It is unseasonably warm here.
UnSEASONably. Do not make me remind you, oh weather, that you are a bit "outta line." I love your warm sunshiny days, but could we have eased into it a little slower? Maybe not jumped from 30 to 75 degrees SO quickly.
You see, when you change so fast and so soon (it ain't even Valentine's Day, yet)... you confuse the plants. The little trees and bushes think it's time to start growing again. And that, oh weather, involves POLLEN.
Pollen... the dreaded enemy of this Claritin-poppin', inhaler-suckin' family.
Did I mention that I have a headache? That's lasted for about 64 hours now? I think it's the premature pollen. It could be whiplash from the weather change. It could be the dust in my house. It could be the long break between American Idol episodes.
I am not complaining too loudly, though. The flip-flops made a brief appearance yesterday. They were so happy to be out of their little basket.
Now I need a pedicure.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
I Hope I Can be His "Out"
Just this week, I was chatting with a friend about our boys. Hers is a year older than mine. He is quickly approaching that "land of in-between." That strange odd place where so much of what they say and do is still so "little boy." But, every now and then you catch a scary glimpse of the tween/teen years that are QUICKLY approaching. Mine is not far behind.
Please don't misunderstand me. I ain't rushing a thing here. I would keep him little forever if it were up to me. I am just coming to grips with the inevitable.
From the get-go, we have been the strict, un-cool parents. We make the boy drink milk (No!), we enforce an early bedtime (Gasp!), we VERY rarely let him attend events without us (Wow!), we don't let him see movies that we haven't pre-viewed (Boring!), and I still walk him to school... even though I could spit on the teachers' cars from my kitchen window. (Not that I would do that!)
Back to my friend's conversation...
Her son had been invited to a birthday party where the kids were gonna watch movies. Movies that their son may not have been allowed to see. When she explained her reasoning to her son, he was ok with it. He was ok with missing that part of the party. Then she said the thing that brought back a long-forgotten feeling. She said,
"I think he may have been a little relieved that I said he couldn't go."
Do you remember that feeling?
Was I the only child on the planet that ever felt that way?
You really weren't sure about going somewhere or doing something and a parent said "no," and a tiny wave of relief washed over you?
I am not talking about backing out of a commitment or not doing something required for school or church. School, homework, church, and family obligations... those were non-negotiable for us, and they are for the boy.
I am talking about those times when you were a teensy bit glad that mom or dad said "no." "Not this weekend." "We have plans." Or, "I don't feel comfortable with you going."
You had an "out," and your parents got the "blame."
"Sorry, my mom said I can't."
You kept your little secret and everyone else just thought you had impossible parents. And, that was ok with them.
Well, it is ok with me, too. If the boy ever needs an "excuse" to not be somewhere he isn't totally comfortable being... I'll be the "out."
I'll say "no" and smile and be the un-cool mom I was meant to be.
Please don't misunderstand me. I ain't rushing a thing here. I would keep him little forever if it were up to me. I am just coming to grips with the inevitable.
From the get-go, we have been the strict, un-cool parents. We make the boy drink milk (No!), we enforce an early bedtime (Gasp!), we VERY rarely let him attend events without us (Wow!), we don't let him see movies that we haven't pre-viewed (Boring!), and I still walk him to school... even though I could spit on the teachers' cars from my kitchen window. (Not that I would do that!)
Back to my friend's conversation...
Her son had been invited to a birthday party where the kids were gonna watch movies. Movies that their son may not have been allowed to see. When she explained her reasoning to her son, he was ok with it. He was ok with missing that part of the party. Then she said the thing that brought back a long-forgotten feeling. She said,
"I think he may have been a little relieved that I said he couldn't go."
Do you remember that feeling?
Was I the only child on the planet that ever felt that way?
You really weren't sure about going somewhere or doing something and a parent said "no," and a tiny wave of relief washed over you?
I am not talking about backing out of a commitment or not doing something required for school or church. School, homework, church, and family obligations... those were non-negotiable for us, and they are for the boy.
I am talking about those times when you were a teensy bit glad that mom or dad said "no." "Not this weekend." "We have plans." Or, "I don't feel comfortable with you going."
You had an "out," and your parents got the "blame."
"Sorry, my mom said I can't."
