The Rare and Elusive Bearded Hunk

Sophy has wandered around here for the past few days lamenting the fact that "everyone has a man of their dreams, except her." I told her that of course she had a man of her dreams, that is what daddy's are for! To which she replied, "Well, he is a hunk, I'll tell ya that....but if he grew a beard, I'd have to call him my Bearded Hunk!" As with most Conversations With Sophy (feel free to peruse back through the many,) it's usually best to just walk away before you get too deep.
Yesterday's conversation of the day went something like this," Mom, did you know the Rosetta Stone was written in three languages?" I'm thinking Rosetta Stone is a language learning program that Michael Phelps uses when she goes on, "Yep. Hieroglyphics, Demotic, and Greek. I used to speak Greek, but then I mostly forgot how it goes....but I can still write in hieroglyphics."
That conversation led into this one, "Mama did you know my great grandmother lived a 1,000 years ago in the desert of Egypt. I saw her picture once. Her name was Raeve. She was really old. Like, realllly ooo-ooold. She died in a sandstorm trying to find her way home. I miss her." Like I said, it's best to just walk away when you can.
I met a friend for dinner last night while DaddyP and the kids stayed home. We had a good time, and we even went for coffee/hot chocolate afterwards at the bookstore. Seriously a treat. At some point in my purchase of a book, I managed to totally offend the manager of the bookstore by using his "manager voice" to mock him as I spoke to the employee he had just talked down to. The employee; however, thought it was funny, so I guess there is a lesson there in how you can't please everyone. The Grump was all, "Robert. Get over here and check these people out!" in this giant, booming voice of totally unnecessary authority. In Robert's defense, the bookstore was empty and he was stocking a shelf of calendars. So, as he ran (pleaser that he apparently was) around the registers, I boomed at him, "YES ROBERT! YOU BETTER DO AS I SAY!" ((Uhm, oopps, Hello Grumpy Manager Man who is now glaring at me.)) Actually, I sometimes have these out of body experiences where something is coming out of my mouth and my brain is saying, "NNnnooooo...pppllleasee sttooppp nowwww!!" Only it's too late at that point. It's like trying to stop a runaway train or attempting to suck a bullet back into the barrell of a gun. Well, if you ask me, Mr. Manager Pants was just a tad too stuffy, and Mr. Employee Pants needed a laugh. So there ya go. Plus, I had no idea I could do such a spot on imitation of a grumpy boss. When have I ever seen a Grumpy Boss? Gee...hhhmmm... why would a boss ever be grumpy with sweet, innocent, little old me.
Well, if it makes you feel any better it all went downhill from there.
Young Robert called me "M'am," so I had to tell him that it was very insulting to a woman of my age to be m'am'd.
"You see Robert, I'm not old enough yet to appreciate it. And I'm not so much very older than you, although with these gray hairs and crow's feet, I don't blame you for thinking I'm antiquated."
To which Robert innocently suggested, "I could call you Sweetheart?"
(Oh yes, Mr. Manager was really glaring at us now.)
"Oh, that would be great!", I told him.
"Then that'll be $6.89, Sweetheart."
"Much better," I tell him.
As I carried my bag out the door, that cheeky kid shouted to me, "Thanks, Babe!"
Something tells me that Robert may be looking for a job today.
But I bet he's happy.

He'll make someone a great husband one day!

This little guy is currently resting in his daddy's chair while he attempts to recuperate from a rather nasty spill on his brother's Fuzion scooter. Bunged up his shoulder and knee and got a really pretty scrape across his face and mouth. He came in the door bleeding and crying, "I think I broke out all of my teeth!" Thankfully, THANKFULLY all of his teeth are still intact and as crooked as ever!
He spent the morning at my side making Meem a chicken pot pie. He is a very capable helper. What I love most about Sam's brand of helping is that he really and truly helps. This is a trait that he inherited from his father. It's a good thing he has good genes to tap into on that regard. I'm afraid I'm pretty happy to not be the helper sort. Tacky, I know, but there's the awful truth of it. You know my darkest secret now.
My red headed monster will one day be a wonderful husband for some lucky girl...let's just hope she also likes men who are a.) REALLY loud, b.) REALLY bossy, and c.)prone to pinching people on the buttocks.
In a family such as ours, I have no clue how one of our pets has managed to remain as sweet and innocent as the day she was born. This is our sweet girl, Thomas. She is the most long-suffering, patient, and non-violent kitty you will EVER meet. We're not sure how she manages to not shred us all to bits, but we really wuv her a lot. She even helps us with our homework. Once or twice, we've even let her babysit for us.

Thomas says, "It's very hard being the Pinkie's cat. Why, some days I can barely hold my head up!"

Christmas Past

Since the holiday week flew by so quickly, I guess I'll be like The Ghost of Christmas Past and revisit some of those moments in photos!

I took Jack to the Life Center one day to get a swim in. This is the butterfly in action. Even after a few years of trying to capture photos of a fast moving swimmer, I still haven't perfected the art of capturing the moment he comes up before going back down. This is the best pic I could get last week at the pool. The others were pictures of water with Jack long gone from the shot. As I type, PDaddy and Jack are at the LC swimming. Jack got some new swimming gear for Christmas and was ready to try out some of his drills with his fins.

My Sammy. I love this picture even though it, yet again, highlights my inability to use a camera correctly. The train coach was so dark on the Christmas light tour. Sam got pretty still, and I thought for a second he might go to sleep. Then again, Sam's motto is:

You Can Sleep When You're Dead.
She looks like such a big girl in this picture.
Sigh.

The Kitchen

I think I've updated here about my quest to rid my kitchen of it's ugliness. Prior to the holidays, we did talk to a couple of contractors, none of which we liked personally or professionally. We've got several other private contractors to talk to before we nix that direction and go with an avenue like Lowes or Home Depot, which I'd rather avoid. Still, now that the holidays are over, we're back to scratching things off of our To Do List. #1 and #2 are getting the kitchen counter tops and cabinets/appliances checked off and getting the the first of three bathrooms re-tiled...starting with the kid's hall bath.
I'd like to say that #3 is getting rid of our car and getting Mr. New One, but PDaddy is holding out for a long wait. UG! I did go look at a Toureg (did I spell that correctly) the other day, but PD is determined that we will wait to see what the economy does. Why does he have to be so darn sensible? Darn his hide.

We'll start at the beginning...

