Wardrobe Malfunctions

I spent some of last night getting my outfit ready for today. (The significance of today is that it’s the day before the BIG event I’ve been planning at the office and the day that all the Grand High Muckety-Mucks start arriving.) After deciding I needed a dressy belt, I went to the “I’d-hate-to-be-here-on-a-Saturday-afternoon” hell that is commonly referred to as “Wally-World”. While I was there, Hubby called me and suggested I might want to pick up something else to wear instead of the beige blazer he was desperately trying to iron for me. (Yes, Hubby does iron…and cook…and do laundry…I’m a very lucky girl.) So I picked myself up a sweater set that’s sort of a dusty plum color (love it), and found my dressy belt (exactly like I had in mind), and er…added one pair of shoes to my collection (which Hubby will probably groan about). Anyway – after performing some at-home dry cleaning to my new sweater set, organizing my stuff for the morning, and doing a few other things, it was time for bed. This morning I got up, showered (if I’m going to tell the story you need ALL the details, sorry), got dressed and left for work. On my way out of town, I stopped at Walgreens to pick up my allergy meds and a small box of safety pins. I wanted to pin up the tank top part of my sweater set because I felt it was a little low, if you know what I mean. (I’m looking for Administrative Professional here, not Slutty Secretary.) So I’m in and out of Walgreens in less than 5 minutes, drive the 13 miles to my office, get out of the car, say hello to the Security Guard who is trying to raise the flag (in the rain) get to the door and realize, “Oh Damn! I don’t have my badge!” This is an issue because not only can I not get in the door, but I can’t clock in! The Security Officer says, “Well, I can’t let you in without a badge before the doors are unlocked. I have no way of knowing that you are or are not supposed to be here!” This means that I need to get back in my car, call Hubby to let him know what I’ve done, call my boss to let him know I’m an idiot, drive the 13 miles back home, to retrieve the badge that Hubby has kindly placed on the front door knob as he headed off back to bed. Here’s the fun part. I get out of my car in my driveway and begin to make my way to the front door and realize I’m feeling a draft; a draft in a place where a properly dressed professional should not feel a draft. I reach behind me to investigate, and to my horror discover that the zipper to my black, knee-length, linen skirt is wide open! How long I’ve been wandering around the world with my A-double-S hanging out is anyone’s guess; but all I can say is that I KNOW I closed it before I left the house. It must have eased its way down during my morning errands. I quickly rectified the atrocity that had become my outfit while standing on the front porch of my little house, made certain the offending zipper was “locked” in the upright position, grabbed my badge off the door knob, drove 13 miles back to the office, and still managed to clock in at exactly 8:00 AM. Am I good, or am I good? I know this post probably falls under the category of TMI (too much information), but I had to share my em-bare-ass-ment. (“Laugh it up, Fuzz Ball!”) For those unfortunate witnesses, I’ll simply say that I’m glad to have been able to provide you with a good laugh; mortifying as it was for me. I can take it. (Insert heart-wrenching sob here.) TTFN JMS

Peeves

No - I don’t mean the poltergeist of Harry Potter fame, I mean peeves, as in Pet Peeves - things that are irritating even in their existence. Here are a list of mine, in case you wanted to know: * Toilets seats that move when you sit on them. Who really wants to think about the ickiness on the back of your leg should the seat slide and allow you to accidentally touch the porcelain? Certainly not I. * People who don’t wash their hands after using the restroom. I’m referring here, to the inevitable happening of you’re being in a stall in a public restroom and someone comes in, uses the facilities, touching everything in sight, and proceeds to leave the restroom without (hear me, folks), WITHOUT washing their hands!!! And people wonder why they get sick? * People who have pets (specifically dogs) and leave them in the yard. Here’s a hint, if you can’t take care of it, don’t take it home! And while I’m on the subject of animals, how about those folks who insist on letting their animal, dog, cat, or otherwise, have "just one litter" before getting them fixed? I don’t understand that logic; a thought process totally beyond my comprehension. * The fact that there are people in this world who should never, in a million millennia, ever be allowed to have, much less raise, children. Conversely, that there are people in this world who should be allowed to have, and to raise, multiple children, and yet they cannot - for various reasons. That’s just sad to me; there should be a law...I just have to remember that God always has a plan, even if I don’t like or understand it. * Ice trays filled too full so when they freeze it’s all one big frigging cube! * Having to turn socks right-side-out before washing them; yuck! * The fact that I must (yes, must) straighten the sheets prior to getting into bed (mostly because the bed never gets made when we get out of it). Actually, I think that’s probably one of Hubby’s pet peeves. I guess it’s just my slight OCD rearing it’s ugly head. * Toilet paper UNDER rather than OVER. * Nasty toothpaste caps. Ah...the list could go on but it’s probably a good idea for me to stop now. I wonder, can you tell the kind of day I’ve had? Oh - and I have to be at work at 6:00 AM on Wednesday. Just one more thing to gripe about. TTFN JMS

Wow!

