Singing is truly good for the soul...

Cousin Dave said it best - "I can sit here and listen to the blues for hours, and I still feel better than when I got here." And it's true. And no, Cousin Dave is not my cousin. He's Laura's cousin, and she's always called him Cousin Dave or Cousin David, so I do, too. What I've found out jamming with a lot of different blues musicians these past few weeks is that EVERYONE calls him Cousin Dave. You'll know him if you see him - with his long gray beard and his overalls - and of course that amazingly wonderful guitar playing.

I was burnt out yesterday, I was tired, I was busy...and then a phone call from a friend saying she and her hubby were going to Bozley's. Well, since I had been bugging them to go, I couldn't ditch them. There I am in my ball cap with hat head and my Spartans football shirt, a hot sweaty mess from the day. No matter - it's the blues, no one cares what you're wearing. Killer Ray Allison was there...former drummer for every famous blues musician you can think of, and now he's a frontman for his own band. Unbelievable. Un-be-fucking-lievable. Words cannot describe the energy in that room yesterday. I wish you all were there. I recognized a riff he was playing, and where I got the balls I don't know, but I jumped up, grabbed the mic, joined him on the bridge and sang for the next 30 minutes. It was awesome!!! Luckily Kevin had the camera - got some shots while I was singing and thenI had my picture taken with Killer Ray after the set.

Darren - are you out there?? Schedule yourself to be in Merrillville some Monday coming up so you can come down with Jon and Laura on Sunday!! Steve, the drummer, has been bringing all of his friends (i.e. John Primer and Killer Ray) and he says he's bringing in someone fantastic for Sunday October 7th. I'll get more details out of Steve next weekend, but for now - anyone and everyone who can make it down on that day should certainly try!

I have the blues and I feel so.damn.good.

It's an interesting topic, let's go with it.

Julie commented on the last entry about the inappropriateness of advertising during the primetime "family" time television hours. Now, I have to say, especially lately, my family isn't watching TV during these hours. Football, laundry, yardwork...we've been DVR-ing a lot of stuff which means the ads are a blur for us.

Everyone seems to agree that the drunk driving commercial is really bad. I haven't seen it, so I can't actually comment on it directly, but from what you guys are saying, it sounds horrible. It's kind of like the feeling I had when I saw the anti-smoking ad where they had women carved out of ice with little baby dolls in their see-through ice bellies. The ice would melt, and the babies would fall onto the pavement. They did this demonstration in a busy part of some city. I just remember thinking that it was a bizarre/graphic way to send a message. I get it, don't smoke when you're pregnant, but WTF? And like Jimmer said in the previous post, I guess it did resonate and get the message across. But does it have to come to that? The "shock-value" that seems to be so prevalent in our culture?

I saw the drunk driving ad where they show different men driving around in cars that are full of whatever booze they got drunk on. I laughed out loud when the "martini" guy started eating the olives floating around the car. But the impression I was left with? Why were they all men? A guy driving a car full of beer, a guy driving a car full of martini, a guy driving a car full of wine...women don't drink and drive? I just thought it was just strange for it to be so gender specific.

A big bitch with me is the ED drugs advertised during sports. Not one single commercial break doesn't include me having to hear about someone's inability to get it up. Do they really think that there's anyone who doesn't know about Cialis, Viagra, et al? And lets face it, the ads aren't doing anything - it's the pharm reps who are pushing this stuff on the docs who are pushing it to the patients that are actually getting the product out and sold, so what's the point? Does a guy really sit there during Sunday football and see that commercial and think "Wow, I would love to be taking a bath with my wife right now so we can get it on, maybe I'll call my doctor tomorrow about Cialis." Asshats.

And how about the sex in films, and more specifically their trailers. If there was a trailer that included, say...Vin Diesel. And Vin Diesel goes to shut his car door and walk away and the door rips his pants off and he's standing there in a pair of whitey tighties and instantly puts his hands over his privates and runs behind the car - is that offensive? Why or why not? Why are Rated R films even advertised during family primetime? And how about shows like Two and a Half Men, which I enjoy - and it's in primetime family show time - and it's completely based on sex. I really don't even like Owen watching it to be honest with you all. And usually Kevin's good about censoring that stuff - so if it's an explicit ep, Owen gets the boot or we watch something else.

One of the acne medicines recently came under fire for being too racy. I can't remember which one. One of the ads showed a teenage boy come into his friend's house, the friend goes out of the picture and the boy says to the mom "it must be really lonely since your husband left. *pause, stare* I'm really good company" The ad's point? "May cause confidence" This ad? I find hilarious and completely harmless. I am in the minority apparently. There was a whole movie based on this - it's called The Graduate. And a hit record "Stacy's mom." The concept of the MILF isn't foreign to most teen boys and let's face it, there's not a whole lot we can do about teen boys lusting after their friend's moms. Is the acne company wrong for using that in an ad?

And my last complaint - pants with words like "cute" or "hot stuff" written across the ass for CHILDREN. Ummmm, no. No. no. no. no. no. Why? Why on earth would any mother buy pants for her 10-year-old DAUGHTER with something written on the ass? Why don't you just make it say "please look here" - it's inappropriate at any age, I think, but especially for young girls.

Where are you guys with sex in the media...

Is that a sock in your backpack or are you just happy to see me?

Owen strikes again.

Seriously.

Last Friday night, Tigger was at my house and for some reason I was going through Owen's backpack. I pull out the standard stack of crap 2 inches thick of graded homework and handouts from school, and then...then I pull out a sock. Not just any sock. An orange baseball/football sock. So it's not only orange, it's the kind you can pull up to your knee. And then a blue one. And then a green one. One of each color. Ummmmm, whodawa? We were confused to say the very least. What on earth is the child doing with 3 mismatched socks in his bag.

So the next morning, I ask him.

Me: Hey Owen, what's with the socks in your backpack?
O: What? (typical response to a question that he doesn't want to answer)
M: You heard me - why do you have 3 socks in your backpack?
O: Oh, that. *big cheesy grin*
M: Oh my - what are you doing with the socks?
O: Wearing them.
M: Wearing them?
O: Yeah, I'm wearing them in school.
M: You're wearing mismatched knee-high socks in school?
O: Yeah.
M: With shorts?
O: Yeah. Me and Brandon.
M: In school? During school? You're wearing your football socks...two different colored football socks in school? With your chucks?
O: Yep.
M: Your chucks fit you with those big thick socks on?
O: Well, they're kinda tight, but yeah.

OMG. Seriously? Seriously. Killing me. I was laughing so hard. The thought of the sight of my son walking the halls his school wearing under armor (lives in it) a pair of the nylon athletic shorts (all he wants to wear) and his football socks, pulled up to his knees, with his blue chuck taylors. And not just that - but he's putting them on when he gets on the bus, and taking them off on the way home so we don't see him do it.

Killing me. Killing me and cracking me up all at the same time. I didn't tell him to stop. I could really care less...and it seems to amuse him. No harm, but seriously? Hilarious. I wonder what his teacher thinks?

Gametime beer...

Julie posed this question in the last post, and I'm going with it. What's YOUR favorite gametime beer. Now I realize that most of you out here are not the football fans that I am. I can't help myself. I am the man in my family where this is concerned. I can watch football all day Saturday, Sunday and Monday night. I LOVE football. And when watching said football, I usually do partake in a few adult beverages. But not just any adult beverage, it has to be beer. I'm not sitting there with a nice Chardonnay cheering on Big Ben. I'm not whipping up my new favorite coco lime rickey on Monday nights...

BEER. Beer and football. Beer and football like peas and carrots. Liver and Onions. Cagney and Lacey, Britney and hot mess.

Now Julie might say that I'm a beer snob. Because, well, I prefer my beer in a bottle. And typically I'm a Coors Light girl as well. But here lately, the hubby has been willing to experiment with imports and microbrews, something he wouldn't ever do before...and I'm more than willing to jump on this bandwagon. They're usually not something I can drink too many of, however...and not just because they're more expensive. They're heavier. They taste okay if they warm up a little (unlike CL that I feel like I have to drink quickly or put in a cosi because it tastes like piss water when it gets warm).

Lately I've been drinking St. Pauli Girl, Bass (I've always loved Bass), New Castle (this is a new fave), and Goose Island Honker's Ale. Now maybe I have one or two of those and switch off to CL or water during the game. What other imports/microbrews should I be trying? I know Tigger swears by the Summer Shandy...and of course if I can get my hands on it I'll choose Yuengling over ANYTHING else, but alas, they won't distribute west of Ohio...*sniff*.

I can't believe Julie has switched! She's been a loyal Miller Lite girl as far back as I can remember. And your dedication to C.I.G (Cheapness is Greatness) couldn't have been THAT loyal, Jul - you weren't buying Old Style or PBR just because it was cheaper. Standards are good.

And an off-topic bitch - last night there was some special on about Elvis. FIRST - how much work HAS Priscilla Presley had done. Seriously? She looks like a caricature of her former self. She was gorgeous back in the day. Now? She looks like Michael Jackson. SECOND - why oh WHY does country music think they know Elvis better than anyone? Performer after performer got up to sing their favorite Elvis tune and they were all country stars. Ummm...because of MEMPHIS?? Please. Elvis is not just the king, he's the king of ROCK-N-ROLL, not country. Location does not a country star make. That's part of what made Elvis so great - he was in the South, took standard R&B and brought it smack into the faces of white America. It was brilliant. And now I have to listen to Faith Hill, Toby Keith and someone please gag me Melinda Lambert singing Elvis tunes on primetime??? Really ABC? Oh wait, there was Beyonce. And the rap guys, something Mafia, they won an Oscar. Any way...really? ABC...you can't tap Buddy Guy? Or Derek Trucks? Or his lovely wife Susan Tedeschi? How 'bout some R&B greats both current and classic? If there were 10 performances last night 8 of them were country stars. And I use that term loosely.

