Things To Not Do...

1. Never eat gummi bears after the whole container has dumped upside down on the kitchen floor when your dog is shedding like crazy.
2. Don't fold laundry right out of the dryer when it's hot outside.
3. Don't try to take a nap in the place where the sun will come through the window and fry your legs.
4. Never think you're going to do a good job shaving when the light in the shower has burned out.
5. Don't play before writing, because you'll never get to the writing. (This, however, does not apply to me today. I kicked writing butt.)
6. Never trust that the cat will stay inside even if it's raining outside. If he gets the opportunity, he will go.
Okay...that's all I have for now. I think I broke my brain a little today. Or maybe I obviously did...
Behave!

Feel Good Friday - The Holy Cow It's Been a Long Week Version

Did I mention it's been a long week?
Well...it has...
But now it's Friday and the long, b**ch-**sed week doesn't matter anymore. And even though the week was trying, there was still some good stuff...
Here we go:
1. My kid getting to go on vacation with my sister. I won't lie and say I'm not jealous, because I am, but I'm glad he got to go.
2. Alone time with that man I live with.
3. K4 getting to spend some time with her grandparents.
4. Not cooking x 2 - technically x 3, but there was a little cooking involved, so I'm not counting it.
5. Harry Potter!
6. Getting some writing done. Not as much as I wanted, but some.
7. Sleeping in tomorrow.
8. Weekend plans with the fam.
9. Having nearly $2.80 off a gallon of gas!
10. Tomatoes from the garden.
It's a mostly lame list, but hey, sometimes it's the small things!
Behave!

It IS Monday!

I knew it was before I even opened my eyes this morning. Heck, I knew it before I closed them last night! And I did not like it! I distinctly remember the days when I loved Monday. I no longer love Monday.
Though, it doesn't feel like someone's holding a blow torch on me anymore. That's one good thing.
And it rained. Also good.
We dropped K3 at my sister's so he can go on vacation with them. That is good and sad. He was very excited and will have so much fun with his cousin, but I will miss him.
Oh! And! My sister has stink bugs! On her vegetables in the garden! I haven't seen them for myself, but I have no reason to doubt her. I checked my veges and they're completely fine. So where did my stink bugs go?
Harry Potter totally rocked! Loved it! I left the theater very sad. I felt the same way when I left the theater after seeing LotR, RofK. It's over...And, right now, I cannot imagine loving something else as much as I have loved the Harry Potter series.
And...that's about it for this Monday. I'm going to try to get a few words cranked out before my pillow needs me.
Behave!

Feel Good Friday - The Sunday Edition

I seem to have my days mixed up! I think the heat scrambled my brain!
Here's the list:
1. Having all of the people who live here with me home again. It was a long week with them all at camp.
2. It's not *as* hot today.
3. Deathly Hallows - Part I is watched, Part II is on the agenda for this afternoon.
4. Not having to do the massive amounts of laundry that came home with the family.
5. Making fantastic writing progress.
6. Finding my *better* attitude.
7. Air conditioning.
8. Seeing K2 for a little while yesterday.
9. Sleeping in.
10. Writing time on the slate for this evening.
That is all for now...
Behave!

Summer Survival: Year Three: Entry Three

Hiding has finally paid off!
Well, maybe it's not so much the hiding as the heat...The Weather Gods are punishing us for some unknown misbehavior, I think. It is like a volcano has been unleashed without the lava. We're cooking from the inside out.
The young natives don't seem to mind the heat as much as those of us with a few years scratched into our bones. It is my duty to make sure they are hydrated, sunscreened, and out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day. They do not like the constant reminders, but it is for their own good.
It has been a fantastic week for my "other" journal. I have made much progress on my personal files and writings. So much so that I am euphoric and determined about the work I've done. I love writing with a passion of a thousand million firey suns. Having the down time to actually concentrate on that has reminded me how deep my passion truly runs and I am grateful. And determined.
The heat can leave now though. Before we all melt into thick gooey puddles of ick! Please!
Behave!

Man, It's Hot!

Holy Mother of Blazing Sun!!
I'd ask if it could get any hotter, but it's supposed to. The temperature is supposed to hit 101* by Friday. That's just nuts! It's days like this where I can't decide if I'd rather it be too hot out or too cold - and I think I change my mind depending on the season. But at least when it's too cold out there are ways to get warm - clothes to put on, blankets, socks, and the heater. There are only so many clothes you can take off and if you don't have air conditioning, you're screwed. I guess I'm partially screwed - we only have air in the bedrooms and I've been in here most of the day - except I have to leave to eat and use the restroom. Blarg!
In other news, I've gotten more writing done today than I have in weeks. It feels good. Really good. I'm not at the finish line yet, but I'm close. I will continue to work through the evening and tomorrow and maybe move to the next square of the game before life once again tries to take me by the throat. Though I don't think it's going to be so easy to take me down again. I found what I've been missing and I'm not giving it back. More on that later.
Oh, and I had ice cream for dinner!
Back to work!
Behave!

More On Stinkbugs...

So I finally got our bedroom cleaned (It's been on my list for weeks). And it was a major cleaning that netted 2 huge bags for donation...I feel good about that and the extra drawer and closet space. (and I cleaned out part of K4's closet to store the winter clothes.)
In doing so I found about a bazillion dead stink bugs and not one single live one.
One thing I discovered was that stink bugs that have been dead for a while get all hollow and stuff. The inside of their hollow bodies are red. (I found at least forty-five million in a drawer) I don't "think" they stink anymore. I didn't smell anything when I sucked up their dead butts. There were only dead ones in the places I really expected to find at least one live one.
I don't know what that means...I guess we'll see. I'm not lowering my guard though. It's too dangerous. They are too tricky. I don't miss them, that's for sure, but I'm not convinced they are gone for good.
In other news, there's a lightning bug flying around my house right now. It was a little startling when he starting lighting up, but now I like it. Lightning bugs are much better than flies.
It's too freaking hot right now. I'm counting the minutes until I can head into the air conditioning...
Behave!

