friday five: resolutions and being sick and such

Friday Five reminder:  Basically, a Friday Five post should be a super easy post. Just set the timer and free write for five minutes, whatever is on your mind, without trying to censor or think too hard. Usually once you start it's easy, and you don't have to think about it at all. 

That's kind of my goal - just five minutes of free writing.  Nothing Fancy, nothing planned, nothing needing to be humorous, or inspiring or anything for others - just for you.  If you feel like sharing, feel free to pop a link in the comments.


Set your timer!

6:31 pm
Well hot damn it's a New Year!  2016!  WooHOO! Here's to new beginnings and great things for the year ahead!

Except currently, I'm on the couch.  The same place I have been since I got home from a holiday get-away this afternoon, actually.  I'm sick!  Wah.  I have a sore throat and cough and stuff.  No fun.  It was inevitable, getting sick.  I sat next to my sick-ish sister for several meals in a row.  I'm sure she coughed on my fork or something.  grr.

I'm not sure if I am going to make any New Year's Resolutions this year.  A lot of times I have all sorts of good intentions with resolutions and they never actually happen.  Then I feel all failure-ish, and that's not fun.

I guess the key is making resolutions that are actually attainable.  So I think if I can do that, I might not be a failure.  I'll let you know how that goes.  Maybe Monday I will post a list or something, so all of you four readers can keep me accountable.  We can keep each other accountable!  How about it?

-time is up!

friday five: climate changes, shopping, and chocolate wieners

Friday Five reminder:  Basically, a Friday Five post should be a super easy post. Just set the timer and free write for five minutes, whatever is on your mind, without trying to censor or think too hard. Usually once you start it's easy, and you don't have to think about it at all. 

That's kind of my goal - just five minutes of free writing.  Nothing Fancy, nothing planned, nothing needing to be humorous, or inspiring or anything for others - just for you.  If you feel like sharing, feel free to pop a link in the comments.


Set your timer!

11:01 am
So I can't believe it is already Friday, and I really can't believe Christmas is next week. It's been so hard to feel Christmassy this year! Mostly because as a New Yorker, I'm used to cold weather and/or snow right about now.  We've been in the middle of a weird warmish winter... It actually feels way more like early fall - I have literally been going out in a sweater.  Nobody is complaining about me forcing them to wear a hat and mittens. In fact, the hats and mittens are still somewhat packed away. It feels kind of like Northern California weather. I wonder if this is the beginning of a new thing. I hope not... I kind of enjoy cold and snow. One huge plus is that my gas bill is like, significantly lower - like by half.  That's pretty huge. 

Anyway, it's going to start getting busy around here. My husband asked me if I wanted to go to the mall and I almost laughed in his face because I would not go to the mall the weekend before Christmas if you paid me. People are crazy. Hm. On the other hand, I do enjoy a people watching session, and what could be a better opportunity? Maybe I will go to the mall.  I don't need to buy anything else though, and chances are, I will buy stuff if I am there because, Christmas! 

On another note, I hate candy canes and I wonder if that is weird.  I never buy candy canes.  And while we are on the subject of candy, what's the deal with the peanut butter cup trees?  Apparently they look a little like penises (penii? what's the plural of penis anyway?) or something.  Well that's dumb.  Who really cares?  It's a peanut butter cup tree!  The perfect ratio of peanut butter to chocolate!  Like a God damned Christmas miracle! Who cares if it looks a little wiener-like.  I'm still getting one, and I will eat it with gusto no matter what it looks like.  And also, don't you think there are other, more important things to get all fired up about?

Time's up! 11:06 am

I could really use a f*cking donut!

I'm hosting a blog hop!  I'm a blog hop hoster! I hope you'll humor me and link up so I don't look like a dumbass to the whole entire Blogiverse.  If you're new to this blog or missed the heads up, it's pretty simple and straightforward - you write a post on Friday - just 5 minutes or so.  It could be a wrap up of your week, it could be a miscellaneous ramble, a to-do list, a grocery list... anything really.  Maybe even be a weekly topic if people seem interested.  Then, you link up at the bottom of this post, and that's it!  Well, of course it would be nice if you read any other links and commented, but still, simple stuff right?  It's also a nice way to meet and connect with other bloggers out there, apparently.  So come on guys... in the famous words of the Nike advertisers, just do it!  I even made an official button!  Because I am so official and stuff.  Feel free  to share it anywhere on your blog.

