Summertime dreams...

Some women find that the department store is where they find solace or true happiness.  To those women nothing says sit down relax let me massage your feet like a new pair of shoes, but not me...no not me. 

Well, okay I like shopping for shoes just as much as the next girl, but there is one place I love more than anything else in the world, and today I got to go back for the first of what I'm sure will be many trips this summer...

The garden department at Menard's. 

Which really when you think about it is kinda funny, as I tend to kill plants.  I have no plants or flowers or any kind of greenery inside my house. 

But for some reason, as soon as we bought our house I've been obsessed with flowers and bushes and otherwise beautifying the outdoors.  Last summer I replanted the flower box out front and added shrubs and mulch and a nice brick border across the front of the house.  I struggled with a wheelbarrel By.My.Self schlepping river rock and brick pavers along the side of the house.  And it all looks fabulous if I do say so myself.

But today...

...the dreaming and planning and the wishing for what will be this summer has started anew.  Last summer was spent on the front.  Now I'm heading to the back.  I've got a few ideas, and I can't wait.

Maybe this...

or this...

 

And one of these...

or one of these...

 

And for those quiet dinner at home...

Of course, The Hubby panics as soon as he hears me shout, "I'm going to Menard's", but he needn't worry.  I'm not completely insane.  I can live in the real world...

Athough...maybe I can slip one of these in...

That's not sooooo far fetched...is it?

Memoir Monday : How to Scare the Living Sh*t Out of Your Mother!

I'm 37 but still manage to get myself in trouble on occasion. This past weekend, my older brother yelled at me for never telling any stories about him. So D, this one if for you!

I am once again dipping my toe in the Memoir Monday pond with Travis over at I Like to Fish. Click the link and go visit him, I dare you. And check out the other swimmers while you're there.




I was sitting there making a mental list of the stories I could tell about my brother. I began thinking about the college years (we both attended the same University). A couple of stories popped into my head, but then I remembered that my dad reads my blog and figured I'd better not tell them. So I reached way back and pulled this little doozy out for your enjoyment.

My brother and I, being 15 months apart, played really well together. We were good kids. We never really got into trouble. My mom could leave us alone in a room with our toys and go about doing all the mom things that she did without too much worry that we would physically harm ourselves...

...well at least until one fateful day. I was about 4 or 5 and mom left us in my room with a bunch of blankets so that we could build a fort. We made lots of forts. As any veteran fort maker knows, you need stuff to hold it up. So we piled "stuff", precariously I'm sure (I'm actually not sure, but I figure that's probably what we did), on the dresser and the bed to hold up the ends of the blankets.

We also used a lamp.

Yep...a lamp...with the shade off.

Can you guess where this is going! Well you'd be wrong. I'm sure the shadeless lamp was, at least briefly, used as a blanker holder upper, but not for long. Apparently, one of us (I'm sure it was my brother...I was an angel...I NEVER did anything wrong) had the bright idea to make smoke signals...

which we did.

Until mom came running and put out the fire.

And if she was smart never let us make forts without adult supervision again...

Much ado about nothing...

I've always wondered how long I would blog, especially since I think I may be the only blogger in the entire blagosphere that has no desire what-so-ever to be a "writer".  Not even a little bit.  As a matter of fact...I.Hate.Writing. 

And...I don't have the best track record when it comes to follow through.

I've started countless projects and whatnot that have gone unfinished and had a million and seven ideas that I've gotten bored with.  I never update my facebook status.  I used to follow a pregnancy message board that remained long after we all had our babies.  Never really participating, but following non the less.  Well at least until after The Big One was born, then I lost interest.  I stole a great idea for a Chore Chart from Connie over at The Young & the Relentless that we were super gung-ho about for approximately 2 weeks...it hasn't been updated in about 3.  (BTW...thanks for the idea Connie...you rock!)

So, again...I've wondered, how long this baby would last.  Actually I'm doing pretty good.  My first post was September 4, 2009 and this will make post number 106.  It may not seem overly impressive, but for me it's outstanding.