It's always best to start at the beginning. It started with an eye appointment for myself with all 3 kids in tow. Now that was an interesting experience. The kids were good, Bless Them, but the eye doctor's exam room is the size of a broom closet, so it was like seeing how many people you could stuff in a clown car. Oh, SO MUCH FUN! During the eye exam, I got a return call from our pediatrician from a call I had in to them earlier to inquire about some weird sties styes sty(s) on Jack's eyes. Mr. Eye Doctor was pretty crochety about my being on my cell phone during an exam. Shucks, I hate that for him. Anyway, our pediatrician said that since Jack had the same thing happen in October on one eye that she would like to see him because he had 3 crop up over the weekend, one of which is the size of a pencil eraser. He was in so much pain yesterday, so after my eye exam, off we went to the pediatrician's office. Luckily, our pediatrician group doesn't schedule "well" appointments for Monday's, and there was a seriously low amount of folks in the waiting room...which is ODD since there are 5+ pediatrician's in our group, and Sick Monday is usually a packed house. Our pediatrician was in, and that made me sooo happy. I LOVE our pediatrician. She is so awesome. Anyway, she said that Jack had a bacterial "colonization" (which must mean Jack is the emporer of his own little bacterial colony,) so she prescribed him Bactrim for 10 days to hopefully break the cycle we've got going on. I hope it works because that poor kid has been in so much pain. I've never seen anything like what is on his eyes. Blech! PDaddy was able to then meet me in town to get the kids from me and take them home, so I could get to the hospital in time for my mama's foot surgery-which didn't happen-because they had already taken her back to surgery before I made it there. from start to finish, I think it was about 5 hours of waiting which I guess is about average. I dunno. From the hospital, I went to the pharmacy to pick up her pain meds for tonight and then to my folk's house to help get mama settled. Finally, after that, I drove home in the dark and made it in time to eat the pizza PDad had ordered and to get the kids thrown in the tubs/showers. All I can say about my mom's surgery is that I hope that I seriously didn't inherit her feet. Yeeouch. I'm going to make 2 chicken pot pies tomorrow morning and take one to my mom/dad and help my mom get a sink bath. She can't walk on her foot for 3 weeks, and she is unable to walk on her "good" foot because she had a surgery on it 2 weeks ago. She'll have another surgery in April on the "good" foot. Anyway, yeah. I hope I didn't inherit those feet.
Last night the Pinkie's held the First Annual Wii Off tournament. We challenged each other to a driving course on MarioKart, and PDaddy won. Darn him. The kids have asked for a rematch, so we're about to get it started.
(Omg. Jack just did a drumroll and then farted. Help me. Please.)

A Warm Cozy

Rach and I had a warm cozy today even though the skies threatened rain. We had a bit of brunch and tea in town and a short visit to an Unmentionable Store. Good visit, and PDaddy was nice enough to corral the posse at home while I went. He had pics this afternoon, so I made it home in time for him to make it to his shoot. I came home and started on my long neglected laundry and de-frocking the house of it's Christmas attire. With one more week off, I wanted to spend my days doing things I would enjoy without laundry and Christmas undoings hanging over my head. I'll consider myself caught up tomorrow when I have the rest of the laundry finished. I'm not sure if Piano Girl will come tomorrow or not, but I imagine she will.

My mom has surgery scheduled for Monday at noon, so I'm going to attempt to get my eye appointment that I scheduled before I knew about her surgery out of the way before heading to the hospital later on. Should be an interesting morning with all 3 kids in tow to the eye doctor and then to the hospital. Other than helping my mom out if she needs it, the rest of the week is unscheduled. Not sure of our New Year's plans. DaddyP has work and more work all week, so I'm not sure what's planned for ringing in the new year. Maybe I'll ring it in while I sleep! GREAT IDEA!

Topic Tuesday (on Thursday!)

What can I say? I was in Dallas on Tuesday, but I do have a topic to discuss. So there!
Ok, I really would like some input here. I know I had to bribe all of the good readers of this blog(all 2 of you) with pictures of scantily clad men for the Man Contest of '08 in order to get you to respond; however, I'm hoping to get feedback here without having to stoop to your tawdry level.Ahem. I can't always be hiding behind people in an attempt to snap photos of young, unsuspecting men for your vile purposes. For shame.
So, digital photos. I'm talking about photos of your kids, your pets, your funny moments, etc. Do you share these with friends and family via email? If so, what are your reasons for doing so or for not doing so? Here is the dilemma. Of the 4 million people or so in my email address book, I receive photos (oh so happily) from a regular group. Now, it has occured to me, that the other 3.5 million of folks I have contact with, do NOT send the first photo of their children. Ever. For any occassion. And yet to these same people, I send photos of anything from Sophy painting our cat to Sam covered in mud from head to toe. From graduations to soccer games to swim meets to dance recitals to mud fights and backyard football games. You name it, I snap a photo and send it along. Most folks we know have kids, and yet, I do not receive photos of any shape or form from these people. Yes, I know after 10 years of parenting, you'd think I would've caught onto this little phenomenon before now, but what can I say? I'm on the low end of the learning curve. Honestly, it's like a photo black hole. Can anyone else relate to this? I guess it all started when PDaddy mentioned a person the other day whose child had been involved in a particular event, and I commented, "Oh! I'd love to see that pic!" And I sooo totally would have. I'm not just some random sender who doesn't or wouldn't enjoy someone else's photos. I LOVE photos of other people's kiddos (for example one of a certain GORGEOUS little man wearing a tee that said BABY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS and a gummy grin!! Aahhhh, now THAT was an awesome photo), but I'm turning over a new leaf, I tell ya. I have decided that my future photo mailing list will include only those folks who currently send me photos of their own children. Not for to be mean or nasty, but because now I'm thinking...have they been wishing all along that I'd stop sending photos? For those who know me personally, you know how I can talk (and I mean BLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAH) without the first thought as to my fellow listeners comfort, desires to speak, etc. Is it the same thing only in reverse and with a photo? Are there people on the other end of the computer line thinking, "Would someone please take her camera away?!"
I mean, what is the proper etiquette for such a scenario? Is there etiquette for such? I know, I know. Some of you who have been receiving pics of my kids doing everything and sundry from wearing King Tut head gear, to boxers or Santa hats are probably wishing I had come to this conclusion a few years before now. I know, I know. Slow learner here!
Now don't just sit there.
Respond.
And ff it makes you feel better, do so anonymously....especially if you're on my email list.
HA!

Back Tracking

It's been a crazy week, so I'm just now getting to the Tut photos. We couldn't get Sam to stop knocking on this false Tut in the DMA gift shop. I was wishing so hard for someone to be hiding in that thing to jump out and scare the underpants off of him.
I think the picture says everything you need to know.