You kept your little secret and everyone else just thought you had impossible parents. And, that was ok with them.
Well, it is ok with me, too. If the boy ever needs an "excuse" to not be somewhere he isn't totally comfortable being... I'll be the "out."
I'll say "no" and smile and be the un-cool mom I was meant to be.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Gotta Get it Together
I have not:
1. ironed anything
2. washed anything
3. finished the taxes
4. made the bed
5. balanced my checkbook (in a VERY long time)
6. finished my Bible study
7. put on any makeup
8. loaded the dishwasher
OR
9. figured out what we are having for dinner (Dan's home... We gotta eat like normal people again...)
But...
I fixed the blog. It's all about priorities, folks.
Oh, yeah. I did feed the cats. So they wouldn't eat US.
1. ironed anything
2. washed anything
3. finished the taxes
4. made the bed
5. balanced my checkbook (in a VERY long time)
6. finished my Bible study
7. put on any makeup
8. loaded the dishwasher
OR
9. figured out what we are having for dinner (Dan's home... We gotta eat like normal people again...)
But...
I fixed the blog. It's all about priorities, folks.
Oh, yeah. I did feed the cats. So they wouldn't eat US.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
I Have a Disease
And there is no cure for it. I am a chronic furniture re-arranger.
The teeny tiny Army house that I live in keeps me from being able to feed my addiction.
So, I re-arrange the bloggy.
It seems to be bothered by all my "messin' around" with it. My friends and family blog lists are doing odd things.
And, my newest list of "blog-world friends who make me laugh..." Well, it's gone too.
I'll just have to get around to fixing those glitches. After I finish our taxes. And take our sorry behinds to church. And iron some clothes. And wash some clothes. And feed the cats.
The teeny tiny Army house that I live in keeps me from being able to feed my addiction.
So, I re-arrange the bloggy.
It seems to be bothered by all my "messin' around" with it. My friends and family blog lists are doing odd things.
And, my newest list of "blog-world friends who make me laugh..." Well, it's gone too.
I'll just have to get around to fixing those glitches. After I finish our taxes. And take our sorry behinds to church. And iron some clothes. And wash some clothes. And feed the cats.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Get Out the Fire Extinguisher
I think my exact words were,
"Are you trying to make me run down the street with my hair on fire?!?"
'Cause that's what I threaten when things go awry.
We (the boy and I) have been living in a two-person household for the entire month of January. Dan has been away at training. To prepare himself and his fellow soldiers for yet another "fun-filled, all-expense paid trip to the beautiful Middle East."
We USUALLY do fine when we are without him.
This month has gone by beautifully. The boy has been sweet, helpful, and very good in his daddy's absence.
However, he decided to try and make up for the entire month of angelic behavior in a 24 hour period.
First, I asked him about some missed questions on a pre-test...
The boy says, "OH MY GOSH, MOM!" (Raised voice and eye-bulging included.)
Then, I reminded him (get ready) that basketball practice was "picture night."
The boy says, "Great. I WAS having a good day until you told me that!" (Snorting and stomping included.)
There were more and more of these little incidents (mini tantrums) as the day wore on. He even asked me if I wanted to duel him in an "insult contest." (My answer was one of those beautiful and rare parenting gems, but... he was not impressed. There was more groaning and eye rolling.)
And my personal favorite...
I was trying to gather my "stuff" to head out the door to picture-taking ("hell on earth" to the boy) practice. Ending a phone call, looking for my keys, making sure I have the wallet and checkbook, turning off lights, etc., etc., etc. You know how the "fly-out-the-door moments" are, right?
Well, Mr. Funny Pants (who is waiting outside) decided that he'd play a game of "Ring and Run" with me.
He rings the doorbell.
I answer from where I'm standing (knowing it's him), "What do you need, son?"
No reply. He rings again.
I answer (louder), "If you need me, you can come inside and talk to me. I'm busy."
No reply. He rings again. And again. Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Faster and faster.
When I stomp to the door to yell at him in my best red-neck momma voice, he runs.
To the front door where he proceeds to ring THAT doorbell. And laugh like a maniac.
I calmly return to my "gathering" and try not to allow the persistent ding-donging of the doorbell to get to me.
That's when the knocking started. Tapping on the windows, rapping on the doors. Tapping. Ringing. Rapping. Ringing.
