Update on POCC

Once again I was on the receiving end of the POCC breaking down.
What? Is this like a weekly occurrence? Is it only after i pick up little man and on my way home for therapy with him that the car decides to die in the middle of the road?
Once again i found myself jumping out of the car to push start it and get on my way. My little man was freakin' out when i did this...I was freakin' out--well not freaking out just really really irritated! I placed a call with to my husband venting my frustration---
WHY! oh WHY--ME?
He had told me that he had fixed the problem--and he had. I mean he fixed the problem at the time--only it was not the only problem. I had been asking--are you sure it is not the alternator? To which the response was--NO, just the battery. I dropped little man off and pushed started the car to go to work--I was almost there and then the car started acting really crazy. I was a couple blocks from my work and i literally chug chugged my way into the parking lot. Again i placed a call to my husband to tell him what was going on and I was sure that i had ruined the car. He came after work and worked his magic
--and guess what--
IT WAS A BAD ALTERNATOR.
He had it fixed and ready for me to drive by the time i finished work--such a relief to know that i will actually make it home--safely....

Now if i can just get by next Tuesday without having to push the car i will be happy

museum quality pictures--NOT

I have some children who shy away from the camera--
I have to sneak in a picture when i can--
these are the shy children i am talking about
always turning away when the camera is focused on them
I think i captured their best side--rather cheeky i would say

Wait-- that is someone else's children who were defacing the museum as we were walking through--remember how nice i told you the weather was--people were running around the museum half naked. Actually they were not running--they appeared frozen like they were statues or something--showing an early display of tagging--only to move when we looked away...

but then i have this child--
who recently has loved the camera pointed her way

and would encourage picture taking any chance she got.
(I will show you some of my favorite photo shoots with her in future posts)
"mom take my picture"
i would hear her periodically say, and since she was my museum buddy, i did.

There is nothing like standing in the mouth of a shark--even if it is just the bones--just the fact that they can swallow you whole--GULP.
I felt bad that my other children did not have these random pictures--but they didn't want to hang with me. I like to actually read about the things i am seeing and have been known to be slow in my viewing---truly taking it all in. They did take pictures of each other--


Unfortunately they were not as "focused" on composition--maybe because i was sporting the more expensive camera--or maybe because my companion was soooo willing....although i will say that some of the museum lighting made photography interesting...that and the glass that much of it was behind.

The concept seemed like a great idea at the time--me taking a picture of my daughter taking a picture of the HOPE diamond--but i think the glass was a bit to thick to make it work

And in case there is any doubt that i actually was along for the trip--as if all the pictures i took was not enough----my son documented my role on the trip--looking at my life through a camera lens--

Saturday night sleeping

When the weekend rolls around things get lax around here. Those are days where routine it thrown out the window. When it comes to bed times there is no such thing-and when it comes to an actual bed that is relative. This is a sight that might be found on any given weekend night.

little man finally just gave up and curled up on the floor. His head was covered with the blanket but he is so cute when he sleeps that i had to uncover him. He doesn't even mind sleeping on the vacuum hose. He is the one child i can still manhandle to bed--so he doesn't stay on the floor. He has been known to wake up during the night and wander--and we like to control some of his destructiveness by at least containing him.

The others not so much--where they crash they stay
Take this cute punk who curled up under the beanbag. Who says there is a right way to lounge on the chaise? He wanted a view of the TV and this was how he was able to obtain it...I keep thinking i am going to get rid of the beanbag but it is so multi-purpose...
Isn't that just the sweetest face--
so innocent--
so quiet--
rarely does that happen when he is awake so i have to take advantage and document that it does exist--even if it is only when he is asleep....

and here is my oldest--who happened to be home this night hanging out with his brothers.He thinks just because he is a teenager he has to say up late, but in reality his time clock is set for mornings. He has always been the one who would put himself to bed when he got tired--until now. He fights it--trying to stay up late. More often than not find him crashed on the couch during the week as well--but on those nights i kick him up to bed.

I love my boys--they are so sweet when they are sleeping. They are growing up so fast--and while they sleep they are getting older--changing before my eyes. I am just grateful that i can freeze them for a moment in time--even if it is only on film....

Car frustrations

Call me crazy
(since i am sure that is what most of you think anyway)

but when i get in my car to go somewhere, I actually have the belief i will get there.
Call it hope.
Call it--stupidity--
because that is how i feel about it lately.
Normally i don't mind driving our
piece o' crap car (aka POCC)
--it is cheap to run--
paid for...
not pretty to look at--
radio free which allows me to think
and until lately you could say
dependable?.

Let me go back a few months--

For the longest time the fuel gauge was off--it never showed being full so when it was on or below empty you actually had plenty of gas left---so with that in mind when i was on a quarter tank i was not worried about running out of gas--until i did one day. Unbeknownst to me the gauge starting working again and a quarter tank actually meant empty now. Thank goodness for my oldest brother who happened to be working in our neighborhood and was only a few miles from where i had run out of gas on the freeway--yes the freeway. He came out and brought me gas--let's say he brought me fuel for my car--since the reference to gas and my brother is NOT a good thing.
Then my brakes started acting up--again on the freeway--luckily i was able to get off and find a place to park. My master cylinder had gone out. My husband met me for that one and i left him waiting for the tow truck--since i had places to be--after all why should i have all the fun?

