The Printed Word

I love books. Hubby can tell y’all he can walk through the house and see a book open and face down on the desk, endtables, my nightstand, bathtub, and sometimes next to the computer, whichever one I’m using most at the time. My kids love to gift me handmade bookmarks, because they know I will use each and every one of them.

There are over thirty books in this photo. No, I don't need help.

Yes, those are my llamas right by the basket o’books. I love the feel of the pages as I turn them. I love the sound of the rustling as I fan a book. I love how the plot thickens as I reach a new chapter.

But now, I have a quandary.

First it was Kindle™, and then the Nook™. And now, there’s this:

Image courtesy of Amazon

My sister loves her Nook, as does my dad. I have resisted the siren’s song to own an e-reader, mostly because I enjoy the somatosensoriness* of a book, and because I am clueless as to how one works. I have resisted the siren’s wail to own an iPad because…. well, it’s too hipster for me. That, and I am clueless as to how one works. But this newfangled thing calls to me like Butch to Sundance… like Cagney to Lacey…. like chocolate to…. anything.

I think my Christmas List has just gotten a wee bit longer.

*It’s my blog, and I can make up words if I so wish. So there 😀

I Love My Dog

I do. She is such a sweet natured thing. She only barks when the door rings, or when she spies a stranger in the front. She never nips at food you give her, but instead she takes gently from your fingers. She loves to get a hug from anyone, and will lay down with you to cuddle. When you hold her, she will give you the sweetest “kiss”, and sigh in contentment.

She is also Destructo.

She has never grasped the “Fetch” concept, seemingly content to go fetch, and keep item to chew. She has even destroyed Kong balls, chewed bits off and swallowed them, only to magically reappear on the carpet among the multitudinous echoes of her stomach leavings. Thankfully, she doesn’t chew on anything in the house. But gift her with any toy, and it’s Goodbye, Charlie:

That’s about 25% of the leftover stuffing in her little chewtoy. Hubby was right: never give a dog a toy that resembles anything YOU may own. Otherwise socks, shoes and dolls will be fair game. And you see how Berber carpet kinda looks like a chewtoy?? Yeah, I do go around clipping the little threads that she seems to find so entertaining.

But I can never be mad at her for long.

Look at those eyes!! Just look at them!!!

She might not be the brightest dog out there, but she lurves her mom 🙂

Everything Old is New Again

Yesterday, I spent my day at Aquarena Springs. For once the weather co-operated and behaved itself as we toured the Texas State University ecological facility.

For those who aren’t familiar with it, Aquarena Springs is the site of Texas’ first amusement park. It is probably the most important archaeological, anthropological and ecological site in the state of Texas. Evidence of human settling has been found dating back thousands of years. In the 19th century, people came from all over the world to enjoy the springs for its therapeutic properties. Becoming popular in the early 20th century, the owner opened a hotel at the springs in 1928, which hosted many famous people, including Jay Gould, and most famously, Johnny Weismuller.

The Aquarena Hotel

It even hosted Robert E. Lee at the resort while he was stationed at Fort Mason. The hotel is now the Texas Rivers Center.

Saturday Sithy

I have a school excursion to attend for Little One today. We are traipsing all over Aquarena Springs! I shall have quips, quotes, and pics to share on the morrow, but until then, enjoy a bit of Sithy!

That takes talent! I particularly like how the artist made Yoda look like Vader’s pet 😉

Finding Your Center

I am not the most competitive person on the planet. In fact, sometimes I frustrate Hubby because I am content to participate, but not necessarily yearn to win, be it a board game, or playing outside, or even playing cards. Heck, you can forget about dominoes!! His grandfather was a champion, and wrote a book on the game!!

Sometimes, though, I do like to win.

I remember back in 7th grade, our PE teacher, AKA Attila, decided we girls were not to play manly sports. As you can possibly imagine, that pronouncement did not go over well with the female contingent. But no one listened to the students back then. Anyway, Coach Attila gets it into his head that we little helpless females will learn archery. He honestly thought it was a girls activity.

We start to practice, and some of us discover we have an aptitude for it. Breathe in, find your center, pool the quiet, and let go. There’s something about the twang of the bow as you let go a sharp projectile aimed at an imaginary picture of your coach. Some of us were so proficient, that the guys who were off playing flag football asked if they could try it.

