let's talk neil diamond

Way back in the day, what seems like forever ago, I moved to Colorado.  I was just starting my senior year in high school.  Long story short, it was a quick decision, made on a whim.  I was being all dramatic and all, "I'm going to quit school!" "Boohoo I hate my life!" "Boys suck!" and my awesome aunt, who happened to be visiting from Colorado, had the misfortune of being in the near vicinity for the conversation.

So, like only an awesome aunt would do, she offered to house me for the year, kind of like an exchange student.  My mom was probably all, "WooHOO!  Take her!  She's greaaattt...." And then she winked and high-fived anyone in the near vicinity behind my aunt's back.  My mom must have laughed herself silly the whole way home at my poor unsuspecting aunt's clear lack of understanding of dramatic teen aged girls.  And she ran straight to the travel agent and secured my plane ticket before my aunt could change her mind.

And so pretty much a week later I was crying on the plane to Colorado.  Because once I sat down in my squishy tight uncomfy seat, it suddenly became pretty clear that I was leaving my sisters, my little town with all of the kids I was friends with since kindergarten, my awesome bedroom and my big comfy bed, my dogs, my parents and like, everything I knew.  On a whim.  For an entire year.

I was basically so freaking scared.

When the plane arrived in Denver, my aunt was there to get me with my two cousins.  One was six and one was almost three.  The three year old had a meltdown on the way to the baggage claim area and I was sufficiently mortified.  Because he was loudly flipping out and I was a very easily embarrassed seventeen year old who did not like to be looked at.  And when all of the people in the airport turned to look at the noisy lot of us as we walked by,  I thought to myself, "Whoa self, what did you just do?!"

As we drove through the development to the house, I was thinking, "I am never going to remember which house is mine."  Every single house looked the same, and the streets in the development seemed completely confusing.  So very different than the unique homes in my little rural community.  Thankfully, all of the driveways had the house numbers painted on them (weird?), so I figured at least I could memorize my number (8336 - still got it 25 years later!).  And we were home.

My aunt showed me around, showed me my room.  It was a good sized room that they had been using as a playroom.  It was pretty basic and bare with white painted walls and just a twin pull-out bed, bookcases and a desk.  I felt overwhelmed with the fact that it was so unlike what I had willingly left at home - pretty much a girlish, warm and comfy bedroom overflowing with memories of the past 17 years of my life.

It was a fresh start.  There was a blank slate in front of me for the first time in forever, and suddenly I was excited.  Nervous, but excited.  I could do this!  I could be the "new girl."  I could be anyone I wanted to be.

So I plugged in my little boom box, popped a Neil Diamond cassette in and promptly started setting up my space to the tune of one of his older live albums, Hot August Night.  As the familiar music played, I calmed down and breathed.  

Neil Diamond.  Who knew it was so dorky to know every word of every song?  It never occurred to me.  All I knew was that it was all that was ever really played at my house growing up.  Every year, or whenever the newest album would come out, we'd get it.  We'd open the lid of the massive wooden cabinet that housed the record player, and listen to the songs over and over again, shamelessly dancing on chairs in the living room, right in front of our big bay window.  Dorky?  Maybe.  But it was home.

To this day, whenever I catch a couple of bars of most any Neil Diamond tune, it makes me remember being a silly kid and being happy.  During that one huge scary part of my life, good old ND reminded me that I could be brave, that I could be OK - that I could still be happy and silly even though I was out of my element.

Incidentally,  after living in Colorado for just a short time, I met some really kind, accepting people.  I made some friends and one of them totally made fun of my secret Neil Diamond obsession, along with my very noticeable NY accent.  I believe the first time that he was in my room and I pressed PLAY on my little boom box, he was appalled to hear Neil Diamond.  I do have to credit that friend for introducing me to music that was actually off of the top 40 charts, for opening my mind up to some new-to-me music.  Cool, funky, awesome music that totally helped get me through the year away from home.