The 2nd Annual (or possibly 3rd) Christmas Toy Review

I'm a die hard Amazon review reader and will be leaving reviews for the toys we bought or received this holiday season. Here are our reviews for '08:
Jack:
iPod Nano - We actually got a better deal on this item in the store than purchasing through Amazon. Plus, we also bought the warranty through the store which, hopefully, will cover when it gets flushed down the toilet. If you are of the ilk who thinks that 10 is too young for such an item, please keep in mind that PDad and PMom are in possession of said technological device (as is the story with all of our techno gadgets that are kid oriented) and only allow access in limited intervals. Kid Vote: 5 Stars!
iHome - Just the name cracks me up! I home. Get it? HAHA! Anyway, we got this little gizmo in camo color and bought it based purely on the fact that we knew folks that had one that recommended it. Kid Vote: 5 Stars!
iCoaster - Very nice toy. Seems to be capable of assembly without engineering degree. We've owned various different types of marble runs throughout the last 10 years, and this seems to be a decent big kid version. We purchased this item on Black Monday through Amazon. Free shipping + a serious discount = happy customers! Drawback: it doesn't glow which we thought it did. It doesn't claim to glow, so I guess I can't fault Magnetix; however, it does SEEM to glow in the pictures. And heck, it would just be plain, 'ol cool if it did glow. For that reason, we give it 4.5 stars! (Note: It will glow under a black light...but then again, so would I.)
Fuzion Electron Scooter - As with most of Jack's toys this year, we were seriously looking to upgrade to bigger kid version of some favorites we've enjoyed for the last 5 years or so. We have loved the Razor Scooter, but after several years of use, we were ready for a change. We can't attest to it's durability (which is hard to beat with a Razor), but it seems to be seriously agile and fast. We purchased this on Amazon also for $49.99 (which it is still listed as) with free shipping. At some stores, it is still listed as $90 or so. Kid Vote: 5 Stars!
Air Hogs Havoc R/C Heli - Ah, well. Into everyone's Christmas a little tears must fall. The boys begged for the helicopters. The reviews were mixed, but on Black Monday (Amazon), we got each boy one for $14 or so. In theory, they're awesome. They really do fly indoors, they really are zippy and awesome; however, they really are HARD to fly and are NOT durable. One of the helicopters that we bought will not charge which was the cause of some sad Christmas moments this a.m. Now, having said that, they're so darned fun to fly and watch that you almost forget that your heart is breaking with each little whirl of it's blade. The charge lasts for just a few minutes, but those few minutes are wonderful. Picture a remote control dragonfly zipping through your house. It's cool, no doubt. Still, it'd be nice if it...I don't know...worked. Kid Vote: 5 Stars! Mom Vote: 2.
Sam:
Mega Rig Space Shuttle - Sam played with this thing for 4 hours this morning. We also got the launcher that went with it. Seriously, seriously a good buy. Very well made, and get this...the alien's space ship makes the most awesome Jetson spaceship noises, and it came with batteries. In it. Included. In it. Yeah, I know! We got this item from Amazon on Black Monday for half of what it is listed for now, along with free shipping. Kid Vote: 5!
Transforming Wall-e - Sam is all about Wall-e these days. This toy is small, but it is the only thing he asked for specifically this Christmas. I couldn't find it anywhere, and I actually got his on Ebay for WAY less than anything shown here. He likes it, but I couldn't get over how small it was compared to how big I thought it would be. It does make a cube, which was VERY IMPORTANT for some reason, and Sam absolutely loves it. I caught him talking to it several times today which concerned me. Kid Vote: 5! Mom Vote: 3.5.
Hyper Jump - This game is a bit dinky, but it really keeps you hopping. I'm worried about how long it will last given that you have to step on, pound on, punch, slap, or WHAM the numbered/colored pods. It sort of reminds me of the Simon Says game from back in the day, only with this game, you have to move. It certainly gets your brain juices pumping. Basically, I stink at it. Jack and Sam both liked the game, but my word, it's tricky...which is quite a lot to ask of a kid on Christmas morning. Kid Vote: 3.5, Mom Vote: 4.5!
Lego R/C Car - Sam can build anything, and I'm not kidding. He's a whiz, for real. He received this from a family member, and he really, really liked it. I'm not sure if they paid this price, but I don't think so. Actually, I think his may have been a slightly different version. Either way, it's Legos with a twist, which is cool for us. Kid Vote: 5. Mom Vote: Depends on who had to pay for it.
Sophy:
Hello Kitty - We love Hello Kitty. We love Build-A-Bear. What could be better than to put them togehter? Cute. Cute. Cute. Santa brought this and a nice stash of outfits for the kitty. Kid Vote: 5.
Fur Real Kitty Cat - This was on Sophy's wish list last year, but we couldn't find one in time. This year I just happen to stumble upon one without really looking for it. This cat is really something. When you stroke it's head, she nuzzles you and purrs. When you rub her back, she lays down and kneads her paws. When you pull her tail, she hisses and YEOWS (guess how many times Sam pulled it's tail today?) The cat senses motion and tracks you as you walk nearby, blinks, bends her ears to follow a sound, blinks, makes facial expressions, etc. Kid Vote: 5 for sure!
Tinkerbell - The fairies and the playset came from Santa. The cool thing is that the fairies and their pets attach to a wand which flaps their wings giving the appearance of flight. The bad thing is that something they attach to the wand and other times they don't. Overall, it's a great set, but she loves Tinkerbell...so how could you go wrong? Still, it could be improved upon. Plus, it only comes with Tinkerbell. The other fairies are sold separately. Kid Vote: 4 (due to frustration over the fairies falling off the wand)

The stockings are hung..

The reindeer food has been tossed from one acre to another, the Christmas breakfast is ready to start cooking, and the mom and dadster are ready for bed now that it is very near midnight. We sincerely hope that Sophy doesn't make good on her promise for tonight to "turn into a nocturnal creature," so she can "do her song and dance routine" that she made up for "the big guy." I tried to explain to her that Santa would be here only for a matter of seconds because he uses a fair amount of magic to poof in and out in order to get around the world overnight....to which she pleaded, "C'mon Mom, all I'm asking for is 10 minutes of his time!" We had to agree that if she didn't get to perform tonight, we would video her little extravaganza to send to him via email. That seemed to appease her.
Sam asked a million questions today. They went something like this...mostly reindeer fixated:
Why do I have to go to bed, but you and dad get to stay up? Santa won't come with you two sitting in the living room either.
Do reindeer like to be hugged?
Does Santa have any pets?
Do reindeer get training?
What are the games that reindeer like to play?
What if I accidentally sleep walk into the living room before morning? What will happen?
Does Mrs. Santa have any kids?
What does Santa do if he shows up and there are no cookies? What does he give you then?
Jack, almost non-Santa believing 10.5 year old that he is, was Mr. Laidback all evening. While he mostly still believes, he wasn't as hung up on Santa this year as with other years. Maybe he's just being a good guy and playing along so as not to break his mama's heart? I don't think so...that will be next year, I'm sure. He did get awfully excited tonight when the Santa Tracker came on television and the radar showed Santa to be passing over Florida.....with Jack's iPod in the goodie bag.
So, we're off to bed....only to rise in a few short hours. That is, unless we are jostled out of bed earlier by a rousing song and dance routine.

Cookies

I typed this up a week or so ago to save and post "later." As usual, I forgot to share it when "later" got here. This is a simple, light, tasty, tasty, cookie recipe that you can change and add what you want. For example, the lemon cake mix version of this cookie is to die for! For Santa, we're using a vanilla cake mix and adding chocolate chips. Without further delay, this is the recipe for cookies that we are making Santa this year. We're also leaving him a shrimp cocktail, a crescent roll baked with bacon, tomatoes, and cream cheese inside, and a cup of coffee. We think it's what he would want.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix together: 2 eggs, 1 cake mix, 1 regular sized container of Cool Whip.
• Chill the mixture for about half an hour in the fridge. It will be easier to work with.
• Drop in spoonfuls (not too big, not too small) on cookie sheet.
• Bake for 12-16 minutes (You'll want to check them often because these tend to make a fat, soft cookie. You don't want to turn them into bricks, but you also don't want them too gooey in the center. I tend to cook mine closer to 16 minutes. They will be soft to the touch even when they're done. Once you find the cosistency you like, just make a note of how long they cooked. It's a hinky process.)
• After removing them from the oven, let them sit for a minute or so before setting them out on waxed paper or a cup towel.
• Sift a sprinkle of powdered sugar onto the top of the cookies.
• Eat 7 or 8 of them.
• The End!

