It Is What It Is

My Husband Makes Me Laugh

Beloved has a  very quirky sense of humor.  He tends to love movies that have (in my opinion) that frat house humor.  He could watch "Airplane" over and over and still laugh like it's the first time he's ever seen it.  He loves to make puns that most people don't get or makes them groan.  I happen to think he's quite funny.  His sarcastic dry wit has saved us from many a dark moment or long argument.

Tonight, we were on our way to the last chance Mass at our Church.  What is it about going to church and my family?  All hell seems to break loose as we are trying to get ready to go to church.  Everyone is picking on one another, whining about something or another - and I'm trying to get into the right mindset.  Usually I can ignore my kids when they turn into the Bickerson's, but this evening, something in me snapped.  I mean I really lost it.  I turned into screaming, banshee mother.  I ripped each child a new one as we are driving into the church parking lot.  I'm reading them the riot act and putting the fear of God in them if this behavior continues during Mass, there will be serious consequences.  Possibly, bodily harm...

Everyone gets out of the car.  I continue to sit behind the wheel trying to compose myself.  I'm hopping mad.  I'm ticked off that I let myself get sucked into the vortex of my kid's bad attitudes and now I'm completely not in my right mind as I"m about to celebrate a Mass.  I turn to Beloved and say, I'm so upset that I let myself react that way.  I'm really in a snit now...I continue barking at Beloved about what has just occurred as we are walking into the church.  I"m going on and on as I tip my finger into the Holy Water font and make the sign of the cross.  I'm walking toward the pew that we always sit and Beloved who is walking behind me, grabs my arm and turns me towards him.  I turn with a disgusted look on my face and mouth "What?!"

He says to me and I quote, "I  heard a sizzling sound and I wanted to make sure that the Holy Water didn't burn a cross into your forehead, Demon woman." 

I came undone.  Instantly, I let my anger dissipate and I actually laughed out loud in church!  I have to grab my hand and place it over my mouth.  Beloved just shakes his head at me and chuckles to himself.  That little bit of humor changed everything.  I wasn't mad anymore.  I actually felt my blood pressure drop. 

It's hard to stay mad when someone is making fun of the behavior that you're actually angry about.  I like that about him. 

$3,000 Dilemma

 

You know the old wive's tale that things happen in "3's?"  Well it's happening at our house and the magic number that ties them all together is $3,000.  (give or take a few numbers, but after rounding...the number remains-$3,000.)

1.  Carpet for the basement that has to be replaced from the work we had done to correct our water problems.  The room that took the brunt of the tear up- has been fixed thanks to my FIL.  We have decided to turn it into a bedroom for Eldest.  Her new little home away from home, since she won't be living on campus when she goes to college this fall, she'll be commuting and living at home.  We thought it would be nice to give her new digs and give her a bit more privacy. 

2.  Braces for Middle One.  This one we have been putting off.  We had a consultation about a year ago and never moved forward.  He's about to enter high school so it just needs to be done.  He's got a very mild case of crooked teeth...but nonetheless, it's  going to cost $3000 (give or take a few hundred dollars.)

3.  New Car/Old Car Wrecked.  Yes, that's right, you heard me.  Eldest, (the same one who just got a speeding ticket a few weeks ago wrecked her car that was completely paid for.)  She's fine and everyone with her is fine.  What's not fine is the fact that it's going to cost $3,000 to fix it.  The insurance company will probably total the car and then it will be another mark against Eldest on her insurance and 3 strikes your out...Can't take the chance, just going to have to suck this up and find a solution. 

So- there you have it- our $3,000 dilemma.  Now, we just have to prioritize and hope our money tree  blooms on demand.

African Thunderstorm

I was first sent the link below in e-mail.  I must have watched it three times in a row.   I now have it saved for whenever I need to chill out and relax or just feel good. 

 Turn your volume up louder at the beginning so you'll be able to hear the "start of the storm."  I have seen part of this technique used during a retreat.  It's extremely powerful. 

 Enjoy.  (Just click on the link below.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05ip-N0H1Ig

Happy 100 Posts and 4th of July!

 

This is my 100th post.  I guess that's sort of monumental.  I started this little blog back in August of 2007.  I sputtered out quickly, by that November I had stopped posting.  It took a year for me to pick it back up and since then I have tried to remain strong in regular posting.  (Not as regular as I would like-but I'm working on it.) 

So, thanks to all of you who come by to visit regularly- and thanks to those who pop in whenever they get a chance.  I didn't start this whole thing to garner fans- mainly, it was started as a creative outlet for my meandering  mind.  Then it remained as a challenge to myself to keep writing and to learn how to use all of the technology required to do things I wanted to on this site. 

I'm still learning- it's a process.  I have discovered I have a love of photography.  I have much to learn and I'm up for the challenge.   I have learned that I love telling stories with words and photos. 

I love hearing from you, dear readers.  I love your comments.  Keep 'em coming.  I'll keep on keepin' on this thing I'm doing here, stop by when you can.

