It's a Maze aaand a Maraca

2011 post

2011-06-06T08:04:00.007-04:00

Came here to visit today -- took me a moment to remember how to sign in to blogger. Hello blog and blogger friends, I feel like I am visiting my internet home town.

We've lost a friend since we last spoke and I really feel the absence of TTQ now that I'm here.

Dang, I'm rusty. I want to say things and honor the loss of a special friend, but the writing is just not here, but it's definately an absence in this space. I'm a little overwhelmed by emotion at the moment. I feel that very special understanding and connection -- that weird little 'goes without saying' between us personal journal type bloggers. You're not here, I feel it and I miss you.

As for this blog -- I think about starting a new one sometimes. I'd like to join in on the "My town Monday" and/or join a photo story thread. I could start here, maybe go through the archives and delete some of the public floggings of the spouse so I can invite family. (Listen, you marry someone with Asperger's and then we'll talk about it... and they don't let you spouse bash on the Aspie message boards, or I would have joined a group by now. Besides, all my rantings were from before I figured it out, so we're lucky I had a place to vent or my children could have been from a broken home by now). I really thought he had brain damage from his drug induced youth, but then someone suggested Asperger's ... it took a while for it to really sink in, that it was more than a personality quirk and that lack of "theory of mind" is pretty much an explanation for all of the - fork in the eye - moments... There's so much more to it, integration issues and a whole picture that is the deal with Asperger folk -- posts, many posts -- could do a whole blog on just that, but I won't.

Anyway, stopping by for a visit and getting a post with 2011 stamped on it. I miss the writing connection with myself, there's nothing quite like that space one cuts through in order to get at the things waiting to be said or told. I miss connecting to kindreds through sharing...

I really doubt I'll start another blog, but maybe I'll post again before 2012... who knows?

That's it for today, blogger buddies. Nice to see you all again :)

Don't call us, we'll call you

2010-02-26T08:41:00.007-05:00

I'm such a liar. I really thought I would be posting sooner.

Currently, most of my creative energy is on hold and obsessing over the arrival of my kitchen cabinets. It's like the suburban housewife equivalent of a teenager waiting for that boy to call. I'm trying to pretend I don't care and have other things to do with my time and I'm okay either way, really. I'm trying to trick the universe into believing me, because you know the goods will never arrive if I care too much about superficial things like that -- it's the rules.

Ikea, take your time with those affordable, organization oriented, dampered drawer cabinets of yours.

I'm still here

2010-01-29T09:31:00.003-05:00

I'm alive and well and have some posts brewing. I'm claiming the old, "been too busy to blog". But all along my kids and family have been cute, wise, terrible and otherwise blog worthy. I've got a serious post or two, not sure I'll ever get around to those, but I ruminate on the ideas just in case.

I received a comment on my dear abandoned blog and am taking it as a prompter to get back in the swing.

See you soon blog buddies!

The Giant Footprint

2009-07-01T14:31:00.003-04:00

I've just been sworn to secrecy - so between me, you and the internet -- my children have found a giant shoe print in the sand. They were at the park with the neighbor kid and they found it. They had buried something and marked it with a rubber-band X and now there is nothing but the footprint -- a Giant one -- the rubber-bands are gone! All three of the girls are breathless with excitement.

Yesterday they had found some money in the sand and that is why they buried something in the lucky spot and then marked it. They have dug in the sand near the foot and have found a brick -- there are letters on the brick and they believe it to be some sort of code -- a code for money?

They are going to dig to see what's buried beneath the brick -- they think the foot may belong to the money leaver and that he has returned to burry more -- soon they may be rich!

I have the best kids

2009-05-23T08:59:00.003-04:00

Today is my birthday, but my kids started with the birthday treatment yesterday. Lizzie prepared a glass of seltzer with a pineapple garnish (so fancy) -- she set it by the computer where she was sure I would see it. I've also received a special card and flower pot (also by the computer).

Winnie has been all manners and "can I get you anything, mom?" And both have been asking many questions about my favorite types of food.

I love being a mom.

I love bloggers

2009-05-01T13:27:00.003-04:00

I just needed to take a moment to express a little gratitude to my blogging friends and community.

Somewhere inside of me there is a commandment, "thou shalt not blog a rant without contextualizing". Unfortunately, there is an even larger over-ride button and the bitter pen will throw a beloved under the nearest and largest freight train with nothing more than a minor hesitation before hitting that orange publish button.

I am happy to say that most people understand that I am just having a moment and are very supportive. I love you guys for that.

Thanks friends.

Frustrated

2009-04-21T12:55:00.002-04:00

"I hate that every time I try to make a point you put me on some kind of proving ground."

"When have I ever made you prove anything?"

All about odds

2009-04-06T10:57:00.006-04:00

On my very first venture off of my own blog and out into blogland I came across a blog, fell in love with the writing, dropped a note to say so and made my very first blogger buddy. That was over three years ago and we've been the Internet version of pen pals ever since. Despite the fact that she lives in India, I've always had the sense that one day we would be in the same coffee house chatting it up in person.

I'm not one to think I'm some kind of psychic, really, quite the opposite -- I tend to over think things to the point of not being able to pull common sense from the stream of worry and alternate possibilities that runs below the surface, some days like a constant ticker tape. However, for the Chicken Soup aspect of this story, I think it's important to note that I had the sense we would meet.

Strange how the world turns, as fate would have it, she landed a temporary job in my country -- in my state -- practically in my town! She is in my old town and thirty minutes from where I live.

Really!

Saturday we met it person and I have to say, she translates from written to human form just as I suspected she would. If I could only use one word to describe her it would have to be, delightful. My kids want to see her again, tomorrow!

Preethi is a girl who likes to travel and I've had many a vicarious adventure through the pictures and words of her blog. We didn't make it to a coffee house, but we did meet up at the Milwaukee Art Museum. When I first saw her standing on the deck of the landmark building it was as close as real life gets to a moment from a Gabriel García Márquez story -- it was like one of her blog adventure photos suddenly come to life and I was temporarily part of a living photo, then we meet and the photo fades into real life chatting and museum browsing.

I can't wait until our next adventure, or more likely -- tame barbecue at my house.

Anyone else want to come?

Oddly enough

2009-04-04T14:01:00.002-04:00

I am meeting a blogger buddy today!
She used to live far, far away, but now she lives close, very close. In fact, our designated meeting time is 2:00 p.m. and it is currently 1:03 and I'm blogging.

Can you guess which of my sidebar pals it is?

I may have to toss my computer out the window

2009-03-24T09:56:00.004-04:00

I seem incapable of saying no to the time suck of the web this week. I have things to do. Boring things, but they must get done, nonetheless. It's raining, I'm kind of cranky -- sacrificing an entire day to the keyboard just seems so much more appealing than my responsibilities right now.

And fricken facebook -- what of that? Connecting with friends has been great, but the compulsive checking of my page...lovely, and much like a hole in my head.

Thank you blog, for letting me get that off of my chest. I'm going to go do ten minutes of Pilates and see if that won't remove some of the tension that I am feeling today.

A story of luck and charm for all my friends who are sick of looking at the Wisconsin State Capital

2009-03-22T13:13:00.009-04:00

Do you understand what is happening in these pictures?

A leprechaun trap is being set. You had to be here for the full effect because Lizzie was certain of her genius.

Once enticed by the cheddar bunnies, the leprechaun would enter the kennel whereupon hearing the kennel commotion, Lizzie (or Rich, or I) would pull the yellow string, which would shut the kennel door, thus trapping the leprechaun and forcing him to give up all of his gold in order to be set free.

There was also a softer plan involving trade. The bag held two quarters and a few chocolate kisses. Lizzie wrote a note explaining the desired trade.

In the end, the stealthy leprechaun came, took the booty, made a mess of my living room and peed green in our toilet. On the bright side, he did turn her money into golden wrapped chocolate -- not the real gold she was hoping for, but better luck next year Busybeth.

Wisconsin State Capital Feild Trip

2009-02-24T10:29:00.009-05:00

The Capital Building pictures were taken with the little camera.

The light in that building is something else, not to mention --holy gilded building batman!

The reddish picture in the middle is of the Governor's conference room -- that's Winnie in the Governor's chair.

Click on the dome picture (6th from the bottom) to see better detail and to see the W's surrounding the center painting.

I So Don't Do Mysteries by Barrie Summy: Book Review

2009-02-11T21:05:00.006-05:00

Friends, a special treat today -- my daughter Winnie is taking over my blog so that she may post a book review.

Enjoy...

On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give this book a 10. And by the way 10 is a MUST READ. I think this book is amazing! Bravo Barrie! Not only is this a mystery book, but it is a romance novel too. A perfect way to get the best of both worlds. It has characters very different from eachother, and that is a really great charactaristic in a book. I mean, think about it, it would be the most freakin' boring book if all of the characters were the same. Again, bravo Barrie! I recomend checking out this book at your nearest book store. I got mine at Borders. And as you can see I am very siked to get the book from Borders, at the mall on Christmas Eve. I gaurantee you'll LOVE,LOVE,LOVE this book, because I have great taste, and I liked it, a thankyouverymuch.