My current view...

So anyway, it's Friday, again.  It's still morning but I was up and at 'em pretty early.  First with phone calls and texts from the school at some ungodly hour of like 6:30 am or something.  They were calling and texting to inform me that school was delayed, and then again a bit later to tell me that school was in fact cancelled due to snow.  So all of that sort of woke me.  Then, Alex got up to get the day started at another ungodly hour of 7:30 or something.  He actually had to be at a meeting he couldn't be late for at 9ish, and he knew he was going to have to shovel a little bit, so there was that.  Then, a bad thing happened.  Alex went to let Maizie out of her crate and discovered she had gone to the bathroom in there, like she must have had a sick stomach, poor pup.

So, he thankfully cleaned out and disinfected the crate while I gave her a bath.  Ugh.  It was far too early to be dealing with such disgusting crap (literally), let me tell you.  Even the kids were still asleep.  Sheesh.  Maizie was not appreciating the bath one bit either.

Is this the face of a dog who is ready to have babies?  No, no it is not.

Ah, she got over it.  But I am semi-freaking out.  I have a terrible feeling Maizie might have a few buns in the oven, and that is a BAD THING.  She's still a puppy!  Also, it is totally my fault because she went into heat before I got her spayed...  then of course they won't let me get her spayed til she's done, which is like, now.  I don't even know what to do about that!  I've been super careful about watching her, making sure no dogs were around, etc.  The biggest problem, besides the fact that there are plenty of mutt puppies and dogs out there and we don't exactly want to add to that, is that because she's so small and I'd have no idea what dog she hooked up with, it could be a bad thing!  Like, how could she ever have a 1/2 Rottweiler pups or something?  I totally need to bring her to the vet.

So, I'm sorry that I am somewhat cranky.  This m-effing cleanse is still on, just wrapping up the second of three weeks, and I am kind of wanting something besides everything healthy.  I could really use a fucking donut!  Apparently that's not on the cleanse.  The question is, will one donut ruin everything??  Probably.  Damn it.  My mind is so wrapped around the thought of eating sweet things right now, it's hard to focus on other things.  I'm not hungry at all really.  I really enjoy what I am eating, surprisingly.  I guess it's more mental.  Ugh. I'm ready to be done!

Well, times up.  Happy Friday guys.  Link up and tell me fun things and entertain me!  I really need some good distraction right now...

a combo! friday five and fill in the blank

Today's Friday Five is a combo: five-ish minutes of five fill in the blank type questions.

The first thing I remember buying with my own money was: red Swedish fish at the penny candy store in my town.  We'd walk a few streets over to this little place called The Little Store, where there were bins of penny candy, and other convenience type things, like milk and bread and stuff.  They had those peanut butter taffy candies called Mary Janes I think (not that kind of Mary Jane you stoners).  Remember those things?  The Swedish fish were always my favorite.  A man we called "Uncle George" was the owner.  He was a patient guy - we'd come in with like, a dollar in pennies, and he'd have to count out a hundred of those fish.

One story that my family always tells about me is: how I tied my sister Ali up and threw her in a closet, traumatizing her to claustrophobia for the rest of her life.  She claims that I tied the rope in such a way that if she moved, it tightened.  In my defense, I'm pretty sure she wanted to play Houdini.  Who was I to say no?

The last time I was nervous was: last week, going to Colorado for my cousin's wedding.  The travel part doesn't make me nervous at all, it was the socializing that made me nervous.  I didn't know a good portion of the people there, and there were also some people there that I hadn't seen in a long time.  Sadly, social situations almost always make me nervous.

The thing I miss most about being a kid is: freedom to live life with very little stress hanging over my head.  Even though things were often precarious financially when I was little, I never knew that, and I just lived life every day without worrying about things like mortgages and car loans and having enough money for dinner.