Glad Tidings!

May your holiday be determined and focused.....

with an insane amount of good memories.....

a gathering of those you love (even if some are scowling).....

and warm toes and a snuggly Christmas Day......and the happiest 2009!

Going to the Big D

We'll leave sometime tomorrow for Dallas, and it can't come a moment too soon. Sophy is in full Egyptian mode, and she is convinced that she will ice skate at the Galleria just like "the Egyptians ice skated." Uhm, hhhhm. Did they now?
I spent most of today finishing up shopping with Meem, and we got to have lunch at the tea room which was tasty, as always. I had a new tea, Windsor Castle, which was really good....so I bought some to enjoy in the comfort of my own home. Hehe. The rest of the evening I spent wrapping presents while PDaddy was at a wedding.
I'll update from the hotel if time permits. Otherwise, talk to ya later taters!
((PS!! Hello to Colin who is visiting Ang from England! May Texas, Leonard, and The Ernestine fill him with as much glee as humanly possible! Merry Texas to him!))

Today's Happenings

The field trip with 20 sixth graders to the nursing home was such a pleasant surprise. I knew the group that I was taking would not be any trouble, but I was unsure as to how they would react to the residents. After all, we're talking about 11-12 year olds. What I saw did my heart good. Made me have hope for the future. The only direction I gave the kids as we went in was to treat them as if they were their own grandparents, to say yes m'am and no m'am/sir, to remember that they were old but not stupid, and to speak loud enough to be heard. When it came time to leave, I found one of my Hispanic boys sitting and holding hands while listening intently to a 101 year old grandma tell him about the Christmas where she received an orange, an apple, and a few walnuts in her daddy's black stocking that was hung on the fireplace. 2 other boys were in a deep conversation with a 99 year old man about how football used to be a "real game." I wish you could've heard what these kids told the other kids when we arrived back on campus. "We had so much fun! My grandma was cool! Did she tell you about her first car?" Priceless.
I also was able to pop into Sam's class to help with the gingerbread house construction zone. WOW! Talk about a high energy activity! Totally cute. With the Christmas music blaring and the 2nd grade chatter going 90 mph, let's just say I thought teaching middle school was WILD! Wow.

Topic Tuesday (dramatic pause) on Tuesday!!!

This week's topic: PDaddy. Due to last week's apple rant, I figured I should tone down this TT. Yes, it would seem that I rattle on and on incessantly at this here bloggy-blog and never really quite do justice for one of Pinkieville's main characters. You may or may not know the man, but let me tell you 20 facts about Sir Pink A Lot:
1. He would not approve of being called Sir Pink A Lot.
2. He is every wife's dream husband. He cooks, he cleans, he mows, he changes the oil. When the kids were babies, he could change Sam's diaper with his feet while giving Sophy a bottle. 'Cause, as you may recall, Sam was 2 minutes old when Sophy was born. I exaggerate only slightly.
3. On his death bed, he will ask to use his grill one last time before going on to his Eternal Reward.
4. He drives like a 99 year old man. All accelerator and no brake! I'm talking scary people! Scary!
5. One of his hobbies is ending up in the E.R. For instance, this little event was fun. Of course, I think my personal favorite was the night we spent in the E.R. because the cat broke a vase which shattered and flew across the kitchen and sliced across his forearm leaving a really nasty scar, which caused the lady admitting us to the E.R. to inquire as to the 'real reason' his wrists were slashed. HAHA! Life just got to be too much, I guess. HA!
6. No one on Planet Earth is sweeter than Mr. PDad. Mr. Considerate, Mr. Thoughtful, Mr. Helpful, Mr. Wonderful. Yes, all of these things. I know what you're thinking....and no, I will NOT take lessons from him.
7. PDaddy is one year and 8 days older than me, and I will never let him forget it.
8. Favorite food: Coffee
9. A little known fact about DaddyP is that you can always count on him to test the weight limit of the kid's toys, ride the fastest water slide, jump on the rickety-est trampoline, drive the hooptiest go-cart....ride an inner tube across a lake just a few days after having a metal plate screwed permanently into his collar bone.
10. He talks to animals. I wish this meant that he was like the Dog Whisperer, but no. He just talks to them, and I think he waits for an answer.
11. He grew up in Louisiana.
12. DaddyP loves to eat a lemon AND it's rine. How do you spell rind? Rine? I'm having a weird blank moment. Moving on....
13. PDaddy has one dear sister. Bless her poor, sweet heart for that!
14. He is crazily, crazily anal. It took me years to stop him from taking my plate from the table while I was still eating off of it. People ask how I stay so trim...well, there ya go. Obviously, I broke him of that habit, as my thighs and hips will attest.
15. He couldn't wait for the day his hair started thinning, so he could start shaving his head.
16. Speaking of body hair, he has 2 entire hairs in each of his arm pits. Ask him. He'll show you.
17. Most people that meet me first, and meet Daddy P later, usually go out of their way to say to me, "I met your husband (expression of disbelief), and he is sooo nice!"
18. Mr. PD can lay tile, build a tree fort, install a window, fix a hot water heater, and make a mean omelet.
19. He loves Dave Matthews. I. Don't. Get. It.
20. For some strange reason, despite all of these wonderful things, he still loves me. Amazing, I know!

Toothless Wonder

I used to keep a yearly tooth count of the # lost each year. This year it proved to be too much for me. At any rate, Sophy lost 2 this week, and that has got to round out a Personal Best for her for 2008 with a whopping total of 5 teeth lost this year. Jack is still in the lead with 7 lost this year, 4 of which he pulled at one time. Impressive, huh? Sam, on quite the contrary, still has teeth locked down as tight as ticks in his mouth that he technically should've lost last year. Sophy is getting big teeth in places that Sam hasn't even lost teeth.
We're reading Junie B. Toothless Wonder this week. Very fitting.

Jack, Sam, Sophy

The latest Jack favs:

Food: Cheese Pizza & Mac N' Cheese

TV Show: Destroyed in Seconds

Car: Ford Mustang (and can he please have one when he turns 16?)

Book: Captain Underpants & the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopy Pants tied for first with Captain Underpants & the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part I The Night of the Nasty Nostril Nuggets

Hobbies: Reading train magazines, playing cards, swim team, eating

Randomness: 4'11 and a half...he is now officially an inch and a half taller than Aunt Jewel.

