Halloween Logic

Here in our town, a sure sign of Fall is not the cooler weather nor the changing leaves.
It's the gigantic inflatable costume shop that looks like a 2-story pumpkin sunk into the ground.
I'm not sure why the costume people don't rent a building or a store.  I plan on asking them when we go in.  When we go in.

The boy and I drove past the ginormo pumpkin a few days ago, and we had this conversation:

Me:  "Are you dressing up for Halloween this year or not?"

The Boy:  "Ummm... candy."

Me:  "Very true."

The Boy:  "All these people think Halloween is for babies.  They think they're too cool to dress up."

Me:  "You aren't worried about that?"

The Boy:  "You know what I think is cool?  Coming home with a sack full of candy."


That's my boy.

3 Weeks And 1 Day And Sad Hearts

If I had a nickel for every time I started a blog post in my head, I would have a lot of nickles.
Sometimes it feels like nothing is happening and sometimes everything happens at once.

It also feels like Summer will never die.
If Labor Day is the unofficial end of Summer, then old man Heat didn't get the memo.  Neither did his friend, Humidity.  It's so hot I can't even complain about the heat.  The weather chic promises a "weekend cooldown."  Unless it snows, I will not cool off.

In the last 3 weeks and 1 day since a blog posting, here's some of what has happened:

1.  I've noticed a man that lives in our neighborhood is always on his porch.  In a creepy way.  Every time I drive down the street, I see him... staring.  Any time of day or night,  he's there.  Now I tell myself, "Don't look, don't look."  But, I do.  And he's looking back.  It's starting to give me the heebie jeebies.

2. We went to my parents' over the holiday weekend so the men folk could hunt doves. The women folk hunted bargains.  It was boiling hot, so Dan/Daddy whacked off the boy's long pants into the shortest pair of camo short shorts I have ever seen.  The boy said the doves flew away because they were blinded by the whiteness of his legs.  Remind me to never let Dan/Daddy alter my clothes.

3.  I started a new walking regimen.  I walked for "health" before, but I have a new partner.  She's a retired Marine.  Yeah... I don't know what I was thinking.  She said she wanted to walk for her health, but I suspect she's taken me on as a project.
On Day 3 of our walking, she suggested we add crunches.  I suggested she was smoking something.
I gave her permission to ditch me, but she hasn't.  I may not live till Halloween.

4.  My email was hacked.  More than once.  A few of my friends were receiving links to something that I obviously did not send.  The name was mine, but the email belonged to Benito Somebody.  Really, Benito?  You have nothing better to do?

5. The boy developed (another) mystery rash.  (Way before the hunting trip.)  This one started on his hands and arms and spread to his feet. 
I took him to the doctor, sent pics of his arm to an ER Nurse friend, chased down a PA and another nurse at church, and made Dan/Daddy ask a surgeon friend of ours.  I have no shame.
The diagnosis?  No one knows what it is.  Something he touched or brushed against caused a reaction.  The doc prescribed steroid cream, and now everyone we know in the medical field is avoiding me.

6.  College football has returned and all feels right with the world again.  Turn up the TV, and bring out the food.  Something containing cheese, please?

7.  On a very very very very sad note... Our puppy was killed.  I have been avoiding blogging about it partly because my heart is still breaking.  I can't go into details without crying into the keyboard, but it was a traumatic accident.  Dan/Daddy and the boy were there, but she didn't make it to the vet.
We have muddled through the last week, and we try to remember the sweet times with her.
If you don't mind, say a prayer for my little man... he's taking it in great stride, but I know it was hard to see and even harder to get over.
So sorry to end on a sad note.
I hope and pray wherever you are... you have a blessed weekend.
If it's cooler wherever you are... get ready.  I am moving in.

School Daze

Well. We are back in my least favorite routine. The routine that involves setting an alarm, putting on something besides pjs, and making a ham sandwich... All before 6:00 am.
Blah.
I would like to have the cool weather, the pumpkin patch, the yummy soups, and the football games without the school, please.

The boy started 7th grade a few days ago, and I have been a little bit weepy. He also went to his first big "Youth Group" event with the kids at church. Sniff, sniff. He's having a blast, but I just wonder where the pudgy-faced baby went.
If you want to avert your eyes from my teary trip down memory lane, now is your chance.
I warned you.

Here are the last 8 "First Days of School." They have zoomed by entirely too fast...

I put this last picture on Facebook, and a few of my friends commented on the boy's apparent lack of self-confidence.
He is fearless. That is one trait he did not get from me.

I said maybe if I had a backpack you can see from space, I would have better self-esteem, too.

Hug your babies tight as they head out the door for school this year.

Pretty soon you will be hugging one who is taller than you who insists on the Day-Glow accessories.



In A Bubble

I may have mentioned we are glued to the TV.  The Games of the XXX Olympiad (I love saying that) have sucked us in. 
We all sit on the sofa and scream and cheer for the runners and the swimmers and the gymnasts, even though we saw the headline on MSN 4 hours earlier that told us who won. 
We are easy to please.
Our dog got in on the Olympic action a few days ago, too.  She ran 6 laps through the dining room, kitchen, and living room.  She even hurdled the magazine rack.  I think she was hoping someone would get up and play with her, but then she was pooped out from her blast of energy. 

I have noticed, however, that life on the outside is rolling on.  While we eat Chex Mix and dream of swimming 200 meters without lifeguard assistance.

