Tall Tale Tuesday

I have to keep reminding myself it's Tuesday...
So let's do a lame Tall Tale Tuesday cell phone outbox style.
Which of the following are actual texts I've sent?
1. Okay? So what's your question?
2. I just bought a half gallon yesterday!
3. There are bees...
4. Dentist appointments.
5. Oh...crap. Okay then...
6. Okey Dokey.
7. Start spag sauce
8. Listen you mf. Don't say that to me.
9. They don't have magazines?
10. Marco is a man, baby.
Which are true?
Behave!

School!

Today was the first day of school.
Looked upon with glee by the oldest heathen still attending, and dread by the youngest. The alarm going off hasn't changed for me. I never gave myself a few extra minutes to sleep when school ended, so I still get up at the same time (most days).
This morning they were both up before me. Ready. Excited - even the youngest. The morning went smoothly (I know this too shall pass. Soon.). The next thing I knew it was time for them to arrive home. The first text I got was that the first day of high school went great. I knew it would. He was too ready and missing his friends. I worried about the youngest and her first day of middle school. Then, she called me.
Over the weekend a new family moved in across the street. We noticed they had a daughter that looked about her age. We wanted to go over and introduce ourselves, but they were so busy.
So, then she called me and told me about her new friend in her homeroom and on her bus. The same girl who now lives across the street. She was so excited. She bugged us relentlessly to meet her parents...before we even got home.
We did. And it was good. Our kid has a new friend and it is good. She's excited about school, which is way more than good.
A wonderful first day! And I am pleased!
Behave!

Weirdness...

So the hurricane is upon us...or whatever it is by now. We're in good shape here - still have power, no major damage. We have a yard full of debris, but that's it. The winds are still blowing though. And it's raining again. K2 had to take several detours on her way to work due to road closures.
In the past several months we've had a tornado, an earthquake, now a hurricane. The only thing left is a volcano. I say bring it!
Anyway. School starts tomorrow. The heathens are excited and dreadful. Yesterday was school supply shopping, shoe shopping, and organization. The organization is still going on today. It's the last day of summer vacation and you already know how I feel about that.
But, dinner is in the crockpot, laundry is running, the bag of paperwork that was bursting at the seams has been shredded, beds have been made, dishes are done...my document is open and I plan to spend as much time as possible on it today.
And off I go...
Behave!

Feel Good Friday!

Oh, Hello Friday!
I've missed you!
Here's what's good about the week:
1. Beach trips! Too quick. Too much sun! But lots of fun! (Technically it isn't this week, but...)
2. Finishing the book! Whoot! Now...edits! Again!
3. The engagement!!
4. The very beginning of planning that goes with #3!
5. Weekend plans.
6. Fajitas for dinner.
7. Coming home to find the laundry all done.
8. Old movies.
9. School starting Monday! I am not ready, but I am...except for the boatload of supplies that have yet to be purchased.
10. Sleeping in a little tomorrow!
Okay...that's enough...it's game night here and they're all waiting for me...
Behave!

Thursday?

I lost Wednesday!
I thought I had it. I did. I know I watched the new Ghosthunters last night (with much glee, I might add), but I just realized...it's Thursday!
This week has been screwy, and I think that might be an understatement...
Engagements, earthquakes, school orientations, boy scout stuff...and the usual daily drudergy...
But it's Thursday, which means tomorrow is Friday!
So we'll celebrate with a list...and we'll call it...Thursday Things.
1. It's humid. The rain has turned the air into soup and not a kind of soup I like. After days of not having the air conditioning on in our bedroom, I fired that sucker up the second we walked in the door.
2. Sunburns. Most of mine is better - itchy, peeling, but the worst spot (where I had my leg out the window on the 5 hour drive and then further burnt it at the beach) is still red. It doesn't hurt anymore, but I wonder if the stripe on my leg will always be red? Forever.
3. It's after 9pm and that man I live with is making homemade french fries and chips. I'm not sure exactly why, but they're yummy. (and I'm not complaining!)
4. Dr. Who comes back this weekend. There is much anticipation in my house.
5. There are some really really dumb commercials on television.
That is all for now...I have to get some writing done before my homemade french fry euphoria wears off and I remember how freaking tired I am.
Behave!

Oh and I Forgot!

After months of nothing, we had a live stink bug sighting in the house yesterday!
Prepare yourself for the stink bug apocalypse!
Behave!

Earthquakes and Marriage Proposals...