The last movie, TV show or book that made me cry or tear up was: The Biggest Loser.  I'm such a sappy baby.  I hate when other people cry and have things that make them sad, and I hate when people are mean to other people.  I think one of the kids was talking about how some kids at school made rude comments when she walked by about her weight, and her eyes filled with tears when she was talking about it - which made my eyes fill.  Why are people so mean sometimes? 

friday five

4:35 pm

I'm kind of at a loss of what to say, after seeing and hearing and reading all of the details about the latest school shooting.  

Ugh.

Yesterday, I was at the elementary school helping out in Brooke's classroom.  The kids were making gingerbread houses.  As I was walking through the halls, I happened to glance down the wing where the kindergarten classes are.  I noticed a little kindergartner that I know skipping down the hall.  Just skipping along without a care, without a worry, pigtails swaying from side to side.  And I smiled, because how could you not?  That kind of uncomplicated joy always gets me.

The thought that someone would come into a kindergarten (or any) classroom, and look at those little innocent faces... the thought that someone would consciously make the decision to destroy them, shatter families, futures, communities - I can't even begin to understand.  

I feel sick imagining what the families of those children are dealing with, right this minute - in a little town not all that far from my own.  Those parents that waited before driving away to make sure their child made it safely inside the school doors this morning, as I did.  Maybe they caught a backward glance, or a little wave or a smile, as I did from my child this morning.  Then maybe they drove off, feeling secure that the doors were closed, that their child was in a safe spot for the next six hours away from home, as I did.

What an unbelievable, tragic, unnecessary loss.  I wish I knew how to reassure my kids that they are safe, I wish I knew how to reassure myself.  

friday five - things not to say to your wife

It's Friday, about 5:45.  Not the best day ever, but I'm hoping it'll look up at some point.  I'm not banking on it though, there just aren't enough hours left in this day to really turn it around.

I was thinking maybe I'd post something upbeat.  I was thinking I could grab some post that I'd written before, on another day, and tweak it enough so it was post-able.  I did make an effort.  I weeded through some unposted posts, started tweaking... I guess I'm just not feeling it.

There's no real rule, that I have to post something substantial today.  I'm the boss of me, here.  So since I'm just not in the mood, I'll post something funny, that made me chuckle a little when I needed something to smile about.  Check it out:

friday fiver conversations with my husband

So I forgot that I said I'd post more about Thanksgiving in CT, and even left you all with a teaser about potentially sharing Alex's freaking hilarious post-Thanksgiving dancing.  So, I asked him.  And this is how it all went down.

me:  How do you feel about me possibly posting your super awesome dance routine on my blog? (see what I did there with the compliment?  I'm so smooth.)

him: People at my office read that!

me:  ::pause while deflating a snitch because the compliment didn't seem to sway him as much as I was hoping:: Well, it could be great entertainment!  Great fodder for chats around the water cooler even!  I'll bet they have no idea that you can blend Gangsta moves with Irish Step dancing, Russian Cossack dancing, the stanky leg, booty shaking and a perfect Herkie.  That is very impressive you know.  Besides, you shouldn't have shown them my blog in the first place!

him: I didn't!  Your brother did!

me:  I don't have a brother.  Well.  We all know that I cannot say that with certainty.  But, I don't have a brother that I personally know, currently.  Though I could provide you with the name of a potential.

him:  You know who I mean.

me:  Yay or nay?

him: *scowl*

me: Thumbs up? C'mon you little dancer, you.

him: *scowl*

me:  Fine! 

So sorry guys, I'll continue to try to get him to sign the release and waiver.  Maybe if you collectively beg him through your comments, he'll relent.  Trust me, it's worth it.  

However, if I do get him to agree to post it, I may or may not pretend that I don't know him.

Friday five...technology's bitch - in the dark

So it's like only about 4:45 and it's dark already.   I am sitting in darkness, all alone.  Listening to tunes, multi-tasking between perusing the web, responding to texts... that kind of thing.  Technology.  WTF did we do without it anyway?  Read an actual book?  Seriously, I am trying to think of what I used to do on an average day before I was all uber-connected, addicted to my laptop and things.  Hm.  Clean?  Bills?  Work?  I did a lot of cleaning.  I hated having a messy house.  I still do, but I can easily get distracted from cleaning by the computer.  It's just so... addictive.  So now instead of cleaning for a while, I do a lot of mini quick pick-ups.  My house still looks presentable though!  I swear I am not shirking my SAHM duties!  I'm not technology's bitch!  Well.  Not really.  