What's so great about a bunch of vidiots sitting around, peacefully playing their games?

2009-02-07T10:39:00.004-05:00

The miracle here is that this is 35 minutes before we have to leave the house for school.

That's right, you are looking at three calm children on a school day -- before school. Nobody is fighting, having a fit or ignoring marching orders.

I know all parents who are reading this are yelling at the screen, "How did you do it, Kim?!"

I'll tell you -- it's the third kid -- the one who doesn't belong to me.

Don't worry, she's no golden child -- they don't exist. She is an angel when she's at my house, but as soon as her mom comes to pick her up, she forgets how to tie her own shoes and needs "heheheeeeelp" from her mom.

Neither here nor there -- the deal here is that her parents needed a favor, so she stayed over on a school night, which proved to be enough of a novelty to have everyone rush to get ready so they could play before school.

Nice.

Proud moments

2009-01-22T14:58:00.003-05:00

When I correct my kids, often times they take themselves way too seriously and a small bicker fest ensues. I get worried -- maybe they won't ever learn to take their lumps, never develop the ability to make it on the mean streets.

This week Winnie has been on a sassy streak. I don't remember which particular prompted her to talk to me like I was so stupid this time, but I asked, "Gee Winnie, how do you live with such a stupid mom?"

She said, "I manage."

I was so proud.

Okay, I'll admit it -- I've been seeing other websites

2009-01-17T15:06:00.003-05:00

My blog is dying from neglect due to facebook. I haven't had the time to do regular posts, so I've been getting my quick fix over at the other place.
I miss my blogger buddies though. I've found a couple of you, but if the rest of you have a page, drop me an e-mail so I can find you.

I'm not killing the blog off, but for the near future, I'm just too busy with the podcasting fourth graders to get quality time with my PC.

Happy New Year friends!!!

I married him for his ingenuity

2009-01-12T21:53:00.002-05:00

I thought anyone still reading this blog might enjoy this little tid-bit. Rich didn't want to get any needles in the carpet while dragging the tree out -- his answer?

Lawn bags and a sawzall.

Cafe' Au Lait in driftwood (like you might find on an island beach)

2009-01-08T23:14:00.007-05:00

Get taken away to exotic beaches. Immerse yourself in island life. Feel the heat of the tropics and the passion within the pages of this romantic gem.

If I were single and still in my twenties, I'd hop on a plane and head for the nightlife of Trinidad.

Nice read Liane!

Last minute shopping

2008-12-24T20:37:00.003-05:00

Today Lizzie reminded me that we had not yet seen Santa. Like last year, we trekked to the mall on Christmas Eve to see the jolly old elf in order to get the Christmas wishes in the official wishing ear.

While at the mall we picked up our copy of I So Don't Do Mysteries. I think Winnie will finish this one in no time. First she made me promise not to start reading without her, then she weaseled it from me and has begun reading without me!
I know reading is a solitary thing, but not always in our house -- we still read out loud before bed and I thought that was when we would be reading this book.

Barrie, I'm happy to report that when I asked her if it was good so far, Winnie gave a very enthusiastic, "uh huh!"

McDreamy Wedding

2008-12-22T19:38:00.003-05:00

While cleaning out my photo files I came across this gem my sister took of me and McDreamy. I did it for Swishy and then forgot to post it!

No joy

2008-12-16T07:54:00.004-05:00

I had a great product, bids were going well and I ended the auction early and did not sell the dang train.

I wish I could explain, but it has to do with my own freakishly strange nature and that is all I am going to say about that.

First comes boredom, then comes ebay

2008-12-06T14:12:00.006-05:00

I am playing my part in some kind of housewife stereotype right about now.

Not that getting ones ebay on is a bad thing, but still -- if you only knew...

I listed my first ebay auction! With Kay's assistance on the ebay advice hotline!
Sorry for all the !!! But my first auction, and blogger buddy contact -- it's the little things friends.

I am completely and compulsively obsessed with my auction and "similar items" -- I'm fairly sure this is where the 'leaning toward something pathetic' feeling is coming from, but I can't seem to stop myself from checking on my item. I've got days to go and already I'm thinking of other things I could sell.

I give things away because I hate a hassle and I like to give people free stuff because as a mom, I know how fun it is to get hand me down free stuff for the kids -- dump it forward. But now, now I have some kind of ebay fever, so we shall see.

I hate it when people say they are boring

2008-11-25T21:12:00.007-05:00

Oh my word, I am so boring lately. Because you are only bored if you are boring and oh. my. I don't even give a shit about chocolate.

I don't even have anything creatively funny to say about the boredom. The only thing that compelled me to write just now was looking at the pictures of my dogs -- I only posted them because pictures are easy and freakin' Gurty with her legs all straight in the air -- that made me laugh...months ago.

I posted them only recently because they were what jumped out at me when I browsed my photos for something post worthy. I was browsing for something post worthy so my top post wouldn't be the one of me bitching about my cleaning problems.

Have I bored you to death yet? Are you still reading? Am I really going to post a whining jag about being bored?

I think I am.

The family dog mine

2008-11-23T20:53:00.003-05:00

Here for the digging out -- looks to be about a 3 and a 5 carrot dog gem.

This is Gurty laying by my side. This is my favorite when I wake up and she is laying like a human, right next to me with her head on the pillow. Sometimes side by side, sometimes back to back -- sometimes just her head is sticking out -- it is very funny.

sick tax

2008-11-20T18:40:00.002-05:00

I've been in bed most of this week. My reward for feeling better is a big fat messy house.
I'm considering going old school on my entire family and getting big giant garbage bags and tossing it all out.

Really?

Ef the saying, "we teach people how to treat us" -- I did not teach anybody this shit.

Maybe I'll go back to bed for another week.

Olympians

2008-11-13T10:13:00.002-05:00

We went to a meet and greet with Paul and Morgan Hamm and Sean Johnson -- very cool. As Winnie said though, "I thought it was a meet and greet, but it was all meet and no greet". It was an event sponsored by Winnie's gym and another place. Even though we got there fairly early and the line wasn't real long -- it took a while to get our moment. Originally you saw the boys and then the girl, but as time marched on, they got wise -- put them all together and had someone shuffling folks in, "hi", "hi", "hi",autograph, autograph, autograph, "get behind them and take a picture." ...and out, "Next!" But thrilling, none the less. Okay and how about that quick snap photo? All six looking, all eyes open (red, but open). I've done two rolls a film trying to get a decent Christmas photo for our family of five and not gotten as good a shot. side note on the picture -- I did get to take two photos because the first picture I took was of my own eye (stupid delay, I thought it didn't go). The Hamm mom was there too -- she sold us the posters.

Regular make up vs. highlighting and shading

2008-11-12T15:01:00.005-05:00

To give you a better idea of the difference -- I post a side by side for you.

These make-up posts are in response to Beth's question about make-up routines.

For the full how to, see previous post.

Make-up lessons

2008-11-12T14:38:00.020-05:00

1. Where to shade and highlight according to Kevin Aucion (genius!). I have made adjustments according to personal taste, but this picture is key to my happiness with my make-up routine.

2. me, no make-up

3. me, foundation only. I don't go all the way to the edges of my face, I use it only to even out red patches and/or cover blemished areas.

4. products I use regularly. There are three foundation colors, but I only use two - one for base, one for highlights, but the base changes depending on summer or winter skin tone.

5. me with regular make-up before the magic of highlight/shading -- nor eyebrow pencil, no inner eye-liner or fancy eye shadow tricks.

6. bronzer powder for shading. I prefer a liquid, but haven't found a new source since my banana boat instant bronze ran out (they only sell the self tanning version now :o( ).
7. I have exaggerated the amount so you can see where it goes. I do the sides of my nose, define my jaw line and blend down the neck, and I do the top of my forehead. The official version does sides of nose all the way up and over the eyes, but when I do that my eyes look too closely set. I also skip the cheeks part because it starts to look too made up (for me).

8. The highlight I do just like Kevin Aucion picture suggests. You can't see it on my forehead in this shot, but it's there. I use regular foundation make-up, but in a shade or two lighter than my regular base color. If you go too light, you will look like a dead person -- experiment. Sometimes for extra fun I add a bit of white shimmer eyeshadow on the top of the cheeks there (for going out and if I have summer color).

9. I also dot my lips then bend. Blending all of it is key. Think of the women with the foundation line -- you don't want any lines, so blend baby, blend.

10. My final trick is to flick a little water on my face and gently pat -- this helps things to not look too matte (too matte = more wrinkles and too drag queen-ish).

**special note -- I usually put blush on last so the highlight doesn't go on top of it. I just do the apple part of the cheek -- I don't drag it to the sides. I try to use creme blushes (creme everything when I can) as powder makes me look older and/or more made up.

also, a couple of final touches -- I do light shadow around the inner corners of my eyes, I do eyebrow pencil (again, blend or it looks stupid, but a little pencil fills in the color and brings out the thin outer edges a bit. last thing is sometimes I use a white liner pencil on the bottom inner lid. I line it, then wipe it off and it leaves enough behind to make the eyes pop (I've done that here -- you can see in the last photo. I've seen people leave it full white and it's a mistake, unless you want to look surprised all day.)