Just my rant for the day...what's yours?

Not sure what I'm doing, really

Okay, so Laura turned me on to this Animoto website, and they created this video, which is pretty fun, but I can't figure out how to post the vid and post a blurb about the vid. Hmmm. Still playing.

This weekend: Alex got to reunite with friends, good times. He's doing very well in school now, as I can see all of his grades online.

Owen got to be a running back, in addition to a middle lineman on defense and still the kicker. He had a great game on Sunday. Spartans beat the Mville Pirates - HOORAY! We're 3-1.

I sang my ASS off last night, people. If you haven't been to the Sunday Blues Jam in my hometown, get down here! What are you waiting for?? This is shaping up to be a fun regular gig for me. What will come of it? Who knows...maybe something. Maybe something really fun.

Playing with animoto

Good morning bloggers!

And a fine Wednesday it is. Apparently we all feel very strongly about public grooming. The nerve of some people. I can remember Kathy wanting to light herself on fire back in the days of cubicle hell. Now she has a cushy office and doesn't have to worry about those sorts of things. Seriously? Clipping your toenails at work? Jul - remember Mr. Balon in 5th grade?? Ewwwwwwwwwww. INAPPROPRIATE!

Speaking of toes, what does it say about me that I've lost 4 toenails in the last 6 weeks? I mean, two of them I had clearly smashed, as they were black and blue...so I expected them to fall off. But the other two? A complete shocker. It's very strange and makes me unpedicurable for awhile. Very depressing, because I really want one.

There's not a whole lot of excitement for me right now, kids...I'm glad the weather is cooling off. I'm in the mood to make chili and soup and stew...how bout you? Any good crock pot recipes to pass my way?

Congratulations Eileen on your new job. Sounds perfect for you AND I've posted her latest blog entry for the News Review...so read it, people!

Hodge podge of information...

First - Alex finally got a good haircut!! One would think this wouldn't be worth noting, but believe me, it is. The last one was so atrocious we contemplated shaving his head and starting over. The boy has some cowlicks, and I know this can be problematic, but seriously people? Don't hairdressers learn about ways to overcome this? We've tried stylists, barbers...the works. We got a great haircut for him in the spring at a barber in Crown Point, but when we went back, some chick was there, not the older gentleman that had cut his hair before...and she was the one who botched it all up.

We went to the local BoRics, and I was just hoping for improvement. WELL, they had a BARBER there...and his name was, and I'm not making this up...FLOYD. Yeah, I said it, Alex had his hair cut by Floyd the barber. This dude was a storehouse of useless and useful information about hair and skin and all sorts of things. He gave Alex a great hair cut AND sold us some special shampoo and conditioner especially for *ahem* boys of a certain age who's voice is cracking and skin is reacting to all sorts of testosterone. The stuff wasn't very expensive AND Floyd told him to wash his face with it as well. We noticed a marked improvement already in his trouble spots (forehead, nose, chin). Alex of little words was excited not to be the breakout king of Chicago, and when we left he said "Well, I feel like I learned something." We'll definitely be going back.

Second tidbit - I slow-cooked spareribs in the crock pot yesterday. Can I just say Yummmy!!! They were literally falling off the bone when I took them out, and I lathered them up with BBQ sauce and threw them onto the grill for a bit. I have never, ever been able to cook ribs so that they are actually tender when you eat them. I've tried boiling, baking, dry rubbing...you name it. THIS method given to me by my friend Holly was a knock-it-out-of-the-park success. AND it's crock pot, which means I can do it during the week. Hooray!

Third tidbit - I couldn't sleep last night - and I was watching all sorts of stupidity on television after 11pm which is hereby known as "informercial time." I saw the most disturbing thing...Tater Mitts. Rubber gloves with some sort of rough stuff on the palm side, and you just hold a potato under water, rub it with the gloves and voila! You have peeled a potato in 8 seconds. It was so bizarre, I almost ordered them. "Peeling potatoes can take forever. Oh NO! Not with a knife that's dangerous!" Seriously? Who wrote this copy???

I was a huge lump after downing half a slab with scalloped potatoes and peas, so I rested my full belly on the sofa for Monday night football. It was also the season finale of The Closer AND My Boys, which they left us on a cliffhanger AGAIN! I love that show!

I'm still trying to get organized. I did buy new towels for my bathroom and Kevin's bathroom. Now I just have to buy paint for him and we'll be all set there. Time for the yellow to go away. Worst color decision I've made since wearing neon in the 80's.

Hey now you're a rockstar...

Get the show on, get paid...

So...I think I'm getting back in the game, kids. After my little ditty at the blues jam last weekend, I have been asked to sing, not only at the blues jam, but with a blues band on a regular basis. Details coming, details coming. Having never been a blues singer, per say, this is new territory for me. It's very exciting, and very fun.

Last night John Primer was in the house...a living legend to be sure...and absolutely amazing to watch. Watching him play was like breathing, just so natural. It was like taking a step back in time. I could listen to him all day. In fact, I am! But then...then I got to SING with him. Unbelievable. Remarkable, really. Luckily the hubby took pictures, albeit not very good ones. But pics nonetheless.

Also today - Owen is a kicker! Yeah, that's right, he's now officially on the field all the time. He only had to kick twice yesterday - the first one, notsogood. The second one?? Blasted it baby. Easily 30 yards, and with the bounce? The other team had no chance. And it was right after the coach of the other team told his kids to "Move up!! He's not going to kick it that far!!!" HA! Screw you coach-man...he skied your boys!!!

Aaaaaaaand, along those lines...what up Bears fans?? Hmmmmm? Yeah, Colts win big...Steelers win big with their new coach (can we say 109 yards, Willie Parker...I think we can!!) And did the Bears even show up? (oooooooh, that oughta getta rise outta you bloggers...) Grossman is our quarterback, Grossman is our quarterback...keep saying it and maybe you can all make it true. Until then, Mr. 12 for 23 appears to be delivering what I've always said he can deliver...

Big Ben looked good, though, didn't he Carol???

Are you ready for some football????

GAH!

I've been busy, how 'bout YOU?

So I pick Alex up from school yesterday, chat about the day - what homework he has, if he got anything back graded...general chit-chat. He makes the announcement "I think I'm on a first name basis with the people I've been eating lunch with." Excellent. He said he's been sitting with roughly the same people every day, but when I asked for their names, he had no idea. Not the award-winning conversationalist, my son...BUT he's making an effort, which is all I can ask. He says he thinks that some of them even know his name - excellent.

I was surprised by my own worry about him starting this new school, this high school, where he knew no one. Trinity was small. It was such a family feel. When there are only 14 kids in the whole 8th grade, you sorta HAVE to get along. You spend so many hours with the same 14 people, and you're bound to talk, you're bound to know names...and the teachers there were so great. Hell, they come to your HOUSE for a "hey the school year is starting let's meet" deal. They want to know you, they want to know your family.

I was worried...real worried, that my little hermit crab would crawl back into his shell. He has really changed as a person over the last two years...and Trinity was a big part of that transformation. I think being in that small setting really worked for him, helped him gain confidence, helped him grow into this teenage dude that I truly can't believe is my little baby with the blonde, blonde hair. Lots of people have seen this transformation and comment on it. He actually participates rather than runs from conversation.

So it's looking like my boy is making friends in his new environment...keeping up with his studies...participating in some stuff.

I'm so damn happy...

AAAAAAANNNNNNND - I'm not sure if she's still out there lurking every now and again...but a big birthday shout-out to TIFF-TERRIFF!! Happy Birthday, Tiffany - miss your face.

It was a busy weekend, it was a lazy weekend...

All rolled into one. I felt like we all got a lot done...and yet there was plenty of downtime, too.

First, I got my new car. Hooray! It's fabulous and I love it like I would marry it. Went to the Andrean football game on Friday night - it was a great game sitting on our side...notsomuch for East Chicago...a bit of a blowout.

Saturday found me running kids around and going to G-man's birthday party. It's so fun to see the little ones so excited. He was clearly having a good time, playing with his cousins, eating chips and cake, getting new toys. You know...the things the best birthdays are made of.

Then it was time for another party - my girlfriend Sandi's 40th birthday...surprise party at that. In the end, it was perfect. We got to surprise our friend (there were 14 of us all together), eat pizza, drink beer and then go bowling. We bowled Scotch doubles - which does not include any drinking of Scotch, thank heavens, because I've never been a Scotch drinker. It involves partnering up with your spouse, one of you bowls the first ball, and your partner picks up what's left. It was a great time - the bowling alley was practically empty, which was good because we were pretty loud. The highlight? Forgive me Cinde - but you did take quite a spill. She literally sailed down the lane on her ass. I'm not quite sure how it happened...but while it was happening it was like it was in slow motion...she was up, she was down, she was halfway up, she was down again and sliding. She had a horrible oil mark on her ass from the lane, too, poor thing.

I fell, too - my foot stuck, again...I think I need new shoes. I slicked 'em up and I was good for the night.

Then it was off to a local bar for some blues. Same band we saw at Hayden's pre-school fundraiser in May. Buncha kids, really - I think the bass player is 16 - but there's a lot of talent there, they cover a lot of great blues and have some originals that are great as well. We danced and drank some cocktails...it was a good time. We were still home by midnight, I think, so that wasn't too bad.

Sunday was Pop Warner football game - we won 35-6, I think - something like that...I have no idea. Owen had some good things happening for him...it was a fun game to watch. Then Kev-head and I went back to the local gin joint for the Sunday Blues Jam. It was so awesome! All of the players were great - I got up and sang a couple of tracks and got to sing with Cousin David. LOVE Cousin David. Such a talented guy...I'm going back on Friday night to hopefully sit in with Wally World and definitely going back on Sunday for the Jam. Taking the kids this time...hopefully we can get Alex up there to play drums sometime. I'm going to give him some blues stuff to work on, I know he's capable, I just don't know if he's ready.