The latest Sam favs:

Food: BBQ anything, beans, shrimp and hot sauce

TV Show: Max & Ruby

Car: The trash truck

Book: All of the Biscuit stories

Hobbies: building things, learning the piano, and learning to drive the mule

Randomness: Sam still sleeps with Happy and Slappy, our spotted Dalmatian friends from babyhood that have traveled every mile he has traveled.

The latest Sophy favs:

Food: Green Beans and Brownies

TV Show: Anything with Barbie in it

Car: do rollerskates count (?) because that girl is a rollerskating whiz

Book: Junie B. series (mom & dad love them as much as Soph...we laugh....)

Hobbies: cartwheels, splits, developing her own hieroglyph code (I wish I was kidding)

Randomness: the heiroglyphs weren't random enough for ya?

Last Monday

I really didn't intend to update today, but once I realized that today was THE LAST MONDAY that I would have to work for 2008, well...how could I not? HOORRAY!
As I type, the cat is head butting me for some affection, a pot of chili is bubbling on the stove, a fire is in the fireplace (hello, it's like 29 degrees outside), bread is in the oven, PDaddy is getting the massage that I got him for Christmas last year, and 2/3 of the kids are in some form of shower/bath. Sam has complained of tummy pains for the last few days, and he is laid up in DaddyP's recliner with an afghan. Not sure what is wrong with him. ((PDad just called to let me know he was on his way home, and he could barely form words. Apparently, the massage did the job.))
Last but not least, a big, 'ol CONGRATULATIONS to my sweet, long-time and far away (well, at least--what--13 hours??) sis-friend, Tristin, for passing Part I of the Santa Fe Fire Dpt. exam!! Fingers crossed for Part II on Friday! EEK!! XOXOXO

Dear Santa,

Forgot to mention ONE LITTLE THING!
(I have it on pretty good authority that Santa has decided what I'm getting for Christmas! Check this little diddy out. We've seen a couple of these out and about lately, and I am EXCITED to get my hands on one!!)

Rail of Lights

Hooray! I finally remembered to call and get our tickets for the Rail of Lights tour in Jefferson this Friday night! Instead of letting the kids in on the info, we're just going to surprise them. Jack will be especially happy as he is a rail nut of the highest order. We really thought it was something he would outgrow with Thomas the Tank Engine, but he is a life-long, die-hard train lover, I guess! Meem and Pop are going with us. It is supposed to be super nasty and cold this Friday (the entire week for that matter,) so I got tickets for the enclosed car which is better anyway because it's decorated for Christmas. Can't wait! It will be a treat to look forward to with this last INSANE week of school to push through.
I was pretty bummed about not getting tickets to see the Rockettes Radio show in Shreveport. I hope they come back next year. Just too much fun stuff going on to do it all. I've never seen the Rockettes. Sniff. Sniff.
Loads of school things on the calendar this week, both for my classes and for the Pinkie 3. I have to take 6th graders on TWO field trips (one to a nursing home to deliver toiletry goodies in Santa bags and another to see Despereaux-which we are finishing this week!) Sophy has a book parade and Christmas party on Thursday, and I have to help Sam's class decorate gingerbread houses that day. Tomorrow we have a county judge coming to do a mock court demonstration for/with the students, and Tuesday I have to speak at an awards breakfast for a 6th grade student as well as travel to the nursing home with 20 of my students. Friday will be our trip with 60+ students to see Despereaux (I CANT WAIT!), and then we get out at one o'clock!! HHHOOOHOOO!!!
I may not be around much this week, but I'll update when I can! We leave a week from today for King Tut! Sophy is brushing up on her "walking like an Egytpian." I can't wait to see her face when she sees the Golden Boy!
PS Turns out that I can make a very substantial, legitimately from scratch, and wonderful to the tastebuds pot (and by pot I mean industrial size) of gumbo. Who knew? Wow. Wow. And wow again.

New Music

I know you'll be heart broken that the automatic shuffle has been turned off of the Playlist feature. The BeeGees and The Jeffersons are taking a break. In their place, I have some easy listening Christmas music for your listening pleasure. Don't worry good citizens of the world. Heehaw will be back soon, or you can just sort through the music to find it if you like....but something tells me you're not going to do that!

Feliz Navidad!

New Music

I know you'll be heart broken the automatic shuffle has been turned off of the Playlist feature. The BeeGees and The Jeffersons are taking a break. In their place, I have some easy listening Christmas music for your listening pleasure. Don't worry good citizens of the world. Heehaw will be back soon, or you can just sort through the music to find it if you like....but something tells me you're not going to do that!
Feliz Navidad!

New Theme Park

I heard about this place (watch the clip) today at the beauty shop, but didn't catch the name of it. Took me a good bit of googling once I got home because production isn't very public yet, maybe plans fell through? It's called Coolzone Winterplex and is to be built in Dallas this year, so says a couple of articles I read. Not sure if it's being built or what.
They mention in this little clip that most snowboarders/skiiers in Colorado are from Texas which I didn't know, and would've never thought. But now the other article that I just read while searching makes sense. It was a very nasty article from a Colorado based resort's employee's blog that said that they wished this would go through and be built so "all of the Texans coming to Colorado would stay home" because the good folks of Colorado were, apparently, tired of Texans being there. Hahaa. Uh, okay. Nice to know how you really feel. HAHAHA!
I'm not much of snow enthusiast, so they don't have to worry about this Texan on a Texas slope OR a Colorado one. You can be cold when you're dead, is what I think. And I don't plan on being cold and dead a minute before I have to be. I think the Winterplex will use that snow that doesn't melt stuff that the folks sell at the mall.
Gotta go make some chicken and sausage gumbo and a cake!
Happy Birthday (a day late - is there any other way for me?) to Cousin C!! Hope the party went well today!

Questions that need answering?

All from Sophy, of course, in the last 24 hours:

• If I was a tarantula, what would you do with me? (tears starting to fall) Would you kill me? (now she's really upset) Would you love me if I turned into a tarantula? (the drama is in full force now) I DON'T WANT TO TURN INTO A TARANTULA!
• Why can't I have a pet fire ant?
• Did you know that in the jungles of Indonesia there are aphids that poop honey dew?
• Aren't you glad that I am carnivorous?
• Why does this dress look so hideous?
• Can cows swim underwater?
• How do angels fly with those little bitty wings?
• Can you zoom the camera real close, so you can get a good shot of my DNA? I've been dying to see it.

11 Days until WHAT?

Have you ever had one of those moments where you realize something that everyone else has known for a while? EEK!

Relocation

PDaddy and I are toying more and more with the idea of relocating. My job is such that I can pretty much do it anywhere we would decide to live, and PDaddy has his eye on some areas that would lend themselves more to a photography based business. Most of the areas would mean us moving 6-7 hours in a different direction than we do now. Another reason that spurs us on, is that we want more of a small community that has a small, hometown feel but without being a mecca for what small towns can accumulate. I am not sure of the likelihood of this move in the next year or two, but I do know that it has come up a lot...and PDaddy and I are pretty spastic that way. As we've talked and discussed, I have been surprised to hear that DaddyP is as onboard as I am with keeping this option open in the coming years. I lived in a several different (polar opposite) cultural/locales growing up, and I am very thankful for that. Bottom line is that I really don't see us living in the area we live in for the rest of our child rearing/school age years. East Texas is nice, but I could love living somewhere a bit more Texas, if you know what I mean. Things to think about. Doors to leave open. Options to keep on the table. Things that make ya go hhhmmmm.

