad it's Friday. When dinner is done, I'm going to go slip into my flannel PJs and throw myself into the big comfy chair in my den. Then I'm going to watch the "General Hospital" that's on DVR.

And I'll leave you with this (speaking of flannel PJs).

I had another hick sighting on the way to my daughter's school this afternoon.

Picture her.

She's in her 60s. Pink curly hair. Red plaid flannel robe. Arms full of mail, fresh from the box. Lit and smoking cigarette dangling from her lips.

She looked like a pink poodle wearing an old lady nightgown.

Gotta love those backwoods folks. They provide me with endless entertainment.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Snow Day!

When I was a kid, I loved snow days.

First, there was the snow itself. It looks so pretty laying on the lawn like it does. It covers everything and makes even dirt look clean. I hate it when the snow gets all stepped on. That's when the magic is ruined for me.

Snow days also usually meant NO SCHOOL! WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO! Who didn't love a day off from school? My parents were both teachers, so that meant we all got to stay home and play. THAT was fun. My dad would build a fire in the fireplace in the den, and my mom would serve hot cocoa to me and my sister. Good times.

Nowadays, though, I don't love the snow so much. I still think it's beautiful, but now the bloom is off the rose, so to speak. As a parent, snow days aren't as much fun for me. The kids enjoy it, but I'm not crazy about the cold and the snow anymore.

Today it snowed.

The kids were up around 6:30 a.m. On a normal day, the kids are up around 7:15 or 7:30, so they were up EARLY today. I mean, it was still DARK, for goodness sakes. I got up to look at the snow (a part of me was a teensy bit excited...) I took some pictures of the kids looking out the window at the flurries falling fast and furiously.

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Then I couldn't stand it anymore (and they couldn't either), so I opened up the door and snapped a few pictures of it snowing before dawn.

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Well, that was it. The kids ran and put on their shoes and coats and went out on the front lawn.

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We were trying to be really quiet because my husband and youngest child were still sleeping. Pretty soon, though, the baby was up and wanting to join her siblings and our neighbors in the snow. I wasn't ready to let her go out quite yet, and she didn't get why. Bless her heart.

I let them play for about 5 minutes, but then it hit me that it WAS still before 7 am. Suddenly I was feeling very sleepy. I told the kids to come back inside, and I promised them we'd play after breakfast.

I went back to bed.

My husband got up a little while later and fed the kids some breakfast. Then he woke me up and told me to come take pictures of the kids playing in the snow before they got too cold and wanted to come inside.

I barely got three pictures taken before it started raining. Everyone was disappointed, myself included. It was the baby's first snow (she's 2!) and she didn't even get to play in it!

My husband went to take a shower to go to work (bummer... we thought he was going to get to stay home all day!)

And I was stuck with kids who wanted to play in the snow but couldn't.

It's raining now, and with temps expected to be below freezing, it's most likely going to be icy tomorrow. Probably no school tomorrow, either. Bummer.

Thursdays and Fridays are normally "Mom's Day Off". Everyone either goes to school or Moms' Day Out. If it was going to snow, I wish it would've done it on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday!
I hope the sun breaks through the clouds tomorrow and takes all this snow and ice with it.

Bleh.