*** for more fun things to try check out the book Making Faces by Kevin Aucoin. Or google him and check out the website.

Something New

2008-11-07T10:43:00.006-05:00

I have experienced taking in historical moments before-- the death of someone important, acts of terrorism and war -- significant, but horrible history. Wednesday, as I sat watching the coverage of Obama's victory, I experienced something new -- profound hope for the human race.

I thought this must be what it was like in 60's when real change was happening and people felt personal power could actually be used to effect the world in a positive way. Here we are again, with a leader capable of motivating the masses -- he's just a man, a politician, but wow.

When you look at the big picture and the world with it's wheels falling off, prior to Tuesday night, the cynic in me kept things fairly reserved -- I hoped for the best, but couldn't see how humanity could pull it off no matter who was in charge of the United States.

I really wasn't thinking Obama could change all that much even if he were elected, but now that he has been and watching the world react -- drastic change feels possible.

Can you imagine, one day you are just a man and the next you are someone who has profoundly changed history before you have even set a single foot in office. All eyes on one man. So many people ready to follow his lead.

I've always lived in a world where too much power for one man has been a creepy deal -- I've never experienced this possibility of real and positive change. Even as Obama campaigned on the idea of change, it was, yeah, yeah -- don't they all promise change. Even as it was refreshing to hear intelligent, thoughtful words coming out of a politicians mouth -- I kept the lid on my hopefulness.

Who knows what will happen, but in these moments where so many people have been lifted from their apathy and really seem motivated -- it's the coolest thing. I've always lived trying not think about how I am at the mercy of foolish people who are blinded by greed or fear -- people who make greedy or fearful policies that seem to have nothing to do with the good of humanity at all. I've wanted to believe the world can change and I do my part where I can, but the big picture has been bleak.

We are still at the mercy of our leaders, but doesn't it seem different? The air is ripe with real possibility -- what's that word?

Hope.

Watching one person be so inspirational and seeing his message get bigger than he is -- it's crazy in a good way.

"I urge all Americans to join me in not just congratulating him, but in offering our next president our goodwill and encouragement in finding ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises to settle our differences, to help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world and leave our children and grandchildren in a stronger better country than we inherited." -- John McCain

Wasn't that the best concession speech ever? (save for the booing). Civility abounding -- loved it.

"Godspeed" indeed, and dicernment to you President-Elect Obama.

Hopped up on "hopium"

2008-11-04T08:26:00.002-05:00

Obama.

Not so fast

2008-11-02T22:55:00.006-05:00

This is my cousin's boy. I am very proud of this shot because the boy is a little shy and was trying hide behind that bag of chips before I could get his picture.

Not only did he not succeed, but I got a better shot than if he were to have sat still -- as great as that hair is, you don't get much of the eyes through those bangs. And every bit of his sweet personality shows here too.

Better luck next time Dusty.

You know how we moms say, "why do we buy toys, when a box will do"?

2008-10-29T22:38:00.007-04:00

...Or something close.

Looks like a toy maker thought that was correct. Also looks like they know someone is stupid enough to pay ninety bucks for a cardboard box!

Ten things which make me happy

2008-10-24T11:14:00.011-04:00

I got the "ten things" idea from Barrie Summy's Feel Good Post. Thought I'd do a photo list.

1. Picture of my grandpa's hands, taken by husband.

2. Rock star best friend.

3. Sleepy girls in a princess cave.

4. My party planning kids

5. Princess cave (don't you just want to go in there?)

6. My picture frame wall (even though I have not filled most of the frames as of yet).

7. My notes for using the "garage band" program on the Macbook --seeing the notes makes me think of working on podcasts with fourth graders (If you give a kid a microphone...)

8. I don't often "have" to have material goods, but when I saw this pillow I needed it. Reminds me of my favorite kind of coloring book pages when I was a kid -- screw those detailed pics, give me a big, big elephant face and I was happy.

9. God gave google to me.

10. My husband's grandmother's artwork. We have it all over our house, but this one is my favorite.

Is it halloween time again?! Ohhhhhh

2008-10-23T17:54:00.006-04:00

Oh help me, they think this is cute stuff.

Note to crazy people

2008-10-23T10:09:00.003-04:00

After you fill someone's answering machine, it's time to stop calling them.

Actually, before you fill the machine, you can stop calling.

Really, one call is plenty.

Thanks.

Lizzie is 8 today

2008-10-21T21:56:00.007-04:00

Pickle gators and chicken (or is it gator meat?) .

Eat the Lillian Q.
Oh sure, were cheek to cheek here, but two shutter clicks away I got the boot.
"...to youuuuu..."

An American Girl party-- hair-dos, games, prizes, food --livin' the dream.

Crazy is as crazy dogs

2008-10-17T11:06:00.004-04:00

I really am a cool mom!

Some of you may have seen Lizzie's fish room,well she wanted a change and she got one.

The other night?

She missed the dang fish! Her little friends were gone. The other day she had gotten a book at the book fair 'DOGERELLA' -- I told her I would paint the dog next to her bed so she'd have a new friend (after my speech about change flopped. She said, 'I'm just a kid and I don't get all that stuff you said -- I just miss my fish').
I'm so happy with how it turned out, more importantly -- so was Lizzie...and Winnie. Now Winnie wants one too -- wish me luck, the magic doesn't always strike twice.

And for those of you who need a Frances (with the bear) and Gurty (in the sun) fix -- for you.

Girls' day out

2008-10-13T12:59:00.010-04:00

To the salon for new hairdos.

I officially hate the picture of my after hair -- I promptly went home and styled it much less helmet like. But it's not about me, is it?

It's my girls! My mini Isabella Rossellini and my mini Hilary Duff. Too cute!

I did not get a second picture of Winnie and her wonderful new do, so do stay tuned for a better shot of the mane. I mention the unequal amount of photos pertaining to the new hair just in case the fairness police happen by this particular post -- as a mom, I am so sick of being in trouble with that dang branch of chocolate chip counters.

Chinese Proverb

2008-10-10T11:49:00.004-04:00

The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.

Came across this today and thought I should share.

and for your funny bone: about two minutes in Oscar Rogers

Miss Ketchikan and friends

2008-10-07T09:40:00.007-04:00

Miss Alaska, Miss Demeanor,
Miss Taken and Miss Aligned were
just a few of the Laughing Queens
and Giggling Princesses in the Apple Fest
Parade in smalltown Wisconsin a couple of weeks ago.

We had a little fun with politics -- the sign on the convertible read "Second Runner Up" and we threw out whoppers.

"This is as bad as anything I've ever seen." -- tech guy at Milwaukee PC

2008-10-04T12:48:00.009-04:00

Words like, "fried" "shorted out" and "melted" in reference to the inside workings of my PC. The vital informational phrase of the day?

"Packed with dust."

He is going to try some techie voodoo and see if he can retrieve the pictures, however, he was not delivering any false hope about it.

Do you know how many days of fruitless good intentions were involved in not getting those pictres backed up? I even had calendar days marked for the occasions (because more than one day of disk burning here -- in a mom's world where you have to feed people and such). I had a lot of it done, but the final bit...

Rich thought he had done it on the external hard drive, but he missed a big chunk and those are the pictures I've been meaning to get to for, oh, I don't know, an embarrassing, inexcusable -- too bad, so sad you lost your pictures dumbass -- amount of time.

Cry me a river, i know...but still

2008-10-02T10:40:00.004-04:00

I got my new GE profile fridge yesterday. First of all -- I'm not the type who has to spend a lot on a pretty fridge (unless I had millions-- in that case sign me up for the fifteen thousand dollar "sub-zero" unit, and stick me and it in a house to suit). Rich, OTOH, likes the toys and I suppose that it rubs off after a while because last year when I was seriously considering divorce, Burnadette Peter's was in my head saying a line from The Jerk -- when they were losing all of their money -- "But what about all the stufffff."

Where was I? Oh, my pretty fidge. It's pretty, but the install guys busted an essential electronic lead for temp/water/ice control and the compressor had a leak. Service guy came post haste, fixed compressor and put a temporary door on until they can get the correct door which has slightly different electronics in it and a different colored gasket. Never mind that the freezer drawer tracks seem a little cheap for such an expensive fridge -- I've shopped around and they just don't make em like they used to -- everybody's got their service issues (LG brand owner's shouting the loudest about parts and service issues. I checked, bc LG is the only other double lower freezer in the non-millionare price range. One local store won't even carry LG products anymore -- so bad on parts service) -- digress, digress...back to the gasket. On the temporary door the gasket is black. On our fridge the gasket is white. WHITE! On a stainless steel fridge. Even the cheepest stainless unit at K-Mart had a grey one-- in fact, every stainless fridge, except for mine, had either black or grey.

What the heck, GE?

The fridge with the black is counter depth and only one freezer drawer--too small, no good.

Where is the devil?

In the freaking details, GE!

...white gasket.

And they got me too, because I already have my food organized in the two drawers and I don't want to go back to one space where you have to rummage for that half bag of strawberries that you know is in there somewhere. Boo hoo, I know, but environment too -- all the cold gets out while you dig and dig for crap in your, one-- not so giant, deeply unorganzied-- freezer space.

