ATYPICAL DAY

No......


That is NOT a typo. I don't have typical days. They are, as a rule, Atypical.


But, I DO enjoy reading about other moms and their days. Maybe you enjoy it, too.


***Disclaimer*** I am not proofing this tonight. I apologize for typos and/or grammatical errors.


I am going to highlight yesterday and today. I don't really know how this type of post will flow. I've never (to my remembrance) done a post like this. It might be more like a schedule. It might have anecdotes with certain parts. I might hate it and never do it again. You might hate it and stop reading in the middle.


It seems that lately, people (moms) feel the need to justify what they do during the day. I do not think I am one of those moms. If my husband has issues with what I do, or don't do, then we will discuss it. It will be taken care of. Others really don't make me feel badly about how much I accomplish.


My husband is great, in that he is understanding. When he does come home, he helps out a lot. He will ask me where he can be the most help. Sometimes, I just need a break. He will let me sleep late. He will get the kids' lunches ready. He will run them to lessons. He will sign folders. He is just awesome. My days are different when he is home. I try to hang out with him, as much as possible.


BUT, I digress.


SO, Monday morning.


3:00 a.m. DS #1 comes into my room, unable to sleep. Thinking his room is hot, I let him lay on my bed, unaware that DS #3 had already climbed into bed. (That means that I only managed cat naps until time to wake up.)


Alarm at 6. I got out of bed and started to work on making myself presentable as I had a VERY important outing coming up.


I let the kids sleep as late as possible, which ended up almost being too late. They got out of bed at 7. Between lunches, getting everyone out of bed, breakfasted, teeth brushed, dressed, and myself finished..... well, we didn't get out of the house until 7:48..... a bit problematic, as we have to leave at 7:40 to prevent the need for Mom to drive like a bat out of h-e-double hockey sticks. But, we made it. RIGHT. ON. TIME.


My outing was small part business, part celebration, part therapy. My friend just graduated college....I took her to lunch in order to celebrate. BUT, we did have to go to the Lobby, Dollar Tree, Party City :-D .... a typical monthly outing for the 2 of us. We were gone from 8:30 until 2:30.


Picked up 3 kids at 3:15, then sat in line to pick up the last kid about 4. THEN, home..... to 4 showers, 2 piano practices, 1 guitar practice, 1 saxophone practice, 2 JBQ practices, 2 homework packets, 2 in bed at 8:00, 3 songs, multiple prayers, pass out meds for pain in ears, sore throat, coughing, laying out clothes for the kids, make a grocery list.....


OK.... so my play days aren't really anything impressive, or fun to read..... :-/
Let's try today.


Got up a bit earlier. Well, not me. I got up about 6:15, but I got the kids up at 6:45. Better. I needed the kids (one of them, anyway) to eat a good breakfast as they have standardized testing this week. AND, since I got up at a decent time, I decided to go workout. Until....


Until I could not find my workout clothes.


Yes.... I am horribly behind in laundry. *sigh*


SO.... I get the kids out of bed at 6:45. Today is trash day. One boy gathers trash. One takes the trash out and to the curb. One replaces trash bags. The younger 3 return the trashcans back to the side of the house in the afternoon.


~6:45 - kids out of bed. Sausage and biscuits for 3, cereal for 2, chocolate milk and graham crackers for 1. Get them dressed, teeth brushed, dogs fed, trash gathered. (Yelling out commands, much like a drill sergeant, all the while making lunches for the 4...... 6 chicken nuggets, 3 chicken sandwiches (1 with crust removed) 1 peanut butter and honey sandwich, 1 bottle apple juice, 1 bottle of water, 3 juice pouches, 4 puddings with plastic spoons, 1 package peanut butter and jelly crackers. 7 chocolate chip cookies, 1 piece of buttery garlic toast, 1 small bag of Cheez Its, 1 baggie of BBQ Pringles, 1 baggie of regular Pringles, 1 baggie of sour cream and onion Pringles, 1 graham cracker, 4 pears, and 1 nutrigrain bar.


