It was the strangest thing...

Owen came home from school yesterday complaining that his hands were itching, and itching badly. Not the back, the palms. And the top of his feet...which I blamed on the socks. :)

I got home and gave him some liquid benadryl and the itching stopped...but at 10:30pm it was back with a vengeance. His nose was running uncontrollably, eyes were watering, palms were itching and then his eyes started welting up and he got a rash on his nose. It was so weird....

After another dose of benadryl he was finally able to fall asleep after midnight - getting up this morning was rough to say the very least. We have no idea what caused it. He didn't eat or do anything out of the ordinary. I've been emailing his teacher today and she said he seems fine.

???

So what gives. Kevin thinks it's a spider bite reaction...I'm not so convinced. What do you guys think. He's fine today - got up, took a shower...no itching, no swelling. He did get quite a few mosquito bites the other day at practice???

Teenagers suck

You know what? Teenagers suck. I thought I had this nice kid, right? Yeah, notsomuch. He's a moody smartass little shit. I can see his grades online. And in a couple of classes, he's not doing so hot. So I'm trying to help him stay on top of things. The result of this not-so-gentle-nudging? Rolling of the eyes, gritting of the teeth, general malcontent. I hate it. He tells me yesterday that he has a timed essay in English today. And that the teacher gave them examples and ideas and all sorts of stuff so that they can basically do a really great job...IF they prepare. IF they apply themselves.

He didn't even bring his literature book home. He didn't plan on preparing anything. I made him sit down last night and roughly outline what he might write today, so he wouldn't walk in completely unprepared. You would have thought I asked him to copy the dictionary. Seriously? It's not hard. BE PREPARED! You were a Scout once...figure it out.

grrrrrr.

Me & Killer Ray...

I need Julie to come down and start taking decent pictures. It's so hard when the place is kinda dark for my little camera to figure out what to do. Words cannot describe how much fun I was having in this picture.

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!!!