I won't go back.

The worst is, probably wouldn't have noticed until there were both colors and there was a clear winner. When they bring the new door, maybe they could bring that pen thing like in Men in Black -- I want my gasket color ignorance back.

I wonder how much to replace the gaskets.

Death in the family

2008-09-30T08:04:00.008-04:00

My PC!!!

My limping along computer finally cacked. Dead. Won't even turn on and try.

Like my old cat -- I was the only one who loved it. Everyone else thinks it's about time, but me? I'm marching it down to the PC doctor just to see how much to revive it.

Why bother? Because next purchase will be a Mac, and the way this thing went down, I think it may just be a parts issue and not a virus or past it's prime thing. If it's a cheap part...

Just a reminder -- back up your pictures. I had most of mine, but there are some (several hundred) recent that may go down in flames (several hundred recent -- gotta love digital photagraphy).

***Important info to my e-mail pals -- NO E-MAIL SET UP on this here, husband's, computer. If you would like to reach me, use my hotmail account that is set up to the link in my blogger profile.

***whoops -- just saw the e-mail button isn't set up -- must have lost that when I did my new background color. it's :
kimberly-louise at hotmail dot com

*** this reads like I don't want a Mac. Wrong. Can't afford the Mac I want at this time (still working on the kitchen) and won't spend money on another pc, unless I can revive the dead one for a small fee.

Project updates

2008-09-25T16:33:00.010-04:00

Winnie's window treatments -- this was taken when I had two different tie backs up. I went with the black.

FYI -- Cheap to do a window box. They will cut the wood for you at Home Depot. You bring it home, nail it together, cover with cheap batting and fabric from the clearance section at Jo-Ann Fabrics, staple fabric in place, get some corner brackets, screw them into the box and wall and poof -- looks sharp, cost little.

The black bling on the ends is from a cheap (seven bucks on a clearance shelf) chandelier that I took apart, then attached to the corners.

Mirrors!

****Blogger is not playing nice with me and won't let me put the type by the pictures, but I'm sure you can match the story with the correct project.

The picture of the mess was the only picture I could find of Winnie's desk before I painted it black and green and stuck pretty knobs on it. Lizzie's dresser was a road-kill find (as was Winnie's desk).

The dresser was hunter green and coated in some diamond gauge varnishing product that I am unfamiliar with. The varnish product held the paint in place, but once I sanded through -- it was clear the previous painter had not prepped the previous previous surface and the paint started peeling off like an old sunburn. Not a desired effect -- I don't strip furniture. Half of my creativity is born out of finding ways to avoid stripping old paint off of furniture I want to re-paint.

Because I was doing a crackle finish anyway, the surface didn't need to be pristine, but I did have to peel a lot of paint before it was all over.

When Lizzie's dresser was at the crackle stage, with no hardware nor detail paint, she was disappointed.
She's a tough client -- she wants it all, 'a little of this over here, a little of that over there and add in six of these and a dash of sparkle and it will be just what I want'. Lizzie wanted roses. After searching a couple of stores for decals, or wallpaper -- anything with a rose that I could affix to the dresser. No luck. My love for gaining info via the internet, however, was renewed yet again -- this time thanks to you tube and Donna Dewberry.
Go ahead, you will be painting roses and leaves on everything you own by the end of the day -- not necessarily because you like them, but because you can.

"Every hour we spent together lives within my heart" -- from a sarah mclachlan song

2008-09-23T21:28:00.014-04:00

Winnie is a girl who wants to be able to do certain gymnastics moves and she's willing to put in the work and make it happen. First there was the cartwheel -- which she has not stopped doing since she learned how four or so years ago. Then she had a desire to do a roundoff, then a need to do a front walkover.

This years goal was the back walkover. She had all the lead in skills in place, but just needed that last bit of trust to flip herself back and believe that she would land where she was supposed to (and that her spotter really had her back).

Tonight was the night!

She did it twice!

She looked up to where I was on the windowed observation level -- she beamed and mouthed, "did you see me? I did it!"

"Yes!" -- big thumbs up.

At that very moment -- from the dance class in the next room -- Sarah McLachlin starts singing the Jessie song.

I was glad I was at the end of the row of chairs and that nobody was next to me because first the chin quiver and then the blithering. I was choking back sobs.

SOBS!

What on earth? I almost had to walk out of the room -- it was the perfect sentimental storm.

I would have been fine with a back walkover -- "great!" -- thumbs up, brief moment of pride, and that would have been the end of it. "The Jessie song" kills me anyway, but to have it go off at that moment was like a time machine and I was experiencing two special moments in time, all at once.

Jessie was Winnie's second love (Barbie Rapunzel was the first, but Jessie was a much deeper and more meaningful relationship). The moment I was transported to this evening was a time where I heard a little Winnie singing that song and when I went to peek on her, she was dancing with her Jessie Doll -- complete with loving twirls around the room. I watched the whole thing without being discovered and it was about as precious as watching a kid and favorite toy gets.

My baby is nine and she can do a back walkover.

Personal update for my peeps

2008-09-23T09:46:00.004-04:00

I've been painting again, which leaves not a lot of time to blog or comment.

I'll post pictures soon, but I've done two dressers, one desk and the better part of four rooms.
Two items were mine, the rest were for my cousin and his family. They got an opportunity to become homeowners -- of a home in need of some gutting!

Good thing my dad is from a large family and there were lots of aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters and brothers to help.

Some of the rooms were fine, but others were too far gone. It was neat to see everyone come together and make stuff happen -- our own personal home makeover team. We got the 4 kids bedrooms mostly painted, including a brick wall (takes forever!). The living room walls were stripped of paneling and given a knock down plaster treatment, master bedroom painted, ceiling fan installed, plumbing fixed and added for future laundry room, bathroom gutted and ready for drywall, kitchen painted and some cabinets removed.

Rich was amazing, I was a proud wife this weekend -- there's no home project he can't do or figure out, plus he's not a hack.

They have another weekend to get things done and then they will be moving in -- wish them more luck.

Hope all you blogger buddies are having a dandy week as well. And to the moms, may the paper work angels come and fill out all your school forms and do all of your fund raising work.

God Bless.

Power

2008-09-17T22:17:00.012-04:00

Half the time I'm bitching that my kids don't listen to a word I say, but the freakier fact is that they do.

So many examples this week, especially with Winnie, who is in the fourth grade. Apparently, fourth grade is the year to be fickle, and the time to learn about fair-weather friends, and the year to learn how to be mad without ending the friendship.

This is a terrible post because I can't think of the example that really floored me this week, I can only remember that I thought, holy crap, I'd better start paying closer attention to the advice I'm giving this kid and give her something that she can really use.

When your kid is in tears and says, "I tried doing what you said" and goes into detail about doing the thing you suggested and how it did not resolve a thing. Something about hearing your words in action and having them fail your kid -- uhg.

I fessed up and told her I didn't have all the answers. I mentioned the things I say are the things that work for me, but in truth -- there are grown ups who don't ever get this stuff -- it doesn't work on everyone. I told her grade school can be harder than middle school and even high school in this regard because this is the time you have to figure out about being a friend and who deserves a second chance and who should sit on it and rotate.

The hardest part for me was seeing how my kid was trying to impress this other girl who was treating her like shit. Hear me when I say, "that girl does not deserve your effort." And pointing out all of the good friends who were standing by her...nothing. But today Winnie and the enemy were getting along and my girl is happy again.

Of all the sage things I had to offer, the one thing that seemed to give her a bit of relief was when I said I thought grade school could be really hard. Her whole body slumped with that "you understand" slump thing that people do -- it made me want to hold my baby forever, right after I kicked that Shelly girl's ass.

Of course I did no kicking of any ass -- it's a good thing too, because of them being friends again today aaand, I don't think it would have been right for a mom to kick the ass of a fourth grader. Winnie would have been embarrassed for sure -- she doesn't even like it when I sing out loud.

I can't think -- I'm dancin'!

2008-09-16T16:21:00.005-04:00

I realized that I can only paint to certain types of music, fairly ambient is best for the zen like state required for the tedious crap.

This song does not work for painting.

Mere hours before he gets his own vehicle

2008-09-16T10:28:00.005-04:00

The boy.

"...two hearts that beat as one..."

2008-09-13T10:45:00.011-04:00

Yesterday, as I was writing the movie review, my doorbell rang. It was a man who was looking for previous owners of my home. The name was not of whom we had purchased the house from and that family had lived here for 30 years. This man was looking for someone who lived here when this house was nothing but a basement.

Our living room, kitchen and laundry room are in the walk-out basement area. I have a goofy house and have always wondered which parts were original. We have regular ceilings and low ceilings and cobbled additions, old forgotten pipes...crazy house.

Enough about my house, this guy was in town for his 50 year high school reunion and had gone to the elementary school next door when it was only a two room school house. He was looking for his first love -- she used to live in my house!

How stinkin' cute and romantic is that?!

I took his name and number just in case I could find anything out for him. He said he's already googled her to no avail.

I hope he finds her.