Ok - now I know what you're all up to on Saturday nights! While I officially have 1 comment on what I wrote about the British Comedies last night, I have received several e-mails about which Brit-Coms are your personal favorites. Now please keep in mind that I'll have to go to great lengths to see some of the ones you've recommended; should I start with the ETPTV station or BBC and ask them to add these to their regular programming? Thanks for all your notes; I really love getting them. OH! And I heard from an Uncle (UB) I haven't heard from in quite a while and it was SO GREAT to know a little of what he and my Aunt (AC) have been up to! I hope that maybe we'll be able to keep in touch a bit more! UB/AC, you know my e-mail address, and I believe AC even has my phone number...? TTFN JMS P.S.: I've found a new favorite source of information! Google will always be my favorite search-engine, but you've just GOT to check out Wikipedia! It's like having your own personal set of encyclopedias, searchable at the touch of a button (or two) and in multiple languages, if you so desire! You must check it out, if you haven't already!

The British Comedies

Does the name Hyacinth Bucket ring a bell to anyone? Or, as the show is officially called, "Keeping Up Appearances"? Love the show, absolutely cannot stand the woman, which usually means I have a tough time watching it. She is absolutely the most obnoxious person I have ever seen! Are there really people like her in the world; or are they just in Britain? Speaking of British comedies, we’re currently watching "Waiting for God"; an hysterical comedy about a retirement home. More specifically, Diana (who is the most awful woman you could want to meet, yet somehow manages to be ridiculously funny at the same time) and her pseudo-roommate/gentleman friend/punching-bag, Tom, who is slightly on the loony side. This one is most definitely worth watching. Oh - and there’s my personal favorite, "As Time Goes By" with Dame Judy Dench and Geoffrey Palmer as Jean & Lionel, respectively. Hey - this one needs no explanation except that its JUDY DENCH for goodness sake! It’s got to be good, right? And there’s this strange one called "Last of the Summer Wine", which I don’t exactly get, but it certainly is funny - most of the time. There was one called "'Allo, 'Allo", but I don’t know what happened to it and I wasn’t fond of it to begin with and therefore I don’t miss it all that much. Anyway - thought I’d share. If you don’t watch the British comedies - you’re definitely missing out on some wonderful viewing! TTFN JMS PS: Kiddo has not had a temp at all today and has been generally good! Thanks for all the prayers you sent up - I think they helped!

Kiddo's Update

Hubby took Kiddo to see the doctor today because he is still sporting a fever and because he said to me this morning, "My neck hurts!" Our friend mentioned the word (scary to all parents) ~S~T~R~E~P~...so Kiddo went to the pediatrician's office this afternoon. Yep - definitely has a fever. Throat is fine, no strep. Ears nice and clean. Hubby said the doctor even commented on Kiddo's level of speech for his age. That's all good news. Give him acetaminiphin (what we've already been doing, and not sure if I can spell that word) and call them back if the fever persists. This sort of thing is apparently going around and someone somewhere said that it typically runs its course in about 4 days. Here's hoping! Keep prayin' folks! It's helping! TTFN JMS PS: Phoebe is with us for a week and she's being good as gold. Very quiet night last night which means that one or both of the puppies are comfortable.