But I have to admit, while not really considering shutting the blog down...I did at one point this week ask myself if I was done.  All week long, I'd think that I should post something, but not do it and not really have the urge to do it.  I still kept up to date on the other bloggers I follow, but had no desire to ramble on about anything myself.  I've always kind of felt if it's not witty or funny it's not worth posting. 

Who knows if my mood had anything to do with my tiny base of followers (thank you my lovely list of followers) and wondering if that list is ever going to grow.  Or if it had anything to do with my lack of comments (thank you to those who do comment on occasion.)  Or if I'm just being a bit maudlin for some reason this week and am feeling sorry for myself.

Anysappywhineybabyneuroticblogger, I've decided to get over myself and just babble about anything, and this is what came out.  I promise this was not a ploy for more followers or more comments even though it does kinda sound like it.  I just wanted to ramble on about anything to let you all know that I'm still here and still "writing".


And now for the most recent Littlism.

The Little One just referred to the pack 'n play that my niece uses at my mom's as "The Baby Cage" - TeeHee...

Awesome!

This afternoon we were out running errands and stopped into one of our favorite places for lunch.  It turns out that today they were sponsoring a St. Baldrick's event.  If you are not familiar, it is an event where people shave their heads in support of children's cancer research.  Although The Hubby is a 25 year survivor of cancer, I couldn't talk him in to doing it.  (I secretly think he was afraid what little hair he had left would not grow back).

You all need not worry though...The Big One stepped up to the plate.

***Grama Phyl...you may want to close your eyes now***

Here is our little philanthropist...

Oh yeah...he wanted a mohawk!

A Passover Miracle...

You may recall that back in October we got the boys a fish tank.  We orignally bought 5 fish (Sharkie & Poopie that the boys picked out and named and 3 goldfish...Moe, Larry & Curly)  In less than a week Sharkie was the only survivor and yes, I ran to the pet store and replaced Poopie...I'm not stupid you know.

Sharkie and Poopie II have lived a nice peaceful life in their little 10 gallon tank.  It was getting a little grimey with all the algae and what-not, so we got a plecostomus fish.  It's one of those sucker fish, that eats all the algae and keeps you tank nice and clean...well sort of.

It turns out that I've been a bad bad fish owner. 

This past Thursday evening, when The Boys were getting ready for bed, we noticed that Poopie had passed on.  The Big One cried, and I silently said a prayer of thanks that it was not Sharkie, as he was "The Big Ones fish".  The Little One was oblivious, only asking why I put Poopie in the toilet.  He didn't cry, but he had a look on his face that said maybe he was thinking about it.  Then it passed.

The Hubby & I tried to figure out why he suddenly died, and what we should do about it.  We figured we'd take a trip to Pet Smart on Saturday have them test the water and go from there. 

Friday afternoon rolls around and I go to check on the fish and Sharkie is just kinda hanging out in a corner, all Blair Witch like and Speedy (the plecostomus) was attached to the wall.  That's when I realized that he wasn't sucking.  Yep...dead fish floating.  I called The Hubby in for a fish conference and it was decided that Sharkie was not looking so good and that Pet Smart could not wait until Saturday.  We grabbed a sample of the water and picked The Big One up from school and off we went.

It turns out that the Nitrite (or -trate I can't remember which one) level was really high.  Now I understand why you have to actually change the water and just not add to the tank as it evaporates...duh!  It's a good thing kids don't need to be kept in a tank full of water.

So off we ran...back home to do a quick partial water change in hopes of saving Sharkie.  With The Big One standing vigil, I changed the water and hoped for the best.  Sharkie seemed to perk up a bit, and I thought all was well.  Off we went to see Monster Trucks and have a good time.

When we arrived home, The Hubby quickly went to check on Sharkie...not looking good.  His color was starting to change and he was kind of just sitting at the bottom of the tank.  We had a talk with The Big One and tried to prepare him for the inevitable.  He cried and said his goodbyes to Sharkie and told him he would miss him and that he loved him.