"Burn After Reading" -- review

2008-09-12T09:39:00.007-04:00

Hmm.

First of all, a sneak peek preview is a weird way to see a movie. It reminded me of going to see my cousins' college movie project (which was really funny Dave -- way to go!) -- there was an intimate and artsy vibe that you don't usually get at the theatre.

The part that was weird and distracting was how the setting affected the reactions of a few people. There were a certain amount of folk who were clearly over reacting to the funny stuff and sort of funny, not quite super loud belly laugh, funny stuff. And I say this as one who has been the only one laughing in a theater before -- this was not a few oddball senses of humor -- this was laughing for the guy in the back who was taking notes on a clipboard.

Again, weird and distracting and possibly the reason I didn't seem to be able to fully engage with the movie. Or maybe the movie wasn't all that engaging -- I still can't tell, thus the "hmm".

The movie started a little slow and I never felt the payoff of a truly complicated plot. It was twisty and layered, and yet nothing seemed all that new. There were plenty of great moments, Brad Pitt plays a perfect goof, Frances McDormand is always perfect -- everybody had a funny vignette or two, but overall there was something too purposeful or seemingly planned and it left me a little underwhelmed.

At the same time, there were funny bits that are still sinking in today. I keep chuckling about George Clooney huffing off with a special pillow and other little gem moments that I don't want to spill and spoil. I liked all the scenes with J.K. Simmons right away (he played Juno's dad and was an intelligence guy in this movie) -- none of his stuff seemed contrived and was good darkly silly stuff.

I recommend this movie based on the plentiful farcey antics of all. There is nothing that I hated about this movie -- I'm also not overly enthusiastic about it either. It's a -- see for yourself -- type of movie. Go see it.

I'm a Winner

2008-09-05T11:29:00.005-04:00

I just won tickets to a pre-screening of the new Coen Brother's movie!

I was laying on the couch waiting for the advil to kick in and do their thing on my cramps. I was surfing between the three channels the cable guy left behind (tv guide, nbc, and tbs), when the local morning show said they will be previewing the new movie and "call this number -- callers 6 through 10 will win tickets".

I didn't dash for the phone -- it was only when it occurred to me, "hey, I'm a winner" -- that I grabbed the phone, dialed, and hit redial until I got a ring instead of that busy signal. It took some time and rang so long I considered hanging up, but then I thought, "it takes time to get people's info and I'm a winner, so I'm going to wait until they answer and tell me so."

Guess how he answered the phone? "You're a winner."

I knew it!

Oprah would be so proud, I totally got those tickets with my mind.

Saaaalty

2008-08-27T09:37:00.010-04:00

I just read something which asked if a certain best selling author was dumbing down his novels.

Is the questioner for real? I really don't believe there is any room in the downward direction for this particular author to go.

I am not normally one to squash the creative efforts of anyone, but some people should not be published, much less, best selling authors. (okay, everyone should have a shot at putting themselves out there if they want to, but BLOG. Best seller? ...Wait, I'm seriously waffling here because I can think of certain specialty criminal types who should not have a shot at putting it out there. )

I had never heard of this author until someone handed me one of his books and said it was a good read.

It was not.

I read the whole thing because of that human inability to turn away from horrible things. Every page I questioned, "is this as stupid as I think this is? He doesn't really think he's setting up a plot twist, does he? I can see this whole thing coming from the first page." And then, I felt compelled to see if it really was as stupid as it seemed, or maybe he was some genius keeping me going with writing that was beyond basic and there would be a surprise payoff somewhere along the way.

Even as my brain pleaded, "this is as it seems and you are getting dumber every second you spend reading. Stop. Stop reading. Now. Stop it." But I read on to the end and it was so flat-lined I didn't even want to throw the book across the room -- I just stared at it. I was mixed between disgust and not being able to understand why this book existed.

I kind of question the aunt who gave it to me now, too. I looked up to her once, but "good read?" What's happened? what's wrong? One of the kids suck your brain out? Are you on a medication that's turned you into a dullard?

What's more, I was trying to explain the experience to my friend Brian and as I described the writing he asked, "was it J---- P--------?"

"Yes!"

I was glad for Brian in that moment, because I realized that the author didn't make me feel stupid, he made me feel crazy, out of body and separate from the human race. Brain reconnected me.

I know horrible books are published every day, but I usually just stop reading. Again, I marvel at the power this book held over me, how it compelled me to read every stupid, predictable word.

I saw an ad for this guys latest book and I thought, hey I've already seen this as a movie -- it was called Dead Calm. Ripper offer.

I left his name out, because, what if he googles himself? I'm sure he's no stranger to scathing reviews and that he reads them while sitting atop a pile of money, but still -- I don't wish the man ill will -- I just felt the need to ponder aloud.

Welcome to Animal Health Heart -- no emergancy's accepted

2008-08-24T18:29:00.007-04:00

Midge, just another day at the office.
You would think as long as it's a slow day, maybe Midge would clean around her office a bit.
Assistant Lizzie with a patient. Assistant Winnie was waiting in the reception area and was unavailable for photo.

Note: The similarities between patient Frances and assistant Lizzie's legs.

browsing my screen saver photos

2008-08-21T18:01:00.009-04:00

Lizzie in 2001, she was born happy. She has a few smiles, but this one -- where her top lip disappears -- she still does this and it usually reveals her inner workings are on to something funny and she is pleased with herself. Lizzie's comedy is definitely innate, when she comes up with something she works it against an inner timing and she will hold the show and start over if something isn't coming out right. When things line up we are rewarded by her gift of humor. This one always makes me think of card I have framed:

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind."Pooh!"he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing,"said Piglet,taking Pooh's paw.

"I just wanted to be sure of you."

I don't think Winnie was quite two in this picture. I remember this day so clear -- this picture doesn't do the moment justice. She was playing so content and the sun was streaming through the window and if she were not breath taking enough already -- the sun kissed version stopped me in my tracks and placed the moment in a retrievable part of my mind.
This is Lizzie after we returned from a weekend getaway to find our snowwoman had melted (I don't know why, but I remember her name was Vinda). Lizzie was not happy and did command her return -- Vinda didn't listen.

And, oh my gosh, with the Kelly dolls in the other hand. Lizzie has always loved all things small. She carries and stashes small things. I always wonder what goes through her mind when she looses some important tiny toy and it will turn up -- sometimes months -- later in a pocket, behind a pillow, under a barbie couch. She stashes and forgets, but when I find these items, they always seem so purposefully placed in a strange way -- I know she had a plan. Happy.

Winnie on a humid day -- oh, those curls. Shortly after this pic was taken, we cut her hair and the curls were never the same. She still has these amazing curls on the under layer of hair, but the top layer is straight -- Gemini hair for a Gemini girl.

Zombie in the family

2008-08-18T19:31:00.011-04:00

Some of you may remember my nephew in Zombie 2: Darkness of Dead.

Well that wacky zombie is back, in yet another short film -- this time he shares the screen with a lovely Miss.

Check it out -- if you dare.

This is not normal

2008-08-18T00:12:00.003-04:00

The dog is standing there, frozen, waiting patiently for Rich to give her a little mouth to mouth.

He puffs air, her lips flap and she seems to think that's real cool.

What if these were YOUR parents?!

2008-08-15T11:49:00.005-04:00

finally!

2008-08-13T18:37:00.005-04:00

I've finally written a post that is bringing in more searches than those searching for "george of the jungle porn".

Chelsea Memmel is more popular than porn -- just a little something more for her to be proud of.

But seriously, what are you people looking for? What is so great about this particular bit of porn that 18% of my blog hits come from those of you who seek to find it here?

Sorry, only a reference to a terrible kids movie here.

George of the Jungle is a KID'S SHOW -- no need to taint your minds that way. Keep your kids shows separate from your porn -- this is a basic.

Not okay.

You can't name him Miles Davis and expect anything different

2008-08-12T16:46:00.002-04:00

My cousins' 5 year old son (and Lizzie's best bud) sings a little Van Morrison. Watch it if you think you can handle the cuteness and soul.

Chelsea Memmel is my best friend

2008-08-12T11:36:00.008-04:00

Not really. But due to the Olympic competition today, I feel compelled to share my story of having seen her in person.

Her parents gym is a few miles down the street and my kids have been to birthday parties there. I may have seen her there, but I don't remember -- I wasn't looking. The time I do remember is when she was at "our" gym.

My girls both take gymnastic classes on and off at a local gym that has an Olympic coach and a former Olympian (from Belarus?) who is now a coach. I think there are a couple of Olympic coaches, but the one I think she was there with was Jay (can't remember his last name, but I know he's a big deal). Look up Salto gymnastics and read the coach bios if you are of the need to know variety.

I know her dad is her coach, but who knows -- can't get enough prep work in and she was there working on something and I would have never known (because so many of those kids are soooo amazing), but one of the mom's who was in the know pointed her out to me and I watched her on purpose due to the Olympic potential factoid.

I forgot all about it until I kept hearing her name associated with the Olympic team and I was like, "Why does that name sound so familiar?" and I looked her up and saw her parents own the M&M gym and I put it all together :o).