Prayers and Poems

Kiddo is still not feeling well. He spent most of the day feeling better, but then his fever spiked around 4:00 PM; and since he'd only slept today for about 30 minutes in the car, we put him to bed early. He and I have a special prayer we say every night that goes something like this: "Thank you God for this wonderful day, and all the people I got to meet, all the food I got to eat, and everybody that I love. Amen!" He's gotten to a point where he's got it memorized and can recite it on his own without my help; though I usually follow along anyway because I like to say prayers with my son. Tonight, however, I started him off as usual, and he took it and ran away, with something to the effect of: "Thank you God (that's both of us, and I stopped helping here) for this wonderful day, and apple juice, and blue juice (blue Gatorade or Powerade), and food, and everybody that I love. Amen! Amen!" It took every ounce of restraint I posessed not to burst out laughing (with pride, of course), but I was grinning like mad. The boy knows what's important! The other thing I wanted to share today is a poem that makes me think of my Grandma, Tennie. She read to me all the time when I was growing up and some of the books I've purchased for Kiddo, I've gotten because she used to read them to me. This one is from "A Child's Garden of Verses" by Robert Louis Stevenson.

MY SHADOW

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,

And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.

He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head,

And I see him jump before me when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow -

Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;

For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,

And sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.

He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,

And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.

He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see;

I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

One morning very early, before the sun was up,

I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;

But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,

Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

TTFN JMS

Bug's got a bug...

Kiddo is not feeling very well today. I had to work, which makes me feel terrible that I couldn't be there myself; at least my wonderful Hubby was there. Kiddo's been vomiting and sporting a fever. While I'm not worried, I still hate it that he's feeling crummy. If you'd like to offer up a little prayer for a speedy recovery - we'd truly appreciate it. TTFN JMS

The Poetry of Alliteration

"Hubby Was Weed Wacking While We Walked!" Gee...aren’t I clever? Oh, Good Grief! Kiddo got him a weed eater thingamajig for Father’s Day and he finally got an opportunity to try it out tonight. Anyway - tonight while we were walking (really) Kiddo said, "Go see Grandma & Grandpa!" It made me pause. He’s got a Gammy (in SC), a Nani (VA), a Grandpa (in CT), and a Papaw & Mamaw (in TN) - but no one close enough that he would request a visit to them in that way. I thought about it for a while longer, then stopped the stroller, put it in "park", got in front of him and asked, "Bug, (that's my name for him) do you mean Theresa & Mario?" "Ok..." Says he, excitedly. So we went next door to visit, and as I explained the story to Theresa, she said, "Oh, I guess we’ve been adopted! I think I can take it." I wonder if it’s possible for Kiddo to love them as much as I do! We have truly lucked out in the New Neighbor department; if only everyone could have neighbors like them - no one would build fences! TTFN JMS

Aaarrrrgggghhhh!

• House still messy
• Mothers coming for visits (yes, Mothers, plural – mine and his)
• Frantically putting the finishing touches on plans for the two big events at work (the Ribbon Cutting for June 28th and the Family Day for July 1st)
• Birthday season is upon me & Christmas will be here before I can blink
• Gotta run to the grocery store & it's pouring down rain...