It seems that the battery always seems to be an issue. Kinda an AZ thing. If we get two years out of a battery that is a good thing--but don't plan on much more than that. My battery has been acting up lately--the other day the car died on me while i was sitting in traffic with little man. Little man did not like the fact that i jumped out of the car to push it across traffic into the circle K. I did not like it either--but what is a girl to do? Atleast it was the car that i could manage by myself and not the van. A nice guy came and helped me at the end--all i can say is thank goodness for a lightweight car and weight bearing exercises. I called my mom--she was at a baseball game--UGH. Who would be available? I went through my list of possible available people and finally came back to my brother in the hopes that he was close-and he was!! First thing he says to me "did you run out of gas again?" "NO"--He came and picked us up so little man could get to his therapy and then proceeded to take me back later and tow the car behind his truck. After that experience i decided that i do not have the stomach to be a race car driver. The going fast part was not the problem--it was driving up on someones bumper that left me white knuckled--I am not meant to be a tailgater. I like my adequate follow distance between vehicles--even when i am the passenger i find myself cringing and trying to brake....

Now I don't mind push starting this POCC--(well actually i do.) but, I have actually gotten very good at it. I just find it embarrassing when i have to do it in front of people. It is something i would rather not have people critiquing my push start abilities. And then there are certain shoes i would rather not be wearing when i have to do it--or dressed up--like i was this morning. I rarely get embarrassed--but i sat in my POCC waiting until the woman that i walked out with left. Sensing that something was wrong she drove by my car to make sure all was OK--now i had to confess. She asked if i had jumper cables--honestly jumper cables are more hastle than its worth. I told her i was going to push start it--and she told me she would wait until i got it started--wasn't that kind?! UGH i had to push start it in front of her--luckily i was able to do it right away--saved me a minor bit of embarrassment--that way i was able to drive off quickly.

I placed a frustrated call to my husband venting my irritation.
"Why am i always the one that has to have the car problems?"
He responded that he would take care of it as soon as he got home. I did arrive home safely--(although at moments i was having my doubts) and as soon as my husband got home he handed me the keys to his car for the remainder of the day--he then proceeded to fix the POCC, he said he took care of the problem...until the next time the car decides to die on me...I keep reminding myself that it is paid for and that it gets great gas mileage...

update on feeling old

After feeling sore before i went to bed last Thursday night i didn't hold out much hope for Friday morning. I really figured i would be stiff and sore--and was pleasantly surprised when i was able to hop right out of bed Friday morning. The only thing i could figure was that is was all the Naproxin I had taken the night before. My husband who had also played had not taken the drugs prior to bed and was sore the next morning. I was feeling a tad bit of superiority that i was indeed not sore. I have found any time you have that attitude it comes back to bite you in the butt--and boy was i bit!--but days later

Did i mention that i had also slid that night?--well sorta--if you want to call it a slide. It was really ugly and caused me to cut my knee open--just a little bit of blood was involved. I don't know why i did a feet first slide--i didn't like sliding like that when i was young and in shape--I much preferred the face first-arms out in front of me slide--but that night i sat on my butt and let my feet take me into the base. Did i mention the blood? Not that it was even worthy of mentioning. A few days later i was in the shower and i noticed how dirty my knee was--I got my scrubby out and loaded it up with soap and proceeded to clean of my dirty knee--only to realize that my dirt was actually a bruise. A big bruise at that. I felt my pain was worthy of a picture--have you ever tried to take a picture of your knee? It is not an easy feat--at first camera had the flash on--

which made my white legs look even whiter.Never mind the focus issue...don't you love picture of my babies up in the corner--that actually is in focus--my how they have grown...
Now the entire picture is out of focus--but you can kinda see what i thought was dirt--which without my glasses it was kinda blurry in real life--so you can see how i could make that mistake

Taking a picture of your knee is not natural--it causes you to become a contortionist--which i think contributed to my muscle aches--where were my children when i needed them?

Fast forward a few days. I had been feeling so good and figured that i had missed the achy stiff boat, so i quit taking the Naproxin. The aches and pains came a few days later--and come with a vengeance. I was reminded every time i bent over and had to squat. Do you have any idea how often you need to use your quads? They were reminding me constantly.I don't know if i can blame all the aches on my running last week--maybe pushing the car has something to do with my pain.

Tonight was windy and cold. When i say windy i mean WINDY--as in--close the airport kind of wind. I had already been out in the wind--and had felt that i had had enough of the weather.I would have been content to have stayed home--warm and snug in my bed. It wasn't just the chilliness of the wind that was bothering me--it was all the crap (AKA known as pollen)that was blowing around me that i wanted to avoid as well.