Saturday morning...he looked worse.  He was turning white and it looked like his skin was flaking off.  Almost like he was molting.  As the day progressed, he looked worse and worse and he was barely moving.  I put some food in and he totally ignored it.  That evening we figured that would be it.  Honestly we couldn't believe he was still alive at all.  By bedtime, we tried to prepare The Big One again, that Sharkie probably wouldn't make it through the night.

Sunday morning, Sharkie was looking a little better...his color was returning and he appeared a little less fuzzy.  He ate a little and while he wasn't swimming around he wasn't just sitting on the bottom of the tank either.  As the day progressed he seemed to look better and better.  By last night, The Hubby and I actually admitted that he might just make it afterall.

We've joked that, we should change his name to The Messiah or maybe Jesus, because he has apparently come back from the dead...but since we're Jewish, we'll just call it a Passover Miracle and do what all Jews do to celebrate their survival...Eat!

Sharkie & Poopie II

RIP Poopie...we'll miss you

(well at least til we get a replacement)

Gym Etiquette from the Chubby Girl

As I have mentioned before, I belong (well for the next couple of weeks anyway) to the Hilton of gyms, but every once in a while there is locker room behavior that I feel must be addressed.

For the most part, the women at the gym conduct themselves in a manner that is befitting the price tag of the membership.  It's the one or two in the bunch that can spoil it for everyone.  Well maybe not everyone...maybe just me...and maybe not really spoil, just annoy the living sh*t out of. 

I've compiled a short list of things that irritate me...some are just silly observation, others are downright gross (in my opinion anyway).

1.  PICK UP YOUR DAMN TOWELS!!!!!!!  Seriously ladies...how hard is it to drop your towels in the bin when you leave.  There are like 4 of them and you have to walk right by them to get out.

2.  Please...please...I'm begging you...DO NOT leave your dirty used germy gross razor on the ledge in the shower.  Take 2 seconds and look around to make sure you have all your stuff before walking out.

3.  Must you hog the benches?  The bottom of your bag will be fine if you set it on the floor.  Some of us chubby girls need to sit down to put on our shoes.

4.  Using two towels I can understand...but FOUR...seriously...that's a bit excessive!

5.  Although there is not too much general walking around all nekkid like (sorry guys), every once in a while we see a little too much for a little too long.   For instance...
     *the lady who stood naked in the steam shower looking out...please have seat, relax...wear a damn towel
     *the ladies who like to do their hair & makeup while standing around in their thong...thanks for showing us how great your ass is (or at least how great you think it is)...now put on a damn pair of pants.
     *Okay, I was trying to think of a third, but couldn't come up with anything...like I said, not too much general nekkidness.

Phew...I feel better now...don't you

Is it just me...

...or do you hate it when you realize that the game, dvd, cd, etc... of your kids that you've been meaning to "lose" is still here and they want to play with it again...

I hate & want to strangle the designer of despise the game Don't Break the Ice with every fiber of my being.  It takes for-freakin-ever to set this game up and less than 10 seconds for the kids to destroy it. 

And then they want to do it all over again...

and again...

and...well, you know what I mean. 

I have been meaning to toss this game in the trash for about, I don't know...let me think...something like 3 years...or about 5 minutes after I set it up for the 50th time the day they got it.  (Sorry Mom, I know I put it on their gift list....live and learn)

Oh well...just think how boring life would be if you weren't always fixing, setting up, or stepping on the toys that clutter our lives.

Oh Sweet Bliss!

The Post about Nothing!

I'm at a loss.

I have absolutely no idea what to write about.  Yesterday I sat down at my computer to write a post and there was nothing.

I was a little afraid to look at the blog on Monday.  I made The Hubby read my drunken post from the wee hours of Sunday morning (yes...I've recovered), because I was afraid to look.  Pretty coherent for a lush!

I currently have no cute stories to write about The Boys.

I could write about how I have a doctors appointment tomorrow and I'm terrified that my A1C is going to be bad, because of poor food choices for the last couple of months and I don't want to get yelled at by the Doc.  Although in reality he's really nice, I don't think he'd yell.

I could write about how I've been going to the gym for almost two months and have lost maybe 3 pounds.  Thank you very much poor food choices.  I guess I should be happy I didn't gain.

I could write about how in two weeks I will no longer be a member of the gym otherwise known as Heaven.  Too expensive.  I kinda knew it was too expensive when I joined but since I seem to live in the constant state of denial, I joined anyway.  No worries.  April 1...park disctrict...1/3 the price & a 2 minute drive...Woo-Hoo!

I could write about how messy my house is, but then it's always messy, so that wouldn't be anything new.

Oh well....maybe I'll have something good tomorrow!

Why an almost 38 year old woman should not pretend she's 25

This evening The Hubby & I met some friends for a surprise birthday party at Gameworks.  Have you ever been there?

To quote a very good friend..."It's like Chuck E. Cheese on crack!"

We were celebrating a 30th Birthday....have I mentioned that I'm 37 going on 38 and The Hubby will be 40 this year...we should never step foot in gameworks...we are waaaaaayyyyyy too old. 

BTW...Happy Birthday J.

We didn't spend any money on games...just beverages and as I write this it is 1:53 am and I'm a little drunk!

We spent quite a bit of time kibbitzing and then watching our younger friends (still in there 20s...well except for the birthday boy who is now 30)  playing chuck e. cheese games on steroids (because yes they are all the same except bigger).  After watching our 28 year year old skinny bitch friends do dance dance revolution, The Hubby & I  continued to watch a guy on another DDR game in awe.   HE.WAS.AWESOME!  I think that he must practice DDR everyday for several hours because he didn't miss a step....EVER!!!!!!  I couldn't do what he did in my wildest dreams.


On the way home to relieve the babysitter (because yes I am still a mother)  I used my phone to record a few reminders of the evening.  It is probably a good thing that I have the iPhone lite (meaning a touchscreen phone with no internet capabilities) because if I did I might actually insert it here....


But I don't so here is my interpretation of what The Hubby & I said...

1.  When we were watching Debbie Allen (i.e. young asian guy) on Dance Dance Revolution, the game actually had a warning that said..."Caution...movement may be dangerous..." or something to that effect.  OMG did it actually have a warning about dancing...yes it did...if  your legs are going to move as fast as that young asian mans legs did you must be prepared to hurt yourself...

2.  On the way home I thought I would be a good idea to record blog ideas so that when I posted I would not forget what it was I wanted to say...  In said recording I gave myself  several little nick-names...because I drank way too much and should never be allowed in public...
        -going-out-a-mom-aholic
        -momma-gets-to-go-out-once-in-awhile-aholic
        -I-have-to-figure-out-how-to-put-this-audio-on-my-blog-aholic
because after all everything is now a potential blog topic...let's just say it's a good thing I do not have the ability to email or download my recordings from my phone (or if I do I just don't know how to do it).

Needless to say we had a good time and I should never be aloud out in public without the kids because I tend to overindulge in the vino and make a complete ass out of myself (although I don't THINK I was too embarrassing tonight). 

Maybe I'll have a more coherent post tomorrow!

Sniffle...sniffle

The Hubby asked me yesterday if I ever just look at the kids and fall in love with them all over again.  I replied, yes, of course, usually when they are sleeping...is that wrong? 

I'm feeling a little nostalgic, so don't mind me while I get a little sappy and blather on about how much my kids make me laugh & cry all at once. 

The Big One is about to turn seven and I can't believe it.  It took us about 2.5 years of trying and one miscarriage to get The Big One and just thinking about him turning 7 makes me...well you know...I'm a mom after all.  I remember looking at my nephew when he was around this age and thinking that it was gonna be a million years before The Big One was that age. 

The Little One just makes me laugh.  The kid is constant source of entertainment.  Who knew that something so small could make me laugh soooo hard.  The things that come out of his mouth are indescribable.  It's amazing...and he has got to be the happiest kid in the world.  He is constantly talking (okay...sometimes that gets a little annoying) and dancing and laughing and telling jokes and making me wonder what planet he came from.

Anysap...I'm done now, hope nobody lost their lunch.

Have a nice afternoon!

Really?!?!?!?!

So last night I was flipping through the channels and happened to stop on Jimmy Kimmel.  Did you see this episode?  

There, gracing the screen, was Kate Gosselin.  Have you seen her lately?  She's apparently gotten a new "do".  This is the first I'm seeing it, as I really don't watch ET that much.  I hated with a passion her last hairstyle so I'm glad she changed it, but I'm not sure about the new....whatever....


You decide...

Holy Boobs Batman!

Please...please tell me what happened to her. 

Several thoughts went through my head, when I realized who she was...

1. Hello Boobs...nice to meet ya!

2. Was she dressed up as Barbie for a Purim Carnival?  I'd like to think that she wouldn't have revealed quite as much boobie if that were the case.  

3. "Oh no, she's had to turn to porn to feed the kids!

4. What an ugly dress.

5. Did she get a boob job, or it just the cut of that ugly, ugly, ugly dress

Who knows what is going through that woman's head.  I guess it doesn't really matter, as long as she is not neglecting her kids and they are happy and well adjusted.

Speaking of kids, it's time for another dose of Littlisms...

The Hubby was re-heating leftovers for The Little One when he asked,

"Are those the nuggets shaped like balls? (Yes this restaurant has Chicken Balls on the menu)

The Hubby: Yes.

TLO: Can you turn on some music?

The Hubby: Why?

TLO: Cuz those nuggests make me dance!

Apparently it's not as much fun dancing with the chicken balls if there is no music playing!

Memoir Monday: The family trip to DC

It's been a little while since I've posted on Memoir Monday at I Like to Fish, and I meant to post on Travis' photo edition of MM, but I completely forgot, so here I am with a little of both.

In early 2007, The Hubby received a phone call from Aunt "D". At the time, The Big One, who was about 4, was obsessed with answering the phone. It was usually a race...and he usually won.

Anyway, he sat there chatting for several minutes, when The Hubby finally asked him who was on the phone and The Big One said, Aunt "D". So The Hubby let him talk a little longer, since he does in fact have an Aunt "D". When TBO was finished with his conversation, he handed the phone over and The Hubby discovered that he had not actually been talking to Aunt "D"...

...but a woman named "D" who worked in The White House...

yeah, I said it, THE.WHITE.HOUSE!

Several phone calls later (all of which started with a conversation between The Big One and "D") a background check and a peek at our taxes, we got to do this...

Yep...that's President Bush and yes, we are in the Oval Office...

Yeah, I said it...THE.OVAL.OFFICE!

That particular year, the President was doing a Tax Day (April 17) press conference (in the East Room, I think) which included several families that were invited by the White House to show how his tax cuts benefitted us...or something like that. 

You may or may not remember, that on April 16 was the shooting at Virginia Tech.

Because of that tragedy, the White House felt that it would be inappropriate to have a large press conference about anything...let alone taxes.

But...

They also didn't want to spoil the experience for the families that were there...

So...

Early in the morning, on April 17, we met President Bush (who walked in with Karl Rove -- I think this might have given The Hubby a little Chubby, cause he loves Karl Rove) in the Roosevelt Room.  He chatted a little while and gave us a history of the room and whatnot, then invited us all into the Oval Office, where again, he gave us a history of the office and the presidency.

The only thing I remember about that history is that his desk is the same one President Kennedy used.  I spent the entire time we were in there worrying that The Boys were going to break something.  At one point, I was holding The Little One (who was 18 months at the time) and he was squirming to get down to see what the other kids were doing.  The President looked at me and said, "You can put him down, it's ok!"  To which I'm pretty sure I responded that he might regret that.

He then stood for photos with all the families, which we received in the mail a couple of months later.  They had been personaly signed to us (one for The Hubby & I and one for each of The Boys) by him.

Anywho...love him or hate him...that trip was one of the most exciting experiences of my life, and my only regret is that at the ages of 18 months and 4 years old, The Boys probably won't remember it.