I think a good, stiff drink (or 2) is in order…care to join me? TTFN JMS

Father’s Day Weekend 2006

SATURDAY: Hubby had to work in the morning, so sweet New Neighbor Lady (I’ve really got to give her a name so she’s not some anonymous person so for the purposes of this blog, I’ll refer to her as Theresa. I thought I’d also let you know that I absolutely adore her...) and I went to the Lavender Festival together with Kiddo. I purposefully did not bring any money with me because I knew I’d spend it if given the opportunity. Theresa purchased a bromeliad planted in a galvanized watering can - which, I must admit, I was highly covetous of. Lovely thing, the bromeliad. The one thing I would have purchased, had I any money, was a little person made of small, terra cotta pots, Spanish moss, and held together by wire and glue sitting on a little wire bench...an adorable thing...but it was $26.00 and I was not that desperate for it to go all the way home to get my checkbook. Kiddo was as good as gold, made several friends, and did not once complain about the heat - and let me tell you, it was HOT! ("How hot was it...") Theresa and I went home, spent a little time in her air conditioned house recovering from what could be considered a heat-induced exhaustion, and then I brought Kiddo home for a much-needed nap. I should have taken one too...my head had begun to hurt. Later, Hubby, Kiddo & I met up with Kiddo’s baby-sitter, her husband, & their two boys at the Secret City Festival for the WWII reenactment - an awesome display of tanks, guns, men in period uniforms, and many, many loud booms of tank fire and machine guns. All blanks, of course, but quite impressive and effective. We managed, somehow, so procure a spot in the direct sun of the 3:30 PM show. My head was still hurting and the booming was so loud that I finally had to leave half-way through the reenactment to search out a spot of shade and relative quiet. After the Secret City Festival, we all went for food, then spent some time at the local K-Mart and eventually parted ways at a surprising 8:30 PM (I couldn’t believe the time, except the pending darkness gave it away). Kiddo went to sleep almost immediately and we watched Mulan (with thanks to my friend, The Perpetual Student, who sent all her old VHS Disney movies to Kiddo because she no longer has a VCR), and then went to sleep. SUNDAY: Went to church. It was our pastor’s last Sunday so the mood was very somber and I honestly don’t remember much about the sermon because I was thinking about what our new pastor will be like and about how our current pastor is the reason we decided to join that church in the first place. I know change is inevitable, but it doesn’t make me happy right about now. We will most definitely miss him...but wish him, and his lovely family, much luck in their new endeavors. Then we met up with Theresa and her wonderful husband, Mario (sorry, it’s the only name that came to my head just now) at IHOP for a Father’s Day breakfast. Food was great, company was better, but Kiddo lost his cool right at the end and I had to remove him bodily from the restaurant and let him scream it out in the parking lot. It was definitely nap time, but even though he had the whole ride home to fall asleep, and then even after I put him to bed at home, he didn’t get to sleep until Hubby rocked him there about an hour later. We all took a nap, and then got up about (yes, I will admit it) 6:00 PM and headed out with a picnic dinner to Bissell Park for the outdoor concert of the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra. It was wonderful and included old favorites like the William Tell Overture and new pieces like the Harry Potter theme. Kiddo kept clapping and saying, "Do it again!" I think we've got a music-lover on our hands! This was most definitely a wonderful weekend. And now, work on Monday and the week starts over again. Happy Father’s Day! TTFN JMS

Ups & Downs

I didn’t post yesterday, obviously; wasn’t interested in much and didn’t have much to say about anything. June 15th is a strange date in the history of my life (the date my mother passed away) and I frequently encounter an unconscious wall that shuts me down when it rolls around. Some years I manage to navigate smoothly around the date without incident or major emotion, other years, it hits me like a ton-of-bricks and I’m useless. Yesterday happened to fall under the “useless” category. Thank goodness I’ve got a boss who is an extremely understanding person. He recognized my difficulty, suggested I needed some time off, and sent me home early. I’m very lucky. So – I decided to pamper myself a little bit and went to get my nails done. When I went in, the very pregnant little lady with the mask on said, “It be few minutes, you want pedicure fust?” I thought, “Sure, why not?” So I sat in a comfy chair that had heat, vibration & rolling back massagers, while I enjoyed a thoroughly wonderful pedicure. Then I had my nails done. I didn’t ask ahead of time how much all this would cost, and honestly I didn’t care at that point. Ahem…manicure, pedicure and $73.00 later, I’m on my way home feeling quite pampered. Only a hot stone therapy massage could have made it any better! It was then that it occurred to me that I had reason to be happy! June 14th (day before yesterday) was the anniversary of the day I was adopted. It had been 12 years, so I guess you could call it my 12th birthday! Later, Hubby, Kiddo, Puppy Dog & I went for a 2 mile walk down at the marina, saw a great blue heron, lots of Canadian Geese, some ducks (and no, not the funky-looking one from a few posts ago), some local wildlife (er…Secret City residents), and many, many piles of stinky goose poop! But…a good time was had by all. When we got home we spent about an hour at New Neighbors house, had a brief visit from the Patriarch of the Clinton Clan who was out riding around on his Harley Davidson. And after 9:00, and realizing that Kiddo was still awake and getting crazier by the second, we said our goodbyes and went home to put Kiddo in bed. I’ve had a good life so far; lots of struggles and sadness, yes, but still a good life. And I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am today if I hadn’t endured those life-changing events. So, needless to say, yesterday was a bit of an emotional roller-coaster for me (thank God for Zoloft), but I got through it and I’m on to other things today. TTFN JMS

Not So "Secret" Anymore

Check out the following cool information! The Secret City Festival and the History of Oak Ridge. Maybe something fun to do this weekend? TTFN JMS