My husband convinced me to bite the bullet and go anyway. I should have stretched--but it hurt, so i didn't. Plus it was cold and i wanted to stay all warm and cozy.Tonight i figured i would be fine. Yes, I was a bit sore--but i have always managed to put it together when i needed to. I was the first in the line up--no pressure there--especially when a much younger guy who happened to be the first base coach told me--that he wanted me on first--he didn't care how i got there--just make it happen. I am not one to stand up there and take pitches--I want to hit--and i did, a ground ball to third. I took of--willing my legs to move--but they quickly shut down any idea i had of running much farther. My quads were screaming at me--as in--"You are not going anywhere fast"--kind of scream. They were barking at me in pain--serious pain. The kind of pain that hurts so bad you want to throw up (only i don't throw up--but it was bad!)

Needless to say i was thrown out--only after any hope of having any pride left was thrown out also.I hobbled off to sit in the stands--I was done for the night. I was like my car--not going anywhere fast. As things get older they just don't work as well as they used to--has my warranty expired?--Maybe i need to be better about doing maintenance on this body of mine and it won't break down when i need it.....

cars, keys and consistancy

One of my biggest fears as a bus driver is that i will lose my keys while i am on a trip. It has happened. Not actually to me, but another guy was hanging out at his girlfriends house and lost his keys--not able to find them he left the bus parked and had his girlfriend take him to the bus yard to get keys for another bus. He showed up late and had missed his group. I don't know if he ever found his keys--or if my boss found out...but it left an indelible impression

A few weeks ago i was down in Tucson with my bus. It was going to be an all day affair so i came prepared--I had books to read--my computer and my scrap booking supplies. The only thing i had not brought with me was food. My boss who had lived in Tucson had mentioned that there was a good restaurant in walking distance,and since Tucson is not know to be bus friendly that was my plan. I figured since i was going to be away from the bus i should lock it up well. I took the time and actually slide the latch on the inside of the emergency exit door. On the front door my latch is broken but i have figured out a way to have it securely closed. Since it is an air door I can open it to get out and then i come around to the side drivers window and flip the door switch thus closing the door, then gently i slide the window ALMOST shut--only if you knew how to open it could you manage to get in. It has worked well in the past--remember the key is to ALMOST shut the window--that way you can open it back up again to open the door back up--but if you accidentally shut it too tight--not to worry. That is what you have the emergency exit for. Remember how i locked that from the inside--remember how i was only supposed to ALMOST shut the window? Well about the time i remembered that i had left the keys inside the bus--I went to open the ALMOST shut window, only to find that it was not ALMOST shut--it was shut--TIGHT! I guess i did not know my own strength. Now I was locked out of the bus--with my keys inside. I thought about trying to climb through the emergency exit window in the back--just a thought because i could not even open that up--and if i had been able to--i don't even know if i could have gotten up in there. I had succeeded in "PUNKING" myself. The only thing i was missing was the video camera. I wasn't too worried--atleast i had not curled up in a ball yet, crying on the curb--but i was a bit concerned. I walked around the bus evaluating the situation--not good. I was proverbially screwed. It was almost a laughable situation if it had not been so dire--and to boot--I WAS HUNGRY! I thought about the window--and possible of having to break it--my options were limited. Actually about that time i remembered that this was the window that jiggles open while i am driving and drives me crazy with the wind whistling in. I figured it if i tapped on it long enough i could hopefully get it open--IT WORKED! I managed to loosen it enough to get my hand in to open back up the door. I got my keys out--and then i proceeded to GENTLY ALMOST shut the window, much more careful this time.....and then got some lunch....

Last week in the midst of my car problems I found myself in the van. So nice to be in a dependable vehicle.Not that the van does not have its own issues. Recently the automatic locks have not been working properly. In order to lock the doors you have to manually do it--usually not a big deal. In order to have the van that day i had to take my daughter to school and she made me promise that i would be there after school to pick her up. I was out running errands picking up some food for dinner that night, and realized that i had about 20 minutes to kill before i had to leave to pick her up. I was right by DI and figured i would go in and take a look around. Since i had a car full of food i figured that i needed to lock it up secure, so prior to getting out i reached over to the passenger side and locked both doors. I proceeded inside and did a quick tour and I found these cool line drawings and bought them.I looked at my watch and realized that my timing was perfect-as i pulled out my keys to get back into the van i noticed that the van key was missing from the ring. It was lost. I had a moment of panic--i cruised around the store retracing my steps hoping to find the lost key. I went through the store and even inquired about a lost key from the help. It had not been found. My next thought was maybe i had left it in the car--I went out and looked--and wouldn't you know it--there on the passenger seat sat my key. Somehow when i had reached over to lock the car sooooo efficiently it had fallen off. Keep in mind if i had not locked every door I could have just opened up a door and taken right off--but NO! I was locked out tight. I called my husband hoping he was on this side of town--NO LUCK. He suggested that i call my brother again--NO WAY! Not after the fact that he had just saved me the day before--and never mind the fact that he would not let me live it down. I called my mom hoping she was around--and she was. In the meantime i went in to see if they had a hanger (not that hangers work on electronic locks but i was hoping we could hook the key) I inquired about a metal hanger only to find out that they did not have the cheap metal hangers that you could untwist--what was i going to do? Upon hearing my plight the woman at the register took pity upon me and called up some help--I now had two young men to help me look at my key through the window. Thank goodness for ingenuity--one of the young men took off my antenna and used it to pop open the window locks and then contorted his hand to reach in and unlock my door. I was trying not to be bothered by the fact that my van was so easy to break into--and that this young man appeared to be such a pro at it. All of this took place in a matter of a brief moment and i was still able to go on my way and pick up my daughter--thank goodness for more guys to bail me out of my blond moments....