~7:40 - leave the house
~7:55 - DS #1 dropped off at school
~8:07 - DS #2, 3, 4 dropped off at school
~Drive for 15 minutes to get to nearby town
~Filled up FTU
~Vacuumed out FTU
~Ran FTU through carwash
~Went to grocery store
~Went and got a CFAST (with a chicken biscuit chaser)
~Got home about 10:00 (ate on the way home)
~Unloaded groceries
~Decided to wipe down inside of FTU (about 45 minutes)
~Talked on phone with *business manager* regarding paperwork
~Unloaded dishwasher
~Reloaded dishwasher
~Went to check on dogs
~Decided to cut out 5 - 6 gnarls out of golden retriever's coat
~Brushed golden
~Brushed mutt (though he is a short-haired pooch, he needed the love)
~12:30 - ish: started laundry
grrrrrrrrrr
~worked on laundry until about 2:45
~Left to pick up young'ins
~Picked up #2 and was immediately assaulted with complaints of ear hurting (This is the kid who had strep the week before Spring Break, had strep and flu symptoms, with no real issues 1 week after Spring Break, and had skin issues taken care of 2 weeks after Spring Break)
~Sat under barrage while waiting for #3 and #4
~During 30 minutes before picking up #1, sped to WM to pick up #2's sport's goggles
~Pick up #1
~home about 4:15
~get kids changed, dogs fed, snacked up, lesson stuff grabbed, talk about their days....
~5:15 leave for lessons.
~5:30 drop 2 kids off at piano lessons
~5:45 get 1 kid to guitar lessons.
~leave #1 in FTU with #4 long enough to pay for guitar lessons (yes, honey.... I paid a week early because I thought this week was next week.)
~get back in FTU
~send #1 into guitar
~decide to suck it up and make it easier on myself and go BACK to CFA to buy dinner: (Two 6-piece kids' meals with Sprites, one 8-count meal with Sprite, one chicken sandwich meal, no pickles, with Sprite, one chicken sandwich meal WITH pickles and large DP)
~6:30 pick up #1 from guitar
~6:45 pick up #2 and #3 from piano
~eat in FTU, spitting out instructions to NOT make a "mess in the FTU 'cause I just cleaned it out!"
~have trash cans picked up
~miss phone call due to transitioning into house with piano books, CFA trash, kids, and guitar
~give kids a bit of down time while returning call
~sit outside talking on phone, while witnessing a Nerf sword fight gone ugly between #2 and #3. All the while #3 is yelling at #4 for playing with his (#3's) basketball because last time "he let it roll into a puddle, MOM!"
~beg off phone conversation in order to: check for blood, scold, threaten, and hide Nerf swords
~#4 takes a shower (his 3rd alone....ever)
~sniff check on #4 (hair washed)
~tell #3 to stop crying
~tell #2 to be nice as he is telling #3 that it is a Nerf "WAR! which means you are going to get hit!"
~told by #3 that I was a bad mom and that he wanted to leave the family
~asked #3 who I should call
~(all of this is going on while #2 volleys cries of "my ear hurts." (YES I KNOW YOUR EAR HURTS I'M
SORRY THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT AT THE MOMENT #3 WOULD YOU PLEASE STOP CRYING I'M NOT REALLY GOING TO MAKE YOU LEAVE THE FAMILY!)
~7:40 put myself in timeout
~7:41 call DH to vent
~7:50 answer timid knock on the door by #4
~7:50 informed by #4 that #3 has run away (mildly concerned)
~7:51 led outside by #4 to have #3 jump out of bushes yelling "SURPRISE! I didn't really run away. I'm sorry, Mom."
~7:52 my heart melts as I kiss and hug my third son
~7:53 go to tell #2 it is time for JBQ
#2?
#2?
NUMBER TWOOOOOOOOO!?!??!?!?!?
~Look in all bedrooms
~Look in all closets
~ask all brothers
~look in front yard
~look in backyard
~look in garage
~holler again
~start to wonder if #2 got mad enough about ear and the "Mommy Breakdown" to start walking down the street
~Hear #2 call (find out that he was in the backyard when youngest brother locked door. When he heard me yell, he climbed to front while I was in back.....we kept missing each other)
~Say silent prayer that none of my sweet boys decided to actually leave home
~8:00 put #3 in the tub
~8:00 put #1 in the shower
~start to study JBQ with #2 with more "My ear hurts."


*****Now, wait.... before you judge me..... back in March, my 2nd had strep with NO signs, other than ears hurting. My 1st had a virus (not necessarily flu or strep). My 3rd had severe allergies (nothing to prescribe other than Claritin and nose spray.) #2 has been to the doctor 3 times in a month with only 1 time being strep....and ear pain has yielded nothing. SO, I have been waiting, thinking, (hoping) that through OTC's, rice socks, and *distraction* he will "get over it." WELL, he hasn't, and now we are 2 days from leaving for our JBQ Regionals tournament.... HE. MUST. BE HEALTHY! SO.... tomorrow, we beg for drugs.


Hmmmm....where was I?


OK.... kids clean.


~Oh yes... JBQ.... We only made it through speed on 30 quotes. (That means nothing to most of you, but basically it means that moving his jaws hurts his ear and we got maybe 5 minutes.)