I love getting my kids going about it -- whenever she is on TV I'll say, "You guys shared the gym with her you know." And they make me tell again how that all went down. Winnie does anyway -- she's got her own rise to fame to think about and I think she is happy and feels on the right track whenever fame brushes her way in any way, shape, or form.

Pretty cool though, huh? Wonder what's in the water around here -- first the Hamm brothers, now Chelsea Memmel.

...there is that one natural spring in Dousman, hmmmmmm.

"Spray on the glittah." -- Mika

2008-08-08T09:52:00.008-04:00

Listen, am I packing for our "camping" trip this weekend (we leave tonight)? Am I doing the laundry so my family doesn't have to go naked or dirty? Am I clearing a path so I can even get to the washing machine? Taking a shower before I meet up with the insurance adjuster? Cleaning the crap out of the car to make way for fresh crap?

No. None of these things am I doing.

Instead, I come here to profess my love for Mika.

Because he makes me dance with big expressive arm movements and wish I owned a showgirl outfit (with big, BIG tail feathers). That there is reason enough for undying love, but there's more -- things like this:

"Diet coke and a pizza please, diet coke and I'm on my knees screaming BIG GIRLS YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL..."

Or this: "...gonna pick you up like a paper cup, shake the water out of every nook, oh, Biiillaaay Brown..."

And this one: "...Everything's cool, the rent is paid, the house is clean, your bed is made, but it's a ghost town in your mind..."

And here: "You talk about life, you talk about death and everything in betwee-een -- like it's nothing and the words are easaaay...this is my interpretation and it dOOOOOn't , dooon't make sense..."

Again: "...so I smiled and tried to meeeeean iiiiit, to let myself let go...."

This one: "...How can I help it? How can I help it? How can I help what you think? Hellomybaby, hellomybaby, putting my life on the brink...gotta be green, gotta be mean, gotta be everything more -- why don't you like me? why don't you like me? Walk out the door..."

And that lollipop song .

All of it.

It's dark, it's light -- it's BIG. Makes me happy and if I were twelve I would run out and buy the latest Tiger Beat to see if there were any posters for my wall.

Thoughts only a blog could love

2008-08-05T16:23:00.007-04:00

Or, as people like to say, "randoms".

1. I decided the number of the dork is 222. I figured if the beast has a code, then I should get one too.

Why 222?

I don't know, it just seemed right and that's what dorks do -- they pick arbitrary crap, assign a meaning, laugh because they think they think it's really really funny and then move on to the next dorky thought adventure.

222 it is.

2. A peek into my neurosis: Today I had to restrain myself from getting on the girl scout bus to talk to Winnie about her tennis shoes because I was afraid they might kill her.

You see, at day camp the kids need swim shoes if they are going to swim and they can use old tennis shoes if they don't have the swimmers. I gave Winnie a crappy pair of slide-on tennis shoes and one was ripped a little. As I walked away from the bus I started thinking about how awkward it would be to swim with tennis' on and then I thought of that ripped one falling off and of Winnie trying to save it. She's an okay swimmer, but I'm not sure about how she would do getting all panicked about losing a shoe and trying to dive after it.

So bad, I wanted to get on that bus and say, "If that shoe falls off, just let it go -- one of the PA's will help you find it -- but it's an old shoe, just let it sink."

...and then of course I have to do the thought erase so it won't really happen. Serious -- I'll have a morbid thought like that and I'll take a freaked out breath out loud and my hand flies up and erases the thought from my imaginary chalk board.

So if you ever see some lady walking and she suddenly grabs her heart and starts erasing the air -- it's probably me.

3. I love the smell of diesel fuel. Perhaps that explains my second random, but probably not -- it's not like I'm huffing it. I just love when Rich comes home and it's on his clothes -- greasy diesel smell -- yum. It's almost as good as stinky, oily boat motor smell.

For Cecily

2008-08-01T14:28:00.006-04:00

I originally posted this on my old blog -- it was a meme -- I had certain amount of words to stay within and express my life, or something like that.
Cecily's post yesterday (July 31, 2008) made me think of it.
__________________________________________________________________

I'm working the switchboard -- it's low rate hour on mother's day -- pets, husband, stepchild, other mother, children, parents and grandparents, sisters, friends, ornery neighbor, calendar days to remember, flying time and grocery stores. I am blessed beyond reason. I am broken to the core. Balance is a funny little word. Where is my village?

Quotes of the day

2008-07-31T12:48:00.002-04:00

"Mom! I finally met a friend who likes pandas and penguins!" -- Winnie

Lizzie during parents viewing of gymnastics class. She does a flip on the pommel, lands on her back on the big cushy mat, looks over to the bleachers at me and says, "You forgot to pack snacks today."

Frances wants to know what we are doing with her snack tray

2008-07-30T15:49:00.005-04:00

Snack tray, aka -- our kitchen floor, and not just the food which gets dropped there, but the actual flooring seemed to appeal to our dear dog.

A common scene in our home:

Rich: "What does the dog have in her mouth?"
Me -- peeling back the lips and prying open the dangerous jaws of the beast -- "The kitchen floor."

It was time, my friends -- time.

Naturally, once we began the flooring project and all was going swimmingly -- Rich went in the laundry room for something and noticed a bunch of water on the floor.

...Upon investigation, it was the air conditioning unit and water was everywhere, including having seeped into the closet on the other side of the wall (I knew I was smelling funkiness!). The closet is carpeted, so everything had to come out. The room with the exploded mess was in-law clean just a couple hours prior to that shot.

Luckily, we found the issue -- it was ants blocking the overflow tube. That project took precious flooring time away, but we made up for it the next day before we left for our anniversary weekend. I was happy to sacrifice the play time -- actually, putting in flooring is playtime for me -- with each board lain, less and less of that ugly, stained, crappy one could be seen. Sometimes beauty=happy.

happy

Note to TTQ -- that vacuum cleaner is pink! It's the breast cancer edition and I feel just like I'm playing with a grown up Barbie toy when I use it (hey, I take all the thrills I can get -- fuckin housework).

A decade of madness and bliss

2008-07-21T12:56:00.011-04:00

Saturday was our 10 year anniversary. Even though all I wanted for Valentine's day was a divorce, we have made it another year!

I can honestly say that I'm glad we did, and not just for the kids.

I wish we were filthy stinkin' rich and could go to a spa getaway at least once a month. Once again I say, we play so well together when there are no outside distractions -- it's very easy to see why we fell in love and why we work. Date nights aren't bad, but give us an entire night and day away from it all and, you know -- niiiiiice.

For our anniversary we went to Kohler Wisconsin, where sinks, baths and every kind of fine water fixture are made. This, my friends, is a destination for preppies. I really felt I was on the set of John Hues film (there was even a Ferrari getting valet parked -- perfect). There were people with accents and they were not even faking, dahling. One really got the sense that somewhere close by some girl from the wrong side of the tracks was being dry humped in some condescending fashion by some over privileged rich kid who never learned his manners.

There was more than a little bit of money floating around this place and even though we showed up grossly under dressed, we were treated like a million bucks at every encounter. We had the anniversary package that included a regular room, but we were upgraded to one of the 9 Governor's suites ($855 a night if we had not gotten the free upgrade based on availability with the anniversary package). The suite was a mid grade room -- fancy, yes, but for more shine, less historic, one would need to stay at the carriage house.

As for the history, once upon a time the place was built to provide housing for migrant workers. It was built by someone who cared, thus it is very nice and the grounds are to die for. The little card in the desk explained that it was built in Tudor style and I instantly thought of Kay and how she would love that little factoid.

Random: I posted two pictures of the bed -- one is as we arrived and the next is how it looked after turn down service where they turn your bed down, put on relaxing music and leave the chocolates for you, mmmmm. I love how they stood the pillows up like that -- so happy. We actually missed turn down service because we forgot to take the do not disturb sign off the door when we went to dinner. One of my favorite parts of the weekend was when Rich read the 'sorry we missed you' card and how he needed to have that turn down service. It was a little thing that I never would have thought twice about missing, but Rich called housekeeping and got his service -- I'm not sure why, but I found it incredibly endearing.

As for me and my man, it is Tuesday and we are both still very very soft from our day at the spa where we were massaged, exfoliated and lotioned up. I took a very nice nap in the waterfall area where I drifted in and out of sleep and had all kinds of wonderful audio hallucinations -- I'd be almost asleep and trumpeting mariachi's would bring me back to full consciousness -- where upon I would think, that was kind of strange and delightful -- then the whole thing would happen all over again. I don't particularly like mariachi bands, but these were sans guitar and quite good.

We ate well, window shopped, walked the gardens and packed a whole lot of fun and relaxation into a day and a half and I'm not even including the full weekend we put in before we left on Saturday (more on that next post).

What a great weekend.

Here's to another year -- love you Richy.

This is not as fun as you said it would be

2008-07-16T19:17:00.002-04:00

She's into Indiana Jones

2008-07-03T09:43:00.014-04:00

Winnie (and Lizzie) have connected with their brother via the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies. Anytime it's a movie night, discussion between them revolves around which episode and/or behind the scenes do they want to watch.