belly buttons

The brain is a funny thing....
it is amazing the things that spark random memories
and since this is my journal of sorts and my memory was sparked today
i am going to share one of those random bits with you

Several years ago when our church boundaries had changed I was attending a Relief Society function. They passed around a sheet of paper that they wanted us to fill out with general information about yourself. At the end they had the question that always plagues me---"Tell us something about yourself that no one knows"--I find that question very daunting. If no one knows something about me it is because i don't want them to know that little nugget--usually it involves something embarrassing--not that i am easily embarrassed. I was stumped.....Not wanting to leave it blank i racked my brain to come up with something...HMMMM what to write? Thinking that this was for the presidency to get to know us better and being in a silly/sarcastic mood i finally came up with something that cracked me up. I wrote down
"I like to make pictures from belly button lint"
HAAAAHHAAHAH--it made me laugh just thinking about it. I turned in my sheet and never gave another thought about it....

Months went by and i forgot about my goofy getting to know you entry...
UNTIL.....
One Sunday they passed out a directory with every ones picture,name and general information. Included in this information was this little bit of unknown information about yourself for all the church ladies to see. I had forgotten what i had written--so I was curious to read what others had included about themselves. When i got to myself i about died--did they think i had been serious?--Apparently so, because right there for the whole world to see was my sarcastic bit of information about my belly button lint picture making. Here is the real funny thing--I don't have belly button lint--rarely if ever--but that is not what they are thinking now.

I learned my lesson--sort of--you should be careful of the things you put in writing--you never know when they will come back to haunt you....

Today I was reminded of the whole belly button fiasco as i was bonding with little man before school. We were hanging out watching cartoons before the bus came. Most days it is just back ground noise but today something caught my attention.

Some things just crack me up--
like the words belly button lint....
there is just something that just strikes me as funny.
Who knew that they could do an entire episode about belly buttons and the lint contained there in....

apparently it was
National belly button day on this Cartoon.
An entire episode dedicated to the belly button and the things contained there in.
They had the bionic belly button competition--where you can shoot a target.
(I am so disappointed that i am NOT that talented)
Like all good writing there must be conflict and then resolution--
Here is what happened
The big belly button lint competition is about to start
"someone stole my belly button lint"someone cried out
(Are you kidding me-who could do such a thing--what are they teaching our children?)
Then the next character replied
"every ones belly button lint is stolen!"
to which the level headed thinker of the group replied
"Why would someone want every ones belly button lint--its just not normal"
(such truth and honesty--why would anyone want someone elses lint I ask you??)
I was cracking up--the dialogue was classic--
after they found the belly button lint stealers
(It was the blue squirrels who wanted it because it was soft and warm)
they were able to get it back
(after promising to knit them sweaters and scarves and blankets out of when they were done with the contest)
After the winner of the largest amount of belly button lint was declared, one of the girls said
"That much belly button lint is not normal--we should have known it would be difficult to get that much belly button lint from an outie"
Such words of wisdom....

By the way if you google belly button it is amazing at the number of random things that will pop up--many artistic refrences to BBL (belly button lint) or BBF (belly button fuzz)

My take on the biggest loser

I don't have a lot of time to just sit and watch TV
most of the TV that i do watch is online late at night
my kids along with many people i know are hooked on
The Biggest Loser.
I have caught it out of the corner of my eye on occasion
but have never sat and watched with concentrated interest
until tonight....

Here are my thoughts--for what they are worth

the continuing recaps drive me crazy--seriously do we have to remind us of what happened just before we went to a commercial? I know my short term memory is not what it used to be but seriously?! Do they think the drama that they are trying to create makes us forget what just happened? And do we really need to go to a commercial every time they are about to announce their weight? Let's cut some of the fat out of the show and lose a few minutes and condense it to an hour--I think we would still get the gist of what they are trying to do

Felt like i was watching an infomercial for Jennie-O marinated chicken along with Britta and various other things

I don't like the pictures with the shirts off--I think they do that for shock value--I am shocked--so glad that they weighed in with their shirts on tonight. I don't like to see my own pastie skin...

Allison-I wanted to fix her many necklaces/chains. Every time they would show her they were a tangled mess. It was all i could do to continue to watch it--I can't even begin to tell you how much it bothered me--feeling a bit OCD after that.

