This Week's Flashback

These Ten on Tuesday questions took me down memory lane. And it is a long and winding road. Isn't that a country music song?


1. Think back a decade, do you remember what your first cellphone was? Was it as cool as Zack Morris’s phone?
Oooo. I am lovin the "Saved By The Bell" reference. I have always been a late bloomer when it comes to technology. It's genetic. We didn't have a microwave growing up until WAY after microwaves came out. My first cel phone wasn't too bad. Or too big. I fear I have spoken too much... I realize there are readers of this blog who (after the microwave comment) will think I am 74. I am obviously not 74, but I loved some "Saved By The Bell." Now I am old AND geeky.

2. What is the first children’s book you remember being read to you?
Dr. Seuss books. Especially "The Cat In The Hat."

3. What was your first car? Did you love it or hate it?
A red Dodge Shadow. I think it was a 1989. I loved it... Until the day it died in the middle of an intersection on the busiest road in Birmingham, Alabama. Then I hated it. Still drive a red vehicle to this day.

4. Who was your hero growing up?
Wonder Woman. I had Wonder Woman under-oos. Here we go again... I am not 74.

5. Think back to your first kiss. Was it everything you dreamed of?
Not at all. I think the poor boy lost at Spin the Bottle or something.

6. What was your first BAD hairstyle choice? (Extra points for embarrassing photos)
I made a mistake of asking for a Dorothy Hamill haircut. It was cute on her, but I was not an Olympic figure skater. I hated it the minute I walked out. I think I was in First Grade.
Since then, I have gone on to have many other yucky hairstyles. The entire 80's decade comes to mind. I had one in the 90's that my sweet husband calls the Holly Hobby hairdo. Nice.
(No extra points.)

7. What was your first realistic dream? (One where you had to think “Oh dang, was that a dream?”)
It was a horrible one. I dreamed someone I know was killed and the murderer was chasing me. Very real and very creepy.

8. What was the first phobia you remember developing?
I'll let you guess. They hiss.
I was 6 years old, and I was walking outside to take my dogs some food. I almost stepped on it before I actually noticed that it WASN'T a log.
BIG. Copperhead. Snake.
I remember running inside and much later realizing I was still holding onto the dogs' food. Welcome, snake phobia.

9. Which character on Sesame Street do you most identify with?
Elmo. Or Oscar, if I'm having a bad day. Or Cookie Monster.

10. What was the hardest goal you ever accomplished?
There are some that come to mind... like graduating from college, not failing a certain History class, buying and then selling our first house...
But without a doubt, the first one that comes to mind...
Childbirth.

This Might Seem Shallow...

I'm just gonna go on and say that, because there is absolutely no eternal significance to some of what I am about to post.

I've refrained for months now... refrained from posting about American Idol.

Last year, I think I offended some nice folks and alienated myself with my choice of personal favorite. I didn't dislike the winner... he was great. I just liked the other guy's singing better. See, there I go again. I feel the disapproving stares.

But that is so last year.

Let's see who I can tick off this season.

I'll start abruptly and say good good goody good-bye to Tim. I had been waiting for that moment for weeks.

I love love love Idol Gives Back. It's nice. And encouraging to see the Idol machine doing something good, besides churning out singers.

Tuesday night's episode was especially special to me because a great friend of mine gave me the laugh I'd needed all day. No names here. This person knows who they are and the rest of the story is for you all...

I have a few "texting buddies" during A.I. One of them is my sis-in-law, the other is my friend from college, and the other one is... well.
We all text and comment and chat during the show. Nothing is sacred. We even rate Kara's choice of hair-do for the night.
(I warned you I might seem shallow.)

My phone and fingers get a workout on Idol nights.

On Tuesday night, I waited a few minutes for this un-named friend to text me. To let me know he and his wife were watching. When I didn't hear from him, I wrote...

"You watchin?"

After a few minutes, this is what I got back...

"I wish!!! I am locked out of my house and (my wife) is (45 minutes away)!!!
Stop laughing!"

We are friends because he KNEW I'd be laughing. But we are also friends because of Idol. We bonded over it back in Season 2.
So being the good friend I am, I texted him updates all the way through the show. Inserting my opinions whenever necessary.
Thankfully his wife made it home, let him in the house, and he watched it on DVR.
His wife probably laughed too... and that's part of the reason I love her!
(I warned you I might seem shallow.)

Now my pick for this season? Because I know you all really give a hoot what I think.

Crystal. The girl has a gift. Her singing seems effortless.
And the thing I like and respect most about her is that she comes across so real. Down-to-Earth. And I'm not just referring to the dreadlocks.

