Monday Random

That’s basically my excuse for not having a coherent post.

Son left for his ROTC Leadership training today, so the house is very quiet. Not because he is a loud kid, though his voice is deep and does carry. No, the house is quiet because there are no explosions, or gunshots, or aircraft, or HUT HUT HUT, or anything remotely resembling warfare coming from the game console upstairs.

Eldest went in with her dad to work today. That usually means she will either A) do grossing* in the Lab, 2) assist in an autopsy, or iii) begin learning phlebotomy.  I’m thinking it will be #2. Last time she assisted at an autopsy, she ended up teaching the resident how to gross a specimen.

Little One has once again commandeered the remote control to the family TV. Her choice of venue this morning? Game Show Network, while she waits for The Alfred Hitchcock Marathon. She hopes to see The Birds while I clean the bathroom. She knows I do NOT wish to see that film ever again, and has kindly told me when it will be on, so I can avoid it. She can be very considerate in that regard. Sometimes.

As for me, after the gutting of the kids’ bathroom, I shall be vacuuming my room and bath. I took the Wahl™ to both Hubby and Son’s heads, so there is hair everywhere.

Ok, I am not exactly innocent when it comes to hair strands all over the place. I do admit to shedding like a Pomeranian. But this time the fault is theirs.

Hope y’all have a great Monday, and don’t forget to every Monday, there is a Friday. No, I’m not sure what I mean by that, either 😉

* the study of tissue changes without magnification by a microscope. Basically you slice the tissue very thinly, apply a dye, and then look at the specimen. FUN!!!

I’m Officially a Cantankerous Old Lady

And I am being kind.

Yesterday, I was outside trimming the dead branches off my Pride of Barbados shrubs, bushes….whatever they are. They are supposed to grow to six feet, and mine are ten feet tall. Yes, I need a stepstool. Anyway, I was off in my little world of garden beautification when I hear kids walking into the cul-de-sac. Normally this is fine, but I know the kids around here are all gone for vacation somewhere. So I turn to look and see that they are walking up the sidewalk, tossing a football back and forth. “How cool,” I think to myself. I like to see kids being active.

And then the coolness factor stopped when they got on my crappy lawn to throw the football on a long pass!!!

Me: Excuse me, but you are on the lawn.

Kid #1: We are throwing a football.

Me: I see that, but you need to respect people’s property.

Kid #2: It’s just a football, man.

Me: That’s “Lady”, and GET OFF MY LAWN!!

The only thing missing was my shotgun.

The machete may have intimidated them, though. Now, I am not one to freak out if someone is on my crappy lawn, ok? The kids around the cul-de-sac have come and gone with their skateboards, bikes, rollerblades, whatever. But they had asked if it was ok. These kids took it for granted that the whole place was their playing field, and that is just wrong. Respect for other people’s property is something we were taught as kids. I get the vibe some of us are slacking off in teaching that lesson.

Now, I’m off to go dig some holes for yet another Pride of Barbados and a few Lumbagos. I can’t seem to kill those. If I start yelling at the birds to get off my lawn, I’ll know I have a problem 😉

Lazy Afternoon

Well, the morning got away from me. I’ll get her back tomorrow, don’t y’all worry.

This is the last day of school for my kidlets. That means Purgatory for me, at least once Hubby returns to work. So far, there has only been one fight disagreement. Vast improvement over last year. But the day is still young.

Today is very overcast, and I hear the rumble of thunder. Hopefully it will rain enough to keep the lawn green for a few days. Otherwise I have to go out and hand-water while providing my legs for a mosquito smorgasbord.

I’m feeling a bit low, and think that perhaps-maybe I should get a doughnut.

*looks at the time*

*realizes all doughnuts shops are closed*

*shakes fist at Morning, cursing her bloody*

Ok, fine!!! Tomorrow I will get a doughnut. A JELLY ONE!!! 😀

School is Cool

Last night, Hubby and I decided to talk to our kids about college, trying to figure out what they want to study, and if they wish to attend, and when. It’s an expense that must be measured and obviously one that cannot be taken lightly. The last thing I need is for a kid to major in Eighteenth Century Estonian Basketweaving.

Anyway, the talk turned to what they enjoy doing, and I was trying to make a point of them figuring out what things and activities have kept them interested for years. That way they will have a better understanding of what kind of education they would enjoy pursuing. As usual, some humor entered the conversation, courtesy of Hubby.

Hubby: What interested you when you were younger?

Eldest: What do you mean, Dad?

Hubby: Well, when I was your age, I wanted to be a Penthouse™ photographer.

Me: *SHOCK*

Eldest: Dad, why would want to take pictures of penthouses?

Me: (sighing in relief) I have never been so happy to hear you say something like that.

My relief was short-lived, since Hubby explained what he meant. But for a few seconds, I was revelling in the beautiful innocence. Like it or not, I have to let them grow up sometime. I just wish it were in a bubble 😉

In a Former Life I Was a Social Secretary

Honestly, have my children never heard of a calendar??