I read that there's like an actual syndrome/anxiety that they are diagnosing with people who are addicted to technology - blackberries, iPhones, PDAs.  Those kinds of things.  Like people actually have compulsions about it.  I guess I think that's weird, though I have lived through such addiction with someone who will remain nameless my husband.  I judge like that as if I'm not in front of a computer as often as I am.  There aren't too many times when I shut down, when I'm off the grid.  In fact, I really honestly cannot think of the last time that I was completely off the grid besides being mid-flight.  Mid-flight off the grid-ness is hard!  I forget that I cant access stuff.  Actually that's kind of sad!

I'm making a complete effort to get off the grid more.  Starting another day besides today.  Or tomorrow.  Eh, maybe we should revisit this thought.

Later guys.  Happy weekend.

friday five

It's Friday, late afternoon and it is pouring.  It's been pouring all day.  This morning I rolled out of bed so freaking early,  I felt like an animal.  How do people get up at 7:00 am?

I am not a fan of sleeping in actually, I can't really do it.  I can never sleep past nine.  I hate wasting the day, even if it's dark and dreary out and warm and cozy in, and under the covers.

So anyway, I had to get up at the asscrack of dawn to go pick my girls up from my Mom's house so I could get them to school on time.  They spent the night because we were out at a freaking awesome concert last night til late.  We went to see Morrissey.  I love him.  I don't care that he's not into girls.  I just love his smooth, velvety voice.  

So we went to this concert and I was so happy because I was not surrounded by a bunch of young kids feeling all out of place.  However, I was surrounded by hipsters - tons and tons of them, all wearing their glasses and hats and beards.  Several pompadours were observed, especially in the front row.  Which I had a good view of.  Because I had great seats, that's why.  I did feel a little out of place surrounded by the hipsters, I have to admit.  It's hard to fit in and feel somewhat cool around them.  

The concert was good.  Rather loud though, I know I sound like my grandmother saying that.  I probably looked like my Nan too kind of holding my ears closed a snitch.  It really was LOUD!  I bet if I was younger I wouldn't have even noticed.  The drummer was awesome and there was a gong.  No, not a bong (darn it!) a gong.  We were five rows back and right smack in the center, so I could literally see the sweat on Morrissey's brow.   It was awesome.  He has a really sexy underbite.

Anyway, moving on... tomorrow will be another asscrack of dawn kinda morning for me, because I am flying out to San Francisco to meet my sister and friend.  We're going to hang for a few days like girls.  It'll be so nice, I can't wait.   Hopefully the weather is good.  That reminds me, I better go pack!  

So if you don't hear from me for a few days, don't you worry.  I'm all good (unless I die a fiery death in a tragic plane crash.  in that case, farewell.) and I will catch up when I get back sometime next week.

Happy weekend!

friday 5

It's Friday.  My sister Jen is coming in to town tonight so I'm happy.  I don't think we've hung out since summer, and I hate when too much time goes by.  It's so hard when school starts, because we have to work around all of our kid's commitments.  And they sure seem to have a lot of commitments. Damn kids.

Nah.  I love my kid's commitments.  I love going to watch Alex play soccer, which is the biggest time suck for me in the fall.  In fact, Jen is coming to see some soccer games this weekend.  It's homecoming weekend in our town, at my old school.  There are all sorts of games going on, football, soccer and field hockey, maybe volleyball.  One thing that I'm looking forward to though is watching the alumni games.  My husband is playing soccer along with my BIL Tbone, who also grew up here, and my sister Ali is playing field hockey.  It's going to be funny to see all of the old graduates playing.  Ali just turned 40, it'll be pretty funny to see her with a field hockey stick again.  Running.  With the stick.  My husband plays soccer fairly regularly, so even though that will be fun to watch, it probably won't be as funny as Ali's game.