I've always had an appreciation for people who were confident in their own skin. The ones who never seem to be trying to be something they're not.
And they're ok with others around them being real, too.
I may not agree with their personal choices, but I respect them and their ability to be "real" (for lack of a better word).

Maybe I could look for ways to be more like them.

Maybe I'll start by not laughing at my friend who locked himself out of his house on Idol night.

Well... maybe I'll find another way to start...

Tuesday's 10

If you all want to join in the fun, go to Roots and Rings!

1. What two cities should be moved closer together?
That's an easy peasy one! The two cities where our two families live... Pensacola, Florida and Woodruff, South Carolina. Do you know how much easier things would be if I could have moved these cities a long time ago? How much vacation time I would have saved? How less sore my booty would be from driving between the two?

2. What was the first plane ride you took?
This one's gonna be a shocker to ya'll. I was a full-fledged grown up. My first ever plane ride was to Indiana for a convention with Dan/Daddy and the boy. I was maybe 33? Up until then... never had a reason to fly. Truthfully, I hate it. I'm glad I missed out on it all those years. It is a stressful time for me and those seated around me.

3. What continent would you most like to visit?
Africa. Oops... That's gonna require a LONG flight, isn't it?

4. What’s your favorite place to window-shop?
Pottery Barn. I LOVE the store and the catalog makes me drool. The prices make me queasy. I like to try to copy their look for el-cheapo.

5. What’s the least fun you’ve ever had at a place specifically tailored for fun?
If you read my post from a few weeks ago, you would know this one. Chuck E Cheese.

6. You’re stuck on an island with plenty of food, a companion, and a relatively stress-free lifestyle. What do you say when the rescue ship comes?
"Keep on driving boys!" Or would that be floating? Sailing? There are days I wish I was stuck on an island. With no snakes.

7. Which day of the week do you look forward to most?
Friday.

8. What’s your favorite place to enjoy the great outdoors?
Near some form of water. Preferably the ocean, but a lake or a river will do. Just without snakes.

9. What’s on your “to do” list this summer?
#1 Take the boy to Disney World. I know... We are loser parents. He's just turned eleven and he's never been. Shame on us. I like to think we've been saving the money for the last 10 years.
#2 Make some family visits.
#3 Wear flip flops until the bottom of my feet turn black. Or until I fall.
#4 Get out in the sun just enough to stop frightening people and let the boy get just enough sun to make his freckles pop out.
#5 See no snakes.
#6 Wear pj's and swimsuits more than regular clothes.

10. Which natural disaster freaks you out the most?
A tornado. Sheesh. When some people find out that I want to live on the beach, they ask me if I'd worry about hurricanes. Nope, I say. That's why I love the Weather Channel. If there's a hurricane coming, you'll know about it weeks in advance. Tornadoes like to sneak up on you... sometimes in the dead of night. If a hurricane is coming, I'll pack my bags and batten down the storm shutters. If a tornado comes, I might wake up in my neighbor's tree. And with my luck, a snake wrapped around my neck.

Bee Stuff and Birthday Pictures

Am I the only tired 30-something in the land?

I am just beginning to feel normal (if that's a real thing) from all the hullabaloo that we participated in last week.

Dan/Daddy keeps blaming it on the illness I had. He and the boy swear it was H1N1. The boy enjoys calling it by it's less medical sounding name... Swine Flu. He exaggerates the swine part of the word.

Boys.

I've been considering buying something to pep myself up. Something legal.
I've tried vitamins and caffeine. They are dead to me.
Please don't tell me to start training for a marathon. (I KNOW I could lose 50 pounds or so, but running is not my friend.)

I am tempted to try that bee stuff.
Have you ever seen those late night infomercials for that bee juice? Is it honey? Is it vitamins? Is it flower nectar?

What in the heck IS it?

Is it liquid pollen? That sounds like a good time. Just go on and dial 911 now.

If anyone out there knows what it is... Please enlighten me! My curiosity is killing me.

Now on to more important things.

Last weekend, we had a house chock full o' grandparents.
Everyone wanted to see Dan/Daddy, and we had a birthday to celebrate.

Here's the big 11 year-old with both sets of grandparents. Yep. He's blessed.


This is Nana and Pops... Dan/Daddy's parents...


This is Baba and Papa... my parents...


And this is us, thinking, "Where did the last 11 years go?"


We had ourselves a cookout...


And some rockin' birthday cake...


And our close friends, the Smiths, came too...


In this family, we can drag out a birthday. And it's not a tradition reserved just for my "only." We have been known to celebrate for anyone for a week if necessary.

The weekend before (on his actual birthday) I took the boy and 2 buddies to a movie and out to dinner.


After treats at school, a welcome home ceremony for Dan/Daddy, a Spring Break, grandparents visiting, 3 boys at dinner and a movie, a party at home, and a little H1N1...