Puppies, Parties & Pooped-out Babies

Spent a lovely weekend in another part of the state visiting relatives. We stayed with Hubby’s sister, her daughter and their two dogs...one of which is a pit-bull / black & tan coonhound mix who is only five months old and already about 65 pounds! Her paws are huge - she’s going to be an enormous dog! She’s got all this extra skin around her face that makes her look like a droopy hound-dog, her ears are soft like my beloved satin (those who know me well will completely understand that and, "Yes, I still do."), and her eyes are the same caramel color as her fur. She is adorable and so sweet! At one point she and our Puppy Dog were laying under the coffee table in the living room on their bellies (like they were crawling toward one another) and they got nose to nose in greeting. It was a perfect Kodak moment and I didn’t have the camera ready! It was Hubby’s oldest sister’s birthday (the reason we traveled) and so Hubby’s middle sister planned a lovely party. There were hamburgers (cooked on a charcoal grill that ran out of charcoal before the burgers were cooked and therefore they had to be finished on the stove), a fruit salad (zig-zag cut watermelon half with balls of fresh roadside-stand-purchased watermelon & cantaloupe along with store-bought strawberries, grapes & blueberries), chips & dip, green beans, corn on the cob and a wonderful Mystery Machine-esque birthday cake (you know, flower power?). I believe a good time was had by all - including the trip to the neighborhood pool that is almost literally in the back yard. (Side note: I am very proud of myself for spending two days in the sun and not, repeat not, getting a sunburn! God bless the person who invented the continuous spray sun block!) We drove back late on Sunday night and Kiddo (though we hoped he would) didn’t fall asleep until we were five minutes away from home (it was, at that point, 10:30 PM). I scooped him out of his car seat, changed him, put his jammies on him, and laid him in bed - all with out any sort of protest. I love my sweet little goof-ball baby! TTFN JMS

Nothin' Much...

Kiddo and I went to the grocery store this evening and the very nice manager asked, "Would Mommy (referring to me, of course) mind if I gave him (referring to Kiddo, of course) a balloon?" I replied, "Of course not, thank you! Can you say 'Yes please!' Kiddo?" Kiddo says, "Yes, please!" as quietly as he can and yet still somehow making himself heard. At this point, Nice Manager disappears, and returns about 2 minutes later with a large balloon all tied appropriately to a white curling ribbon. Kiddo says, "Oooooh! A balloon!" I say, "That's right! Can you say 'Thank you!'?" Kiddo says, "Thank you!" Nice Manager ties the balloon to the cart (because Kiddo won't let him tie it to his wrist), we finish paying for our items, and exit the store. They are a nice bunch of people over there! Not necessarily the nicest store in the city, but definitely the friendliest! I'll take you there if you ever come visit...wouldn't that be nice? Anyway - back to my point. Somehow, between store and home the white curling ribbon became separated from the balloon. I, of course, was not aware that this had happened and managed to let the balloon go when we were getting out of the car. I pretended like I'd done it on purpose and made a big show of watching the balloon float way high up in the air - but mostly so Kiddo wouldn't cry. He's been saying, "Where'd it go?" and "Better go get it." ever since. I can't seem to get it across to him that it's really gone and we can't get it back. Now he's eaten a good dinner, is currently playing with the cars I purchased for him at the grocery store (yes, I'm a softie) and has no idea that I'm about 2 minutes away from plunking him in bed. And by the way, we're going to...er...another part of the state for the weekend and therefore I will not be able to post again until Sunday or Monday night. Hopefully I'll be full of fresh stories and musings by that time. May the sun be with you! Have a great weekend! TTFN JMS P.S.: Check out Arbonne! I'm really excited about this stuff.

An Illuminating Experience

Kiddo has discovered fireflies. Tonight Hubby, Kiddo, and I spent a happy 30 minutes chasing down fireflies in our front yard and putting them (temporarily) into an old baby-food jar with holes in the lid. Kiddo wasn’t too sure about the whole "bug" thing, but he was pretty excited, and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. This was truly a memory made; thought I’d share it. Here's hoping for many more to come. TTFN JMS

Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot...