It's to the point where Winnie will see some stranger in public and say, "Oh, he looks just like so and so." I will say, "Who is so and so?"

"He's the guy who wrote and conducted the score for episode five (V)."

"Oh."

On such movie nights, the kids usually fall asleep while watching and I'll come down some time in the night to shut everything down (usually not before hours worth of theme song sound bites have burned into their sleeping brains).

Last night was a movie night and it was no surprise that they were all watching one of the Indiana Jones movies while Rich and I were upstairs watching the last disc for season one of Scrubs. When I checked on the kids Frankie and Lizzie had fallen out, but Winnie was awake and the movie was over, I saw her putting it away and searching for what to watch next. Well, when I went down later guess what she had picked?

Care Bears Bedtime!

When you consider the fact that time will not obey my commands to slow down and my new born baby just turned 9 this June...I wanted to surround her with stuffed animals and curl up next to her indefinitely.

...That's right baby, you watch those soft little, rainbow riding Care Bears till your 90 if you want.

Why I quit talking to people about it

2008-06-30T18:05:00.017-04:00

Asperger's is the new fad diagnosis.

He doesn't have Asperger's -- he is one of the funniest people I know.

You don't understand -- Asperger's is serious, I mean they're fucked up about sex, my cousin has it and he is really inappropriate.

Anyone can read something in the DSM and think they have it. You can convince yourself the criteria fits for almost anything.

I don't need to be validated or convince anyone other than folk who matter in/to the situation(although I wouldn't hate a little understanding either). The sad thing is, it's thinking such as the kind involved in these snap to judgement type of responses that can close off opportunity to those who could really benefit from proper diagnosis -- namely, our family.

I want to be a storm chaser

2008-06-08T22:58:00.008-04:00

This was on our way home from dinner tonight. I took around two hundred photos and I can't find one I would delete and I wish I would have taken more but I had to take it in with my real eyes too.

live blogging

2008-06-04T09:06:00.007-04:00

Winnie is throwing every hook she knows at me right now.

Instead of deep breathing, I decided to blog the action. I am a horrible, no good, very bad mom...

Never mind on the live blog, she got right up on me and I had to close the window. But I'll still tell you why Winnie thinks I'm so horrid -- it's because I won't let her wear an ace bandage on her "injured" ankle which "HURTS REALLY BAD, AND YOU DON'T EVEN CARE! YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT LIZZIE!..."

If Lizzie had a friend named Macy who had an injured elbow and was getting lots of attention for her cast, I wouldn't give a rat's ass about Lizzie's ankle either. Especially if Lizzie jumped over the dog gate and landed on her extremely painful injury without so much as a flinch. And really, truly, no way would I fall for her ploy to only brush her teeth if I let her wear the ankle thing, not today, and not even if she promised to leave me alone if I let her wear it on Friday.

Hello Friends

2008-06-01T13:13:00.002-04:00

Some of you probably think I'm busy with that puppy, but I bet the mom's know that it's the end of the year school crap that is sucking away every spare second I own.

Nickel here, dime there, here a field trip, there a concert, everywhere a volunteer -- e-i-e-i-0.

Today I get to do fun yard stuff, so I'm not crying -- just missing my blogger pals. Hope you all are having nice weather and enjoying yourselves.

ttfn

No Lizzie here

2008-05-23T11:53:00.001-04:00

Just this drawing of a dog on the box.

in answer to kay's question

2008-05-20T18:21:00.005-04:00

Like Frick and Frack, peas in a pod, mac and cheese.

It's brining much joy to the house -- the adorable meter has exploded.

One very funny thing is that Frances walks right under Gurty.

Frances

2008-05-19T10:52:00.005-04:00

You know what they say about small packages.

For certain.

The one with the sleepy head girls -- that was the first morning with Frances and let's just say, Santa has nothing on puppies.

Home again

2008-05-18T08:34:00.004-04:00

Too tired to post pictures, but oh. my. word. Too cute!

3 pounds 4 oz

It would take 3 of her plus another 4 oz to make a Gurtis. I think that's about what Gurty was as a pup, so they should be a matched set for tug-o-war.

Her nicknames are "capital T" (for you know what), "Frances popcorn", and "Poppy".

Holy, leaping lizard Batman -- Tigger has nothing on this one. We are doing the foot shuffle when we walk because she will poing under a foot in a flash. I remember we had to do that when Gurt was a pup too-- I had forgotten.

I will post pics soon.

quotes of the day

2008-05-15T11:57:00.004-04:00

Winnie on the phone with her cousin Declan: "Wookies are so annoying, dude!"

Lizzie upon waking up for bath time in the morning and being asked if she wants to be carried, "Yes, princess style please."

Dear God, please do not turn me into an alanis morissette song

2008-05-15T11:36:00.007-04:00

My friend said she had a weird feeling about my upcoming trip, "not like your going to die, but like I should warn you to be careful."

Well.

I'm kind of a homebody and the more miles between me and my kids, the weirder I feel -- so it's good for me to push my comfort zone once in a while, lest my children one day wind up locked in a tower "for their own safety".

So if my venture from my home base goes fowl, I'm going after Alanis Morissette -- because I'm rational like that.

Blog friends -- if you read this, do not put worry juju over me. I prefer safe trip and happy puppy wishes, if you please. Thanks.

TTQ loves me

2008-05-15T08:47:00.007-04:00

Not only did TTQ burn a fantastic CD for me, but she sent goodies! Lots and lots of goodies.

When my girls saw all of the crown stickers and the many wrapped treats, they asked if TTQ was a real princess. She is.

What more could a person need if they have mojo, Everglade seasoning and bling?

Cookies? Okay, some of those too then. And meaningful bracelets, an inspiring necklace, a sparkle pen, and many other things with a high shimmer factor.

Gurty is suspicious. TTQ has dogs and Gurty thinks the package is from them. She wants to know what they mean by sending their scent into her domain. I tell her it's all good, but look at that face -- I don't think she's buying it.

She's plotting revenge as we type and read...hmmmm.

Oh boy

2008-05-13T07:56:00.003-04:00

We got the dog!

Now we just have to get her from Kansas.

Kate's comment wherein she says I'm brave, scares the crap out of me. Brave, loosely translated, means idiot.

I am an idiot.

I just got a shrunken apple head, mangy mutt without having met her -- did the Pascal experiment teach me nothing?

Pascal was one of our old dogs and he was not super keen, bless his heart, he really wanted to be smart and he tried, but he was dumb. Actually, Pascal was Rich's mistake. We actually knew Pascal before we owned him -- he belonged to my aunt, she was tired of dealing with him running away and Rich thought our other dog Izzy would like a friend -- thus Pascal.

Pascal was a great first impression dog, everyone loved him when they met him and then...I don't know how to describe it -- he was overly eager to please, but didn't know what the heck you were asking him to do.

I'm here, I'm ready, I'm your guy -- one more time, now -- what does this, "go lay down" mean?

...Oh my word, who cares? We are getting a shrunken apple head puppy this week! I'm so excited. I'm already practicing, "girls, sit. Good girls."

This is not Gurty

2008-05-10T17:45:00.006-04:00

This is Frances and she is in Kansas -- we are thinking of adopting her. She is pug/min pin instead of pug/rat terrier, but she looks an awful lot like my diva dog.

I've talked at length with the humane society that currently has her and her siblings because I want to know just how much of the min pin temperament is shining through.

A sparky dog, yes. A tireless barker? No thanks.

The lady pretty much described Gurty when talking about her sweetness and play to rest ratio. But she is still a pup, so that rest part could be temporary...

One of our employees has a min pin/ chihuahua mix and she is very sweet and not at all high strung. Frances is near my in-laws, so I think we are going to send in the team to investigate.

Maybe she will let Rich hold her like a baby like our friends dog will (unlike Gurty, who fights it with all ten pounds of her might).

I hope they recorded it for training purposes

2008-05-09T14:04:00.008-04:00

I just went off on the poor lady who works in the billing department for our energy company.

Because they tacked a deposit on our bill, that's why. A deposit that will earn interest and be refunded after 12 months of on-time payments. It's not a small deposit (well over a thousand dollars) and they will shut our electric off if we don't pay it.

So the mob is running the utilities now and the poor get poorer. Oh, but we are not poor, or they wouldn't be able to tack on the deposit! We are the -- shit out of luck-- middle class who own a seasonal business and pay hundreds of dollars in late fees that the world has gone mad with -- all because we aren't big enough yet to gracefully cash flow our winter season. Which we manage, just not on time -- and let me tell you -- you only have to be late one day to earn yourself a $25 late fee on just about any bill you owe.

How's the greed working out for the country so far?

Every once in a while there is a Falling Down moment. Last one was a couple of years ago on some unhelpful person at t-mobil. At least I didn't swear this time -- I kind of told the t-mobil person that t-mobil could suck my dick -- which upon reflection, I was strangely proud and ashamed of all at the same time, but I decided it best if I didn't do it again. Besides, the electric company lady was genuine -- that other person was a tad on the sadistic side. They should really keep those sadistic people out of costumer service positions because sometimes all I need is for you to open that door...

trying to make-out with gurt

2008-05-08T22:16:00.004-04:00

I got my hair cut again. I like to document hair cuts because my hair grows freakishly fast and I have no documentation of many of my haircuts. I know, big deal -- but it's kind of fun to see how many changes I've had -- I'm like Madonna, only on my head -- I don't think I need to document the changes of what brand of sweatpants I'm wearing from week to week (year to year).