Monday found us catching up on housework, watching movies, watching tennis...nothing really special. Got to take the bike out for awhile - that was nice. Perfect day for riding...not too hot...Busy week this week even though it's only 4 day work week. It's Tuesday, right? Gotta get my days straight...

How was your holiday weekend?

Today's theme: Geography

Edited to Add:
Oh Shit! Bad friend, bad friend! It's the young Kathy's birthday today! Happy birthday Kathy!!

So you can hardly be online or flip on the tube these days without hearing about the Q&A snafu by the Miss Teen South Carolina. I admitted this to Julie already, and now I'll admit it to you. Owen, Kev-head and I were WATCHING the Miss Teen USA pageant when it happened. Why? I have no idea. We were flipping channels, watching...I'm not even sure what...when we stumbled on to that. As MTSC answered the question, we all stared at each other dumbfounded. How did we get from "Why can't Americans find the US on a map" to Iraq and South Africa?

Bottom line? Nerves. This is a TEEN pageant for the love. This is the best example of schadenfreude I have ever seen. Everyone loves to see a "beauty queen" fall - see these "perfect" specimens competing in a "scholarship program" (seen Miss Congeniality??) take a dive. Poor Miss America's literal fall on stage was replayed a gazillion times on YouTube, the news, everywhere. (And yes, I was watching that, too, WHEN IT HAPPENED. What am I doing watching all of these friggin' pageants?? Maybe I should see someone about that.)

Is it true? Can 20% of Americans really NOT find the US on a map? And if so, why do YOU think that is? My answer that night and still today is that if it is true, maybe it's because geography isn't a part of standardized testing. That the focus on math and reading is leading away from a true knowledge of World Geography. Joy - you are the teacher among us, do you think the students of today can find America on a map? Do any of you know an adult who can't? I don't. How would you answer?

I know my own husband admittedly knows nothing about geography - he can't locate the 50 states on a map, but he could most definitely find the US on a global map. He admits he paid no attention to that in school because it just wasn't important to him.

Having been in a "scholarship program" my senior year - I was in the running to become "America's Homecoming Queen" No joke. Since I was homecoming queen of my school, some teacher nominated me to become Indiana's Homecoming Queen. From there I could go to Hawaii and compete against all 50 states. ME? Whodawa? I still can't believe I did it. I had to wear a tiara all weekend, and the sash. I had to compete in a "casual-wear" thing that involved an interview. I don't remember the interview at all. I must have done well. Then an evening gown portion that involved walking on this make-shift catwalk. I made friends. Go figure. I came in first runner up. Why? Because of the question. Yes, folks, I too bombed my question. I remember standing in a side room, in my gown, waiting my turn and almost pissing my pants. And this was just in a hotel ballroom in Indianapolis, not national television! I walked out there, completely flushed, and I can still remember the question to this day. "25 years ago JFK said 'Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country', how does this apply today?"

Are you fucking kidding me? I was 17. HUH? I was in the top friggin' 5, of a pageant, as a band-geek, national honors society nerd. I should have at least had the talking portion down, right? No. I remember looking out at my parents in the audience and freezing. No, I don't remember my answer. I think the post-traumatic stress of it has blocked it from my memory banks. I do remember that it sucked, my answer that is. And that as soon as I walked off the stage, I thought of ten million BRILLIANT things to say. But I didn't say anything intelligent then. Trust me.

So I can cut Miss South Carolina a lot of slack...

Hey you guys...Senator Craig isn't gay...he isn't...really...

GAH! I am so tired...sooooooooooooo tired of the Republican moral right. I am. So Senator Craig got busted like every other moral high horse piece of shit with his hands in the cookie jar. His defense? He only plead guilty to disorderly conduct in MINNEAPOLIS because some newspaper in Idaho was trying to dig up dirt on him. Ummm, yeah. No. Seriously? Who is buying into this shit? Senator Craig, maybe you and Michael Vick need to have a little chat about what it means to make a plea deal. At least Vick took one of the most famous responses of all - he's found Jesus. Yes, kids...this whole sociopathic trip down dog-fighting lane has landed our boy Vick in the hands of JC himself. Well I know I feel better now. How 'bout you?

The only other option for Vick was to go into rehab...either way he's done in the NFL.

But let's come back to Craig. The Today Show was asking the question "Are Republicans held to a higher standard than Democrats?" I don't know? What do you guys think? I think the GOP LOVES to stand on their moral high ground...they've made "family values" and "anti-gay marriage" their own, slamming the Dems over and over again basically labeling them as drunk (sorry Ted) over-sexed (thanks, Bill) liberals who would just as soon screw a goat in the square as their spouses in the bedroom. The Dems have had their share of controversy (hello entire Kennedy family), no one is saying their perfect.

The difference? They're not on the news shows/pundit shows every damn day preaching against the very actions in which they are participating!!! THEY are not SAYING they're perfect day after day like these smug asshats. The GOP is becoming the butt of the joke (pun intended) as much as Catholic priests. Wild Bill didn't pass a law against cheating on your wife before pushing Monica under the desk. JFK wasn't trying to cram family values down everyone's throat while boffing Norma Jean. But these people who are trying to define our moral compass, here they are, side by side with George Michael in the men's room...or should I say front to back? Hmmmm.

No, they're not held to a higher standard. But the hypocrisy is getting old, and the party is suffering. Maybe he'll end up in rehab...

Just another manic monday....

Holy schmoly...I've always hated Mondays...and yesterday didn't suck particularly worse than any other Monday, but it still sucked. Mama Joy typically sends out a "Friday Message" to all of her kids...me included as an unofficially yet UB officially adopted member of her clan. It's her "blog" of sorts, only in email form...catching us up on what she's been up to, and gives everyone a chance to chat about what they've been doing, or if there are plans for the weekend.

I would have to say that besides books and her students (she's a teacher) - the most popular subject is mowing. She is the proud owner of a John Deere...I'm sure she'll respond and tell us what kind, I'm sorry to say I've forgotten.

So the subject for today for me is...you guessed it...mowing. Typically Kev-head and the boys do all the mowing. Sometimes I'll jump on the tractor if the kids are gone...but mostly, I'm out. And considering we have 10 acres, this is no small feat. They seem to have it all down to a science...luckily we still have the old lawn tractor my dad gave us (seriously, I think I used to mow with this tractor in HIGH SCHOOL...wearing a bikini, of course, and lathering on the baby oil for optimum sun attraction. WHAT was I THINKING??? Oh yeah, it was the 80's.) Alex drives this tractor because, since it's so old, it doesn't have any "safety features." Like if you fall off the thing will just keep going and going I think...actually I have no idea. Kevin just won't let Owen ride it. Owen rides the newer mower, I think we got it 3 years ago? It's nice, nothing fancy, but it does have cruise control. Kevin drives the big boy...the large diesel with a 6 foot mower deck on the back - bush hog? Brush hog? What is this actually called???

ANYWAY. Since there are no other tractors to drive, I decide I'm going to be helpful in another way, I'll drive the four-wheeler with the grass-picker-upper-thingy attached. Does this thing have a name? No idea. So Kev-head hooks it up for me and off I go.

Problem one - we have a thumb controlled throttle on the four-wheeler. 2 laps in my hand is already cramping. Boo-hoo, I know...but seriously...ouch.

Problem two - the grass has to be dumped out of the picker-upper. Now there's a rope you have to pull to dump it over, it's supposed to be easy. Except I'm a weakling...absolutely no upper body strength whatsoever. So dumping a picker-upper full of wet grass? Notsoeasy. I have to get off the thing every time and use both arms pulling this rope, using my legs to push off the back of the thing for leverage. I have to look like a complete idiot. It's a wonder I'm not sore today. Seriously...total sissygirl. After dumping several loads (ummmm, yeah, that doesn't sound very good) ... it was getting dark and I hadn't even made dinner yet! GAH!

I made something easy, which still managed to wreck the kitchen. The good news? Cleaning ladies came yesterday...Hooray!

So I guess it wasn't so bad...but now I know why I don't participate in yardwork...

Sidenote: I think they finally found a car for me - the one we thought we had before sold, so my car is coming from St. Louis...I should have it by Friday. YAY!
Sidenote, too: Think good thoughts for the young Kathy - she totalled her car this weekend. She is fine, no the kids weren't with her, but she only had 3 payments left so this really sucks for her. New cars are fun. Car drama is no fun.

No physical contact!

It was an interesting weekend. Alex spiked a fever on Friday night. Pretty high for a kid his age, I think. 103. No other symptoms other than a headache...some minor body aches, mostly in his legs. I chalk that up to growing and high school - he's doing more walking now than ever, and doing it in DRESS SHOES because of the uniform. That cannot be good on the legs. I tried to emphasize getting a pair of shoes that are comfortable because he has to wear them all day, every day, but I'm not the one wearing them, so they might not be the greatest. ANYWAY, what I'm saying is I can overlook the leg pain for other reasons. The boy has grown like 6 inches in a year...he's bound to hurt somewhere, right?

So he has this fever, and I medicate him and put him to bed. Since he has no other symptoms, I basically quarantine his ass there, and tell him so. I don't need a whole house full of germs. And a sick hubby and a sick Owen. (And a sick me for that matter). He could care less.

Still has a fever on Saturday morning. Well, it left with medication and came back. So I medicate him again, bring him some water and some fruit and he basically sleeps the morning away. Noon, he's fine - eating soup, still quarantined to his room because now Julie and H are coming over. I tell him that no matter what, he can't touch anyone, get too close to anyone, he shouldn't even get near anyone. This is funny because Alex doesn't do any of those things anyway. Love with Al is always forced love, and mostly when people come over he stays in his room. He told me he would give it his best effort. When he came downstairs for dinner, Julie laughed because I hollered out "NO PHYSICAL CONTACT!!" I was contact-nazi apparently.