This week, the next, and the one after that.

This weekend is shaping up to be fairly uneventful. With nothing but a hair cut and color on the books, the kids and I will just be chilling. PDaddy has a corporate Christmas party to shoot tonight at the University Club in downtown Shreveport. Yeah, don't remind me that I was the hired help for this shin dig, but I bailed on him at the last minute. Luckily, he has a helper that will be there. After 40+ hours of 120 6th and 7th graders each day, I just really didn't think it would be good for his business to turn me loose on a crowd of festive party-goers. Chancers are I'd either be too festive with them, or decidedly NOT festive. SO! I've opted to stay home with the kids. We're going to have movie night and make sugar cookies after supper & bath. Oh, and I'm going to whip up a batch of Chex Almond Mix that I finally found the recipe for. I am NOT a Chex fan, but this stuff is addictive. The last time I was near a bowl of it, I ate myself sick. It's very sweet and sticky, and oh my word good. Let's see...Saturday and Sunday should be spent wrapping some gifts, but I think I'll save that for December 23rd. That is when I do my best work.
I "volunteered" to help next week when Sam's class constructs gingerbread houses. OY! Sophy has a book parade where she has to dress up like a character from her favorite book and design a large book cover from that book to carry around during the parade. She decided on a story that has a gull and a crane (the bird) in it. I know, right. A crane? Way to choose something easy, Soph! I'm trying like the dickens to convince her to be one of the other characters from the story, but she isn't buying what I'm sellng. SHOOT!
Friday is an early release day, and then we head out to Dallas next weekend for King Tut and ice skating and a smidge of shopping. We'll be home on the evening of the 23rd. Just in time to wrap presents and get Santa in order. My mom is having foot surgery a few days after Christmas, so I'll be on hand to help out with the recoop after that. Then the following weekend, we wil be going to Natchitoches for our anniversary. And by that I mean, PDaddy has a wedding to shoot in Natchitoches, so we decided to stay here and make a weekend of it. I've never actually been to Natchitoches, so it should be a fast & neat little trip. We'll line up some little diddies while we're there to see/do, and PDaddy has some friends there that want to meet up with us. We shall see.
I'm off to help Sophy cook supper! Toodles~

Let's make a deal.

From deep within the walls of Pinkie Manor today, I heard the following conversation (names have been omitted to protect the deranged innocent.)

"I'll make you a deal. I'll give you all of my tooth fairy money if you'll sniff my armpit."

We have sunk to a new and disturbing low. It was bound to happen.

What teachers really think of apples.

While I'm in Topic Tuesday on Wednesday mode, and while you're out shopping for the first thing on the discount shelf you can find to appease the teacher gift guilt currently festering in your mind, let me tell you what your child's teacher really thinks of apples.
Being in my 11th year of crowd control teaching, I have received my fair share of apple notepads, pencils with apple erasers, chalk holders shaped like apples, apple candles, apple socks, apple mousepads, apple shampoo, apple lotion, apples dipped in chocolate (these were actually pretty good), apple photo frames, and apple underwear. You get the idea. While these gifts are aggrivating thoughtful, let me just say for the sake of any teacher that you might possibly buy a gift for this season or any other, please remember that your devil angel isn't the only one in said teacher's class. So while your apple-shaped earrings may be as cute as 10 ladybugs, please keep in mind that your child's teacher could possibly receive anywhere from 25 - 120 apple encrusted items--depending on the size of the class. In my case, I teach 120 kids every day. Imagine if only half of them brought me a Christmas gift bearing some form of an apple. YIKES! You can see the potential for some serious applephobia to develop. (Don't even get me started on the gifts bearing ABC/123 on them....) Though I reserve the right to claim that this is my opinion and my opinion alone, I feel qualified to quibble and request, on behalf of teachers the world over, that you reconsider all future apple purchases.
I was asked recently by a friend what I would recommend for a teacher's Christmas gift that would be useful and inexpensive that she could give to her daughter's teacher this Christmas.
Gee! Funny you should ask because BOY, do I have ideas!
Here are 10:
1. Cheap tupperware type container with lid holding assorted Post-It notes, colored pens, or Sharpies. The container can be used empty when the goodies are long gone.
2. Sonic gift card. Who doesn't like to whiz into Sonic during Happy Hour for a Rt. 44!!
3. #2 yellow pencils are a teacher's friend. Kids are constantly losing their pencils or not having any. A good stash of yellow pencils never hurt anybody. Well, except that one kid that got stabbed with one yesterday. He got hurt...but besides him, hardly anybody else.
4. Any elementary teacher would appreciate stamps and ink pad, stickers, and trinkets for their treasure chest if the class has one, which two-thirds of my children's teachers do.
5. If you're the cooking type, tell the teacher a specific day that you plan on providing her lunch during her lunch time. Just keep in mind that your child's teacher has about 20 minutes to eat and do her token One Trip to Bathroom For The Day, so be certain that you have the meal there on time and can be eaten relatively quickly. I once had a mom do this, and it was really nice! Just a really nice sandwich, a small cup of soup or salad, a brownie--Ta-Da! Happy Teacher!
6. What about a plant if the the class has a window?
7. Or a nice rose bush for the teacher's garden at home?
8. Think small. A bottle of water or soda, some snack crackers or trail mix, and a pack of gum. Teachers get the munchies too. This way, we won't have to beat up a kid to steal their's. Er, I mean. Hypothetically.
9. Teachers are, at least at the middle school level, leary of eating homemade treats and goodies (unless we know the parent EXTREMELY well), so when in doubt, try to buy small things that are prepackaged. It sounds harsh, but our's is a harsh world. Show me a middle school teacher, and I'll show you somebody who doesn't let a SOUL stand behind them. Anywhere. Ever. If we could afford Secret Service Security, we'd have it.
10. A travel sized umbrella, a pretty winter scarf, a pair of gloves. Yes, to all of these--unless they have apples on them. Sorry, weren't you listening? Pay attention or there'll be detention in your future.
Look. The bottom line is this. Unless you're dealing with a teacher who wanted to retire 4 years ago but couldn't because her teacher retirement won't cover her medication that helps with her nervous tick she developed in year #16, your child's teacher is teaching because she wants to be. It certainly isn't for the pay, and if you want to not have your nose bloodied, don't insinuate that it is because we get "3 months off"..'cause yeah. Uh. No. So, if your child has a teacher who cares, gets to school early, stays at school late, seems to give a darn in general, leave the apples at the orchard, uh?
Should I look the proverbial gift horse in the mouth?
Well, horse's do like apples, right?
Don't answer that.