Anyway, instead of rocking the mullet all by myself, I thought the pictures would be more interesting with my pal Gurt in them too. She was not interested and it turned into a forced gig. I tried cheek to cheek, snuggle to my neck, plain old holding her next to me...

I thought for sure she would give me kisses -- nothin'.

Look at her pulling away -- I brushed, I swear. The whole time she was very suspicious and having none of it.

No kisses for you!

Spring in swing

2008-05-07T07:50:00.007-04:00

I don't know if you remember the whisper leaf from last year, but Lizzie is at it again -- she's wrapping and tying leaves.

These are tiny little purple flowers that grow wild here and there in our lawn. She made this bouquet in anticipation of a visit from my friend Tawny. So delicate and pretty.

She is doing braids on her doll's hair now too -- way better braids than I do -- they're perfect and I don't think it's just because she has little hands -- she's got the gift.

If you are on my side bar, I buy your book when it comes out

2008-05-04T17:28:00.005-04:00

I promise I was way more enthused than I look.

At the Barnes and Noble in Brookfield Wisconsin -- Trish's book!!!

I haven't gotten to read any of it yet, but if the chapter titles are any indication -- and I think they are -- this will be a good one. Not to mention, if she writes books as well as she blogs, there will be laughter, points to ponder and stories about "that dog".

Looking forward to some curl up time.

Congratulations Trish!

Thinking out loud

2008-04-23T18:55:00.002-04:00

Is she really throwing Buckaroo Banzai quotes at our crazy mother?

awwwww

2008-04-22T11:29:00.015-04:00

I knew when my babies were really little and frustrating the daylights out of me that I would miss it one day. That fact never helped the frustration, just caused it to be on the bittersweet side.

One particular day of retrieving -- divide, run, hide-- toddlers from different sections of a Barnes and Nobles, I remember sitting a tiny Lizzie down on the stairs and sternly telling her to stay put, then turning to bark a frustrated, "get over here now" to a laughing, running Winnie. I remember it so well because I was startled by a strange smiling woman who just looked at me and with a warm sigh said, "Oh, I miss that age."

I knew my day would come, but at that point in time the tension caused by not wanting to miss an adorable moment and trying not to become an abusive parent were causing a crushing pressure on my chest. It took a lot for me to not snap back, "yeahyeah, save it!"

Of course I knew she was right, and of course I really didn't care.

"One day" happend last Friday and I was the weird smiley lady -- one of many, actually. Friday was the kid's school carnival and one of the games was a duckie game. They had filled a wading pool with ducks for the little kids to pick a duck and win a prize and this one little girl, couldn't have been much more than a year, was having the attitude of duck, schmuck -- I'm goin swimmin!

She had her pants down to her ankles and was fixing to pitch a good one as she struggled against her mother's efforts to pull them up. Then she began reaching with all her might toward that pool -- that poor mom --you know she had at least one more kid running around somewhere, and there she was, sweat beads on her brow and not at all amused while a bunch of us -- been there, done that types stand and watch and comment on how cute that baby is.

She didn't have to say it aloud for all of us to know she said, "Oh yeah, real effin cute."

SOOOOO CUTE!!!!

The fun part

2008-04-18T10:07:00.007-04:00

The "broken petal" flowers. Winnie was very specific and drew many a fine example for me to follow. She wanted flowers like the ones in her Ali and Aj cd insert. The scrolls are trying to be the new graphic art that is cropping up the sides of things these days. Melek's blog template is a fine example of inspiration.

"Oh, that's the magenta? It looks red," says Winnie of how these pictures look on my blog.

They look neon on Rich's computer...

Am I the only one who thinks cilanto tastes like soap?

2008-04-17T15:43:00.006-04:00

Ivory liquid, to be specific.

Maybe if you had a mom like mine, you would know, and you would stop putting it in things -- so I could enjoy my salad mix, salsa, etc. without the soap element.

Happy feet

2008-04-17T08:26:00.006-04:00

Magenta!

But we're not finished yet...

The inspiration for Winnie's room?

2008-04-17T07:19:00.004-04:00

It's perfect!

I think the uniforms were meant to humiliate, but I'm an 80's girl, so they work for me.

One of my favorite parts is pulling the tape

2008-04-16T10:09:00.010-04:00

As you can see, I had to adjust my pink. Once I started laying down tape, I could see that my vertical lines were going to cause my pink portion to look squatty -- because I am also going to do a horizontal band around the room, which would have taken even more from the pink. The stripes would have looked way too tall for that short of a room.

Oh, and the windows are not even close to level with each other, so I had to configure my horizontal band in a manner that would hide, rather than accentuate that detail -- which is why I had it higher in the first place. Plan B is working just as well and once I get crafty with the window treatment, you will never know...

sidenote update: for those of you who read of my paint finish choice/life meltdown (thank you for your sweet support, it felt great -- you guys rock). After my firm decision to go satin, I went with eggshell. I just couldn't do the shine of satin along with that bright pink on flawed walls -- the flat-er finish is beautiful.

The white is eggshell and the black is satin -- for extra pop and eggshell gets chalky smudges on the darker colors -- so satin wins with lower wall black.

I heart my ryobi laser level

2008-04-15T21:54:00.009-04:00

Precision does not come naturally to me. Even with a hand held level, I don't always keep that bubble real still...

"Wow, that's really pink. Whatever you paint with that is going to be really pink." -- home depot customer

2008-04-15T09:29:00.006-04:00

Pinker than pepto!

This is the point at which you can see fear on a clients face -- oh, what have I done?

breaking news

2008-04-14T19:49:00.004-04:00

I just read about Kay's big night out to Wicked (congratulations kay) and it reminded me that I forgot to tell about another big night coming soon (and I promised kay I would).

Remember I told you about the chef -- who's brother I worked for, and whom Cheffed in our kitchen from time to time -- which practically made us related? And that he did a challenge on Iron Chef?

We have an air date, mark your calendars for June 1st 2008, 9pm (check you local food network listings for time zones).

Fret not about me not having cable because -- here's the best part -- I am going to the premier viewing at his brother's restaurant where -- and this is even better -- they are re-creating the menu from the show!

Iron Chef fans -- is that not the coolest freakin thing? What if the secret ingredient is beets, or something raw and slime like...squid ice cream with cinnamon, mmmmm.

I'm so excited -- I'll be just like a judge!

And I am betting that his assistant will be on hand as he is local.

it has begun

2008-04-14T17:15:00.004-04:00

The tide is high

2008-04-13T22:59:00.007-04:00

I've posted pictures of this room before, but this time is for documenting before painting over it.

I can't believe I painted this over six years ago -- her little toddler room. Winnie has begun to feel that the room is too babyish (thanks a lot Courtney) and I suppose it is a little borderline -- so, we paint.

Winnie did make me promise to write the border story down -- we are going to type it up and frame it for the new room -- a nod to the old.

Some people have asked me how I'm going to bring myself to paint over my work -- two things. One, there is always a next idea dying to come out and two, I once saw this PBS special on this guy who made these awesome sculptures out of rock and driftwood that he found on the beach -- he made them at low tide and when the tide came in they were gone forever. I thought that was so cool -- he was all about creating beauty for the day he was in. In that light, six years is a really long time to hang with the same walls.

...stay tuned.

People let me tell you 'bout my best friend

2008-04-10T22:23:00.009-04:00

...my up, my down, my pride, my joy...

Paradigm shift

2008-04-10T11:09:00.007-04:00

Breathing a sigh of relief as the dust from a critical piece of information settles.

I wish I had time to explain myself fully, but I don't so I shall keep on in a cryptic fashion with the hopes that you get the gist of it.

If you've followed my blog for any length of time at all, you may have picked up on the fact that I love my husband very much, but that I have also had one foot out the door for pretty much of our entire marriage.

There were times I'd try to bring that other foot in, but very quickly -- "Aw, hell to the no." For matters of sanity, dignity and getting on with it -- I had to keep my options open.

Some people fear their spouse might cheat. I would actually day dream about it, "I can have his bags packed in 20 minutes. He likes oatmeal for breakfast, don't cook mushrooms while he's in the house, get him to bed early and don't use too much fabric softener when drying his clothes. Okay, good luck then -- kiss, kiss."

I, literally, could write a book about all of this.

We went to marriage counseling once. What I have to say about that is, "when I said "never", I wasn't globalizing -- what I meant was, NEVERRRRR."

I made a brief mention of the correct diagnosis of the problem in a previous post. It has taken months for the information to sink in. I've laughed, I've cried, I've wanted to throw up...and now I'm out the other side and all is well.

Knowledge is indeed power. We are both on the same page -- which is critical, because we wouldn't work if only one of us was in the know.

For the first time, I have both feet firmly in and it feels right and safe. If we fell apart from here, it would be alright, but I really don't think that's going to happen.

I am deeply in love with my husband.