Yeah, I know I am making fun of the old players, and of course I'm not actually playing myself.  Yes, well, that's because I am as uncoordinated today as I was back then.  If I got out there and attempted to play soccer or field hockey, someone would get hurt.  And that someone would be me.  I suck at sports and I always have.  I never played any sports in high school.  I'm really good at watching though!  I'm great at cheering them all on from the sidelines!  WooHOO!

Well, I guess time's up!  Happy long weekend to you.

friday 5

It's Friday and man, it's raining and cold!  I am definitely pro-autumn weather - it's my absolute favorite.  Today does not feel like autumn, which is the opposite of my favorite.  It suspiciously feels like pre-winter and I'm not loving it.

Anyway, the kids have the day off of school - go figure, after just three weeks back in session.  That is pretty freaking typical around here, there's got to be a scheduled day or two off every single month.  I'm sure the teachers and kids appreciate it, but I imagine it gets hard on the parents who have to work.

Originally, Alex had a soccer tournament scheduled for today and tomorrow, but they were cancelled because of the rain.  Bunch of babies.  A little rain never hurt anyone.  I'm mad!  I really wanted to watch those tournaments!

Even though it's like 3:00 in the afternoon, we've pretty much been in our pj's all day.  One of the best parts about a rainy, grey day is getting to be comfy and cozy and lazy all day.  The girls wanted to play Cake Boss, so they each made three cakes -  two three tiered cakes will be kicking around here soon enough.  Two three tiered cakes that I will have to try not to eat.  As soon as the cakes cool off, they are going to get decorated.  My kids love Cake Boss.  I'm thinking that they are going to be pretty surprised at how hard it is to actually decorate a cake.  Buddy sure makes it look effortless.

Time's up - I'm headed off for a nice warm bath.  Happy weekend guys!

friday five

It's Friday, about 3:00 and I have to go pick Brooke up form school soon.  This past week has been gorgeous.  Super, awesome perfect fall weather.  My absolute favorite!  Can you tell?  It's just so nice because I hate sun beating on me without a breeze or hint of cool air or shade somewhere.  That's why I'm pretty sure I would die if someone tried to force me to live in some sweaty, hot muggy region.  Like Florida.

I was talking to someone recently about my favorite weather (pretty exciting topic, eh?)  and he told me that San Diego would be my ideal climate.  So, San Diego.  Hm.  I could live in a whale's vagina.  OK, that sounded so hideous, please click the link so you grasp what I am saying.  I can not say San Diego without thinking about that stupid clip from the Anchorman where Ron Burgundy is trying to tell Veronica Corningstone that San Diego was discovered by the German's and the name translates to "a whale's vagina."  Sorry.  It had to be said.

So anyway, yeah.  I guess I can see it.  Just packing up and moving to a whole other coast.  I'm not sure that my family would be on board.  Well, I'm sure the kids wouldn't hate living by the ocean.  Come to think of it, Alex's firm actually has an office in San Diego.  Hm. Kara would be all over it, she's dying to get to CA.  She's been angling for a move to Santa Monica since we visited in March.  I would never move to LA.  I did not love it there.  But if she was in Santa Monica and we were in San Diego, at least we would be close enough to visit easily.   I think I might be afraid of earthquakes.  In NY, we don't really have any of that scary weather crap looming over our heads that could kill us.

I'm going to California in about a month, actually.  I'll be heading out there with my sister and her friend, then I'll stay a few extra days by myself when they leave.  I'm really looking forward to it.  Last year I was in SF during the fall, and it was so nice.  I'll have to think of some fun things to do and see while I'm there.  And eat.  There are tons of great places to eat.

Speaking of food, I'm hungry.  Gotta go eat some lunch!  Happy weekend.

friday five

It's Friday!  I'm not sure if I should be excited or not.

It's a little after 1:00 and I've been working on some stuff.  Writing.  Going a little bit out of my comfort zone, and working on a different style.  I don't hate it.  I wish I could put music to it actually.

I'm a little out of sorts today.  I need to figure out a way to get myself cheerier, need to figure out a way to not let things get to me.  It's hard sometimes.  