I don't *think* the earthquake was caused by the proposal!
Which to talk about first? I guess I'll start with the what happened first...
Back in May - over Memorial Day weekend - K2's boyfriend took B and I to breakfast and asked "the big question". We had a feeling this was coming...and, of course, we gave our blessing. They've been together for a long time and he's a great guy. The only drawback was that his plan put the "big asking day" at the end of summer. So, yeah, we've known for months, but couldn't say anything. They spent the summer apart, and K2 spent the summer away from home, so that made it easier. Until he came home from his summer job...Anyway, yesterday he took her to the amusement park where they had their first kiss, and asked her on the same ride. I told you he's a good guy!
Today, we had an earthquake.
I was sitting at my desk when things started shaking...the blinds, the world map on the wall behind my desk, my computer monitor...I ignored it at first thinking it was one of the women who works at the end of the hall and her big chunky shoes. Then we thought someone had been on the roof. I never once thought earthquake until the very end.
When I called home to check on things, I didn't mention the quake. K4 did. Her exact words were: "Did you know we had an earthquake? I thought the T-rex in the basement woke up and I thought, oh dang, now I have to feed him."
I am thrilled she was not freaked out. She's more upset about school starting than some dumb old earthquake and she made her displeasure known before 6th grade orientation tonight.
And that's how the last two days have gone for me. Gah, it's only Tuesday...what in the heck is going to happen tomorrow?
Behave!

What Happened to My Summer Vacation?

School starts next Monday.
What happened to summer?
I still don't feel like it's even started, and now, it's over. Now we're knee deep in school alert reminders, making lists for school shopping (translated: hoping like heck there are some school supplies left), and organizing our schedules for the start of school.
Why does time go by so fast?
Don't answer that...
But Fall is coming...and I love Fall!
Behave!

Weekend Adventures...

This weekend was what is soon to be known as The Annual Scouting Family Adventure.
7 scouting families (or partial families) (or 27 people) went to the beach this weekend. What a freaking blast!
We left Friday morning after a crazed frenzy of packing up 6 people, fishing poles, snacks, paychecks, ect...getting a later start than we wanted. But four families crammed into three vehicles and finally hit the road for our three and a half hour journey to the beach...only the trip took over five hours thanks to weather and traffic. We finally arrived just in time for a major lightning storm that eventually turned into rain. Our site was what they called a "primitive" site. A large open area with a couple of fire rings, a pavilion, flag pole, picnic tables, and a few smaller sites tucked into the trees. The only difference between our site and the "regular" sites was the bathrooms...see below...

This was officially named "The Turdis"....
...and it would have been okay if our "primitive" site if it had just been us. (notice the second Turdis).
The first time I cleaned pee off the seat it was only our group in the site. I came out, washed my hands (thank goodness I insisted we buy hand soap, and yes, we had a water spigot), and told the boys the next time I had to clean pee from the seat someone was going to find the pokey burrs in the grass that killed your feet and then jammed into your fingers while you tried to yank them out in their swimming suits.
Then...two other troops arrived. Big troops with lots and lots of members. I kid you not, every single time I had to go, I cleaned pee off the seat. By today, the things were unusable. Disgusting. Stinky. Filthy. And still no boy had learned how to lift the seat or aim.
Anyway...That was the worst of the trip. We're home now and I'm still catching up (and dealing with my sunburn). More on the trip through the week!
Behave!

Feed Good Friday - The Thursday Edition

Yeah, I'm a day early, because today is my Friday and I'll be running around like a crazy woman for the next few days so I don't know if I'll be on here at all...
So here's the early list:
1. Getting the writing done even though I am still not done with the book. Dangit. It doesn't want to end. But it will. I swear. Hopefully by the end of the weekend, then... another round of edits before it goes off to my trusty critique partners.
2. This being my Friday. Obviously.
3. Cakes being baked in my oven right now.
4. Robin Hood: Men in Tights on my television right now.
5. Weekend plans.
6. Friends moving back into the area! Not soon enough! (You better be here by Halloween!)
7. Did I say weekend plans?
8. Funny pictures of my granddaughter.
9. Knowing there is shrimp on the menu this weekend.
10. Supernatural coming back in a little over a month!
That's all for now!! I am going to have my weekend now. Catch you on the flip side!
Behave!

Summer Survival: Year Three: Entry Five

The end of the warm season is approaching. In less than a few short weeks, the natives will return to their educational institutions. I am sad. It has been a much different season around the camp this year. They are sad as well. The natives still requiring education are moving into new arrangements and I think there is some trepidation involved. There is trepidation involved for me as well - in the trading of shells and beads for the necessary educational supplies.
While we countdown to the new season, we are preparing the camp for ease of use. Today, we cleaned the youngest natives tent. It was traumatizing for me. The youngest native has an affinity for scissors - always has. Despite my skills at hiding the sharp objects, she always manages to locate them. In fact, I believe she is better at hiding them than I am. The entire time I assisted her in the dumpster filling, I did not see one pair of scissors. There was a ton of evidence that she has them though - cut up paper, shaved chalk, doll pants made into shorts, doll hair. At one point, she asked that I let her clean a particular area. I declined due to the guilty look on her face. I expected much worse, and to be fair, I had given her permission to cut the doll's hair.
The job is done now. It is a good feeling to have that particular chore checked off the list that never seems to end. Now we move on to the third native's room - the one that requires remodeling. I am scared. I have not ventured into that particular territory for quite some time. I will need a strong drink, I am sure.
While I will mourn the passing of summer, I do look forward to the cooler season - to the leaves changing colors, cooler temperatures, warm foods, and sweatshirts. It's my favorite time of year. I'm not quite ready for it yet though. There is still a few summer things to look forward to.
In the meantime, I must take inventory of my scissors and make sure they are hidden properly.
Behave!

Sunday Quickie...

I spent a long time on a sarcastic, but amusing, post that I wasn't sure I should actually post. When I went to publish it, things went haywire and I lost it. I guess that's a sign I should keep my sarcasm to myself...
So...today....
Sleeping in. Writing (still haven't reached the end, dangit!), errand running, grandbaby babysitting...
The grandbaby is a hoot. But man, I'm tired.
Long week ahead...
Behave!

On Stinkbugs...

I get a lot of hits on my Stinkbug post - Where Have All the Stinkbugs gone?
I know people are curious, but the truth is...I don't know where they went!
There used to be hundreds in my house and now they're gone. My sister had even more than me, and, guess what? Hers are gone, too. (We had a contest and trust me when I say she won. The amount of stinkbugs she had was amazing!) Our other sister has seen a few on her tomato plants, but none in her house.
No one I know has experienced the plague of biblical proportions as we expected. As I mentioned in the post I linked to above, they are supposed to hibernate for 6-8 months. Wouldn't they hibernate in the winter though? I mean, we barely saw them in the winter unless the heat was cranked up or we had an unseasonably warm day. Spring brought hundreds and just when the weather really got nice and warm they disappeared.
I don't know what it means. Maybe they're off somewhere - plotting and waiting. Maybe they're in cahoots with my garden gnomes. I don't know. I'm wary and watchful though.
I'll let you know the second I see one...
Behave!

Feel Good Friday

Man, what a week!
Let's hit the highlights:
1. Roadtrips with friends.
2. Jason Manns!
3. Handstamps that say "Urgent".
4. Bottled water called "Fred".
5. Pizza for dinner.
6. Frozen drink Friday - Margaritas!
7. Cooler temps!
8. Sleeping in tomorrow.
9. Writing progress - not as much as I'd like, but the weekend is young.
10. Getting to watch the grandbaby this weekend!
And, in totally unrelated news...There was a bug on me. I didn't know he was on me. I moved my arm and squished his guts all over my leg. It was gross. I am traumatized.
That is all.
Behave!

Things I Learned...

In New York...
Here are some things I learned in New York:
1. A driver AND passenger can fall asleep in bumper to bumper traffic, effectively further screwing up said traffic while they take their little nap. No picture because they woke just as we realized they were sleeping.
2. Sometimes the parking space that looks perfect is maybe not so perfect when the sun goes down. Really, it was fine.
3. There really are homeless people who sleep in doorways in cardboard boxes.
4. You should get some kind of special seal on your license for surviving driving in New York traffic. You also use totally different vocabulary and hand gestures.
5. Sometimes you survive the big city only to fear for your safety in Jersey when you stop to pee.
6. There is no way I could walk in 99% of the high heels I saw people wearing.
7. A big (enormous) bouncer is an effective way to keep people in line.
8. No one pays attention to cross walk signals.
I'm sure there's more, but that's all for now!
Behave!

Road Trip!

It's been a long time since Jason Manns played somewhere we could get to in a reasonable time by car. And yeah, New York is a haul, but it's still doable.
But! Jason Manns!!
As soon as we heard, we made plans. Then, I wasn't sure I could go. But it all worked out. Yay! Megan, Natalie, Misty, and I piled into Megan's car and hit the road, making it to New York, finding a parking place, and getting to the venue in time to catch the first two performers before Jason Manns.
He was amazing, as usual. The trip was worth not getting home until 5am and only getting a few hours of sleep before I had to drag my sorry butt into work.
The thing about road trips, especially this one, is that it's really more about the four of us being together. We've been friends for a long time, and life has prevented us from getting together as often as we like. Honestly, seeing Jason Manns was like a cherry on top of a big ice cream sundae with hot fudge, strawberry sauce, nuts, (lots of nuts), whipped cream, and all that other ice cream goodness. Okay, he's at least two cherries, but you get my point.
Now go search him on the interwebs, give him a listen, and buy his music.
Behave!

Tall Tale Tuesday...Not

No Tall Tale Tuesday this week as I am out and about and quite possibly doing something fun that I will tell you about later.
I will leave you with this:
..... I have no idea. Maybe it's how tired I was when I set this blog to post today. Maybe I won't even think it's funny the next time I look at it!
Behave!

Moaning Monday

...except not...
Yeah, it's Monday and, yeah, Monday's suck.
I overslept this morning - which is usual on a Monday. Then, I dragged my tired body through the day, sweltering in the heat, and wondering why, of all things, I'd made soup in the crock pot for dinner. Soup? In the summer? Yeah, that's nine kinds of crazy, but it was ready when I got home, which definitely makes it worthwhile.
The good part about this Monday is that I kicked some major writing butt this evening. I'm so close to being done! I want to stay up and keep working, but I'll regret that tomorrow. For sure.
The other good thing about today was the big storm we had a few hours ago. Thunder. Lightning. And lots of ran. It's still humid, but at least it's cooler.
And now it's time for some shut-eye.
Behave!

Sunday Funny...

I received this note when K2 returned yesterday:
"Dear K2's mom, (Obviously it was K2's real name - not K2)
Hi! I am *****. I am writing this note to express my deep, undying love for your daughter. Which means I probably would love you too. Which makes me say, Hey there, I hope you're having a fantastic day! That's all for now. Bye! ***** ****"
Pretty funny, and obviously my kid made some great friends this summer.
We're going to be in adjustment mode over the next week or so while we get used to having her back. And the chaos. Always the chaos.
I have to go and write now.
Behave!

Things...

that were awesome about today.....
1. CPRW meeting this morning. 500 kinds of awesome! (even though I missed lunch!)
2. K2 coming home!
3. Rain! And it's still raining!
4. Writing...only a wee little bit, but I still touched it...
5. Naps.
6. Homemade pad thai for dinner.
7. Talking to the bff.
8. Movies.
9. The weirdness of that man I live with.
I hope you had a good Saturday, too!
Behave!

Feel Good Friday

Ahhh...Friday!
What took you so long to get here?
This has been an exceptionally long week - exceptionally long.
Here's the good stuff:
1. Sleeping in tomorrow.
2. Writing progress!
3. Exercise bike...more on that later.
4. K2 coming home this weekend! (even though she keeps asking me if she can have a kitten!)
5. Writing meeting tomorrow!
6. Speaking of 5, I met my goal for the month!
7. Homemade subs.
8. Cooler temps.
9. Upcoming stuff.
10. Especially the road trip to see Jason Manns!
Okay. Movie time.
Behave!

Summer Survival: Year Three: Entry Four

The heat drags on and so does the bickering and mess...
Actually, it has not been that hot lately, but it is out there. In the atmosphere. Waiting to strike again. The natives feel it. They must. Why else would they constantly pick at each other when they know the risk of pushing me closer to the edge?
It has been a strange season in our campsite. It will get stranger when the oldest female native returns in a few hours. I must find a way to fortify myself for the chaos. Perhaps a trip to the adult beverage trading post is in order?
Stranger yet will be the return of the educational camps. Things will be very different as we are done with the elementary level camp. This year will be the first year in 17 years we have not had to take a native to its doors. It is strange and kind of cool. I am also not ready because I feel we have not fully enjoyed all summer has to offer. The next thing you know it will be the hated and feared holiday that robs us all of many shells and beads. 
Whoa, wait. Where was I?
Oh. Yes. Constant chaos. Or something like that.
They are coming.
Behave!

Answers!

Like you care, but I'm doing it anyway! Ha!
Which of the following are actual text messages on my phone:


1. hey hey heyhey hey hey heyy imm lve in lile 20 mins Yes. From K2. It's supposed to say: I'm leaving in like 20 minutes.
2. The butter has melted. Nah!
3. HolymotherofGod. Did you... Yes, but the rest of it is not fit for posting.
4. oh hi my name is number 52 Yes. And I do not know.
5. Shoot. Also yes. In relation to me not being able to watch K5 on the day she needed me.
6. G'ma said she wants to go outside topless Nah!
7. mething fun = Yes. And I have no idea what it means!
8. Cake! Also a no.
9. Can i hhaz kitten??? And I said NO!
10. Gummibear chain. K4 took a picture of it to send to K2. It was pretty creepy.
And that is all.
I must write now.
Behave!

Tall Tale Tuesday

A brief return. Don't hold your breath. I'm sure it's not here to stay. Yet.
Which of the following are actual text messages on my phone:
1. hey hey heyhey hey hey heyy imm lve in lile 20 mins
2. The butter has melted.
3. HolymotherofGod. Did you...
4. oh hi my name is number 52
5. Shoot.
6. G'ma said she wants to go outside topless
7. mething fun =
8. Cake!
9. Can i hhaz kitten???
10. Gummibear chain.
Which ones are actually on my phone right now? Hint: There are some lies in there!
Behave!

Monday Funny...

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