All of them got trounced, including Coach Attila. That was an awesome day.

Fast forward to 2004. While on a visit to Poland, we stayed at Zamek Kliczkow. One of the oldest castles in Poland, it had been converted into a hotel. And on the weekends, they had archery demonstrations.

The Archer was situated in what was once the moat, and invited all to come down and try their hand at bows and arrows. We all went down, since the kids were agog at the medieval trappings on display. First up was Hubby, and he did pretty well. And then it was my turn….

That is my archery trophy, presented on my birthday, courtesy of Eldest when she was only 9 years old. The only trophy I will keep forever.

Sometimes winning is the only thing 😉

A Seinfeld Posting

I think I watched maybe…two episodes of Seinfeld during its run on TV. It never appealed to me. After all, it was really a show about nothing.

And so is this post.

So, here’s hoping your day is full of sunshine and kittens.

Unlike mine, which is full of laundry and nausea 😉

Lessons Learned

I’m not the best housewife, or cook, or parent. As most of us do, I learn as I go, and in 17 and a half years of marriage and parenthood, I have learned a few things:

1. There is a difference between baking powder and baking soda. This can mean the difference between muffins, and paperweights.
2. Never put dishwashing liquid in a dishwasher. Unless you also need to shampoo the carpet in the living room.
3. Bedroom doors are not made of solid wood. Any holes made by errant feet can be covered with a pretty kickplate.
4. The only good thing about Berber carpeting is its ability to keep dogs entertained as it unravels.
5. Spouses should never have similar looking razors. It can mean the difference between “baby smooth”, and “Leatherface”.
6. Buttermilk is not made by adding butter to milk.
7. Checking pockets prior to washing will not only save you from having to wipe down lipgloss in the dryer with cleaner, but can also net you a nice $20 tip.
8. Water resistant does not mean waterproof, especially when it comes to watches, and mp3 players holding hours of music that you paid for.
9. A child using a rake to clean up leaves outside is a Good Thing™. The same child using a rake to clean a room inside is not.
10. Ceiling fans are NOT propellers. Nor are they for swinging toys like superheroes.

I’m sure y’all have your own list. Mine seems to be unending 😉

Networking Fail

Sometimes it’s fun to be on a social network. You get to see what your friends are up to, and catch up on current events, and best of all, keep track of your kids and their friends. The worst part about it is the ads. Sure, I understand that’s an income generator for the network, but sometimes their ad placement leaves me wondering. This is what came up, after I had clicked on a link on YouTube:

Uh, excuse me?? Credit card application and boudoir photography? And for those of you wondering, the video was Still Alive from the “Portal” videogame. I still can’t get that earworm out of my head. And what Portal and the cake being delicious and moist has to do with boudoir photography and American Express, I still don’t know.

Unless it’s a lie 😉

When Patience Pays Off

I’m not a vain person by any stretch. Well, everyone has vanities. And so do I. But most people that know me know I am a very patient person. I really don’t mind waiting for something, as long as it’s not a life-or-death situation.

Then I would get hasty.

Anyway, back when we were at our first duty station (which was in Hawaii, and I regret not enjoying it as much as I should have, because I missed being away from family <–disclaimer for Hubby), I had wanted a set of dishes from Williams Sonoma. I love that store. Yes, it’s a bit pricey, but sometimes they have really good sales. Anyway, the dishes were from the Brasserie Collection, and had red bands on the rim. And they never went on sale…

Fast forward to September 13th, 2011. Hubby and I were looking for some champagne flutes for my mom at the outlet mall, which also has a Pottery Barn outlet, which is owned by Williams Sonoma. My mother-in-law also had asked that I look for a special saute pan there, so we went in, and guess what they had on clearance??

ZOMG!!! MY DISHES!!!

And I bought eight six-piece place settings, for the price of two four-piece place settings!!! Not bad for a 16 year wait, huh? They also had some beautiful water goblets that complimented them rather well, but I don’t think I’ll be waiting 16 years for those. I’ll just make do with regular, run-of-the-mill glasses.

For now 😉

Sunday Sithy

My friend The Queen is married to Pirate Redbeard, a man who enjoys Sithy things, like awesome people do. Since I’m still feeling like I was chewed up and regurgitated by a mastodon, I will leave a Sithy here for Redbeard and sundry to enjoy.

Now that’s Sithy devotion 🙂