You would have thought he'd recruited the neighborhood children to help him.
How is it possible for one child to run all around our house and make all that racket?
Then, I lost it.
The mind-numbing ringing and tapping and psycho giggling caused something deep inside me to snap, and I SCREAMED,
"AAGGHH! IF YOU DON'T STOP THAT AND GET IN THE CAR THIS INSTANT, I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"
One of my finer red-neck momma moments. (Aren't you proud, honey?)
As we drive away to practice a few moments later, I make my "hair on fire" comment.
His reply to me?
"Gosh. Girls just don't know how to take a joke."
PS... I realized last night that our side doorbell and our front doorbell have two different rings.
"Are you trying to make me run down the street with my hair on fire?!?"
'Cause that's what I threaten when things go awry.
We (the boy and I) have been living in a two-person household for the entire month of January. Dan has been away at training. To prepare himself and his fellow soldiers for yet another "fun-filled, all-expense paid trip to the beautiful Middle East."
We USUALLY do fine when we are without him.
This month has gone by beautifully. The boy has been sweet, helpful, and very good in his daddy's absence.
However, he decided to try and make up for the entire month of angelic behavior in a 24 hour period.
First, I asked him about some missed questions on a pre-test...
The boy says, "OH MY GOSH, MOM!" (Raised voice and eye-bulging included.)
Then, I reminded him (get ready) that basketball practice was "picture night."
The boy says, "Great. I WAS having a good day until you told me that!" (Snorting and stomping included.)
There were more and more of these little incidents (mini tantrums) as the day wore on. He even asked me if I wanted to duel him in an "insult contest." (My answer was one of those beautiful and rare parenting gems, but... he was not impressed. There was more groaning and eye rolling.)
And my personal favorite...
I was trying to gather my "stuff" to head out the door to picture-taking ("hell on earth" to the boy) practice. Ending a phone call, looking for my keys, making sure I have the wallet and checkbook, turning off lights, etc., etc., etc. You know how the "fly-out-the-door moments" are, right?
Well, Mr. Funny Pants (who is waiting outside) decided that he'd play a game of "Ring and Run" with me.
He rings the doorbell.
I answer from where I'm standing (knowing it's him), "What do you need, son?"
No reply. He rings again.
I answer (louder), "If you need me, you can come inside and talk to me. I'm busy."
No reply. He rings again. And again. Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Faster and faster.
When I stomp to the door to yell at him in my best red-neck momma voice, he runs.
To the front door where he proceeds to ring THAT doorbell. And laugh like a maniac.
I calmly return to my "gathering" and try not to allow the persistent ding-donging of the doorbell to get to me.
That's when the knocking started. Tapping on the windows, rapping on the doors. Tapping. Ringing. Rapping. Ringing.
You would have thought he'd recruited the neighborhood children to help him.
How is it possible for one child to run all around our house and make all that racket?
Then, I lost it.
The mind-numbing ringing and tapping and psycho giggling caused something deep inside me to snap, and I SCREAMED,
"AAGGHH! IF YOU DON'T STOP THAT AND GET IN THE CAR THIS INSTANT, I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"
One of my finer red-neck momma moments. (Aren't you proud, honey?)
As we drive away to practice a few moments later, I make my "hair on fire" comment.
His reply to me?
"Gosh. Girls just don't know how to take a joke."
PS... I realized last night that our side doorbell and our front doorbell have two different rings.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
My Facebook List
There's this fun little thingy going around with my Facebook friends. (Told you it was a problem.)
You have to come up with a list of 25 "random" things about yourself and then "tag" more friends to do the same.
I thought (silly me) that it would be easy. "Random" is my middle name. But, the list was more challenging than it seemed at first. I wanted to give people "new" things, or things they may not have known about moi.
It took me so long that I couldn't let all that hard work go to waste.
Well, I really thought, "Hey! Free blog post idea!" But, I think a few of my friends actually already did that. Darn. Oh well.
Please don't let the following information scare any of you away. I'm also sorry if it's dull and boring and a "repeat" of knowledge you may already have. I try.
25 Random Things About Me:
1. I am deathly afraid of snakes. Can't even look at them in books or on TV. Frogs and lizards are ok... as long as they're small.