When Julie came she brough Krispy Kremes for the next day. My kids LOVE KK's...like they would marry them. Owen ate some on Saturday, even though they were for breakfast on Sunday. It's also important to note that Tigger came down with her sweet baby on Saturday as well. It's important to note because on Sunday morning, after everyone has eaten the KK's - there's one left. One lonely glazed KK. And Owen begins stalking it. He walks by once, twice...I think three times...checking to see if it's still there. Asks Julie if he can have it. Julie tells him he should make sure everyone's had one. He asks Tigger - "Ummmmm, your baby...what's her name?" Tigger: "Corinne" O: "Yeah, is she gonna want that?"

Corinne is 9 weeks old today. Not even holding her own head up, but Owen is concerned that he should leave the last KK for her, in case she wants to what? Spend all day gumming it and choking? Seriously? He was so funny about it. In the end he got the last KK - and we all moved on. Hungover as we were all overserved the night before...but moving on nonetheless.

OH - and there was the most hilarious EVER when H did a beautiful impersonation of his mother. I couldn't help myself - worst.friend.evah - I LAUGHED my ass off, which cause H to laugh and do it even more. Seriously...H sitting at my kitchen counter - he even did the look that goes with it - sing-songing "laaanguage..." You had to be there, but I almost peed my pants.

Alex is okay today...sent him to school. We'll see how he feels after I guess. After a weekend of quarantine, there was no fever last night and none this morning. It just had to run it's course...

Denial is not just the longest river in Africa...

It's the state of my life. Confession time, lovely bloggers...I was getting my act together...and now I've taken 50 steps back. At least. I'm not sure what's happening. I was so gearing up pre-vacation, and now it's like my mind is on permanent vacation. The stacks of crap that contain the mail I should be going through? Insane. The laundry? Completely out of control. Like, I have no laundry room floor...I have clean clothes piled up in baskets unfolded and wrinkled all to hell stacked on both the washer and the dryer. I have dishes piled in the sink. My bathrooms look like a warzone. All four of them. Don't even get me started on my office. Really. Don't.

And here at work? My office looks like the tornado really did touch down here yesterday, even though it didn't.

I haven't even given Scouting one second's thought, and I'm avoiding my director's calls because I really don't have anything to say to him other than I'm burned out. I don't even have my round-up planned, let alone the rest of my year. Once I get started doing it I'll be fine, but it's that getting started that has me thrown.

Vacation was supposed to be relaxing...and centering...and help to purge everything leaving me refreshed to take on the upcoming school year and get my shit together.

Instead, I'm left floundering. Of course, vacation isn't the only thing to blame...I'm leaning more and more towards the fact that I really do have a some sort of adult attention deficit disorder. You can laugh all you want, because I joke about it all the time. But really? I think there's more too it than I care to admit. And yes, I know I'm busy. And yes, I know I have a lot going on. But really, this is beyond that. I can't seem to get a grip on anything in these last couple of weeks and now I'm paying for it in clutter and denial. I think this is the only thing that a good glass of wine can't fix. Not that I haven't tried. HA! Actually other than Monday night when the girls came over after school board, I haven't reallly had that much wine. And at least I've been cooking every night...that part of my act is still together.

I need some sort of life coach to help me get back on track, either that or medication, I'm not sure which. I'm going to the doctor today to have my hormones checked out, but that's a whole other story.

So think good thoughts for me, lovely bloggers, as I go into the weekend that I'll come out more organized than I went in. I need to make some lists. Set some goals. I seem to do well with lists, and scheduled tasks...

Horrible decisions made easy...

So I have to buy a new car. Normally this would put a knot in my stomach. Because even though it's MY car, it has to pass the husband test. When we go places together, he drives, and he should like the vehicle we have. 5 1/2 years ago, we bought the Impala. We test drove a gazillion cars. It was hell. HELL. Because not only does the hubby have to like the car, he has to like the person from whom we buy the car. And my husband doesn't like people. Well, for the most part he doesn't like people. And let's face it, some car salesman make it difficult to like them. The car buying process is nauseating at best, because you always feel like you're getting ripped off, it's a large payment for something that just depreciates. It's a necessary evil, but getting in bed with the devil doesn't have to be part of it, and sometimes that's how it feels.

But this time is different. I pretty much already knew what type of vehicle I wanted going in. I'm going for the crossover, and I'm buying a Chevy Equinox. Chevy is my thing - I've put 180,000 miles on this Impala and only replaced tires, brakes, the battery (and I JUST did that) and the belt. That's it. Well, there was that window snafu from last year, but seriously, as much as I hit drive-thru's, ATM's and toll booths, how many times do you think I've opened and closed that window in five years...it was bound to go sometime. So when looking at the car/SUV crossovers, there are many from which to choose, but Chevy is my baby, so that's where I'm staying.

Luckily we have some friends who can help us out in this arena. One of my neighbors sells Ford, and a good friend sells Chevy. I got to test drive both the Edge and the Equinox for long periods and see how I liked them. I feel good about it. And bonus, the hubby loves it. We're maxing it out on options, because hey...we make a decent living and I do practically live in my car. It's important. The kids will be spoiled with a DVD player, and I will be spoiled with satellite radio and the ability to play my iPod through the car stereo. It's brilliant. Hopefully I can get my new digs within a week. And yes, Jimmer, I've already contacted my lovely insurance agent about this.

Working with Rob has been a cinch, no worries about haggling or getting screwed, no heated negotiations, no walking out of a dealership with my husband ranting about what a prick the dealer was. Whoo-hoo! Hubby's happy, I'm thrilled...can't wait, in fact to finish the deal. This is not the way this usually happens for me! Of course, now I've jinxed myself and something will go wrong. But I have a pretty good feeling about it so far. And Rob tells me the car was designed by a woman...so there are some perks to the interior that I love, like a place to put my purse that isn't the front seat...it's a fabulous thing.

It's the lovely Linda's birthday today!! She is the wife of Rob, a fellow bowler and a lurker on my blog. I love her like I would marry her...so HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDA!!!

Good-by Ruby Tuesday...

Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still I'm gonna miss you...

It just feels like a Rolling Stones kind of day, doesn't it? Yes? No? Just me? Well get on the train kiddies...

What a fantabulous busy weekend! Oy! Friday found me and the Kev-head in Chi-town on a rooftop on Waveland watching the Cubbies. I'd never been on a rooftop for a game before - it was soooooo cool! It was all vendor sponsored, so we didn't have to pay for anything - and once we got to the roof, the beer and the food was all around. It was a beautiful thing, lemme tell ya.

After the game we went back to Trader Todd's - I think I've told you guys about this place before. It's brilliant! Great drinks...best guac evah...and we even did a shotski. What's a shotski, you ask?? Well, lovely bloggers...it's a wooden ski, that has 4 holes in it that holds...you guessed it...4 shot glasses. So you and 3 friends can line up and do a shot together. Luckily the Kev-head and I talked our two friends into coming along, so we were all set. We didn't get home from the city until 11:30 - and it was a 1:00 game. Yowzers! That's a lot of beers, babies!!!

Saturday was weigh-in day hell for football...nothing to tell. EXCEPT - Kevin got to play with his birthday present...*gah* NO dirty minded ones...I got him satellite radio. I didn't realize how cool this present was until he installed it. He's completely addicted. We must have all of the accessories now, now, NOW! Commercial free comedy channels 24/7 - he's thrilled. And of course I got to see Julie and Chris and H, which is always a good thing.

Sunday we went to church and grocery shopping...hooray! And yes... I did my food prep for the week...I made a pot of sauce and meatballs that totally rocked. And I know what I'm making the rest of the week...yeah, babies!

How was your weekend??

Happy Birthday to JIMMER!!

It's the Jimmer's birthday, the big 31...happy birthday!!

Tomorrow is the Kev-head's birthday - I won't be here because we're going to the Cubs game...so a big happy birthday to my husband who doesn't even read the blog...tosser.

It's been a whirlwind couple of days, lovely bloggers. I took yesterday off because we were supposed to take the kids to the waterpark. Well, according to the shit news/weather reporting around here, they made it sound like the day was going to be a wash. So we revamped our plans and took the kids out for mexican food and then to the park and then bowling. It was fun, but the whole day we were all really pissed because the rain never came. Well, not until last night. Did you all make it through the storms? We didn't see anything in the south, but north of the river it looks like a warzone. The young kathy has no power, neither does the Tigger. I don't have high hopes of them getting it anytime soon considering that there were 100,000 customers out of power today. YIKES. I couldn't believe all of the downed trees, ripped up rooftops...

On a happier note, Alex started high school today. I was a nervous wreck most of the day. I was so worried for him. Would he find his classes? Would he get everything into his locker? Did he have enough money for lunch? Would he have anyone to talk to? It was like kindergarten all over again. In the end I picked him up and he was f.i.n.e fine (please sing this like Aerosmith). And he looked DAMN handsome in his school uniform. Did he make any friends? Ummm, no. Al doesn't really roll that way. But he will, in time, I'm sure. It took him awhile at Trinity, but eventually he was just fine.