So I brought up this little story because I felt guilty for not mentioning Neil in my post last week about the 80's.  Cool 80's music aside, I'm putting it out there loud and proud, my first true music love was Neil Diamond.  You always remember your first love, right?

ps: I may or may not have seen Neil Diamond in several concerts over the years.

friday five

11:40 am

Can't believe it's Friday.  The kids have the day off from school and we're getting ready for a nice holiday weekend with family.  I'm feeling like summer is right around the corner, it's crazy.  Feels like these kids just started the school year.  Time is flying!  I remember when I was younger my mom would say time goes faster when you're an adult and man, she was right.  When you're a kid it's like every day at school takes forever til the bell rings, every school year takes forever to complete.  I remember feeling like I would never graduate, never get to be a grown up.  It all seemed so far away.  Weird.  I was in such a rush back then, that I actually missed so much.  Sometimes I wish I would have just slowed down and enjoyed that part, instead of wishing it away.  (11:45 am)

listicle - husbands

So I've been reading this new to me blog, The Good Life, and it's fun and funny.  And guess what?  That Stasha does a feature thing that is called Monday Listicles.  There are different topics every Monday where you list ten things, then link up.  Well.  You all know how much I love lists.  So I have to participate.  Because, you know, it would be a crime if I passed up an opportunity to write a list and link it to other list writers and then like, love my list so hard.  So apparently this week's topic is "Ten Things a Husband Should Do."  Well huh.  This shouldn't be too hard for an opinionated girl like myself.

1.  A husband should never say, "Boy, you really need a pedicure."  My husband hardly ever does that of course, because he is far too busy squeezing my feet to notice that they need to be a little more done up.

2. A husband should relax and enjoy the positive things that come from all of his hard work a little bit more often.  He needs to have some spontaneous breaks and real, decent down time.

3.  A husband should know better than to mention that he hates the way you put his clothes away.  Because sometimes, fifteen years after the comment, that husband might really want you to put his clothes away, any way.

4.  A husband should happily let the wife be the boss of the remote control.  Unless there is nothing on that the wife wants to watch, which is when he can be the back-up boss.

5.  A husband should sometimes ask, "So, what should I pick up for dinner on the way home tonight?"  A minimum of twice a week is an awesome number of times to do this.

6.  A husband should have a great sense of humor - he should be able to laugh at himself and at with you.  He should be able to see the humor in every day life. 

7.  A husband should never pretend that he doesn't smell a crappy diaper or hear a screaming baby screaming in the middle of the night.

8.  A husband should definitely do the sucky jobs.  Because he's a man.  A masculine man.  Like cleaning out the garbage can, handling raw bacon, tossing moldy crap from the fridge or picking up smelly gross things.  Cleaning out the traps in the drains also falls into this category.

8a.  A husband should always carry the bags.

9.  A husband should sometimes just put the blackberry away and be present.

10.  A husband should always offer to eat the stuff that dropped on the floor or burned grilled cheese sandwich, toast, burger, hot dog, etc.  Men like burned stuff.

And one more for good measure:  A husband should always have your back and be your biggest fan - in public or to other people, regardless of what he really thinks.  Because he knows you always have his back and are his biggest fan.

one last word, v5

People Magazine has this new feature thing on the last page of their magazine.  On the last page, they have a new feature called the last word (so clever!) where a celebrity answers a few questions on the last things they've done.

So even though I'm not a celebrity or anything, I'm going to go ahead and answer the questions.  Because, why not?

The last song I sang - I sang this song "Somebody That I used to Know," by Gotye on the way home from the gym in the car.  Pretty catchy tune.

The last time I was angry - I was angry a few nights ago I think, when I felt like someone was rude to me.  I guess I wasn't exactly angry, just ugh.  Sad.

The last TV show I loved - Oh, it has to be Modern Family.  That show is hilarious.  I can never decide who my favorite character is.

The last vacation I went on - I went to California in March with Kar.  I think that was my last getaway, and I loved every minute of it.

The last injury I had - You know, I can't even remember.  I have various aches and pains, but I haven't had an actual injury that I can remember since partially tearing something in my shoulder.  Well, I did step on a nail last summer and have to get a tetanus shot.  Does a puncture count?

The last thing I cooked - I just cooked an amazing soup this afternoon, turkey sausage with garbanzo beans.  I had a large bowl for lunch, and I plan on having a large bowl for dinner.  So, so yumm.

The last time I said sorry - Hm.  I used to be the worst at saying sorry.  But you know, I say sorry as needed now without hesitation.  I think it was a few weeks ago when it was definitely necessary.