The last few weeks of school usually entail having field days, fun days, concerts, awards ceremonies, and the like. I try to keep them all in my iPhone calendar so that I have easy access. Of course, it would help if the kids told me about these upcoming events with at least a few days notice. Eldest told me about her awards ceremony on the day it was scheduled. Little One told me of her concert waaaaay ahead of schedule, but so far ahead that I had totally forgotten when it was. Last night, Son was performing in the last concert of the year. I had known for a couple of days, but Hubby was taken completely unawares. Today I found out Little One had a Fun Day scheduled at school. Tonight we are getting together with Hubby’s coworker and his wife. Tomorrow is Wine Night (designated driver, so there), and Sunday we have a friend coming to stay overnight.

I cannot tell y’all how many of these things I have owned in the past. I also cannot tell you how many went without being used. I try to stay organized, but by far the best solution for me is the calendar in my phone. Since I set it to remind me of things listed, I don’t have to consult it every single hour of every single day.

Now I just have to train the kidlets into telling me about their activities promptly 😉

Common Scents

I love candles. They are romantic, and give a very flattering light, and in the winter they help to warm up the home. I have them everywhere, on the kitchen table, the bar, around my bathtub, even in the fireplace. Love, love, LOVE them.

But I also have kids. And I have excitable dogs. And that means that sometimes candles are a hazard to my mental health. Nothing like having a son asking if he can burn his graded schoolwork in his room to make one think twice about lighting candles. I’m pretty sure he was joking, but knowing that he mastered the campfire merit badge before anyone else makes me a bit….cautious.

Anyway, as all parents know, kids are some of the most aromatic creatures on the planet, and that’s not a compliment. I keep their doors closed for two reasons: 1) the sight of their wreckage, and 2) the smell of their laundry. And if you own snakes, then it’s double as bad. At first I utilized candles, but then I was afraid of the hazard that comes with them being unattended. Then I got wax warmers, but they also required the use of tealights. And finding a pile of ash by one in Son’s room one day was enough to get me to look for an alternative.

Now, that’s smart! A warmer you plug in!! No flames, no fear!! And I love that you can change the scent from one day to the next without having to store a big candle somewhere. And on the plus side, it gives off a soft light, as well. I have already spilled the wax while moving furniture, and found that it is easier to wipe off than that of conventional candles. I do still keep candles around, but for high traffic areas, these warmers are safer and make better sense.

I just wish I had thought of them years ago 😉

The Best Gifts

This morning, a local radio personality posted a photo of an early Mother’s Day gift made by her young son. He made and decorated a cake, just for her. I fell in love with it, because it is so simple and and loving a gift for his mom, and because he thought of doing this just for her.

I remember growing up, we kids didn’t have much in the way of spending money, but we went out of our way to learn how to make Mom’s coffee (thick enough to stand a spoon in it, and strong enough to make the spoon disintegrate), and picked flowers from the field (not from her garden, since she probably would have had a cow), and make her cards in our very questionable artistic abilities. To this day my mother still has some of my sister’s cartoon characters displayed on her refrigerator.

 

I still have my kids’ hand prints, and their hand made cards, and ornaments. I love the thought they put into the items they make, and the sentiments they write. Motherhood is a very bumpy road, but I have never regretted the path taken. I am blessed every day, even when taxed by growing pains of every eventuality, and thank the Good Lord for the blessings He has given me through my children. I look forward to opening my cards this Sunday, and laughing and crying over them, as I always do.

I also look forward to hopefully not cooking, but I’m not holding my breath for that 😉

Me, and Mini Me

Today both older kids have ROTC commitments, and that just leaves me with Little One.

I had it all planned: we would go early to the outlet mall, have something to munch on while I took her to her favorite stores, checked out Soma for more PJ’s, then lunch at Johnny Rockets.

The reality? She slept in, decided she didn’t want to go at the last minute. So, I decided to just read a bit before starting to finish folding the clothes waiting by my bed.

So what happens? After I tell her she needs to stop watching TV and clean her room, she then decides that the outlet mall is a great idea!

Convenient, huh? But that’s ok, because she gets to clean her room after we return.

There’s a price to pay for fun in the Sith Empire 😉

Fierce Fifteen

Today we get to celebrate Son’s fifteenth birthday.

Don’t know the plans yet, because that’s how he rolls!

Hard to believe he is fifteen, and waaaaaay taller than I am. Ok, that second bit isn’t hard to believe. He is a joy, a warm hearted soul, considerate of others, and full of plans for the future, and no parents could be prouder than we are.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SON!!! WE LOVE YOU!!! 😀

Tuesday in the Park

Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous day here. The weather and the clouds co-operated during the photo shoot for the kids at the Japanese Gardens. Elizabeth walked them around the area, while I entertained myself walking with her little boy. Luckily it wasn’t too crowded. We did see several families there with the same purpose as ours, so that made it challenging to wait for turns. But overall, it was a wonderful morning spent in serene surroundings. We did manage to get distracted, though.

That’s right: they spend the morning getting all gussied up and prettified only to want to stick their hands in the water to pet the koi. They get that from their father. But who am I to dissuade them from petting glorified goldfish?

Afterwards, I surprised them with plans to walk down to the zoo, which is just a couple of blocks from the gardens. But as we looked at the throng of people migrating in that direction, we realized that the zoo would have to wait. It appears that everyone goes to the zoo on Spring Break. So, we headed for home, and made plans to go to Fredericksburg later this week.

Of course, plans are bound to change at the last minute around here, so I’m not holding my breath 😉