I’d be willing to bet that you probably have a friend or an acquaintance who lives close enough so you could walk to their house should you want to - but you never do, right? I’ve got an acquaintance, I’ll call her "Jo Slinger" because she’s newly associated with a very well-known coffee chain, who lives just up the street from me. I became acquainted with her about 2 years ago when she worked for another very well-known company that "slings" overnight packages and when I worked for...er...double-M-you-know-whatsis. (If you don’t know, you’re honestly not missing anything, and if you do know, I'm SO sorry. I’m certainly not missing anything except 3.5 years of misery and a few good friends.) Well tonight, Kiddo and I took a walk up the street and as we passed her house I decided to stop by for a quick hello. It was so nice to see her! She looks great, and like the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. I guess it’s quitting the job from you-know-where that makes the difference, eh? Don't I know it! Jo - it really was good to see you! Let’s keep in touch, OK? ½ mile or no ½ mile. TTFN JMS

The Ugly Duck and The Great Crested Flycatcher

Well...I posted twice in one day and now I’m posting once in two days...whaddaya think about that? I don’t have very much to say today... so let's talk about birds. We’ve been watching birds lately in a very passive sort of way. New Neighbors have a Great Crested Flycatcher nesting in a birdhouse they placed on one of their trees. Hubby got a couple bird books from the library so we could figure out what it was. No one knew...and now we do! Then I got curious about this really strange looking (I hate to actually call it ugly) duck-type thing we saw at the marina this weekend. It’s ugly, but apparently has a reputation for being a pretty good duck (and I’m not talking food here - I'm talking brains!). I guess that means it's a "smart" duck? Anyway - neither book from the library had anything on this ugly duck - called a Muscovy Duck - so I found it online. I'd like to meet and shake the hand of the person or persons who invented the best search engine in the universe! TTFN JMS Maybe when I dig through the boxes of books we have in the basement, I’ll come across the bird book we actually own...wouldn’t that be something?

Adoptable Dog: Updated Photo

This photo was taken by S.A.R.G. yesterday. It's MUCH better than the ones I took below (and yes, it is the same dog). See...now doesn't this make you want to run right out and adopt this sweet little thing? Her name is Phoebe...remember..Phoebe? S.A.R.G. has also posted her on their site, so if you're interested in adopting her (we'd really like to be able to visit her occasionally) or seeing what they're all about, click here. TTFN JMS

Young Friends & Beautiful Days

Though our actual time spent with AKAYP and son today was short, it was a blast. They arrived early, we spent about 20 minutes introducing the boys - who seemed to get along famously right off the bat - and then at Kiddo’s (both of them) request, we headed on down to the park near what passes for the marina here in the Secret City. AKAYP brought Lunchables, drinks, a large, inflatable baseball, a pinwheel, and a bag of (yum!) Sour Cream & Chives chips. We slathered Coppertone WaterBABIES on the Kiddos and sent them on their way through the maze of Playground Land. (Like Candy Land, only real.) It is a beautiful day today, and the boys played for maybe an hour, then we all got together under the shelter for our Lunchables. The entire meal experience went over like a lead balloon because the boys were more interested in the chocolate that came with the meal than the meal itself. (I personally ate all of mine, including the chocolate, and then wished silently that there had been more, even though I wasn’t hungry. Since there wasn’t more - I turned the majority of my attention to the bag of chips. I was amazed to find that there were still some left as we packed up to leave the park!) The boys enjoyed one another’s company - and were both exhausted by the time we went our separate ways. My Kiddo went home and spent a happy 90 minutes getting completely covered in sand while using a small kitchen sifter to get the leaves and other junk out of his sand box, and burying his little plastic armadillo up to its ears. This is the source of much amusement, I suppose. (The armadillo, just so you’ll know, took a shower with us later, too...) After a good nap, and an invitation, Kiddo and I went to play in the pool with the Clinton Clan. After many more slatherings of sunblock, we spent a happy 4 hours in and out of the 80 degree water with some of our very dearest friends. When we finished dinner (KFC, if you must know), we went home and Kiddo went directly to bed. I think we wore him out today...and what a good day it was. (BTW AKAYP, we’ll have to do that again sometime soon. Let’s bring the Hubbies so they can take the boys to throw rocks in the river while we sit around discussing...well...anything.) TTFN JMS