I may upgrade my shipment of bee stuff to "Express."

Ten On Tuesday

If you haven't clicked on over to Roots and Rings by now, then shame on you. The host of our Tuesday fun is so cute with her little pregnant belly.

I am glad to be back to Ten on Tuesday after last week's brush with the Grim Reaper.


1. What book, movie or song has made you want to travel to a particular place? (eg. I went to Prince Edward Island because I was such a Anne of Green Gables fan)
I tried and tried to think of a specific place or song, but I got nothin' folks. All I keep coming up with are Jimmy Buffet and James Taylor songs that make me want to be at the beach.

2. Aside from your significant other, who would you want to take with you on a dream trip?
Well I wouldn't leave the boy at home; we'd never hear the end of it. I would probably take my parents... they deserve a dream trip after raising me.

3. Where would said dream trip be to?
Pardon my dementia, but have I answered this before? An African safari. An African safari where no one gets eaten by a jaguar or mauled by a chimp... I watch Animal Planet... these things happen.

4. If you were hosting guests or providing tips, what three things would you show visitors to your hometown? (be it where you live now or where you grew up)
Despite LOVING the little town where I grew up, we don't have any "can't miss" landmarks. Where I live now? Probably a museum, maybe the river, and of course the home of the All American 82nd.

5. If you had a long weekend ahead of you, where you head – beach, city or country/mountains?
Please. Again? The beach.

6. Do you have a passport? If so, did you get it for a particular trip or just to have, in case?
Nope. Haven't had a need yet. Almost got one last year "just in case."

7. Are there any travel souvenirs you collect? If not, is there something else you collect?
I usually try to pick up something that kinda represents the place we've seen. Something "local" I guess. But not one type of thing in particular. This question makes me think of little souvenir shot glasses and those state magnets...

8. If you could name a paint colour, what colour would it be and what would you call it?
"Autumn Beach." Do I really need to explain?

9. If you were heading away for a weekend citybreak solo, where would you go? (forget about practicality here and flight times, assume you can get to any city in the world for the weekend)
If we are forgetting about practicality, then I am going to Paris, baby. And while we are being impractical, someone else is footing the bill. And I can speak fluent French.

10. Is there a song or a smell or something that you strongly associate with a particular holiday/place/time, such that it always takes you back?
LOVE this question. This is a little personal obsession of mine... the way smells trigger memories...
grass and/or hay = home when I was a child
Windsong perfume and/or Jergan's lotion = my Granny
plough mud and marsh = Charleston
charcoal burning = the 4th of July cookout that my church had every year growing up
Bonnie Bell lip gloss = the skating rink from my childhood
I could go on, but I'll spare you. And as far as songs go... I really don't think this is the time or place to re-visit "Hits of the 80's."

Happy Tuesday!

Boy Oh Boy... Do I Know How To Throw a Welcome Home Party!?!

Would you all like to see some pictures of our Spring Break?
How about some pictures from all the fun family bonding we did when Dan/Daddy got home?

Well...

I hope not, 'cause there are none. Zilch. Zippo. Nada.

The first 3 days that Dan/Daddy was home, he avoided me like the plague.

'Cause I think I HAD the plague.

Headache, fever, chills, nausea, body aches (like I'd been hit by a car body aches), and about 4,975 trips to the bathroom. Too much information?

I managed to make it through the official "Welcome Home" ceremony (sorta), and then I crawled into the bed. I didn't crawl out until Wednesday night. Good times.

The boy and his newly-home daddy had to fend for themselves.
And they weren't complaining.
They played outside, they rode bikes, and they fished... a lot.

They also celebrated the lack of mommy-control.
The boy's lunch on Tuesday consisted of a Blow Pop and Doritos.

When I fussed about the lack of nutritional content in their meals, they told me he'd had a grape soda... and that was a fruit.

Needless to say, sick time was over.

By the end of the week, I was a lot better, and we had a house full of company.
My parents and Dan's parents came into town to see him, and we all had a big 11th Birthday party for the boy.

Then, last night, I took the boy and myself to see our favorite band in the whole widest wide world... Daughtry!

Whew.

I do have pictures of the party, of the grandparents, and even from the concert.
Just none of the boy and his dad enjoying their Spring Break. I was too busy knocking on death's door to harass them with the camera.

They did seem unusually happy...

And Then There Were Three... Again

Today is the first day of the boy's Spring Break.
Woo hoo! Oh how I love Spring Break. Minus the green haze of pollen that's taken over our land.

But there was no sleeping in or going on vacation for us...
Nope.
We had other business to attend to...



We got up at the crack of dawn to get this guy...



I don't think the boy minded starting off his Spring Break by getting up so early...



Welcome home Dan/Daddy!