The last thing I ate - I ate the turkey soup I made for lunch.  And then a few pieces of dark chocolate for good measure.  

The last text I sent - Well, it was a text to my son, and it said "If you hang up on me I am taking your phone away for a week."  FYI - he chose not to hang up on me, so I think it was a pretty effective text.  

The last gift I purchased - I purchased some gifts for my my oldest kiddo, who is having a birthday on Wednesday.  I can't tell what they are though because she might read this post and that would be no fun.

I'm (blank) because... v1

I'm (weird) because...
I sleep best with one foot out from under the covers.
I forget things like, immediately.
I cannot stand drinking water without ice, except if it's bottled and really cold.
I don't like snuggling while sleeping.
Certain non-word words seriously bother me.  Like fustrated.
I'm scared of swimming at night.
I'm afraid one of my kids will fall out of the car while I am driving.
I enjoy going to the movies alone.
I hate socks.
I'm obsessed with bad breath.
Filing my nails makes me nauseous, in an "I'm about to throw up kind of way."
I love a dirty kid, but I just cannot put a dirty kid to bed.
I mess with my hair when I am nervous.
I like to walk alone at night.


I'm (a bad friend) because...
I don't call to chit chat.
I forget to send cards.
I don't make enough effort to keep in touch.
I do everything last minute.
I don't forgive easily.
I'm not full of great ideas for fun things to do.
I don't invite you over.


I'm (a good friend) because...
I'm not judgemental.
I listen.
I pay attention and notice the details.
I have your back - I am always in your corner.
I offer advice when it's asked for.
I think of you often.
I care about you.
I'm honest and loyal.
I don't monopolize your time.


I'm (sad) because...
Two of my sisters don't live close enough to have coffee on Sundays.
I don't have family dinners enough.
I missed my workout and walk yesterday.
I hate shorts.
My hair looks crappy and I have a zit on my cheek.
I slept bad and feel lonesome.
Sometimes I'm selfish and want things that I cannot have.
I often let guilt and nervous nerves rule my life.
I don't like driving at night anymore.


I'm (happy) because...
I just got to see my kid perform in the city.
I'm going on an adventure soon.
Outdoor soccer started.
I'm going to hang with my sisters this weekend!
I had some excellent Mexican food last night.
My mom's photographs are in an art show.
My kids and husband gave me thoughtful gifts/cards for Mother's Day.
It's sunny and warm!
The cleaning lady is here.
My son is going to the prom tomorrow night and he loves his tux.
Kara is coming home tomorrow, with her probably not ex-boyfriend who I love.


I'm (excited) because...
We put our house on the market.
The people that looked at our house loved it.
We found some awesome property to build on.
We might build a barn.
Summer is getting close.

wanna win a prize or something?

So I am into begging for friends now, apparently.  The thing is, I have been hovering at 96 follows for so long, it's turned into a mockery.  Why can't a few more people just want to be my friend??

I'll even accept a few more people to be followers that don't necessarily want to be my friend, people who plan to never read one post.  That's how bad I want to hit triple digits.

Why do I care, you ask?  I don't know.  I don't know!  I am kind of reminded about that time when I was sixteen and I weighed 102 pounds (omfg) and all I wanted was to weigh 99.  That's actually a rather fucked up thing to admit to the entire blogosphere, but it's the truth man.  All I wanted was to lose those stupid three pounds.  Much like these days, except multiply that number by like 11.  Yeah.  Don't make me say it out loud, we all know you can do the math.  And if you can't, just use a calculator dumbass.

ANY way, do I sound cranky?

I think I am.  Maybe that's why those pesky four followers won't follow me.  I guess I better change my mood.  Or maybe not call people who can't do simple math dumbasses.

What if I sweeten the deal?  I mean, I could probably mail the 100th follower a $5 gift card to Target!  Woohoo!  Because I have one of those things, and I always seem to forget to use it.  And if it helps me in bribing a few people to follow me, I'm all for it.

But what about the other loyal followers?  I wish I had even better than a gift card to Target for some of the great people that I have virtually met through this blogging thing.  Really, I do.  Thanks guys, those of you who still hang around and read my goofy ramblings.  

I appreciate you.  

listicle - things I wish I could delete

Ten things that I wish I could delete, in other words, things that I am sorry for.