Enjoy your Independence Day!  Enjoy your cookouts, fireworks and time spent with family and friends.  Remembering how lucky we are to live in this great nation,regardless of how things might be right now, I'd rather call the United States my home than any other place on Earth. 

Graces- 19 of 52

 

Lazy summer weekend days spent at the pool. 

 We belong to a health club that includes both an indoor and outdoor pool.  It's not the fanciest of pools.  As a matter of fact, it's pretty ordinary.  There are no diving boards or slides.  Just a rectangle filled with water. 

Our pool is very secluded.  It sometimes feels as though you really are in your own backyard.  It's fairly quiet whenever you happen to be there.  Never too crowded.  I've never had to search for a lounge chair.    As a matter of fact, I pretty much sit in the same spot all the time.  Again, almost like being at home in my own backyard-(which doesn't have a pool.) 

The other guests are friendly, but everyone really keeps to themselves.  I like seeing the same faces over again- knowing that I don't have to engage in conversation unless I want to.  Beloved loves going to the pool.  It's the one place he truly relaxes.  He doesn't feel pulled to retreat back into work mode.  I love knowing I can see my kid(s) without having to search and search anxiously.  They feel safe and comfortable there, as well.

We spend many a summer weekend at our pool.  Time spent being solitary or engaged with each other.   We enjoy going there together as a family.  And anything that we can all agree on to do together, surely is a grace.

R-uh-R-oh....

 

This photo (badly represents) the speeding ticket Eldest received today.  Her first.  She was going 73 mph in a 55 mph zone.  Yikes!  According to her- (which I actually tend to believe...) she was passing 2 semi trucks and sped up to get around them.  "Mom, you know how freaked I get about being near big trucks..." 

True- but still, you need to be careful.  The police officer was not so nice, understandably so, but she didn't cry.  She also didn't tell her Dad or I right away.  Who was her first phone call?  Her boyfriend.  He was the one who actually told us, because Eldest was too scared.  (I know I can be really scary....)

Well, it will be fun watching her pain as she pays her $105 fine.  I don't even want to think about the change in her insurance rate.  Yikes, again!

Graces- 18 of 52

BOOKS.  I could wax on forever about books.  In fact, I have written about books before and I'm sure I will be writing about books again in the future.  I love books and am oh so grateful for books.  For my personal collection of books, for the library's collection of books, for used book stores and NEW bookstores.  If I was standing before a shoe store and a book store-and could only enter one- hands down- the book store would win!

Just Because

Summer is officially here and I'm still coming off my May hangover of all things Graduation.  I haven't had a chance to give these events their due, but I did want to share a photo of me and Middle One- my only son.  We don't often get photographed together and I especially like this one.  I really like the fact that this photo highlights that Middle One- is growing- finally!  We are almost the same height.  (Mind you in this photo I'm wearing 3 inch heels that have previously been shown right here on this site.) 

 

This was us during the Mother/Son or Father/Daughter dance portion of the After Graduation festivities.  There was something about seeing my son in a suit jacket and tie that did my heart in this past May.  He doesn't ordinarily wear a tie for anything. (Last time was First Communion....)   When he put these items of clothing on-  I thought- so this is how it feels...my son is really growing up.  He's becoming a man.  I know that may sound a little silly to some of you, but being from a family of girls and only having one other child (female) officially hit the "adult" stage- I was a little taken back.  For me personally, watching my son hit these milestones has been especially sentimental. I guess in a way when Eldest hit these marks- I could identify it through my own eyes, but with my son this has been a completely different experience. 

So to recap- this photo says look how far we've come and still there's room for growth and many  good things down the road... but from my son's expression it looks more like- "How soon until this over?"  Doesn't matter- I know what it means...

Little Miss Dance Recital

Last week we celebrated another year of dance lessons completed.  38 weeks worth of lessons in Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop and Lyrical- 120 hours spent practicing.  The recital was over in 3 hours.  3 hours of running back and forth changing costumes, fixing hair and makeup and rushing out to watch the performance.  Their moment in the sun to capture the best they can do for that routine.  It was a good night.  Not any real mishaps- just lots of fun, laughing, excitement, lipstick, hairspray and glitter!

 

Youngest in her Tap number with friends K and F.  They tapped their hearts out....to a classic Abba number- "Mama Mia."  I'm still hearing that song in my head. 

 

Yo, Yo Dog- to the Hip to the Hop....

 

Aren't they pretty in purple and "all that Jazz"..?

 

Girls just wanna have fun....and fun they had!

Happy Father's Day!

 

Thanks, Dad for all you do and for who you are.... And to my Beloved- Thank you for the husband you are and the Father you've become. 

Wish the men in your life who are your father's or have been a father figure - a Happy Father's Day!  Thank them for their influence on your life.  Now, go forth and barbeque or whatever it is you do at your house to honor Dads.