Anne of Green Gables & Adoptable Dogs

I’ve got AKAYP bringing her Kiddo to play with my Kiddo tomorrow - and no, I’m not going to clean my house. I have decided she and I are kindred spirits, just like Anne of Green Gables and Diana Barry. It’s rare that you find someone who thinks so closely to the way you think that jumping from one subject to another and back again is totally not an issue and we’re still able to follow the thread of the conversation. She put it perfectly at lunch today (and I’m paraphrasing), "You know, it’s like when you are driving in the car and see something on the side of the road you just have to comment on even though it has nothing to do with the conversation but if you don’t say something right then you’ll forget it and then you’ll be mad. That stuff doesn’t phase us like it does other people!" I almost feel like I’m back in Jr. High School and have found a new BFF where everything is new and fun and we can discuss boys and clothes and makeup and stuff, except we talk about kids, and sales, and money and...real-estate and...grown-up stuff. LOL! (For those of you who are new to these acronyms, BFF = Best Friend Forever and LOL = Laughing Out Loud. Don’t ask me why this is, it just is, OK?) I like writing this way. I think I’ll keep doing it for a while. On to another subject: Dogs. Our New Neighbors have two cute, though decidedly hyperactive, poodles. I’ll call them Yin & Yang for the purposes of this blog - since I’m not using anyone’s true names and since the dogs are black and white, respectively. New Neighbors are also fostering this absolutely adorable, though quite scruffy-looking, mutt (we think she’s part cairn terrier and part schnauzer) who needs a home. No one is exactly sure what her real name is; the people at the fostering agency (S.A.R.G.) dubbed her "Phoebe" and she answers to "Girl". New Neighbors have put it together and are calling her "Phoebe Girl" - which seems to work. Folks, if you are in the market for a wonderful, adult dog who doesn’t need to be house trained, is good with kids, other dogs, men, women, strangers, loves rides in the car, and who is very rarely loud in any way - this is the dog for you. I’d take her home with me in a heartbeat if I thought we could afford it. Yes - I realize she’s a bit funny-looking in these photos, but she’s much cuter in person. If you’re interested in giving her a home where she’ll be loved and well taken care of, please contact S.A.R.G directly and request information on Phoebe. Granted, it’s a lengthy process, but this dog needs a good home - and fast. Any takers? TTFN JMS

Totally Unforgivable ~OR~ I Was Asleep, What Did You Expect?

(All names have been changed to protect the innocent) I received a phone call last night around 10:30 from someone who I thought was a cousin from Michigan. (I have LOTS of cousins.) I was approximately 90% finished with the conversation when I suddenly realized who I was really talking to and was entirely too embarrassed to say so. She was even talking about her husband, calling him by name, and I kept thinking, “That’s Vee’s husband’s name – I didn’t realize we had two men in the family with that name!” It turns out it was Vee…who currently resides in the great state of NY…at least, I think she still lives there! Oh – I’m digging myself deeper and deeper…I might as well just jump in and let someone else fill in the hole! Honestly, I remember about half of the conversation. I know for a fact that she put her husband on the phone and I spoke to him for approximately 30 seconds. I remember that he sounds like a wonderful guy, though I’ve never actually met him. I remember also thinking, “Wow, Vee’s a lucky girl!” Another thing I remember is something about a house near Orlando that was offered as a place to stay should Hubby, Kiddo and I ever decide to go to Disney World. That’s a very definite possibility…but in a few years, after Kiddo gets older. I’d like him to be old enough to remember the trip. Anyway – I’d like to issue an apology to Cousin Vee and her family. If I was rude or unwelcoming at all, it was simply because I was asleep and thoroughly confused! Not that I wanted to be rude, especially (and I remember this clearly) when I said to you, “What are you doing calling me at 10:30?” I’m not rude. Really, I’m not. It was great to talk to you, Vee, even if I don’t really remember the whole conversation. Please call me sometime, say, around 6:00 PM when it’s almost guaranteed that I’ll be home and awake and willing to talk. TTFN JMS (Oh, and I think I’m a lucky girl, too! I love you, Hubby!)

A Little “Magic Kingdom” Goes A Long Way

I was driving Kiddo to his sitter’s house this morning and happened to have a very old mix tape that I made years and years ago when I lived in Mystic with The Perpetual Student (before she was a student). On this tape (and I am probably the only living person left in this world who still listens to tapes in the car), the last song on side A is from the movie Aladdin, called “A Friend Like Me”. Well – Kiddo went crazy! He started bouncing around in his car seat, smiling, and laughing and trying to sing along with this goofy song (which, by the way is sung by the great Robin Williams). When it was finished, Kiddo said, “Sing it again, Mommy!” so I, (of course, and who could blame me), rewound it and played it again…and again…and again! Four times we listened to this song and by the time he’d heard it the fourth time, he’d practically memorized it. He’s two! His sitter has the movie and has said that we can borrow it. We may have the beginnings of a Disney fan living in our little home! TTFN JMS