On an agonizing note, Owen is becoming more like me every day, and not in a good way. I almost lost my mind yesterday because for the 3rd time in as many weeks, Owen left something at the football field. And not to knock the coaches or anything, but they never look over the field, see if anything's left behind and pick it up. Last week he left his bag with his inhaler in it. When Kevin went back down there, it was still right where Owen had left it. Tuesday night Owen left his bag with his clothes in it...his chucks, $30 in his pocket, a brand new yug-i-oh deck he had just purchased and ... wait for it... the key to our barn. Now the odds of someone finding this, knowing that it was ours and actually breaking into our barn are slim. But STILL. Tens of thousands of dollars worth of tractors, ATV's, dirtbikes, HARLEY DAVIDSON motorcycle and tools live in that barn. Luckily I drove down to the field 24 hours later and there it sat...in the middle of the field, right where he had left it. And what can I tell him? I'm scatterbrained myself. I usually don't leave my bags at practice, of course, I don't have any practice...but I leave my purse at home...I'll leave the house without a coat in the winter...I leave so many things at my office when I leave for the day it's pitiful. I lost a pair of shoes for a year because they were under my desk. So what do I, of all people, tell him???

Oy.

He starts school tomorrow. AND it's the premiere of High School Musical 2 on Disney - he's so excited for both of these things.

Did I mention how handsome Alex looked in his uniform?

Seriously - I'm sorry lovely bloggers...

OMG...here I am. I am okay. I promise. Still breathing in and out, still floundering in the wake of fabulous beach vacation. Still haven't managed to get my doo-hickey in here to get the pics off my camera. Whoops. I suck. Get used to it. Fall '07 is the season of the sucky Rebecca. I peaked too soon this year. The start of the school year will be a disaster as usual with me weeping into my wine nightly.

Last night Owen and I joined some friends at the Chicago Bears Training Camp. It's only about 40 minutes away, not bad...I can't believe we haven't done this sooner! Because I love football. LOVE football like I would marry it. I really would. Have you seen the pants on these boys? Hellloooooooo...and these boys? Even better looking in person than they are on the big screen. And by big screen I'm of course referring to the 40" LCD flat panel television that my husband WON on Friday. WON...as in, we paid nothing for it. And I believe him, because slick as he is, I don't think even my hubby could hide a $2K purchase from me post-vacation, no way. I'm hawking that checking account something fierce post-vacation. So the TV is, where else, but in our bedroom. Yeah, ummmm, we removed the mirror above the dresser, and that's where the television is. It's brilliant. I love it. Why would I want to look at myself when I can look at Monday night football that huge in my room. BRILLIANT!

The hubby wants to watch porn on it. Ummm, no. Have you seen the men who star in porn? They're hideous. Hid.e.ous. I'm sure this is really working for him - some blond hair, some big boobs up on the screen...but then there's the dude, and really? REALLY? No. No one really wants to have sex with those dudes without getting paid. No one. Nasti-ass skankified porn stars with their porn star faces that they make. Ew. I don't need to see that at all let alone on a 40" HIGH DEF. I'll pass, thanks. I told him when he found porn with good looking male actors we'll talk.

But this isn't about porn is it? Nooooo...this is about FOOTBALL. Robbie Gould? So much better looking in person. Urlacher? LOVE him. But the man to watch, and I have no idea if other sports writers are talking about him...Mark Bradley. Watch him, folks...he's going to be big. BIG. Love him. Grossman is still horrible, I don't care what any of you say. I have to figure out how to get into the VIP section. I wonder if Kev-head knows someone who knows someone who can get us in there. YEAH baby! I got some great pics and they had activities for the kids. We didn't even get to see it all. I'm so going back next year. I have to figure out how to get to Latrobe for Steelers training camp!

On a sad note, Alex didn't make the soccer team. He seems to be handling it well. On a sadder note, the dress code at his school changed. He can no longer wear khakis. I'm so glad I ALREADY BOUGHT HIM 3 PAIRS IN THE SPRING. Tossers. Seriously? What's wrong with khaki's??? Why navy blue pants only? Seriously. Killing me.

School starts Thursday for Alex, Friday for Owen. Strap in folks - here we go!

I'm back in the saddle again...

I'm BACK!

Well, not really. Post vacation work days suck. Post vacation home days are lazy. Kevin came home and started busting ass. But that's him. I think he was actually sitting on vacation making mental lists of all of the things he was going to accomplish when he got home. He actually doesn't know how to relax. His idea of a good time is getting something done. The only task we completed on vacation was emptying wine bottles...and beer bottles...and we were quite successful in that endeavor. But that's still not enough for him. Tosser.

Eileen - you'll be happy to know that my bed is unmade since my return. And it's a disaster. I even made my bed on vacation...but that's mostly because the bedroom was right off the main living quarters of the house and it seemed unsightly to have it disheveled day after day...especially since people were walking through to use our shower. When you're in a pretty house like that one, you just want to keep it...well, pretty.

Last night I came home from work and did nothing. I watched a bunch of shows I had DVR'd while I was gone. But basically I came home, cracked a beer and sat on my getting-larger-by-the-minute ass. I just couldn't do it. Anything. I was so glad it rained the last couple of nights so I didn't have to water my plants. I made hot dogs for dinner. I left the dishes for the kids this morning. I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday. Kevin picked the kids up from football, which was great, because that perpetuated my laziness.

My nailpolish from my pre-vacation manicure is chipping away - I thought several times about getting out the nailpolish remover and some cotton balls, but that would have required me going upstairs, and I just.couldn't.do.it. So now it's sandworn and making me look like a two bit crack whore. Okay, maybe not that bad...but it really looks awful. And I have places to go tonight after work. Ugh.

To further display my pitifulness, I wanted a glass of wine last night...but the bottles and the opener and the glasses were upstairs...while the beer was in the frig in the garage. So I picked the beer.

I'm sure none of you feel sorry for me. And I will snap out of it...probably not until after the weekend. Tigger wants me to come over for a "porch night"...kind of like "deck days" at Julie's...only it's on the porch...and it's at Tigger's. That should snap me out of my funk appropriately.

I can't find my little doo-hickey to get my pics off my camera. When I do, I'll share some highlights. OH! I just remembered where it is. Okay. I'll try and do that tomorrow.

Honeeeeey, I'm hoooooome....

Well I'd love to say that it feels great to be back, ummm, yeah - that would be a lie. A LIE. I love that beach house like I would marry it and it's Africa hot out here and I have too much to do and grrrrr. I think my tan started fading the minute I crossed the Michigan/Indiana border. Bugger.

I'd forgotten how much I missed the beach. Living only an hour away, you'd think I'd get to the lake more...but the hubby doesn't like the beach, and we have a hectic schedule...and, well, I just never get there. But I went down there almost every day of vacation. You know I love it if I was willing to climb those stairs more than once in a day to do it. Holy hell those stairs are horrible. But the beach, the beach is really something. Either you love it or you don't. I could and did sit there for hours reading, sunning, playing in the sand. I even went into the lake a few times...of course, it has to be bath water warm for me...but I did it. And now that I actually have a tan? I want to go back. What are you doing this weekend, Jul? Oh yeah, you'll be out of town...bugger again.

I read a couple of books while I was away...one of them was set in London. So I am hereby adding a new word to my insult vocabulary. Tosser. I used it on Kevin the other day and it felt really good, so I think I'm sticking with it.

Football has started. Owen was sweating it out at practice yesterday. SWEATING. Ew.

More later ... I'm still settling in...

The Gavin/Owen project...

First let me say that this is the life. I'm tan. I have a cold beverage in my hand. I'm resting in a king size bed in a bedroom with more square footage than some entire homes and...wait for it...I have a decent wireless signal so I can blog for you! In bed. with a cocktail. blogging. Seriously...it's brilliant. Brilliant.

Day 4 for us out of 10. And today is when I tell you about the Gavin/Owen project. When you get down to the bottom of the long, long stairs that take you to our private beach here, there is this little river of water that also trickles down the bluff to the lake. Last year Alex and Owen (and I think Chris and Kevin) built a dam to 'shore up' this waterflow. Well this year is like that, only on steroids.

Owen and Gavin have worked for 3 straight days, building wall after wall to make this water move the way they want it to, but never actually letting it get to the lake. They started close to the lake...that is "wall number 1" - a few feet back, closer to the bluff is "wall number 2" and so on, and so on. I think there are 8 walls in all. They work diligently, have "sheduled break times" for playing in the lake....and when they return? HIGH DRAMA! "We have a break in number 6! Water is getting through! Emergency! Emergency!" And they work to patch the break and block the water.

Once they came back from a break and there were several breaches in their very own panama canal...Gavin was working to repair wall number 3 while Owen was pushing the water back. Owen yelled "hurry up, Gavin, I'm giving you as much time as I can, but I don't know how much longer I can push the water back!!"

Then another wall broke down...Owen called for backup "Gavin, come quick, I need help!" Gavin's response? "I've got problems of my own!!"

It's all VERY serious...very dramatic and yells of "Hurry, hurry, this is a MAJOR break!" could be heard all day, every day....which cracks us up. I took some pictures, but haven't checked to see if I have my handy-dandy USB card reader thingy (yes, that's what it said on the packaging) so I can upload them for you. I'll try...but I am, ahem...on vacation. This is a phrase I have to choke out, as my husband says it over and over. Whenever I need him to do something..."honey, can you..." I'm on vacation! I hope Julie's laughing right now because it was the same thing he said over and over again last year.

The Janet has been cooking her ass off. Monday night we had lasagna, last night it was some chicken/artichoke/water chestnut concoction with garlic green beans and salad ... tonight we had kabobs and garlic bread and peach cobbler. Ummmmm, yeah...can you all see my ass getting larger? Between the food and the booze I'm damn glad there are 50 million stairs to get to and from the beach. I can use the exercise!

The family leaves in the morning. Most of them will be missed, but that's a long story for another day. It's been a good beginning. I'm tanning out from my earlier burn and tomorrow the other Kevin Crum comes with his wife and they're supposed to be bringing me wine from California. Hopefully they're bringing reds...because as you know, here in MI...we're all out.

Tuesday is the BEST day ever...