2. I am addicted to "American Idol."
3. In my mind, County General Hospital (ER... Thursday nights at 10:00 on NBC) is a real place. Don't tell me it's not. And, don't remind me that this is the last season.
4. In college, I was an Art Major before I was an Education Major.
5. If I could go back to school, I'd study Photography.
6. I HATE exercising. But, I do it (occasionally) because I am not getting any younger, and I dream of being skinny again one day.
7. I have lived in South Carolina, Alabama, California, and North Carolina.
8. I have driven across the USA twice. And, I do not recommend it. It ain't fun.
9. I go nuts after riding in the car more than a few hours. (See #8)
10. I really didn't PLAN on having just one kid... it just worked out that way for us.
11. Adoption is a frequent topic of conversation for our family.
12. I am CONSTANTLY amazed at how God is evident in everything that happens. Everything!
13. I am learning to accept that life is full of the unknown. I HATE the unknown.
14. I want to be a "Turtle Lady" when I am old. Well, oldER. (They live on the beach and help rescue and protect the sea turtles.)
15. I like anything with polka dots.
16. I think that being a chaplain's wife is easier than being a preacher's wife. They are very similar, but one is easier than the other.
17. Army deployments are not as horrible as I thought they would be. Hard, but not impossible... thanks to Jesus!
18. Science and medicine fascinate me.
19. I have a tattoo. (Shocked?)
20. I want another one. (I'm shocked. I SWORE that one would be enough once I felt that pain.)
21. I am a HUGE "Harry Potter" fan. I've read all the books, and now I'm re-reading them with my son. I read the last one in less than a day. (I'm a VERY fast reader.)
22. We (me and Dan) have had the same best friends (the Wrenns) for almost 15 years. We still talk to them and see them whenever we can... which is never enough.
23. I wanted to be a vet or a marine biologist when I was little... never a teacher. Go figure.
24. I could eat Mexican food 7 days a week.
25. I love, love, love, love the ocean.
Happy Wednesday.
You have to come up with a list of 25 "random" things about yourself and then "tag" more friends to do the same.
I thought (silly me) that it would be easy. "Random" is my middle name. But, the list was more challenging than it seemed at first. I wanted to give people "new" things, or things they may not have known about moi.
It took me so long that I couldn't let all that hard work go to waste.
Well, I really thought, "Hey! Free blog post idea!" But, I think a few of my friends actually already did that. Darn. Oh well.
Please don't let the following information scare any of you away. I'm also sorry if it's dull and boring and a "repeat" of knowledge you may already have. I try.
25 Random Things About Me:
1. I am deathly afraid of snakes. Can't even look at them in books or on TV. Frogs and lizards are ok... as long as they're small.
2. I am addicted to "American Idol."
3. In my mind, County General Hospital (ER... Thursday nights at 10:00 on NBC) is a real place. Don't tell me it's not. And, don't remind me that this is the last season.
4. In college, I was an Art Major before I was an Education Major.
5. If I could go back to school, I'd study Photography.
6. I HATE exercising. But, I do it (occasionally) because I am not getting any younger, and I dream of being skinny again one day.
7. I have lived in South Carolina, Alabama, California, and North Carolina.
8. I have driven across the USA twice. And, I do not recommend it. It ain't fun.
9. I go nuts after riding in the car more than a few hours. (See #8)
10. I really didn't PLAN on having just one kid... it just worked out that way for us.
11. Adoption is a frequent topic of conversation for our family.
12. I am CONSTANTLY amazed at how God is evident in everything that happens. Everything!
13. I am learning to accept that life is full of the unknown. I HATE the unknown.
14. I want to be a "Turtle Lady" when I am old. Well, oldER. (They live on the beach and help rescue and protect the sea turtles.)
15. I like anything with polka dots.
16. I think that being a chaplain's wife is easier than being a preacher's wife. They are very similar, but one is easier than the other.
17. Army deployments are not as horrible as I thought they would be. Hard, but not impossible... thanks to Jesus!
18. Science and medicine fascinate me.
19. I have a tattoo. (Shocked?)
20. I want another one. (I'm shocked. I SWORE that one would be enough once I felt that pain.)
21. I am a HUGE "Harry Potter" fan. I've read all the books, and now I'm re-reading them with my son. I read the last one in less than a day. (I'm a VERY fast reader.)