Things that have happened since the Olympics started:

1.  The price of gas tripled.  Again.  OK, I noticed this when it happened because I am "one of those people" who will drive to the other side of town to spend .19 less.  Yes, I know I spent $3.23 getting there, but it's a mind game with me.

2.  The start of school is less than 3 days away.  Boo and hiss.

3.  Our grass started growing again after 873 days of 100+ degree weather.  Now that grass needs to be cut.  Boo and hiss.

4.  It is still entirely too hot outside.  I prefer to not go out there.  Where is Fall?  I've resorted to looking at pumpkin crafts and soup recipes on Pinterest just to keep hope alive.

5.  The boy grew another 5 inches.  Actually, I noticed this one, too.  He passed me in height about a month ago.
His back-to-school physical confirmed it.  Even the doctor looked at his chart and said,
"Has he really grown that much in one year?"
If the people that measure him for a living are surprised, then what is this world coming to?

So on this hot Monday morning, we are watching more Olympics, and I am making a grocery list.
The living creatures in this house keep eating, and we keep running out of food.

Dan/Daddy left the empty dog food bag on the kitchen counter this morning.  I'm not sure if it was a hint.
He couldn't muster the strength to write "dog food" on the grocery list so he put the empty bag on the island. 
He's apparently weak from lack of nourishment, bless him.
He also doesn't know the dog will eat Chex Mix, too.

Gold Medal In Nothing

Around here, we are all about the Olympics.  The TV is on 24/7 and the Games are holding our attention.
I have been amazed at every single event I've watched.
Maybe it's my complete lack of athletic ability combined with my zero amount of motivation, but I am A M A Z E D.
Most of these competitors are just kids, too.
Amazing, y'all.  Amazing.

I've decided my only gold medal would be in procrastination.  Or overeating.  Or not running marathons.

Anywho... with only one week left in this blur of a summer, here are some pics of our fast and furious visit to see our families.

First we headed to sunny Florida to see Dan/Daddy's family.  We went from the beach to the pool to the restaurants, and then we did it all over again.
PS... At some point in the last few months, my 13 year-old passed me in height.  What is happening here?

From Florida we drove up to South Carolina to spend a few days with my family.

The schedule at my parents' included fishing, napping, shopping, some delayed 4th of July fireworks, and a rowdy soccer game.

Since we've been home, we've:

1.  had a mini house guest (more on that later),

2.  survived Vacation Bible School, and

3.  started to get ready for 7th grade.

Phew.

I'm off to watch some swimming.

Go USA.

California Cousins

When we lived in the High Desert of California, one of the first friends I made was a gal whose Southern accent caught my ear from across the playground.
We immediately bonded over a shared love of sweet tea, polite strangers, and "Steel Magnolias."
When you live where the Army sends you, you look for ways to connect with people.  Sarah and I definitely connected.  Our kids connected, and our husbands even became friends.

One weekend when Dan/Daddy's parents were visiting,  Sarah mentioned her hometown in Florida.
Once we all started playing the "Do You Know So-And-So Game," things took a crazy turn.

You see, it turns out Dan/Daddy and my friend, Sarah,  were actually related.
Distantly... but it was enough for Sarah and me.
Sarah's grandfather and Dan/Daddy's great-grandfather were brothers.
"It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all, it's a small world after all..."
(You're welcome.)
I may have the relationship mixed up.  I may have it totally wrong.  In truth, Sarah and I don't really care how she and Dan/Daddy are kin.  I think we both totally forget that it's him she's really related to... and not me.

In 2008, we left California for North Carolina, and Sarah and her family moved to Australia.  Then they moved to Maryland, and we headed to Tennessee.
Ahhh.... Army life.
A few weeks ago, Sarah called me to tell me they were moving to Georgia, and asked if they could stop and see us along the way.
We had ourselves a reunion.  We had 4 years to catch up on, and we made the most of our time.
We laughed and talked and laughed and laughed.  And then laughed a little more.  Our kids had the chance to get to know each other all over again.  They also endured the grown-ups keeping them up way too late.

The boy with his "cousins"

Dan/Daddy and Nate...

"Cousin Sarah" and me...

When I am being honest, I have to admit how much I hated that hot hot desert of California.  I was convinced that we'd been sent to hell on earth.  Once I got my head out of the sand, I found some amazing people. Those years gave me great friendships and wonderful memories.  I even found a long-lost relative I never knew I had.

The 4th Of July We All Melted

There is no good reason to complain about the heat.  But who needs a good reason?  I just need the thermometer to rise above 80 degrees... Let the griping commence.
The vast majority of our nation is broiling, and I am hugely grateful I have my AC.
I am thankful to have my power on.
I am also thankful there's no wildfire knocking on my door.

Can I complain about it being 108 and still be grateful?

We are planning a little get-together with some friends for the holiday today.
We've had no rain since 1883, and it's 3 million degrees.
Our town has a ban on fireworks... so no sparklers or bottle rockets.
There's a restriction on water... so no slip-n-slide or sprinkler for the kids.
There's also a ban on burning that includes charcoal grills... so we'll be cooking our hot dogs in the oven.

It will definitely be a 4th to remember.
I am celebrating the freedom to grumble about this ridiculously hot weather.
I hope and pray you are all safe and well and in some shade.
Happy Independence Day!