Hi lovely bloggers! Miss me? Do ya? Do ya? Well, we're having beautiful weather here in sunny Michigan. Lots of great beach time. Unfortunately, I forgot to reapply my sunscreen, and well...I fried like a popcorn shrimp. Tops of my thighs are bright red like a fire truck...insert whatever insane comment you want here. And my cleavage...well lets just say that the sisters are beacons like never before. Whoops. Not so much with the hurting...just pissing me off because it's so.damn.hot.

Today was the best day ever. Why? Because we went to the wineries this afternoon, that's why. 4 wineries in 2.5 hours. Brilliant. I love SW Michigan. You know what sucks, though? SW MI couldn't produce a decent red wine if I gave them the grapes. That I grew in California. Because SW MI has no business trying to produce a red. I learned this last year, and then forgot it until we went to 4 wineries today and I tried red after red and wondered why I bothered. Didn't stop me from buying a case and a half of delectable little whites which is WELL worth the trip. mmmmmmmmm...MI whites.

Me, Kev-head, Carol and Rich piled into the car and took off. First stop, Contessa. We know we love Contessa. The owner was serving up the tasting today and he was quite fun to talk to. He set the bar high for personality and good conversation. We talked about wine, cheese, crackers, Harleys, , beers, other wineries in the area, vacation spots...you name it...we talked about it. Super nice guy.

Next stop, Lemon Creek. Not so impressive, but I did try my first ice wine there. I've always wondered how they tasted, but at $25-$75 per bottle, I'm not about to experiment. It's very very sweet....more like an after dinner liqueur than a wine, but still very good. I can't say that I would ever buy a bottle, but it was fun to try. If you can't get past the smell of the place, which is straight up manure as it's also a farm, the Kerner was very good and that's what we all bought.

Off to Tabor Hill...or Snob Hill as we're now calling it. Compared to the warm reception we received at Contessa, this place was more like a morgue. Bitchy lady at reception desk...we're milling about and Kev-head casually says..."oh, they have a restaurant, we should eat here sometime." Restaurant's closed on Tuesday barks ms. personality plus...well THAT turned Kev-head in a second. And Mr. chee-chee-fou-fou serving up the tasting...seriously. Back your shit up. We're not dancing on the bar for crap's sake...we're laughing and having conversation. And then he didn't give us our change. Fuckstick.

Last but definitely not least was Round Barn. I didn't think I would like them because at a tasting last year they didn't impress me. Glad I went! First off - they also brew their own beer, so Kev-head got to enjoy a nice fresh beer while Rich and I sampled their fare. It cost $5 per couple to taste BUT you got to keep you glass AND you can go taste for free at their sister winery. Considering we were tipping $5 at each of the others, this was a total steal. Again, the reds sucked, but the girl behind the counter was nice and knowledgeable and the whites really were impressive.

I bought wine everywhere we went...and some sparkly for mimosas in the morning. That's it for now...remind me to tell you about the Gavin/Owen project...it's very fun.

It's so hard to say good-bye........

Well, it's Friday. And not just any Friday, it's the Friday before I leave for fabulous beach vacation, the sequel. This is one sequel that I feel really will be better than the first...10 days. 10 DAYS. I'm currently wearing a tank top that I recently acquired from Macy's for entirely too much money. It's got 3 sparkling martini glasses on it and underneath it just says "therapy." Amen to that. If I can't find answers in the bottom of my martini glass, where will I find them???? They're there, I know it. I'll just have to keep looking. I'll let you know what I find out.

Lovely bloggers, BBFF's, I don't know if I'll be able to get with you while I'm gone. I hope to, but as the beach and the booze are calling my name, I'm just not sure what I'll be able to do. Plus I don't think fabulous beach vacation house has DSL, if it did, I would be all over it. Drunk, sun-enriched blogging from the beach house, sounds fab doesn't it?? But I think I'll have to go to the local coffee house to check-in. I'll try, that's all I'm saying.

The organization of one closet is complete. I cleaned all the shelves, trashed what wasn't needed, put everything else into bins. It's brilliant...I'm so happy. I also got all of my sweaters into under the bed containers. Kevin said he wants like 10 of them. Ummm, honey, we only have so much space under a queen size bed.

I'm recovering from my day of waxing. Sort of. Not nearly as bad as it was yesterday, but still enough to cause my husband to run out of the bathroom wailing and holding his crotch. The sacrifices we women make for beauty. Let's bring back the 60's and burn our bras and stop shaving altogether...okay...maybe not the bra part.

I finished Harry Potter - want me to tell you how it ends?? Who dies? Who lives? Do ya? Do ya?? I thought it was good. That is all I have to say about that.

So this may be it for awhile...I'll miss you...oh hell, who am I kidding...I won't even be thinking about you. But I still love you like I would marry you, you know that.

Fabulous Beach Vacation

She wore an itsy bitsy teeny weeny...

Oh who am I kidding - I don't wear a teeny weeny anything...never have...not with the sisters. But as I prepare for fabulous beach vacation, I must tell you about...well...my issue with razor burn. It's embarrassing. It's embarrassingly horrible. But I pretty much share everything here, so why not this. I don't use my pool. I only use my hot tub at night, I sucked it up when I went to Holiday World because among the hillbillies, I figured I was okay.

I've always struggled with this, my whole life. I've changed razors, I've used creams, lotions, pads, gels...I've soaked, shaved slow, shaved fast, used neosporin, there is not a trick you can name that I haven't tried. They're all bunk. Whoever develops them should come talk to me, I don't know who they think those products are helping, but for those of us who suffer, and by suffer, I mean really SUFFER in areas you don't talk about let alone itch in public...they don't fucking work. Ever. Period.

And now, now I'm going on fabulous beach vacation, the sequel, and I don't want to be a freak show. So I sucked it up and did what I did for my honeymoon. I went and got waxed. No, not a Brazilian you perverted freaks...just so I can wear a bathing suit without the fear of bikini spiders. This is the only experience that even comes close to rivaling the joy of the pap smear (scoot to the end of the table...scoot...scoooooooot). AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH. At least the lights are dimmer for a waxing and they have calming music. Paps are all bright lights and violation. It really sucks to be a woman, lemme tell ya.

Seen the 40-year-old virgin? An understatement. Because I have to believe the skin on your chest is not nearly as sensitive as your bikini line. I almost bit my tongue off. I used profanity. I think I cried. No, I didn't ... I'm just kidding about the crying part...but the other stuff is true.

So here I sit, wanting to soak in something, trying to finish my work day. But it will be worth it I tell ya - WORTH IT - when I don't have to worry about it for all 10 days of my vacation and then some. Hooray!

It's not my story, but I'll tell it if I want to...

There are two, actually. Two stories that don't belong to me...two stories that I didn't even witness, but I feel they MUST be shared.

ONE:
Julie and Chris have a new dog, Ruby. Ruby has been referenced in previous blogs, the last of which found me "shaking the biscuits" at 3 am. (Go ahead and sing it, kathy, I know you are). Ruby is a great dog and Chris has been waiting a long time for them to get a dog. Last year he got a leash for his birthday, but no dog. This year they finally found their Ruby.

So H has a t-ball game last night and Chris decides they should take the dog...which is great, except for the fact that he stands out on the field with H, so that leaves Julie with the dog. And the dog loves people and there are kids running around, small toddlers at that - so Ruby really has to be watched. Not that she'll hurt anyone, she just might love someone a little too much...you get what I'm saying. So Julie can't really pay attention to the game because she's paying attention to Ruby. And she expresses this to Chris. So the next time Chris goes out onto the field? He takes Ruby. Yeah, that's right - put that visual in your head. Chris is coaching 3rd base with the dog. The dog is on the field. As if these toddlers don't get distracted enough? Now when they're standing on 3rd base, waiting for someone to hit the ball and bring them home, they're petting the dog. My husband would have had a stroke. Hilarious. The visual of Chris coaching 3rd base holding a leash and a dog is just too much.

Julie and Chris are officially "those dog people" and I love it like I would marry it.

TWO:
Women have vibrators. They just do. Well, a lot of them do. And a girlfriend of mine kept hers in a bedside drawer? Under the bed? I'm not sure where. But one day, her kids found them, didn't know what they were - massagers, maybe? And started playing with them. No, not like that you sickos... her husband came home to find their son sitting on the bed with "big blue." Do you know about big blue? Because blue is famous around here. When she asked how her husband reacted he said "well, first I took it from him and TURNED IT OFF"...that's right, folks. There sat their 10-YEAR-OLD on the bed, happy as a little clam with a vibrating big blue in his hands. Somehow that makes it worse. And apparently, this is after their daughter chased the cat around the house with the silver bullet. Oh my. I can't even imagine.

At least they found out now, before they showed their friends their parents "massagers." Holy Mother, I think I would die.

So hide your power tools ladies or don't let your kids watch TV in your room...

Now that's what I call American Idol...

You've all seen the "Now..." CD's - compilations of the top hits of that moment in time, or whatever...
the latest has not 1, not 2, not 3 but FOUR AI artists...
Chris Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Elliot Yamin. Some would still say that AI is a farce, a joke, and no indication of what music can be...and yet, 4 out of 20 songs are all AI artists. For those of us who have loved the show since minute one, this is pretty cool...

Now......go buy it....that's an order...

Sometimes you feel like a nut...

It was an action packed weekend, sort of. Yesterday was completely uneventful. Never left the house. Got another shelf emptied and organized in the closet, I need to get a couple more bins and I can call that one done. Kevin is thrilled.

I got some housework done, but I had to call in the professionals...it's been awhile, so they should be pretty busy today. I'll be so happy when I get home. Apparently Owen left them a note. "To cleaning ladies, you don't have to clean under my bed. Owen." Seriously?? I asked her how bad it was under there that he felt the need to put a disclaimer in...she said there were just a few things. Guess what Owen's doing tonight?