22. We (me and Dan) have had the same best friends (the Wrenns) for almost 15 years. We still talk to them and see them whenever we can... which is never enough.
23. I wanted to be a vet or a marine biologist when I was little... never a teacher. Go figure.
24. I could eat Mexican food 7 days a week.
25. I love, love, love, love the ocean.
Happy Wednesday.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Anniversaries and Tags
Well... This speaks VOLUMES about me.
I missed something. I forgot something. I let something slide by without even a thought.
I just had an anniversary. No, not the wedding kind. The blogging kind.
One year of blogging has come and gone.
I was hoping to make it to 100 posts in one year, but that was just a bit too ambitious for me.
So I ask myself, "Self, what has one year of blogging has taught you."
* Blogging is addictive.
* If you blog, you will become a stalker of other blogs.
* Stalking other blogs is a great way to find really funny and nice people.
* Blogging makes you put off things like showering and getting dressed and returning phone calls and doing housework and I could go on and on and on.
* Blogging gives you one more excuse to NOT catch up on your scrapbooking. Kinda feels redundant.
* Blogging is cathartic. Big word! I like "getting things off my chest" without actually having to bother a real human being.
Oh yeah... the overdue tag....
My friend Jill "tagged" me in her blog. About a year ago. Well, not that long ago. But, I have been sooo busy chatting with her on Facebook...
that's a whole 'nother problem, people...
that I haven't read her blog in a while. Her little girl has been sick, and she's been keeping me up to date on that.
Anywho, she did tag me, and here it goes.
You apparently take the 4th picture from your 4th album on your computer, post it, and explain it to the bloggy world.
OK, Jill. Well. It's kinda weird.
Told ya it was weird. It's a little monkey. At the Atlanta Zoo. From 2006.
We were in Atlanta visiting my brother and April, and we all went to the zoo. Dan was home from Iraq on his two week R&R.
This cute little guy -from what I can remember- was just hanging out by the glass watching us. He let us take lots of pictures, and he was so playful.
I love monkeys. Always have. Strange, I know. I even envy the researchers who get to go out into their natural habitats and study them. What a cool job. That is, until one of those giant snakes that live there crawled by me. Or, until one of those precious monkeys decided to hurl some poopie at me. I hear they do that. Research time over.
I suppose I'll just stick to the zoo.
I missed something. I forgot something. I let something slide by without even a thought.
I just had an anniversary. No, not the wedding kind. The blogging kind.
One year of blogging has come and gone.
I was hoping to make it to 100 posts in one year, but that was just a bit too ambitious for me.
So I ask myself, "Self, what has one year of blogging has taught you."
* Blogging is addictive.
* If you blog, you will become a stalker of other blogs.
* Stalking other blogs is a great way to find really funny and nice people.
* Blogging makes you put off things like showering and getting dressed and returning phone calls and doing housework and I could go on and on and on.
* Blogging gives you one more excuse to NOT catch up on your scrapbooking. Kinda feels redundant.
* Blogging is cathartic. Big word! I like "getting things off my chest" without actually having to bother a real human being.
Oh yeah... the overdue tag....
My friend Jill "tagged" me in her blog. About a year ago. Well, not that long ago. But, I have been sooo busy chatting with her on Facebook...
that's a whole 'nother problem, people...
that I haven't read her blog in a while. Her little girl has been sick, and she's been keeping me up to date on that.
Anywho, she did tag me, and here it goes.
You apparently take the 4th picture from your 4th album on your computer, post it, and explain it to the bloggy world.
OK, Jill. Well. It's kinda weird.
Told ya it was weird. It's a little monkey. At the Atlanta Zoo. From 2006.
We were in Atlanta visiting my brother and April, and we all went to the zoo. Dan was home from Iraq on his two week R&R.
This cute little guy -from what I can remember- was just hanging out by the glass watching us. He let us take lots of pictures, and he was so playful.
I love monkeys. Always have. Strange, I know. I even envy the researchers who get to go out into their natural habitats and study them. What a cool job. That is, until one of those giant snakes that live there crawled by me. Or, until one of those precious monkeys decided to hurl some poopie at me. I hear they do that. Research time over.
I suppose I'll just stick to the zoo.
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