I'm going back kinda far here.  I mean, I might as well...

1. I'm sorry that I bit my sisters Ali and Indi on the forehead.  More than one time.  Don't ask.

2. I'm sorry that I threw my sister Jen's Puff the Magic Dragon record down the stairs on purpose and broke it.

3. I'm sorry that I told my sixth grade teacher Mr. Potts that I hated him.  Ah, nah.  I'm not sorry about that, he was a jerk.

4. I'm sorry that I beat Patrick Longthon up on the way home from school sometimes.

5. I'm sorry that I was mean to this kid Andy when he made (and gave) me a Valentine in 5th grade.

6. I'm sorry that I messed things up with a high school boyfriend.  I have a ton of guilt.

7. I'm sorry that I didn't take school seriously enough, high school and college.  Absolute regret.

8. I'm sorry that I had somewhat of a screaming fight with Kara one Easter, one Christmas and one high school Graduation.  That girl knew exactly the button to push to get me to lose it.  I shouldn't have gotten so upset.

9. I'm sorry for the times that I spanked my son Alex in frustration.

10. I'm sorry that I threw an Allen wrench at my husband Alex when I was hormonal and pregnant.  I missed on purpose.  I swear I am not violent.

There are so many more things that I am sorry for, things that I wish I could delete or at least do differently!  I know that I learned important lessons with most of these things, so in a way, even though there were some tough moments, I guess they taught me stuff that I needed to learn.  

It just stinks that most of those lessons were learned at the expense of someone else.  Anyone care to share a moment you wish you could do over?  Come on, I feel all exposed here.

friday 5

It's Friday, a good day for a five minute purge.
2:00pm

I've been in the weirdest mood lately.  Feeling kind of antsy, a couple things have gone down recently  that bother me and I'm kind of one of those types of people that need to get away when I'm irritated or thrown off.  It's way better for me to leave and chill myself out so I don't say or do anything that I can't take back.  I'm very controlled like that.

I think it takes quite a bit for me to flip out and actually lose my temper.   I can't think of the last time that I've lost it.  Of course I get irritated or annoyed, but I'm pretty good at keeping myself calm.  I don't know, maybe I need to just get out and feel the sun on my face.  So that's what I'll do.  In a minute.

Maybe it's just because I've been busier than usual.  I like my controlled little life, where things typically fall neatly into place.  This week was kind of back-to-back stuff, which left little room for down time.  I so need down time.  My brain gets going too fast and suddenly it's like somebody in there is screaming, "chaos! get me out of here!"

I've had some planned and unplanned doctor appointments this week.  Some after school events to attend, a conference, a luncheon, some totally necessary shopping, early dismissals at school, birthday stuff, the gym, dinners... thankfully nothing has kept me from the daily night walks that tend to just make me say ahhh...

Something about getting out there in the dark. Cool air and quiet starry nights.  The big fat super moon was out, filling the night with light, making me think impossible things and wonder and kind of just soak it all up.

Impossible things can be possible.

(time's up: 2:05pm)

random things that bug me

Every so often I jot down things that bug me, and when I get enough things to merit a post, I share.  So.

It bugs me when people put a line through their sevens and zeros.  Like, are you that concerned that we will not recognize that it is, in fact a seven (or zero)?  Does that line really mean anything anyway?  Somebody mentioned this the other day and I thought to myself that I completely concur.  

Once again, price labels on glass surfaces.  Really?  There is no other possible place to put the label?  Like perhaps the back side or bottom of a thing?  It almost feels like the labelers are purposely mocking me and all of the other shoppers.

It bugs me when you spit your gum out in the parking lot.  On the ground.  Where other people walk.  Come on.  Someone is going to step on it and track it into their car.  And that someone will probably be me.  Not cool.

It bugs me when people say supposubly.  As opposed to supposedly.  Please, please for the love of bacon, supposubly is not a word.  A worse offense is aks instead of ask, or fustrated instead of frustrated.  Why?  Ugh.

It bugs me when I find half drunk (drinken?  drank?  help me.) can of seltzer around.  I am not one to stick my nose up at a half drunk (?) can of seltzer, because I am all about conserving the seltzer, but we all know that it will be flat by the second day so basically it is a totally wrecked can of seltzer.  Lets all say this together: just say no to sandbagging.

It bugs me when I squeeze mustard onto a lovely ham and cheese sandwich and a mustard dribble comes out.  Like a watery dribble of mustard juice.  WTF?  Now my bread is soggy!  How am I even supposed to proceed at this point?

Don't you think that the way segue is spelled is like, not natural?  Who made up that dumb word anyway?  And why would  they spell it in such a way that nobody knows how to pronounce it?  Is it seh-gue?  Seg-way? Seg?  SEEG?  I'm going to go figure it out.

OK, I checked.  It is seg-way according to the dictionary.  I think I always knew that, but it feels so awkward to say, don't you think?  Sort of like bask.

Well there you have it - another edition of things that bug me.  Have any of your own to add?

the "episode of Hoarders" room

So the other night I freaking organized my "episode of Hoarders" room.  Finally.  It took forever.  We refer to the guest room as "the episode of Hoarders room" because no kidding whatsoever, it was embarrassing.  So embarrassing in fact, that there is no possible way that I would ever post a picture of it.  Seriously you guys.  Straight up mortifying.

My house is sparkling from top to bottom pretty much, which feels great, because I've been in full on spring cleaning mode.  I can't take credit for all of it, the new cleaning lady Yvonne has been doing the hard stuff.  But it still feels awesome.  That stupid room was the bane of my existence.  I didn't even let the cleaning lady step one foot in there, because it was horrendous.  In fact, I obsessively made sure the door was closed tight when she was doing the upstairs.  I don't even know how it got so out of control!  Maybe because I could close the door and I wouldn't have to look at it.

So mostly it was all about clothes.  I have the hardest time just getting rid of clothes.  Every half year or so, I put the three younger kids outgrown clothes in tubs and put them away.  For what?  A rainy day?   I have no idea!  Clothes from the three kids at home and me and my husband (and some of Kara's outgrown stuff too!) means a ridiculous amount of outgrown clothes.  Seriously ridiculous.  I don't know why I can't just get rid of them! 

Because I know I could sell them on eBay and make a boatload of cash!  Maybe that's why.  Except actually implementing that plan has been rather daunting.  Maybe I'll just put them all out for the annual town-wide Yard Sale Day.  

Well so anyway, I was out of tubs.  So you know, instead of just going to get new tubs,  I'd kind of just pile things up on the floor.  Don't judge me!  Then, somehow, my crafty girl pile got out of control.  The guest room doubles as my crafty girl room.  Actually, the guest room triples as a crafty girl room because not only is it a guest room and crafty room, it is also a laundry folding room.  Because just plopping a pile of clean laundry on the bed when you're on your way out the door is so much easier than folding it immediately.  Right?  Works for me!

Or, maybe not.  Maybe it doesn't work for me.  Because clearly, I was loosing control, being a shitty housewife with a hidden hoarder room.  I'm so ashamed.

Well, so after the great Cleanup of 2012 (that's what I will now refer this momentous occasion as), the boys carted all of the newly filled tubs away for Yard Sale Day.  My crafty space is nice and situated, and my clean laundry is all folded and put away.  And I even got a few garbage bags full of stuff to bring to the donation bin in town.

It feels pretty great to not feel so overwhelmed with the stupid room.  And now I can let the cleaning lady in there next week to re-straighten it.  Perfect!

monday listicle - an hour

So I've been reading this new to me blog, The Good Life, and it's fun and funny.  And guess what?  That Stasha does a feature thing that is called Monday Listicles.  There are different topics every Monday where you list ten things, then link up.  Well.  You all know how much I love lists.  So I have to participate.  Because, you know, it would be a crime if I passed up an opportunity to write a list and link it to other list writers and then like, love my list so hard.  So apparently this week's topic is "an hour in your day."

10 Things Between 3:00 and 4:00 on a normal weekday...

1.  Megan walks in through the back door, home from school.

2.  I remind her to take off her shoes and put them in the mudroom with her book bag. 

3.  We chat about her day.  Her mouth goes a mile a minute because she doesn't often get uninterrupted time with just me.

4.  I drive over to the school to pick up Brooke.

5.  On the way I get a call from Alex asking me to get him too, because he is a lazy boy.

6.  Alex tries to get in the front seat, which always has a pile of stuff in it, so I have him hop in back and he grumbles about it.