My vegetable garden is finally completely weeded and regrassed. The tomatoes are starting to turn red, very excited about that. Can't wait to make salsa!

We saw the new Harry Potter movie on Friday night. Kevin didn't like it. I thought it was one of the better movies of the series. Everyone keeps talking about how much "darker" it is - I didn't get that impression, but that's just me. We went to Barnes & Noble after that to see what kind of chaos was happening there in anticipation of the book going on sale at midnight. They had a lot of activities - and we got Harry Potter glasses! We had our picture taken, we did some crafts, some puzzles, saw lots of people in costume. The kids didn't bother me so much, it was the adults (who didn't work there) that were troublesome. One lady in a plaid skirt, a white shirt with a Hogwart's tie and black leather boots? Ummmmm, I wasn't sure if she was there for the book or she was on her way to work....

Saturday was awards for LL, and Sat night found us with the RL crew - basically the same as the 4th of July party, only this time it wasn't at my house. The food was, of course, fantastic, and the company was, of course, hilarious. I have stories, oh do I have stories...saving those for later.

Kevin cut a trail through the woods for the dirt bike he acquired. Alex took it for a spin yesterday. I see hospital visits in my future.

How was your weekend?

People are strange...

when you're a stranger
Faces look ugly
when you're alone...

OMG. So - there's a girl that works here - a mean, unhappy, hateful little thing. Like seriously mean, unhappy and hateful. You all know the kind. Well this little nugget of an employee put in her two weeks notice a couple of days ago. No one is sad to see her go. Good riddance.

Usually she putters around the office, never says hi to anyone, not even in passing. But since she put in her notice, she's the happiest thing ever. Giggling, chatting, saying hi to everyone as she passes by. Unbelievable. But today? Today takes the cake. She's wearing a lei around her neck, and a little cone-shaped party hat on her head. A children's party cap, y'all. I'm not even making this up. So someone asked her if it's her birthday. She said "No, I'm just celebrating...I'm so happy!" Well squee! for you. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? She's wearing a lei and party cap. If no one liked her before, we definitely don't like her now. Even the people who do talk to her here? They're flabbergasted. It is the most unprofessional immature thing I've ever seen.

Someone else asked "Did the firm impose the dunce cap or is this a personal choice?" LOVE that thought process. I gave that person a gold star. Literally. She's now wearing a gold star on her sweatshirt.

So it begs the question - does she really think that a new job is going to make her a happier person? Other people have left here - and I was sad to see them go. But ultimately their new jobs/life experiences are so much better for them, as people, and I truly believe they are happier now that they've left the firm. Job happy. Not life happy - they were already perfectly balanced, happy individuals and having job satisfaction has made them so much more so. It's brilliant. But this person? No way. No way she just walks into a new office and what? Changes everything about herself to make her a happy person? Never.gonna.happen.

I once said about this person that she should stop working in office settings altogether, that she should seriously consider working somewhere that involves no people. At all. I think I mentioned working in a county park sitting in a booth by herself. I don't know, ask Tigger - that's who I said it to and it almost made her pee herself. And you guys know me...I like EVERYONE!

Oh shit, I think I've done serious damage to my karma now - I'll have to do something nice for someone else to make up for it. But not her. I refuse to be nice to her. Ever.

*ETA: Ding-dong the witch is dead. Her big plan was to go to lunch and not come back. Instead she told her super she was leaving and not coming back, and that was that. I've never deleted accounts so fast in my life.

The little orange cat that could...

So - here's a continuation of the cat story - the orange cat has been caught - apparently after riding to Munster and back in someone else's vehicle frame...and someone in Kev-head's office took her home. So orange cat now lives in Demotte.

AND she's letting people pet her. All the time. Loves people apparently. So I guess it's just ME she didn't like - when she clawed and bit the hell out of my finger.

Great.

Organization...I'm really trying...

So are you all falling over with my almost week's worth of getting my shit together?? It's unbelievable at best. As Julie would say, the forces of the universe are at work here - and they're talking to me, and they're telling me to get it together already. Take charge! Quit living in squalor!

Last week I had had it with my disorganized messy home. HAD IT. That's when I went to the store, started meal planning, cleaned all those rooms in one night and started the new me. The very next night the young Kathy told me about an Oprah show she watched about organization, clearing up the clutter. There was some get-your-shit-together expert on and she was telling me some of the details.

I started looking around my house. Remember how I posted just that morning that I needed to clean my closets?? Do you see how the forces of the universe are talking to me.? That guy...that guy I didn't even see, totally influenced me. He's right - I do hang on to too much stuff. I have things in my closets I haven't used in 5 years, let alone the last year and they are taking up space and keeping me from being able to store things I actually DO use.

This must stop.

And yes, Eileen, my bed is made. Now I'm just taunting you because it's fun. Please don't leave me! *please*

So last night I went to Target and bought some storage bins. BUT - I didn't buy them with lids - I bought the kind with DRAWERS. This is the key. I was talking to Carol about it last night. If you stack bins with lids, you have to unstack them to get to your stuff. If you have bins with pull out drawers, you can access everything without moving anything. She thinks it's brilliant. Do you see the brilliance??

I started small, only bought 3, and because I went shopping, I didn't have as much time when I got home last night. I did get that load of whites done. And I did make tacos. I did replace the nasty ass shower curtain in my husband's bathroom (that was an add-on), and I did put in one bin, successfully cleaning up the crap on the closet floor and creating a storage space for the toilet paper. The toilet paper was previously thrown in on top of the crap that was on the closet floor. Hopefully the rest of that closet gets cleared out tonight and the stuff I want to keep will start to fill those remaining 2 bins.

Wish me luck, folks, I'm going in.

Hair appointment? What's that crazy talk??

So it's Tuesday, July 17th. Lucky for me I keep this blog...I can look back to the exact date I had my hair done. Ummmmm, yeah it was 3.5 months ago. THREE AND A HALF MONTHS. My birthday week of beauty...that's when it was...I've aged a whole quarter of a year since I last saw my stylist. My grays are showing, my split ends are hideous and I don't even think I HAVE a style anymore. This is what my busy ass little league season has done to me. Bullshit, that's what it is!

I can't get in to see her until next Saturday...I'm so sad. That will be the day before I go on fabulous beach vacation, so I guess that's good. But until then, I have to look like...this. Oy.

Speaking of hair - Carol called me this weekend - she thinks she's getting some peach fuzz on her head. This is very exciting!!

Scott says my blog is making him tired...well, lemme tell y'all, I'm keeping this schedule and it's making me tired, too.

My husband finally asked me last night...hey - you made the bed this morning? Ummmm, yeah. Why? Because I'm tired of not having any covers. I've been doing it for the last 5 days. Really? Oh, I just noticed.

Oh snap. Seriously? Did you notice I've been keeping the kitchen clean and that there's food in the house and I finished all the laundry? ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE BEEN BITCHING ABOUT FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS??? For the love...

And on a not-so-funny-yet-informational-note - I think we're infesting Highland with kittens. We had 5 kittens in June. For the last few days there's only been 2. Now we're down to 1. Why? Well, they've apparently found a new home. In Kevin's truck. And this morning we know for a fact that the kitten made it all the way to Highland, UNDER the truck. Because when he got to work, he heard meowing. And then they saw her. So Alex put on some gloves to retrieve her (these kittens are feral anyway, and now she's totally freaked by a 1 hour road trip) - but he dropped her, and she ran off. There's no getting this one back. She's gone (sing it with me Hall & Oates...)

So for those of you (ahem, Jen...Julie...) who like to make fun of me for having too many cats? I'm down to 6, one of which isn't even MINE...it just adopted us. 5 cats, 1 kitten, which is perfectly reasonable with 10 acres of land. So there.

I need a weekend to recover from my weekend!

So the weekend is supposed to be relaxing, right? A break from the workweek? Ummm, yeah, no. Not that it wasn't fun, it totally was. But today I'm exhausted!

Friday night found us at the RFL. Well, actually, first it found us at Julie's house for cocktails and pizza BEFORE the relay for life. Is it wrong? Wrong that we had cocktails prior to walking the track? I don't think so. We made it over there around 9:30, and the kids were excited to walk/run the track for the cause. Hooray! And then they weren't excited. The little ones had to go home and go to bed...the big ones were looking for entertainment. At least they had activities for the kids - playing football, baseball, dodgeball, kickball, all of the balls were represented. Wait. That doesn't sound right. Moving on. I walked and walked and walked ... the kids played and played and played. I took them back to Julie's around 12:30 hot and sweaty and ready for rest. They stayed up until 2:30, and that's when Julie and I lost Ruby. Her dog.

Whoops.

It was innocent enough...Ruby wanted to run a little before going to bed. Seems reasonable. Except she ran away. Far away. We don't know where she went, actually. No Ruby. So there we are, at 3am, looking for a dog in the dark, shaking a container of biscuits. I called the Jimmer, who was at the relay just a block away to see if Ruby was walking the track for the cause. His first response "She's not here, did you shake the biscuits?" OMG. Yes...we shook the biscuits. Finally she came home and Julie and I went back to walk the track until about 4am. Long night.

H had a t-ball game at 10am. This is a very early game when you've not gone to sleep until 4. When your old. Like me....the evening's events and my presence were a little too much for a little 3-year-old - because he wanted NOTHING to do with t-ball. nothing. He wouldn't go out onto the field...and when he went into the dugout? He asked his coach if he could lay down on the bench. He hit the ball, which was great, but by the time he got to 3rd he was a hot mess and left the field. Inning number two? Owen had to go out onto the field with him, and even that wasn't enough to keep him out there. He hit the ball again in the second inning, but this time he was done after 1st base. Whoops. I guess a late night and our presence is not a good combination for t-ball.