Filipe--he has a great smile and when he talked about his dad--AHHHH--it warmed my heart. I love the fact that when he found out he was up for elimination he made the comment that he
Looked for the sunshine in things--he had still lost 4 lbs and that was good and anywhere else that would be worth celebrating. We all need to celebrate the good in our lives and look for that silver lining--even when things are not working out as planned or the situation is not the best.

I love the love that Mike and Ron have for each other. The fact that the dad could not celebrate his loss because he was worried about his son being eliminated--and the fact that Mike was torn up about that--it was tender. What great support for each other.

I don't think Jillian seems real sincere--but then again i don't watch that often--although when you hear my kids debate about who gives the better workouts she is mentioned because she is not nice...Bob is a softy (again according to my kids) Also i think she need to wear a bra or atleast one that does not make her look so "nippy" for all the world to see.

I think Tara wanting to quit was scripted. Looked fake to me--I think she did have a valid reason to feel picked on--and i was glad to see her slow and steady win the race attitude--you don't have to be the fastest just the one that continues to work toward your goal--and eventually you will get there--becoming victorious.

Thought it was cool that Kristen lost 100 lbs-that is amazing--I hope she continues. I like her hair (although opinions differ in my house) I think she has a cute personality--has a great smile.

I am not sure that this will become one of my regularly viewed shows--it was interesting for an evening--but 2 hours--come on. If you condense it i might consider it--but then again...
I already am the biggest loser--I am constantly losing things--do i need to be reminded of the fact? Maybe i should have taken those two hours and done something productive--maybe in order to watch the show you should have to peddle a bike or walk on a tread mill in order to keep your TV running. I know it would directly impact the amount of TV i was watching--I did notice that at the campus there wasn't a whole lot of TV watching going on--Activity is the key--we know it--I know it--and yet--kinda lacking that whole motivation thing--just not feeling it--although i am feeling the extra weight...from sitting on my butt for 2 hours watching mindless TV.....

(All names were supplied by those in the house that actually do watch it--so if there wrong i am not accountable)

Beyond spring cleaning

i have finally had enough!
Seriously!!!
Enough of what, you might ask?
Enough of my piles of crap and junk overtaking my life.
STUFF--everywhere is getting to me.

Was it a coincidence that on the afternoon i was actually home last week Oprah had the clutter patrol on? Was it a coincidence that he talks about purging and getting rid of the clutter in your life--that it robs you of time and money? Was it a coincidence that he looked straight at me and told me to get to it--to start? Was it a coincidence that he said Leigh Ann? OK he didn't actually say Leigh Ann but he should have--he has been sending me E-mails--yes really he has--he can send them to you as well--all you have to do is sign up to be his friend--and i don't know if he actually looked straight at me--it wasn't like Romper Room and i was a bit busy multitasking at the time it was on--but i was feeling his cleaning vibe. (OK so i am showing my age with the Romper Room reference--for those younger than me it was a kids show in the early 70's--they had a magic mirror and at the beginning and end of the show they would look through it into TV land and they would say--I see Mark, and I see Dave and I see.....I was always hoping that they would say my name--but NEVER did it happen--I watched the show faithfully...Oh the scares i carry from my child hood--Will the pain ever go away?--Sniffle-wiping tear--I digress-- What was i talking about--PURGING and i am not talking the kind you do in the toilet--this is garbage can purging.

The clutter guy Peter Walsh has some good ideas--if you can just get past his funny goatee. He suggests that you take a picture at the start of your project--I couldn't bring myself to do it. I was too embarrassed with how bad I had let it get. Even if the picture was never posted, I should have done it for me--so I could see my progress. Some off the clutter was from moving rooms around and trying to reorganize areas and not having the storage to complete the task.

And then some of it was from too much stuff and not enough space to put it (Anyone else have those issues) And then there was the concept "if you ignore it long enough it will eventually go away." Just in case your wondering--it doesn't.And then there was just a ton of paper. PAPER---AHHHH. In this suppos-ed paperless society why do we have so much inundating us day in and day out. It was amazing what i was able to send to the recycle bin--we filled ours as well as neighbors (they don't mind since no one actually lives there) and now i am just throwing it away. Things like floppy disk--the ones that were really floppy and then those smaller disks--it is like a walk down memory lane going through this stuff. It is amazing how technology has changed since i went through all this--although at the time i wouldn't have been able to throw it away since it was needed then. I found tons and tons of cords-phone cords, computer cords,camera cords. If you need a cord i am the one for you. I found every cord EXCEPT the one that is missing for my sons Augcom. With all these cords you would think one would fit--if only it were that easy....

I found that there is a small problem with purging at this time of year. It seems like it would be a better thing than being outside during this high pollen windy time of year. If only avoiding allergy season was that easy. Somehow i thought i was averting some of the sneezing--until i started cleaning. The dust has been growing and getting thick--and it struck me with a vengeance--"ignore me, will you" it seemed to say--it was taunting me. I spent my afternoon crossing my legs each time i sneezed. There is just something about having 5 kids and sneezing that just don't mix. It was almost enough to deter me-but i stuck it out. Not that i am done--just on my way to getting control of my life-HAAAHHHAAAAHHHAA--that is a laugh. Like i will ever have control over my life? Well i can hope for control over portions of my life can't I?