This song called "Love, Love, Love," was just playing, by Of Monsters and Men and I love these lyrics.  Sometimes I am so distracted listening to the words of a good song, I forget what I was even doing.  This part is really visual, it's like a painting.  Does that sound weird?  

     these fingertips

     will never run through your skin

     and those bright blue eyes

     can only meet mine

     across a crowded room 

     filled with people 

     less important than you

I wish I could paint.  I want to paint a picture of those words.

I guess I don't have much going on this weekend, which makes me happy.  I quite enjoy a rare weekend with nothing on the calendar.  It feels good.  I do have a few little excursions to plan this weekend - airplane tickets to get booked.  In mid-October, I'm hopefully going to California for a few days with my sister, and then heading to South Carolina for a wedding towards the end of that month.  Hoping to make it out to Denver for another wedding around the New Year, which should be great.  Then, who knows where I'll go?  Any suggestions?  For my next big solo trip, I'm thinking Seattle.   

Time's up!  Happy weekend guys!

friday five

It's 1:55 and the kids should start rolling in in less than an hour.

Where did the day go?!

It seems like every year when my kids go off for the new school year, I have a period of adjustment too.  I mean, I know that they have to readjust - it's a lot to have to get back into nights where they have to shower and eat dinner and be in their beds by 8ish.  Days where they can no longer get up at their leisure, where they can swim their faces off all day.  Where they can eat breakfast at oh, maybe 11, and then lunch somewhere around 3 or so, and 500 Popsicles in between.

Sorry kiddos, those days are OVER.  At least til next summer.  

My readjusting comes in the form of figuring out what the hell to do with myself all day.  Sometimes I think, maybe I will make one of those crafts that look so easy on pinterest, or bake one of those awesome goodies, or maybe even cook one of those yummy dinners.  Then instead, I just laugh heartily at that thought and keep pinning more shit til I realize that if I don't get in the shower now, I'll never make it to the school in time to pick up Brooke.  Then suddenly, take-out pizza starts to seem really appealing. 

Aw, who am I kidding?  I'm going sushi.

Times up!  Happy weekend guys.

friday

Been trying to write a Friday five minute purge all day.  Like, the whole point is to only spend five minutes writing, and I can't seem to get five minutes to sit down and focus here for even a minute!

It's the beginning of a nice long weekend.  Alex the birthday boy took the day off (absolutely shocking), so we kind of have a good four days to do stuff, anything really.  It would have been a great week for camping actually, my camper is all serviced and ready to roll, just don't exactly have a vehicle that can pull it with anymore.  Hm.  So that means we either need to trade it in for a driving camper (wooHOO!  I'm in!), trade my momivan in for like, a vehicle with a hitch (this will do), or just get a hitch put on the van.   I guess the most logical option would be to get a hitch put on the van.  Darn it. 

So anyway, we're going to my mom's camp in Cooperstown.  It's supposed to be a gorgeous weekend, which will be great for boating and water stuff.  The kids love that.  Megan went early with Mom this morning, and we'll go tomorrow.  At least one of my sisters will be there too, so it should be a good, fun, relaxing time. 

Thursday the kids start their new school year!  They are actually looking forward to it, so that's good.  We're finally pretty much finished with back to school shopping stuff, thank Cod - just need a few little things and some haircuts.  So there you have it.  Five minutes are up.

Happy Friday guys!  Hope you all have a nice holiday weekend.   

friday five

It's a little after noon, a good time for a five minute purge I guess.

The cleaning lady was here yesterday and damn, how is it that it already it looks messy-ish?  My kids don't start school for two more weeks, and I am looking forward to not feeling like I am picking up the same area 27 times a day.  Every single day, my son Alex will get a cup out, get himself some water, then leave the glass on some surface in the kitchen/great room area.  Then he gets annoyed when, in the process of moving around during the day, I put the cup in the sink or dishwasher.  I'm thinking he believes that we should leave the cup in a random spot for the entire day so that he can refill it as needed.