Topic Tuesday (a day late)

I typed this earlier and saved it without publishing it. Der. Without further delay (You were praying for a delay, weren't you?):
Common Courtesy:
There are little acts of common courtesy paid to another person that are easy to not pass along to another generation. I think we have, as a society, let common courtesies fall by the wayside. I'm not necessarily talking about table manners and the like. Most would agree that I have the table manners of a clod. Maybe this falls in line with the talking to strangers bit, but in public, I think there is little to compare to being nice to folks. With the holidays so close around the corner, how about starting your resolution list a bit early? For instance:

• Opening doors for people. Do it.
• How about not smoking in public? How about if you're being a sweetie and lighting up outside, you do it more than 1 step outside of a common doorway. Do it--just do it farther away.
• Say hello to people you meet. This drives me crazy when two people (and one of them is me) pass in a hallway, and person A refuses to acknowlege the existence of person B. Say hello because it's nice to do.
• Wave to people who let you cut in traffic EVERY TIME. Do it.
• No matter where you work, talk to the janitor! I learned very early on, the most important alliance a teacher can make is not with the principal, but with the janitors. Their job is harder than you imagine no matter where they work, so say hello to them! If possible, say more than hello to them. I like to go sit in the cafeteria with our janitor ladies and laugh at their dirty jokes. Not that you have to go that far. If it's your school's custodian, chances are they have cleaned up, at some point in time, your child's vomit....or that of another student so your child didn't have to look at it. Say hello.
• For Corn's Sake, flush the toilet EVERY TIME you use it. Without fail. Do it.
• If you and another person are after the very last cookie, do not eat it. NEVER EAT THE LAST ITEM. There is another person who will, without delay, have their eye on it. It probably means more to them than to you.
• Do not have a loud conversation on any phone. It's annoying. And trust me, I know annoying. On many levels.
• Take off your hat at events. Indoors. Especially during The Pledge and National Anthem. A lot of men and women gave their lives, so you can say it. And while we're at it, put your hand over your heart. That's what my daddy always said.
• Do not allow your children to text during church. Or glance at their phone. Or have their phone in their hand. Heck, leave it in the car! God said so.
• Please don't pout. It's not pretty, and most people don't care.
• It is your job to tell a close friend or family member if A.) they are sporting a boogie or some other such atrocity, B.)they need to be warned of an upcoming family event or calendar date that they are likely to forget, or C.) has their skirt tucked into their panties.
• Don't hug everyone you know. Some folks aren't huggers. If they want a hug; however, and it's blatantly obvious, you should oblige them. Given of course that it isn't a stranger. Do not hug strangers....even I don't condone this.
• Teach your children to respect their teachers and coaches without exception.
• And this is sensitive, so it will be my last point...but please....Sweet Mother of Abraham Lincoln, please....don't do #2 in public if at all possible. Can't these things wait people? Eh? I rest my case.

Next week, I promise not to harp or lecture during Topic Tuesday; however, I can not promise not to mention #2. And Sar, I mean the REAL #2. ((School funny: I have a very crass, gotta love him, 7th grade boy who always says, "Can I go to the restroom? I've gotta go do #5." It's not funny. At all (sucking in my cheeks.) Most importantly, he should wait until he gets home.))

A Sophy Moment (guest starring Sam)

Sophy: Mama, did you know that way back a long time ago in the old ancient Egyptian civilization there were grave robbers that took all the treasures of the king out of the pyramid, but know what? I wouldn't have called them grave robbers. Know what I would've called them? I would've called them Ancient Banditos...'cause that would've been awesome!
Sam: Sophy, you don't know what you're talking about!
Sophy: Sam! I do speak ancient Egyptian. Watch! (here she started dancing like The Bangles doing Walk Like an Egyptian.)
Sophy: See? That means all kind of words!
Sam: Uh, Sophy. You're just walking like a chicken. That doesn't mean anything!
Sophy: Well, when I go to ancient Egyptian (hehe-that's what she called it) then you can't come. 'Cause you won't know what to say. Hmph. And then guess what. They'll just turn you into a statue of a cat. So there.

Nutcrackering

Tonight was the Shreveport Metro Nutcracker. It was lovely as always, but we missed seeing it with CousinE. Sophy complained very frequently during today's performance that what she really wished she was seeing was Swan Lake. Sounds good to me, so I'm on the lookout. We've never seen Swan Lake, and she has the soundtrack of some philharmonic performance of it and loves the music. Maybe it will turn up somewhere! While we Nutcrackered, PDaddy took the boys ice skating down on the square. I was sad to miss that, but we'll get more in when we go see Tut.
Here are Sophy and friend Kaley with some fluffy gals. These were Kaley's favorite dancers.
Kaley called this "half-time." The girls put on a little puppet show to pass the intermission minutes.
'Twas a great show! We had 2 friends in this year's performance. Both girls were soldiers, so we had quite a time looking for them amongst the dancers. I think we only found one of them. The pic below is of the featured dancers from the San Fran Ballet company. The male dancer was a bit better, I think, than those we've seen in previous years. He was quite the leaper. Uhm, I just typed leper. (Hehe, As far as I know, he was not a leper.) The ballerina's name; however, was pronounced Tit. I know. Right? I think I'd rather be a leper. At least that is cured with an antibiotic.
The week ahead is pretty average in Pinkieville. The guys are getting up early in the a.m. to swim before school. Jack has some new drills he is working on, so he's chomping at the bit to practice them. Tuesday is gym night, and Friday night I'm "working" with PDaddy to shoot a big corporate Christmas party in Shreveport. I'm not much good at being a hired hand, so he may be better off alone. Oh well, I've heard that the catering is phenom. That's all I need to hear.

Shop 'til you want to strangle someonedrop!