"Go beyond spring cleaning

and establish a year-round set of traditions

to keep your home

organized and clutter-free."

----

Peter Walsh

Sunday Routine

I don't know about you---but i am a creature of habit. There are certain routines that take place in my life. Maybe it is a particular food combination--i cannot eat Mexican food without a soda--just can't--it is wrong i say--just WRONG. I need to watch the news in the morning before i start the day--and now that i e-mail--i like to read those before i am off.

More than any other routine I am particular about is the route i might take when i am driving to a particular location. Maybe it is because i drive so many places--but i have a routes that i take to avoid certain things--like railroad tracks or speed humps--or at certain times of day--traffic. Also in my bus there are routes i take because I can not make certain turns without checking the curb--it is either the curb or the car facing me and while i do make those drivers nervous i do opt for the curb when i have to. There is a small problem with checking the curb--on occasion the poles are close to the curb--and busses have been known to take them out--as seen here in the pictures in Washington.

I couldn't figure out where our cross walk sign had gone to--it had been there in the morning and now it was missing--until we saw it laying on the ground still working...
and then noticed the bus with the broken back window. --talk about something to ruin your day.
How would you have liked to have been the person who was sitting in that seat?

Not that this has happened to me--but it could if i take the wrong turn....so with this in mind this is why I have certain routes in mind especially when i am driving my bus....

Often times my car just sorta drives me to where i am going without a whole lot of thought from me. On occasion it has been known to drive me to the wrong place--those are always fun trips-especially with the kids in the car. They wait to see how long it will take you to figure out that you are going the wrong way--and then casually mention (not to scare me out of my driving trance) that this was not the pool that they were swimming at today--or that i was going to the wrong school....

Almost 8 years ago we changed church buildings and that was an adjustment. Our cars were programed to go a certain direction on Sundays. One time after we had been going to our new building for quite awhile my husband pulled out heading toward the other building. In a quiet voice (not to break thee "fast-Sunday i haven't eaten and can't think for myself trance") I casually mentioned to him--"Honey, which building are you going to?" He then realized the error in his ways and turned the car around, all the while mumbling under his voice "I forgot".

Now that i have multiple drivers in my family we rarely all ride to church together. We leave the house in waves of readiness. This Sunday found me the last one out the door--this is not an unusual occurance--except that i was alone. As i was driving to church my automatic pilot failed me. All of a sudden i turned the corner and in my mind i was lost. This was NOT my usual path to the building. I found myself questioning where i was--was it truly Sunday? This was not my Sunday route. My Sunday route has me making all right turns and parking in the front and entering on the west side of the building--it is my routine--and here i was deviating from it. AHHH SATAN was trying to lead me astray--that had to be it--why else would i have come in on the wrong side....the universe was off balance...when i figured out where i was and that yes it was indeed Sunday--I figured out that i could do a U-turn and quickly turn my self around and at least park in the right spot. (I love parking my dirty junkie car right up in the front so everyone that drives by our church says "Those Mormons must be REAL humble people to go to church in that"--I think i might put a bumper sticker on it that says--"my other vehicle is a covered wagon"--that way people would know that this was indeed an upgrade) Anyway I did go in the right door and i sat in our normal seat--thank goodness for some regularity--although it took me a few minutes to realize that i was saving a seat for my oldest and as i was looking at her sitting on the stand-waiting to give her talk-it finally dawned on me that she would not be sitting with us today. WHERE IS MY MIND? Can i blame these moments on Allergy pills?

Garage sale part 2

Some people love hosting a garage sale--
I have decided that i am not one of them.
While i cannot deny there is money to be made and that someone else will love my discarded crap--I really do not enjoy the whole process. I love the purging part--and counting the money (between the two sales the daughter has made $1600. for her trip to Africa),but the negotiating with strangers as they haggle over a quarter makes me cringe. I don't like to watch as people cruise around my things looking for something worthy enough to make them open their coin purse--but i love when they do. I am constantly amazed at the things we have sold--things i have thought were relegated to the dump--that had no value left in them--only to see someone walking off thinking that they got the deal of a lifetime. I am also not a big garage sale attender--I guess i figure i don't need more crap in my house--especially someone else's crap. My one weakness at garage sales is furniture and chotskies--and maybe some cool frames. Typically those are things that will get me to stop. Take this cool chair my daughter acquired one Saturday morning years ago.

We were on our way home from swim practice (oh the memory of those days with that daughter--brings a tear to my eye. Finally, when she can drive and possible drive her sister she is done with the whole swimming thing--Not bitter--well maybe a tad but that is blog for another day....Oh how i ramble) ANyway...in effort to avoid Saturday morning chores we cruised the neighborhood on the way home looking for more stuff we don't need. We both spotted this chair on our drive by--(we know my weakness for cool furniture and my need for another project) it was my daughter who exclaimed that we should see how much it was. I slowed the car enough so she could jump out safely--and she came back with a huge smile on her face--declaring that she wanted it---it was only $20.00. Imagine my surprise when i opened my wallet and actually had money--it was destiny. We payed the man and then tried to figure out how to get this gargantuan chair and ottoman into our vehicle. Thank goodness i had the van that day--it has been known to pick up furniture on the side of the road in the past--at least this time i was only transporting one child instead of an entire van full--(not that i haven't acquired furniture before with that situation) so no one had to sit with the chair on their laps. It took up the entire van--so that ended our junking trip for the day.It was cool looking--and while the fabric was in good shape and oh so sixty-ish, it was not the style the daughter was going for.

It is a really comfy chair-any way you sat in it
The shape is great--different--not something you see every day--and the matching ottoman makes it like a chaise lounge--hence the boy lounging picture...oh so comfy...
Although to look at this punk you wouldn't think so. I don't know what his deal was that day--usually he is all cheese ball when the camera is pointed his way
And then there is this little one--who just felt the need to observe me up close and personal while i was stripping the chair. I think he was concerned that i would mess up the integrity of this cool chair...
He also found it just as comfortable to lounge in it on its back and rock while watch the tube...
not many chairs you can rock in while they are on their back--this was his favorite way to sit in the chair...
I would often find him stretched out watching his favorite shows...and would have to shoo him off so i could get back to work....

He was a tad disappointed when i finished the chair and turned it upright...
The daughter on the other hand was thrilled with the Comfy Chair--it is soooo soft and fuzzy and you just kinda sink when you sit. She loved it....It was the best $20. i ever spent at a garage sale--although it did cost me a bit more to get it to look like this....what is one persons junk is anther persons treasure....and boy will she treasure this for many years to come....

the mind is willing but the body.....

Or maybe this should be titled
"I am getting to old for this"
or maybe it should be...
"I'm not 20 anymore"
Whatever the case...
my parts are letting me know that they are not happy with me right now. I have taken a handful of Naproxen in the hopes of actually being able to move in the morning and get out of bed .

Tonight found myself and my husband at the church ball fields
It brought back many fond memories of our younger years...
SIGH....
our dating and courtship
and the early years of our marriage with the oldest punk in a walker hanging out watching her dad--and making friends with anyone that would pay attention to her.
It doesn't feel like it has been that long ago--
till I think about it that way...
that and the fact that as I played my body reminded me that it has been that long.
The skills are still there...sorta...
it is alot like riding a bike...some things you never forget....
you just sort of run out of energy and your legs burn, and occasionally you fall down.(although my husband did have a nice slide at third--I am sure i will be hearing about the pain it has inflicted on him for days...maybe even weeks)
And just like riding a bike you run out of breath when you sprint hard and your not used to it--
that and you find muscle units that haven't been used in years...
and now I need to wear glasses in order to see the ball
and I had to make sure that those in the outfield next to me were CPR certified
(Although my left field guy told me he did not bring his barrier--barrier what barrier? We didn't even have a CPR barrier 20 years ago---my how things have changed)
In the line up of life we were the next oldest on the team
with only one person beating us
"When" I ask you?---"WHEN"--did we get to be OLD?

there was an old lady who swallowed a fly...I don't know why she swallowed the fly--I guess she'll die

It's not that often that we can actually open our doors or windows and enjoy the coolness from outside. We relish those days--the few that they are. Because we rarely leave our doors open we are without screen doors--there just is not much need for them--and they only serve to get broken. The other night we had the door open to allow the dog the freedom to come in and out as she pleased--it seemed like a good idea at the time--except when we found flies congregating in our kitchen--tons and tons of flies---SOOOO GROSS----Especially when the daughter came in to finish the last of the soda in the bottle--and realized that there was a fly in it--only she discovered this after she had drank it(thank goodness not the fly just the soda) I know people drink tequila with a worm or some kind of disgusting something in it--if there was ever a reason for me NOT to drink tequila that would be it--so a fly in the soda....does that mean i need to give up soda now?--I don't think it added anything to the flavor....

Not owning a flyswatter--and getting sick of the massive amount of flies, my husband resorted to buying some fly tape--it looks disgusting--but it works--Kinda.

I can't look at it while i do the dishes--because many of them are still moving around--wiggling their little fly legs--begging me (or is it bugging me?)to let them go--promising me that they will stay out of my house. Have you ever looked into a flies eyes--(I see like six of me)--it's kinda creepy--especially when you tell them that you are not touching their sticky body. At that point the taped flies started screaming at their friends to stay away--and so they did--hanging out on my ceiling--glaring at me--I know at any moment they are going to swoop down and fly around my head just to irritate me...