But I don't like random cups around all day.  Is that weird?  Maybe it's me.  It's probably weird. ::sigh::

You know what else is weird?  I hate having to say "my son" or "my husband" Alex when I am talking about them on my blog.  I know that I need to differentiate, but it's annoying.  When I talk about my son Alex to friends or at home, I call him Little Alex.  Except the problem is, he's big now.  He's taller than his Dad and taller than me.  Everyone used to call him baby Alex. Aw.

Sometimes I wish I could go back for just one day, with my kids being little babies or toddlers.  I think during the moments when you have a few little kids, life seems hectic and busy and rushed and stressy, and you tend to get through the days more than just enjoy them.  I wish I could have a day to just sit there and watch them discovering things and making their way, and enjoy them.

Good thing time's up, because I may or may not need to go get a tissue.  What?  It's just dust.  I have a little dust in my eye...

f.r.i.d.a.y. five

4:35

It's Friday!  Who knew?  This summer vacation stuff makes the time seem to fly by just as much as it stands still.  How can that actually be?  I guess because it's like every time I look at the clock I am surprised that it's like, late afternoon almost dinner time-ish already, and then again, somehow I feel like we've been doing a lot of nothing, which makes it feel kinda draggy.  I am anti-scheduling things to death, but during the summer I need to keep the kids busy.  I refuse to have them sitting around watching TV and telling me they are bored all day.  Except today.  Because it is so freaking hot, as soon as I open the door I feel all melty.  Plus Alex has a girl over (!) so I can't really leave to go do something fun or swimmy because I definitely don't want a 15 year-old boy/girl free-for-all going on.  I need to supervise.

Alex and a few friends

My spectacular method of supervision is having the little kids periodically make their way through the room that Alex and the girl are hanging in.  You know, just to make sure they're behaving.  Kara is pissed because she thinks I am easier on Alex than I was on her at that age.  Which is fairly accurate I guess.  I'm not sure why.  Well, she was the guinea pig!  I tested everything out on her, poor kid.  She did turn out pretty decent though, so I guess I did something right.  I still absolutely worry about Alex though, don't get me wrong.  I can't stand the fact that my boy is old enough to be semi-dating.  Teen-aged girls these days are like predators!  Did I mention that Alex was invited to the prom by a senior??  He just wrapped up 9th grade!  Sheesh.  Anyway, it makes me think back to being a teenager myself, and boy do I feel sorry for the moms of the boys I dated.  Ugh.  If only I had a time machine...

4:42 Time's up.  Happy weekend!

friday 5

Good day for a five minute purge, right?

4:40p
Been spending every afternoon at my sister Ali's pool.  Each day it's been over 95 degrees - I even got in there yesterday!  I actually love swimming and being in the pool - I just don't like to be cold in there, so it's got to be pretty hot for me to get me to go in.  Also, I hate bathing suits, and it's kind of a requirement to wear one, so there's that.

The kids love it.  I love watching them, it makes me smile, makes me think about being a little kid swimming with my sisters.  We'd play sharks and minnows and Marco polo and some kind of baseball type game.  We'd spend hours in the pool.  Every summer day.  We never got tired of it, and pretty much had to be dragged home by the babysitter at 4:00 to watch Quincy M.C.  It was her favorite show. 

We were really lucky to have a few great pools available to us as kids.  We grew up two doors down from my Aunt Sue, and she was pretty generous about letting us swim even though we were obnoxious. If Aunt Sue got sick of us, we always had my grandmother's pool, which was amazing, just a little bit of a long walk.

We toss around the idea of getting a pool all of the time, but my sister lives right around the corner.  It's kind of silly, we'd be swimming here and they'd be swimming there, and we wouldn't even be hanging out.  Where's the fun in that?  So for now we'll just let them host us.  Because you know, why not?

Alex wants a hot tub but I am opposed.  There are so many gross germs in there, I have a fear.  I got a hot tub rash once and my kids seem to get it at least once a year - and we only go in clean hot tubs!  It's awful where my mind goes when I think about the disgusting things I am soaking my body in.  Lets just say I am not the best at public pools/hot tubs, or anyplace that I would be submerging myself with a lot of other gross people's spit and pee and phlegm and ugh.  I feel a little nauseous.  Last summer all three little kids were covered in spots - it 100% looked exactly like chicken pox and was really itchy.  Even our pediatrician diagnosed them with chicken pox.  And they had all been vaccinated!  I was actually a little concerned because I have never had chicken pox, and I was never vaccinated.  I heard it is way worse as an adult.  So I did a little research because I thought it was weird that they all were vaccinated and I WebMD diagnosed them with the hot tub rash - Folliculitis.  I'm pretty sure that my pediatrician didn't appreciate the second opinion.  But I WebMD was right!  Poor kids had to go back to school, after suffering through the quarantine section of the doctor's office.

I suppose if I got a hot tub I could be selfish and not let anyone in but my people, so I'd only be submerging myself in their germs.  I don't know.  I'll think about it.

Whoa - time's definitely up.  I'll zip it now.  Happy weekend!  

99 and friday 5

So you guys!  I officially have 99 followers!  WooHOO!

I am so close to triple digits I can almost taste it.  

I just wanted to point out that exciting news before I started a little Friday five minute purge.  Yikes, can you believe it is Friday already?!  I know!  Me neither.  Do you like how I am conversing with myself? Or more like I am conversing with an imaginary reader.

So yeah, I know I am weird.  
11:40 a

Hm.  It's a beautiful sunny morning, and I sit here with my coffee, kind of cold.  Ah, pretty much definitely cold.  In warm weather I tend to have a harder time finishing a cup.  In fact, when it's warm, coffee usually makes me a little nauseous.  I've actually been a little nauseous for the past few days.  I should be in a better mood than I am.  I just got back from a little adventure that I so loved.  Have you ever been to New Mexico?  Now I can say that I have.  It was just a really cool place.  Very dry, very brownish, very different from home.  There was so much to see and do and eat.  If you are an art lover, there are these sculptures all over the place in Santa Fe, wind sculptures that are totally cool and mesmerizing.  I wanted to take one home.  Or twenty.  I'm not sure I would have been able to smuggle them onto the plane.  And they probably might look weird at my house, but I don't care.  I like them. Also, the food there is incredible.  I actually believe I had a meal that could be in my top five all time meals ever eaten.  It was breakfast at this place called Pasquale's.  I highly, strongly, fully encourage you to eat a meal or three there if you are ever in Santa Fe.  The menu is amazing and it is so hard to decide what to order.  I had a Durango Omelet with green chile sauce and I may have died a little bit eating it.  It was a man sized portion and I pretty much think I would have licked my plate if I thought nobody would notice.  So, so, so good.  I was seated next to this couple traveling from Michigan I think, who ordered pancakes.  Like, why would you order pancakes in New Mexico?  I love pancakes. But I can have pancakes every day at home.  Well, they looked amazing, I must admit.  But still, I personally was going for the southwestern experience food-wise, and I had to order something spicy and different.  Anyway, I need to go back.  I didn't get to see nearly as much as I wanted to.  And guess what?  John is dumb.  New Mexico is not boring at all.  I'll post more about it next week.

11:50.  whoops, that was ten minutes.

friday five - the boring gym post

6:25 p

So it's Friday.  And it's past five.  The house is filled with kids - everyone has someone sleeping over.  It's a little busy here right about now.  I don't really mind, it seems like an easy group, so that's good.  

I had no interest whatsoever in going to the gym today.  Actually, I never have any interest in going to the gym.  I hate it.  HATE.  I don't even know why I go, it's not like it seems to change anything.  I drag my ass there three times a week because I know I should, and throughout my whole workout, I am hating every single minute of it.  This one old guy who talks to me sometimes, he is at the gym every day for like an hour and a half.  I think he might be lonely because who would do that?!  Plus, he talks to me.  He is very pleasant, but I have my ear buds in, trying to listen to something, anything, that will keep me moving, and he'll say something.  So I have to pop an ear bud out because I can't be rude.  But I kind of like doing my own thing at the gym.  I'm not really into chit-chatting.  I'm sweaty and testy and not wanting to be there.  But I feel guilty pretending not to hear him, so I always talk back. *sigh*

I'm rather friendly like that.  Grr.  I have a soft spot for lonely old people I guess. 

6:30 p  Time's up.