PDaddy and I made it to town early enough to hit Toys R Us (oh, you know how fun that place is) before the crowds hit. Luckily, TRUs opens up pretty early during the Saturdays in December, so we had our list finished and paid for by the time the crazy people were showing up. We found pretty much all we were looking for, which wasn't much, considering that we bought most of our gifts online Black Monday (Amazon was having crazy sales and FREE shipping--and we received all of it within 48 hours. How crazy is that?) Anyway, we did get Jack an IPod. We debated back and forth, but he really loves songs/music, and it's something that he will really get to use a lot during swim season while we spend lots of time waiting at swim meets. Plus, we got him an ICoaster, and that little contraption hooks up to the IPod. Can I just say right now that I am already missing the years of having little kids that A.) Didn't care what they got for Christmas and were just ecstatic that something had wrapping paper on it, and B.) Were made happy with toy trains and blocks. Those days are quickly morphing into, "Gee, I really want a Wii, an Ipod, games for my Nintendo DS, and oh, while you're at it, I'd like a flat screen TV for my room and my very own Mustang GT to drive when I'm 16." Oy! Know what I like about me? The fact that purchasing more than one thing on that list isn't likely. Ha!
Where was I? After TRUs, PDaddy kicked me to the curb at the mall while he went to take engagement photos in town. I picked up all of the gifts that were on his Dear Santa letter (you think I'm kidding), hit Claire's to pick up Sophy some hair accessories, necklaces, etc. and to use the $20 off (uh-huh) coupon for there that I had. Got a few gifts wrapped up at Dillards just in time for PDaddy to phone and say he was waiting in the parking lot, so off we whisked to Best Buy to look for some things, Target to pick up some things, the jewelry store to order Sophy a necklace and to have my rings cleaned and to drool over the ruby ring that I want that costs $8,000. Haha, yeah. That's not a likely purchase anytime soon or ever . PDaddy wanted to get the pups a few things at Pet Smart, so we went and played with animal shelter pets that were there trying to find new homes, the 14 dogs that were there with their owners buying puppy goodies, and one ferret that was riding in some woman's purse. Gee, what a great aroma her purse must have. YIKES! I fell in love with a black and white border collie named Sophie that was the sweetest little girl in need of a rescue, but alas, no such doggie for the Pinkie house, but oh was she sweet. Sniff, sniff.
We stopped for lunch at Carrabas, headed to Dick's (straight face) for a giftie and Jack some swim flippers, JCPenney's for a gift card, and the book store for a gift card and some gifts for my CousinS and Jack. Oh, did I forget to mention that the $12 Door Buster Jean Blow Out at Old Navy for the Whole Family is such blatant false advertising? Yeah. Seems that it's only jeans that are hanging up and only for men/women. I did not be nice to those people today. And I did not buy their Non-$12 jeans. So there.
The kids are in bed WAY early tonight, and I'm about to spread out all that I bought to figure out what needs wrapping, what is from Santa and needs to be covertly absconded into the attic (hahaha, I just typed addict), etc. Not to mention the bowl of Lucky Charms that I intend to eat.
Tomorrow we are headed to the Nutcracker, so I'll post pics sometime soon!
Ciao~

My new car!!

No, it's not sitting in my driveway, but with any luck it will be very soon! After PDaddy's constanting LOATHING of our current family car (which was bought of my choosing--mostly because of it's good mileage vs. size for our long-legged and growing children), I have finally caved and said, YOU'RE RIGHT, LET'S DO IT. Only now, PDaddy has backtracked and says we can wait another year! Gggrrr!! After a bit of wheedling, I think I may have him back on track! We're looking at several hybrids and some non, but we are definitely going into this with fuel economy in mind. I refuse to buy any vehicle EVER again that does not get at least 30. Its' ridiculous that we're lining the pockets of some Saudi prince, president of Iran, or Exxon exec. GGRR! Anyway, I think we're going to go drive a few Saturday when we're Christmas shopping and lunching without the kiddos. I'll report back! (I'm gunning for my long beloved Volvo!! Fingers crossed!)

Topic Tuesday

Pet Peeves.
We all have them. Unfortunately, some folks have more than others. I'm a woman of few peeves. Mostly, I'm a very easy going, hard-to-peeve gal. Still, if I have to list my top 5, they wouldn't be hard to come up with. Just because the list is short doesn't mean each peeve is any less peeve-ish. Peevish? Peeveish? Peevesque? Pv'd? And I'm curious...can a peeve be something other than a pet one? Are there other varities of peeves? And what kind of word is peeve? Latin? There are certain words that, when said alone, just have a very unusual ring to them. For example, gong. Gong. Peeve. Very, very unusual.

Top 5 Pinkie Peeves:
5. People who drive slow in the fast lane. Oh. Ehm. Gee. I once saw a Far Side (hallowed music inserted here) cartoon that depicted a scene from Hell where each person was assigned to their own little jail cell (i.e. "Special Place") amidst the flames with little doorplates labeling their offense. There were terrorists, ax murderers, and right next to those horrible villians....a doorplate that read "People Who Drive Slow in the Fast Lane." Apparently, this isn't just a peeve of mine.
4. People who make nice. It's hard not being a nice person. Not that I'm not a NICE person, but I believe that sometimes, in order to maintain truthfulness, you have to be real...and you can't be real if you're nice all the time. I do not trust people who always, always treat other people with a veneer of niceties. No siree. You show me someone with a fake smile plastered on their face, and I'll bet you a dime to a donut hole that person has any number of very Un-Nice thoughts going through their head and has probably conversed about those Un-Nice thoughts with their closest circle and bosom buds. Isn't what a person thinks in their head and heart who he really is? Say it. Say it. People who are constantly greeting a person with sugar coatings and back pattings make my teeth itch. Usually it's not the least bit convincing that they're being nice either. What is worse than people who make nice? People who make nice and think you don't know they're making nice. Huh? What do I do to those people? I make nice back to them. To the people I love, I'm truly a troll. It's a sign of my affection! I'm a woman of contradictions. What can I say? Someone that I work with once met my mom and told them, "Pinkie is always mean to me." To which my mom replied, "Oh! That means she loves you!" Somewhere. Someone has a blog and I'm one of their peeves.
3. Sticks in mud. Have you ever just wanted to have a little fun? Maybe prank call a co-worker and do some heavy breathing? Order pizza and tell the poor kid who delivers it that you didn't order pizza only to stop him when he's halfway back to his car and say, 'Just kidding!', or maybe you like stealing your co-workers Twinkies from their desk drawer, taking out a big bite off the end of it, re-wrapping it and putting it back in their desk for them to find later! Oh yes. And what's wrong with taking the life sized, cardboard cut-out of a man and propping him around the dark corner in the faculty restroom and hiding to watch the secretary jump out of her pants when she sees him? What's wrong with that? Levity is defined as lack of appropriate seriousness. Is there an appropriate level of seriousness? Not in my world Frank.
2. Respect for authority. Now, being a teacher, I RESPECT respect for authority. I demand that my students and my own children respect authority. This peeve, I guess you could say, has two sides. I deplore. I detest seeing someone who doesn't give their elders (and I typically mean the ELDERLY) their due. I will go out of my way to lend a hand to blue-haired oldies at Walmart. I make sure that my kids recognize an older citizen and let them go ahead of them in a check out line. We encourage our kids to take care of and care for our sweet grand-neighbor. That is an "authority" that I can get behind. On the flip side, I have to be honest. I have problems with authority figures. I love my principal. He's a great man, but he's not a man caught up in his own authority. He is a man who respects his employees and treats them like people, collaborates with them, and is just as likely to find a mop to clean up a 7th graders vomit as he is to call a janitor to come do it. No, my peeve lies more with people who are obsessed with and bathe in their authority for the power that it gives them. For the respect you OWE them--NOT. Oh, that's a hard one to swallow. I should respect them no less. I know. I know. But it's hard. So very hard. And NO, I have never eaten the end off of any Twinkie and replaced it in a desk of any boss. Ahem. (Does toilet paper rolling their yard count?)
1. Having to tell somebody something more than once. And mostly I don't mean your average, Hey I forgot what you said kind of moment. I mean more like the I know we've had this same discussion 4 different times moment. I know a lady who will, without fail, sit and listen to me drone on and on (because obviously that doesn't peeve me-I love it when I drone--sort of like right now) only to see me a few days later and ask me what I droned on and on about. UG! I mean...c'mon....isn't everyone out there hanging on my every word?
Hello?
Hello.
Is anyone out there?
Hello....