I will show them--next move is a fly swatter....
or maybe a set of chopsticks---
after all i am all about channeling the Karate Kid

The new breakfast foods

I love March 17th
St Patricks day..
the one day of the year that i know what i will be having for dinner
Most nights it is any ones guess what we will be eating
but on St. Patty's day
we know we will be having
Corned Beef,Cabbage and Potatoes can i get a YUMMY from the crowd?
Of course that is what you eat on St. Patty's day
unless you are in Tucson
at KFC enjoying chicken,coleslaw and MASHED potatoes with potato sauce
(in some crowds potato sauce is called GRAVY)
I think that is the English version of St. Patty's day--
whatever the case--
I missed my meal--
but my dear sweet husband made me a plate
and had it waiting for me when i arrived home.
Unfortunately it was almost 11pm
and the time for eating had passed...
so i gently placed my plate in the fridge...
to await me for breakfast today
Who said Corned beef and Cabbage is just for dinner anymore?

Blogging discretion

There are some things in life
that you just want to blog about...
embarrassing things...
things that leave you cracking up
or maybe even gagging....
BUT
you don't.
For it would be far too embarrassing for the person involved
to have the moment recorded
for all of cyber space to read about
so instead of writing about one of my nieces
most embarrassing moments
I will just say :
we are BONDED....
really BONDED
as in...
she had always better be nice to me
and think twice about t-peeing me in the future
because i have one word for her
BLACKMAIL....
(BRAHHAHAHAHA--insert evil laugh and wringing of the hands)

Softball in Tucson

I love getting paid to watch my nieces--nephews and my own children participate in their given sport. I feel like it gives me a leg up on the list of
"favorite Aunt"status.
I love the chance i get to support them in what they are doing--and i love the chance i get to "hang" with them--and maybe even catch them on film.

Today i got to drive my niece down to Tucson for a softball game. She was the only person to get on base for her team and she did make some good plays but...the team did not fair so well and it had a rather ugly ending. There is something about driving girls on long road trips...win or lose...they act the same. Girls just get "over it" faster than boys do.If only they would apply that to other aspects of their lives...

I did have my camera with me--and they were kind enough to let me sit on second base and take this picture of my niece in right field

"YOOOHOOOO
--Hey look at me--
I want a picture of your face--
Am i embarrassing you?"

I promised to stay out of the way--kinda like the ump
--but this one almost hit me--
"HEY--not so close next time"
--remember i am sitting here--
"what?"
"just because you are a base runner you think you can take over the base?" Honestly--i was just sitting there cuz i didn't want to get my pants dirty.
"OK fine you can stand on that corner i am not using..."

"Hey sweetie--don't chew on your glove--
I will give you some gum when we go back to the dugout"
--"What?"--
"Am I being distracting out here?"
"You want me to sit back in the stands?"
FINE!!!
--this is me stomping off--
only i can't take a picture of myself doing that
"UMMM coach--I just want to apologize for my Aunt,
--I didn't know she would be here today"
"Although she did give up her spoon so i didn't have to eat my salad like a rabbit--leaving her spoonless to eat her chili" (OK i added that part--she didn't really say that--although she should have since that really did happen--I always wonder what they say in those little huddles)

"Please coach can you make her stay in the stands--and maybe put some duct tape over her mouth so she can't say anything to embarrass me?"(not that i would ever do that)
"As much as i would like to do that Ry--we forgot to bring the duct tape with us--plus we need to keep her somewhat happy so she will drive us home safely..." Girl in the middle was saying "I like your aunt--she makes me laugh"
--"Yah--
she really is funny...
when you are not the one related to her...."
So here i am sitting in the stands watching her bat
--or bundt or bunt
since bundt is a cake
and she was not making a cake
--she also was not bunting...
attempting but not executing
and then a swing and a miss--
which scared the pitcher--
so she decided to hit my niece with the next pitch--

THUMP
she took it like a girl who has three brothers
--TOUGH I SAY--
just like her aunt who also has three brothers--
but i would have curled up in a ball and cried and made the girl feel sufficiently bad and then jumped up and said
"JUST KIDDING"
because i am just that kind of girl.
I show this picture just to show you that she was OK after being hit by the ball--and to reflect on the score--SHE is the only hope of scoring
think how much better a picture this would have been--if only i was not sitting behind the fence--maybe i can stand behind the Ump--or perhaps the first base coach?
She is off--
somewhere along the line i think she slide
--but i missed it--
maybe it was my obscured view...
Here she is on second
--right where i had been sitting--
think of the closeup i could have gotten if i had still been there....
(my mean spirited niece)
I think she kicked dirt over the base just to make sure that i would not return to sit there again
look at the speed on that girl...
i think she was visualizing running away from her Aunt
She did make it to third--aren't you glad i was there to document it? That indeed there was a bright spot--be it ever so minor--in the game?
This is where her base running ended
--and the game shortly there after...
I have the feeling it is going to be a
L---O---N---G
season


I also had the Varsity boys baseball on my bus (can you believe co-mingling of sports?--say it isn't so...) The girls game got over early enough that i was able to watch some of the baseball game--which involved a young man i have known since birth. It is fun to support your friends kids....their game faired much better and they walked away with a win....