Feel Good Friday - The Saturday Edition

A little late, but here's the list:
1. Getting to see the grandbaby today.
2. Our room = clean.
3. Pad Thai for dinner - and yes, I made it....
4. Writing time on the horizon!
5. Air conditioning.
6. Talking to K2! It's been a long time!
7. Crazy Saturdays with a lot of stuff done...even though there is more to do tomorrow!
8. Visits to the farm!
9. Baby goats and baby rabbits and black sheep and kittens and friends!
10. Summer plans!
Makes no sense, right?
Lets just say that I am happy we didn't come home from our farm visit with kittens! They were cute, but oy!
Behave!

Summer Survival: Year Three: Entry Two

I am in hiding, but it's not helping.
They keep finding me and complaining about things like not feeling good and needing medicine...This week...Oh how this week reminds me of my first year in this camp.
Illness has hit the camp with fierce intensity.
High fevers, aches, and pains, and multiple trips to the medical facility have been the focus of this week. The afflicted native nearly broke my heart with her whimpers and pathetic-ness. Said native is now on the mend, which is a huge relief.
In other news, the animals that live here with us have been acting strange. The bigger four-legged critter is shedding so bad that no amount of attention to cleanliness helps. It is more abnormal than usual.
The smaller of our beasts has taken to gallivanting outside during the dark hours. Then, in the morning when we realize he's not in the tent, he cries at us as if we are the ones who made him spend the night outdoors in the wild. I must add that he is the one who has maneuvered through the barriers and taken off on his adventure. I think he might have a girlfriend. He is too old to be out messing around in this way. I have tried talking to him, but he turns a deaf ear to my warnings about procreation and disease.
It is nearly the day most looked forward to and I must take to my pallet so I am ready to face the challenges I am sure to face. I will write more as soon as I can find another hiding place.
Behave!

Things I Have Learned...

Or...maybe more appropriately...Relearned recently...
1. The wait at the doctor's office is one of the worst waits ever. Plus, they tell you to shut your cell off. As if. I'm sorry, but I'm not waiting forty-five minutes for my appointment without the ability to check my phone.
2. Laundry does not do itself. Dangit.
3. Retraining the family after not writing for a week is laborious.
4. Preparing for summer camp requires many lists and lots of last minute stuff.
5. Kids cry when you start buy school supplies six weeks before school is due to start.
6. Heat flashes make 99* worse.
7. My dog is never going to stop shedding.
Okay...that's enough silly...
Behave!

Missing My Friend...

Today would have been my friend's birthday.
She would be the same age as me.
I am sad.
I miss her.
I find myself stalking her still active Facebook page - reading the posts of people who miss her too. I look around my house and see the touches she's placed here, remember the kind gestures - like when we moved in here and she helped to get my kitchen in shape and how she and another friend threw me a baby shower for my fourth child and then brought us a full meal the day after we came home from the hospital, the gifts she gave - like the napkin basket I still use and probably will until it turns to dust. I already said I'm sad...but I am.
I think of her often and her family - her husband who was her bestest friend ever, and her three children who were her sun, moon, and stars. We recently saw them and while we had a great time hanging out, it was bittersweet - for them as for us.
I guess it will get easier. But I will never forget her.
Behave!

Summer Survival: Year Three: Entry One

I have been lax in my journaling this summer. Not because I am busy doing fun and creative things, but because I never seem to get the required peace to properly put my summer experience onto paper (or the Internet, but you know what I mean).
They. Are. Always. Feeding.
It is a struggle to keep enough provisions stocked to sate their ravenous appetites. I think the shells and beads I earn all are traded for supplies. There are half of the natives there has been in past summers, but the constant trading for provisions has not changed. I am worried.
The natives have not yet settled into their routine. It is a strange season this year and I don't think any of us have adjusted to the major changes that have occurred within our camp over the past few months. We are all restless.
Though, mostly, I am scared.
Scared of natives who are now old enough to stay up beyond my required bed time - well, one of them is, but still. Scared of natives who have made ninety percent of the evening meal while I am gone. Scared of chickens. Scared of dogs with horrible haircuts. Scared of...well, many things, but I will not go into them and chance being discovered taking these few precious moments to update my journal.
I must always maintain the illusion of control, though I'm not sure they believe me...I do not fear for my life any longer, but I do fear for my sanity. I am in no way ready for the season to end, but I am ready to have some fun with the natives before the warm weather ends...
That is all. Someone is yelling for food again. I need to check to see if my hiding places are holding out.
Behave!

Back From the Wilds...

Yeah, we were camping this weekend...in the wilds...
I have no pictures because the camera is defunct. If it wasn't, here's what I would have pictures of:
1. My granddaughter's 1st birthday party. She's a riot!
2. Swampland...We got hit with a major storm Saturday night. Major.
3. Bald Eagles.
4. The dent in my dad's truck. It's not too bad, but how he got it was amusing...
5. The awesome picnic food.
6. S'mores made with peanut butter cups.
7. Dam building.
8. Young love...(enough to make someone want to puke)(lol)
9. The huge snapping turtle we caught last night.
10. A whole slideshow of people flipping the kayak.
Time for bed...and Holy Cow...it's July already!!
Behave!