7.  We come in and I remind Alex and Brooke to *take off their shoes and leave their backpacks in the mudroom.  (I actually remind them every singe day.  If I don't, without fail, one of them will traipse around inside with their shoes on, and one will throw a backpack on the kitchen floor.)

8.  Brooke asks for a snack, and tells me about her day.  Alex gets fifty applesauce cups and a pop tart and leaves his garbage everywhere til I ask him to put it in the garbage.

9.  Brooke asks Megan to play with her, Megan stalls her by saying "in a minute," or most often just an outright no.  Brooke whines.

10. Brooke asks me to play a game with her, push her on the swings, read with her, etc. So that's what I do.

That pretty much sums up an hour in my life, on any given school day.  Super exciting stuff!  WooHOO!


*I have an issue with people walking around the house in their shoes.  It freaks me out.  Its the germophobe in me.  You could be tracking animal guts and dog poop and insect eggs in to my house!!  Think about all of the things that your shoes touch out there!  And then the kids lay on the floor to watch TV or something. Touching all of those germy things.  Gross. 

Things that I suck at

Well you know I recently wrote a post about ten things that I am good at.  I guess it would only be fair to list ten things that I suck at.  I have to balance it all out so you don't just walk away thinking I am perfect or something, right?  This is just the tip of the iceberg though guys, because for some reason, I tend to suck at a lot of things.

1.  I suck at talking myself up.  I just can't sit around and go on about how great I am at like, dog training.  Jenney.

2.  I suck at talking to people that I don't know.  Look.  I am always over analyzing how I sound, how I come off, if I say something stupid.  It's just hard to chit chat when you have a constant monologue with yourself in your head like, me: "Did you really just say that?"  then, me: "Yes, yes I did."  and then again, me: "Are you fucking kidding me, me? You moron."

3.  I suck at talking to people that I do know.  See a pattern here?  I suck at talking in general.  Most often I feel like a bumbling idiot.

4.  I suck at slapping sense into people who need sense slapped into them.  I'm just not good at hurting people's feelings on purpose.  Or not on purpose I guess.

5.  I suck at getting looked at.  I cannot stand when people look at me.  I don't like to feel like a guy that I don't know is checking me out.  It makes me skin-crawly uncomfortable.  You can check me out if I do know you though. :)

6.  I suck at getting looked in.  I know I have had four kids and spent my share of time at the gynecologists office, but it never gets any more comfortable having a doctor guy's face in your naked crotch, or feeling you up while talking about the weather.  I'm pretty sure it never will.

7.  I suck at biting my tongue when someone is an asshole.  Let's just leave it at that.  I have no room for people like that in my life.  And I have a quick temper in very specific situations.

8.  I suck at letting mean things people say or do roll off my back.  Mostly, I just sit on things and rehash them in my head for oh, like ever.  Pretty much forever, yeah.  I'd probably be accurate in saying that I am a holder-onner.

9.  I suck at forgetting mean things.  In keeping with number 8 above.  More than likely if you're mean to me, I'll never forget it.  So, use caution. Just saying.

10.  I suck at forgiving people who have hurt me.  You know, I want to be more forgiving.  I try.  But eight and and nine above hinder that most often.  It's hard to forgive something when you can't forget it, or how it made you feel.  However, I have certainly forgiven some really difficult things that I never expected to.  Which is odd.

thursday already

Shoot, it's Thursday!  Thursday already!

Is it just me, or does time seem to go faster once summer break gets nearer?

I've been thinking about what we will do this summer.  Every summer I try to write out a bunch of things to do to keep us all occupied.  I hate when my kids tell me they are bored.  It drives me crazy.  I usually have a great solution for boredom, and it involves Pledge wipes.  Or garbage bags.  Lots and lots of garbage bags.

My kids are smart enough not to tell me they are bored now.  They just mosey around looking bored.  They'll go from like, the TV, to the fridge, to the couch... then they'll start touching each other, teasing each other...  I can't stand that.

My most often used summer phrase is, "Go outside and PLAY."  Actually, that is my most often used phrase in general.  My worst thing is seeing a kid sitting around watching TV or hanging on the computer for stupid amounts of time.  That will not be happening this summer here.

Actually though, we do have a pretty full summer.  Half of the time it seems like summer is over before it even begins!  I have to get my kids signed up for their day camps - Brooke and Megan are doing a week of dance, which should be fun.  Alex is doing an overnight soccer camp.  Then they have swim lessons and summer rec, which are half day programs.  It's pretty relaxed, the summer rec program.  I like sending them because it gives them something to do that is organized for a few hours, but also gives them plenty of time to just hang around and play or swim and enjoy their break.  And then two weeks in the Outer Banks.  I can't wait.

I've got a couple of posts to post, I just have been reveling in laziness and haven't edited anything.  I mentioned that I have to post the lowdown on our crazy cool mini-getaway to Mohonk Mountain House, I also was going to post 10 things that I suck at.  I seriously have over 120 unpublished posts in my queue thing.  I should really go through those.  ANYway, I will get on those other posts.  Who knows if they will be of interest... I just have to follow through guys.  You know?

monday listicle - I'm good

So I've been reading this new to me blog, The Good Life, and it's fun and funny.  And guess what?  That Stasha does a feature thing that is called Monday Listicles.  There are different topics every Monday where you list ten things, then link up.  Well.  You all know how much I love lists.  So I have to participate.  Because, you know, it would be a crime if I passed up an opportunity to write a list and link it to other list writers and then like, love my list so hard.  So apparently this week's topic is Ten Things that I am Good at.

Hm.  Well. It's kind of funny, because one of the very things that I am not good at, is talking myself up.  I gotta be honest here and say that the list of things that I suck at would be way longer.  And probably infinitely more interesting.  Maybe that will be my next post.  Ah, I suppose in the course of 42 years or so, I have picked up a little bit of knowledge and insight on a few things.  So, I'll try to stretch that into 10 actual things.

1.  Being patient.  I can wait a lot of things out.  I mean, like I can wait a looong time.  I'm a major hanger-onner.  That could actually be a bad thing.

2.  Organizing.  I love organizing things.  Mostly in my mind.  I could be better at it.  I didn't say I was a great organizer - just good.  I like thinking about how to organize things quite a bit, however actually implementing the organization somehow gets pushed to the side most of the time...

3.  Daydreaming.  I am a professional day dreamer.  I consistently have a made up movie playing in my head pretty much all day long.  Starring me.  And the things I wish for, or want to do/be.

4.  Entertaining kids.  Ah, I have had a kid on me pretty much constantly for the last almost 23 years.  (omg.  23 years is a shocking amount of time.)  I guess I have had to come up with a few tricks over that time to keep them busy and/or entertained.

5.  Training dogs.  This is a little silly, but I am great at teaching dogs tricks and commands.  Maybe I should be a dog trainer!  Nah... even though I like dogs, I am not a very good petter and dogs like when people pet them.

6.  Listening.  I am a great listener, mostly because I am pretty quiet and empathetic.  I don't interrupt and I don't steal your thunder.  I just listen.  People tend to spill a lot of shit to me.  I particularly like the validation that I am not the only one who is slightly not all there.

7.  Observing.  I think my sharp observation skill goes hand in hand with the listening thing above.  Because I am pretty quiet, it's easy to blend in to the background and just look at things.  I love to look at stuff around me and soak it all in.  And I love to people watch.  People are weird.

8.  Driving.  I am a great driver.  Except since my driving anxiety happened, I feel a little less worthy of being on the road.  I really need to get over that issue, because I like driving!  And I abhor the thought of depending on someone else to drive me around.  I need to be independent!!!

9.  Floating.  I  am also a great floater.  I think it's because I am on the chunkier side.  I read that fat floats, and if you have very little body fat you can't float very well, maybe not even at all.  Well, I'm just going to say I could float til tomorrow with no problem whatsoever.  

10. Napping.  I could be a professional napper (along with my professional daydreamer status - it fits).  I rarely nap.  Seriously.  But I love to nap.  If someone told me, "You have 15 minutes to nap!  Ready, set, GO!"  I could close my eyes and make it happen pretty much anywhere, anytime.  Ahh.  There is no denying that a good nap goes a long way.

So there you go.  Linking up to Monday listicles, and maybe tomorrow I'll come up with ten things that I really suck hard at, you know, just to balance out this somewhat indulgent post.