Went to DQ and the European Market after the game, though I'm not sure what makes it European. It looks like every other farmer's market I've been to, fresh produce, plants, baked goods, artwork, jewelry...and...wait for it...CHEESE. Oh yeah, babies...my personal favorite. Of course I had to buy some.

Then we had my niece's birthday party in the afternoon, and then I went to see Darren, Jon and Laura play for a little while in Valpo. Love seeing them! They took a break not long after I got there so I got to visit with my friends in addition to hearing them play. I didn't get home until after 12. I got to sleep in on Sunday, but I was wiped! Yesterday found me getting all sorts of things accomplished: laundry, running kids to birthday parties, laundry, food prep (yes, Tigger, I browned my ground beef for the freezer!) I also made a big salad for the frig, and grilled some chicken for it...we're having that for dinner tonight! I hard-boiled eggs for said salad and for breakfast if anyone wants one. I boiled some chicken for the chicken and noodles recipe I plan to make this week (thanks to the tigger!) AND I used the BBQ sauce that Tigger gave me on some pork chops last night for dinner. Yummy-friggin-yummy! I highly, HIGHLY recommend the Winking Lizard BBQ sauce. Then I was outside weeding some of my gardens...not finished, but after 2.5 hours of it, I was spent.

And after all this, I still have a clean kitchen, an empty laundry room, my bed MADE (HA, Eileen) and a refrigerator/freezer full of stuff that I can make for dinners - most of which won't take me very long. Hooray!

And this, this is why I'm spent. Exhausted. Done. How was your weekend?
*New Eileen blog if you click on the link on the side!

Happy happy happy birthday....

It's Julia Goolia's birthday, y'all - give it up!!
36 years young and ab fab...

Tonight will be birthday celebrations...hoooray beer!

It's Friday the 13th...are you scared? Are ya? ARE YA?? You know me - killers and all - once it gets dark I'll be scared. But Julie will protect me from Jason (jasonjasonjasonjasonkillkillkillkill).

Lemme bitch about a couple of things.
One - Alex, conveniently enough for all the working moms out there, has soccer practice from 2-4 Tues-Thurs. 2-4. TWO UNTIL FOUR. It's light out until 9pm...we can't have an evening practice? Not once? Gah! I'm making this happen with the help of my hubby, but c'mon people. I guess they just assume that at the high school level, most of the kids are driving themselves? And then next week, they are scrimmaging against Crown Point. At least that's at 5pm.

Two - One of the kids at practice yesterday did drive himself...in a blue corvette. A BLUE CORVETTE. I still have never driven a corvette in my lifetime, and this kid is driving one to soccer practice.

Three - Buying books for private school SUCKS ASS. Because, apparently, and I didn't know this, there is no book RENTAL like public school. You actually buy them. $510 for the year. FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS. Seriously, kill me now. I figure I'll also have $200 out in uniforms and shoes. GAH!

Four - I guess I'm just bitching about Andrean, aren't I?

Five - Football starts in less than a month. We just got the email about weigh-ins...August 18th - first game is August 26th. I cannot believe I'm already putting football dates on my calendar. There is a camp at the high school next week - 3 nights, 2 hours per night. So I guess there is no break after baseball....

What a difference a day makes...

Well, I got some stuff done last night, so I'm not feeling quite so overwhelmed...though I have a long, loooooong way to go.

The good:
Grocery shopping...HOORAY! While my pantry is overflowing, I didn't really have anything to make actual MEALS. This is a problem. I got all the basics and then some - the produce alone was worth the trip. So many things are in season now. I managed to make both egg salad and fruit salad and got all my produce cleaned and ready for use. Tonight I have to get all my meats ready. There's something very satisfying about browning all of my ground meat and freezing it in 1 lb bags so all I have to do is defrost it and I'm ready to make a wide variety of things.

My bathroom is clean! Seriously, it looked like vagabonds had moved in and claimed the space. My husband's bathroom as well...yay sparkling sinks!

My bedroom is vacuumed and dusted AND the sheets changed...crawling into a freshly made bed is the best.feeling.ever. AND I made the bed this morning before I left. I hope this becomes a habit, but we'll see.

My microwave and stove top are no longer embarrassing. Sweet.

My living room is vacuumed and dusted...while it doesn't get much use, it collects dust like nobody's business.

The bad:
The weeds are still a dominant force. Sunday. This is for Sunday.
My closets - well - let's just say I don't even know what's IN half of them. I will take these on one at a time. Hallway, foyer and my bathroom.
The office. Heaven help me it is the catch all for everything. EVERYTHING. It has to stop.
The stack of crap.

I'm giving myself a deadline. All of these things MUST be done before fabulous beach vacation. Because after that we're into football and then school and then the insanity begins again. Think good thoughts for me.

It's over!

Oh HELL yeah! Baseball is done, baseball is done. I wish you all could see me dancing in my chair right now. Baseball is d.o.n.e.done. Hip-hip-hooray!!

I don't even know where to start. I have groceries to buy, laundry to do, a house to clean, gardens to weed, books to read, wine to drink!! Hooray wine!

18 days until my vacation - and yes, it's 18, Jimmer. Because while you didn't think I counted today, I leave and arrive at my destination on the 29th, thus beginning the vacation. So I only have to wait 18 days until I'm sitting on the beach. Especially considering half this day is gone, and I won't check in until half the 29th is gone...soooo as of right now 17 full days and 2 half days before I'm on the beach. Is that exact enough for you??? I stick out my tongue in your general direction. You're just jealous because you're not going. HA!

Feeling stressed today instead of relieved - like now that I have more time I have this list - a looooooong list of chores and tasks that I want to get done. And it all seems like too much. Ever have that feeling?

Heartbreak hotel...

Well - our baseball season is officially over. And I can say that I'm only partially glad to see it go. Well, mostly glad. The boys have been subjected to a slaughter fest, and they are not the slaughterers...they are the slaughterees (did I just make up words? I think so....). It's pitiful. And horrible. And not much fun.

But alas - I have my life back. At least until football starts when we return from fabulous beach vacation, the sequel. 19 days. 19 days until I'm sitting on the beach with drinks in hand. 19 days until I get to go to wineries any day I want. 19 days until I get to spend time with all sorts of family and friends.

The countdown begins.

We are family...

I got all my sisters with me...

Guest blog by our very own Sugar Snap Pea, who had her BIRTHDAY this past weekend...so HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEA!!

Families:

Summer is the time where I tend to spend the most time with my extended family. My extended family includes everyone I am related to that is not my Mother, Father, Sister, or Grandpa. I have recently come to the conclusion that my Mother's side of the family really does not like us (my sister and myself). I went to a GNO with that group (on protest) with my Mom. I went because I knew my mom would not go by herself, and she wanted to go. So Friday night found us with this group (from now on they shall be known as the Bitches). Now, before I tell you what happened Friday night, I have to tell you this. Four years ago, my mom's sister, Aunt Donna, lost her husband. Two years ago, she found herself engaged. My Aunt Donna's counsin (one of the bitches) threw a engagement party for her and Tony. My mom called Cousin to find out the details, and was told that the "girls" (My sister and I) were not invited!!!!! NOT INVITED, not invited to my own Aunt's party. WOW I thought, that is really odd. Then I found out WHO was invited and that just rubbed salt into the wound. We are family, I thought, and half of the people there were not, WTF (BTW the engagment soon broke off. I told my Aunt Donna it did not work because it is bad luck not to have you nieces at the engagment party). So, that year I declined to attend that side of the family reunion. "Screw em" I thought, they want to pick and choose when I am going to be considered family, I will pick and choose when I will show up...NEVER.

So, back to Friday night. We get to the "Bitches" function. My mom wanders off to see an old cousin she had not seen in a while, leaving me to my own. I pop open a beer, and move over to a table, where I spotted my cousin's wife, and the hostess of the party. I get to the table, and say "HI". At that point, my cousin's wife and the HOSTESS OF THE PARTY look at me, don't say a word, and continue talking amongst themselves as if nobody said HI or anything. CRUSHED I TELL YOU, JUST HOPELESSLY CRUSHED. Quickly I made a mental note of everything I could have possible done or said in the last three years since I have seen these two, and nuttin comes to mind. I turn around, take a drink of my beer, and quickly move to the opposite side of the room and saddle up to the corner of the bar closest to the door. I pull out my phone to text Big R that this was exactly the mistake I thought it would be, when the nicest of the "bitches" comes to talk to me, cousin Julie. We have a nice conversation, I got some food, sat next to my mom, and shortly left shortly thereafter and went shopping at Home Depot.

Now, my dad's family reunion is completely the opposite. Big Huges, Kisses, interesting conversation about anything and everything, a huge event that I have not missed in years, and don't intend too. AND, AND, Every year I get invited to the July 4th bash and family reunion of my BFF, and am treated so warmly by the people there, some of which really don't know who I am, but don't care. Perhaps that is the point. Perhaps the people who know me, don't like me (not that that side of the family really know me). Perhaps it is because my mom's side of the family is "light" and my dad's side of the family is "dark" (skin tone, hair color) and I take after my dad. I look like that side of the family, and there really is no trace of the "bitches" side to be found in me (except the bitch part). I feel more a like part of the family when I am with my BFF's family. How weird and wonderful is that? I have no idea how my mom came from such horrible stock, but she certainly did not inheret those traits.

It's funny, when people use the expression, "They treat me like family", in my case, that means, you are treated badly. What are your family stories?

Two post kind of day...

If you've ever wondered why I hate Dubya so much, why my disdain runs so deep, please watch this video from one of my favorite and most famous journalists on television - Keith Olbermann.

Jimmer - you've asked me about my feelings on issues before - and why I feel this way. This commentary sums everything up. I love this country, and everything it stands for, and this man...this horrible excuse for a politician, president and human being, is taking this country that I love and pissing on it.

Please watch: