Christmas has come and gone

This year Mr. Christmas aka little brother, made the season for me. He inspired the tree to be put up, he did his shopping early and he insisted that the gifts be under the tree well before the day. I am charmed by him and I hope this will last his entire life. God bless us everyone.

Holiday Greetings!

BJD's at the meet-up

True Blood

Can reading be too much of a good thing?
I've read all of the Twilight series and I enjoyed every last bit of teenage angst and romance. Now we wait until the movie release. I and my co workers plan to go the first day. There is just something about vampires. "Interview with a Vampire" has been a big favorite movie.

Yes, I'm on a vampire kick and I had to read Charline Harris' novels that inspired the new HBO series True Blood all 8 of them. So now I have to wait until she writes the next one before I can devour it.

I just want to bite someone.

Vamp at Work

When they said to dress up at work.
I did.
So in full on Vampire attire, I joined my co-workers wearing their pumpkin and sports sweatshirts! I felt like biting someone.
Where did they learn to dress-up?

The Pipe Dream

The boys wanted a skateboard halfpipe for awhile and now their dream came true with the help a friend and $400 worth of lumber.
First a prayer...

"

Then success...

"

Then mastery!

"

First Day of School

Still seeming like the the dog days of summer, the first day of school pounced into our lives. As always, I took the first day of school pictures of little brother age 10 and big brother age 14. They wouldn't smile or let me take several shots. That's what happens when you start 4th grade and 8th grade.












































But look at the first day of school 4 years ago....

Driving down the road, late for the boys piano lessons, just after registering little brother for school, we saw the strangest thing. A dog riding a motercycle! I am not kidding and I have proof. 14 took this picture from our van at the stoplight. Look the dog has his red baron googles on!

Fifty Hangers

Last Monday I bought 50 new fangled, thin, flocked hangers for my clothes closet. They are suppose to save space and prevent the clothes from slipping onto the floor. Originally, after watching many of the decluttering shows on TV, I had replaced my hangers with wooden ones. They were the industry standard for nicely shaped clothes and looked nice but they are space hogs and my tiny closet was bursting.

Thus, the new fangled hangers called to me.

Purchasing the new hangers has created the inertia to declutter my clothes. Since my weight release journey is now hovering at the 30lbs. mark, some of my clothes are baggy. So I tried on everything in my closet I then took out all that didn't fit and I was pleasantly surprised that some fit that hadn't for a while.

Today, I took a basketful of clothes to a ladies consignment shop. Neat. Maybe I'm make enough money to pay for the 50 hangers.

First Love

I sat choking back a sob in the hairdresser's chair on Saturday. Even though my hair color is now a creepy shade of black, the sob had nothing to do with the hair cut or color. I'll just wear black lipstick and say it's a statement.

It was the client in the chair next to me. She was a beautiful girl, getting her hair done for her wedding. As the hair dresser rolled the long strands, she was asking the usually questions, from who is doing your tuxs to what is on the menu, and what music are you playing at the reception? The questions continued ... the usual fair. I thought the bride looked about 18 but when she went to the hair dryer, I found out she was a young looking 23 with tons of good long thick hair. That's not why I choked the sob, either.

It happen when the hair dresser asked if she would have her dad walk her down the isle. The bride answered "No, my dad died about 5 years ago, my brother is walking me down the isle and he and my mom will answer, when asked who will give this bride in marriage." She didn't seem emotional when she was stating her sad fact. She would have been 17 when her dad died. I wanted to know how he died but I didn't bring it up on her wedding day. But I felt the choked sob stuck in the back of my throat. I was glad that, I didn't see her face since she was turned away from me. My eyes stung for a few moments while I regrouped. I was glad my hair dresser had stepped away while I was processing.

My mind flew instantly to my own dad's death six years ago. I'm not sure if the choked sob was for the bride who had lost her dad and wouldn't be escorted down the isle by him, or for my fatherless self.

I was escorted down the isle by my dad, I had 23 more years with my dad than the bride next to me. He walked me down the isle in the first and only tux he ever wore. He was so handsome that day, he was my first love.

Bodies Revealed

Taking advantage of the longer 3 day weekend over the fourth of July we decided to go the the Bodies Revealed exhibit at Union Station in Kansas City. Educational and gross, the boys will love it!

My husband, the stride mechanic, was very interested to take the boys and they were game. However, we couldn't find any of the boys' friends to go with us. The gross out factor was too strong. One 12 year-old friend said that he would throw up. After that comment, I decided it would be best not to take other children. So we set out with 2 more adult friends. Who are both medical and good at answering any of the boys' questions.

I found the exhibit fascinating on several levels. The magnitude of the preservation process, what was shown, who would donate their bodies for this and on and on. Where else would you see was is under the skin? My favorite was the arm that was only showing the veins. How did they preserve only the latex filled veins and take the skin, bone and muscle out?

My favorite question asked by little brother, "Is the hair still growing?"
Of course he was noticing where the hair was...
in the nose.

Chicken

POX!

Who gets chicken pox in the summer? My sons both broke out with chicken pox on the same day, June 25, 2008. Yes, they both had the vaccine. Happy Birthday 14 year-old! I guess the party will have to wait.

At least they will never get them again...

Friday

It's been awhile since I posted anything on the greater good. Which means great things have happened - I just haven't reported them.

But yesterday was little brother's 10th birthday and it's a big deal! He has blond Beetle cut hair, big brown eyes and has a way to see most situations correctly.

His birthday included going to his big brother's summer band concert. You know the final day of band camp where the parents assemble to see if their money and drive time was worth it. Little brother complained about going and he was board but I did notice he was listening. Much to my surprise my son's band was great, the hair stood on my arms while they played "Champions of Freedom" and my mind went straight to Austria during the Highlights from the "Sound of Music". Since my son plays the trumpet, I was very proud to hear the music that where the trumpets are featured. Great!

Then lunch. Has Fazoli's raised their prices?

As the day continued 2 pm extra boys arrive to join our celebration to go to see the movie "Kung Foo Panda." (Great, by the way!) I drove the van load of boys and my friend drove the older siblings. My van load started out by talking about how they all know my son. They made connections some related, some church and some school but by the time we arrived at the theater, we had to draw names out of a hat to see who sits by the birthday boy at the movie. On the ride to eat after the movie the bickering started. Why do 10 year-old boys have to include punching and their hand while waiting on a table? One boy had to assert himself by annoying everyone else and me.

Over all my son had a great birthday celebration!

But quietly to me he admitted, "my friends don't really get along."
My son, you are correct. He is smart!

Thank goodness, it's Friday!

Hitch

Little brother told me that he was very excited today since the seating chart at school was going to change. He will now be seated next to the girl of his dreams. She is smart and beautiful. He asked me how he should tell her that he likes her. I suggested just saying "Hey I like you!". He said no that is too quick. So my next suggestion was to write her a note. His response made me and writing seem completely ancient. Even though he hasn't even learned all of the letters of the alphabet in cursive yet.

He then decided that he needed to rewatch the movie "Hitch" for ideas. What does Doug James have that I don't.

Come What May

A little piece of me died, when we finally took the house off the market. The dream house that I have been decorating in my mind for years is gone. Our 3 bedroom raised ranch that we have lived in for the past 19 years is it... or so it feels. Since we depersonalized, I don't feel like decorating it again. We still have stuff in $65 a month storage and I can not stand it. I want to sell everything. I need to sell. Just not the house ... right now.

We made the decision not to sell based on no offers in 6 months and we are stupid in the ways of business. We need to step back and relax. Stress cleaning for 6 months straight and turned me into a witch, with a "B."

I feel more relaxed now that the house is off the market and a little freer career wise. Come what may.

Light at the End

Our house has been on the market since Sept. and I am done! I've cleaned and vacated my home until I am at my wits end. So the decision was made to take it off the market. I now can now relax and not worry that the clothes are piled on my husbands side of the bed. Mentally, I need a break. Last weekend just about killed me.

Ironically, hubby forgot to e-mail the instructions to take the house off the market so technically the status never changed. My house has been on the market all week. Only off the market in my head and no one called to look at it either.

Happy Birthday married man

Happy birthday to my imzadi,
beloved,
dear one,
husband of almost 20 years.

You complete me.

Show Ready

5 good things about having your house for sale...

1. The house is cleaner than it's ever been.
2. Family and dog togetherness in the van while driving around during house showings.
3. Turning the kids into clean freaks who put things away and make their beds every morning.
4. The money made from selling furniture to make the house appear larger.
5. Learning patient endurance after 20 showing and no offers.

The third one is just wishful thinking on my part.

Wake up call

2 o'clock in the morning and I was awaken by the shout of "MOM".
I answer, "WHAT!?!" not even knowing who said it.
Nothing...

I fall back to sleep.

More frantic, shrill and blood curdling, "MOM!!!"
I am awake now! Who is killing my child!? I realize now that little brother is screaming. I also realize that I have just screamed "WHAT?!" at full volume. I also see 13 asleep on my floor, I don't know why and I just hope I don't step on him.
Now sobbing little brother at full scream, "LEG CRAMPS!!!"

As I have so many times before, I stumble over 13 into the kitchen for IBprophin and a plastic glass, lid and straw. I don't want him to spill even though he is 9. I give him the medicine and go back to bed.

"MOM," I need an ice pack for my leg!" I make trip two to the kitchen for the ice pack. I hand him the ice pack, he is still sobbing. I don't know what else to do! I ask, "Is there anything else I can do?" No answer. I walk to my room and shut my door. Curl around my pillow and stretch to relax.

"MOM," cried little brother, "I need an ice pack for my other leg!"

Men in Fur

20 years ago sitting in a South Padre Island hotel with the worst sunburns ever, my husband and I saw "Earth Girls are Easy". We laughed through the whole thing and it will for ever be associated with our honeymoon! Not only is it a time capsule of the big haired 80's but "Oh my Gosh" there is a young Jim Carrey in red fur! The hot guy was Jeff Goldblum and he was married at the time to Gena Davis!

So last night, flipping through the bazillions of direct TV channels, we spotted and of course watched the rest of that very same movie already in progress! "Earth Girls are Easy" was delightfully terrible! Being a sci-fi musical, it took us back to a time when we were young and not worried about selling our house, children or anything.

Happy New Year!

The top 5 list of things to do in 2008!
(Jack and I watched the movie "High Fidelity" on New Year's Day)
1. Sell our house
2. Buy a house
3. Move
4. Get into swimming suit shape
5. Get a passport