~8:15 have 2 little boys turn out lights (kisses, songs, hugs and prayers)
~8:25 give meds to #2, rice sock, and say prayers
~8:30 lights out for #1 (early tonight as standardized testing is tomorrow
~9:00 sit to blog, but notice it is hot in house
~check and see that thermostat is set at 90
WHY is the thermostat set at 90?!
~make mental note to tell children NEVER to mess with thermostat settings
~sit, again, to blog
~turn on TV to listen while blogging - it is turned onto "Dance Moms: Miami"
~sit, for a few minutes, mouth hanging open, half fascinated, half-frightened
~NOW....it is 11:00....I have to go to bed


I will repeat some of today, tomorrow. Not FTU clean out, or grocery store. Will take kids to school, #2 to the doctor, do another 6-8 loads of laundry (sadly, that is no exaggeration), have kids practice music, do homework, study JBQ, go to JBQ practice....thank the good Lord that baseball practice is cancelled this week, AND start the packing for our trip to Muskogee, OK.


I apologize if you were bored.


ETA.... Strange things come on TLC after 10:00. Right now, it is on a show entitled "Extreme Cheapskates." Three words: HO.LEE.COW!!! That gives new meaning to the word, "whackaloon!" 


SHE BOUGHT EXPIRED CHEESE!!!


I don't care HOW poor I may be, I will not, WILL NOT EVER purchase, keep, and/or eat foods that have expired. The dates are there for a reason. (Those who know me, know that this is a cardinal rule!)

NINE LINES

Nine years.....

Nine years ago, my family expanded by a 3rd son.

Nine years ago, our hearts were captured by a beautiful boy. 

Nine years ago, he came with dimples, curly hair, and 1 ear.

Nine years later, he is still beautiful.

Nine years later, he still has dimples

Nine years later, he still has curly hair.

Nine years later, he has 2 ears.

HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY, SON!

THE STRAY

I picked up a stray today. I feel badly that we won't be able to keep him. He is so cute, but already Moose (our Alpha) is not happy with our *guest.*

I have a soft spot in my heart for critters. Actually, not critters.... dogs. I have a soft spot in my heart for dogs.

We never buy puppies from a breeder. We always take in dogs from the animal shelter, or from people who can no longer house them. Not that we have, or keep, a lot of dogs. We only have 2. At the most, we had 3.

Anyway, I was at the gym and I saw a pooch hanging out by the door. People kept going past the poor little dog. I knew I would be at the gym a bit over an hour. I decided to act if he was still around when I went out. I figured it would give him time for his owner to walk out the door.... OR for him to decide to go on home.

Well, he didn't. :-( I walked out and he looked happy to see someone. Then I spoke to him. He followed me immediately.

I opened the door to the FTU to see what he would do. He climbed right in, sat on the back seat, and happily let me drive him home. (I DID call and let DH know.)

DH did warn me to not get attached (something I easily do) because we don't need a 3rd dog.

Part of me wanted to feed him, keep him, let hubby see him and then, hopefully, between the kids, and my making doe-eyes at him, he would let the pup stay.

But then....

I got him in the backyard. Well, I was GETTING him in the backyard when my 2 started to barge in. :-( I grabbed Moose, the little one, lest he get himself seriously injured. However, Buster, my golden, came barging in. He bared his teeth and had "guest pooch" cowering in a corner. I really thought it was going to get ugly, but after harshly speaking to Buster, I got the stand-off stopped.

I put the 2 big dogs outside where they commenced circling each other, trying to sniff and "find out what the other was about." Well, "guest pooch" was a bit....um.... confused as to the working of things. He kept trying to pile on Buster, who is um...... *less* than a man...er....dog. :-)

When I sat down outside to watch them, "guest pooch" kept trying to come to me, but Buster would have none of it. He (Buster) kept getting between me and "guest pooch." Jealous much? Meanwhile, Moose was in his boy's room vocalizing his unhappiness with the whole set up.

Well, while outside, I was able to really watch "guest pooch." He is really skinny.... you can see his hip bones. He drinks a lot of water, but he would not eat. :-( That makes me sad. I think he might be sick. He has an infection in his eye. It is really goopy and the eye is really red. I've never heard of doggy-pinkeye, but I wonder.

I decided to separate my dogs from "guest pooch." I don't know if he is sick with something that is contagious, or just sick. Is he dying sick? Or just malnourished? My heart aches for this pooch.

THEN, I think about DS #3. He wants his own dog SO badly. Moose is DS #1's. Buster, is more DS #2's. DS #3 wants a dog to sleep in his bed, and to run to him first. :-( I can't put him in a position of getting excited, loving a dog, only to have him taken away.

SO, I called the SPCA. Only to find out that it will cost $40 to drop him off, or have him picked up. :-( Um..... I don't think so.

I called Animal Control. They will send someone.....sometime today. SO, instead of doing all that I was going to do, I sit, and I wait for the Sheriff's Dept. to come by and pick up this poor animal. I just pray it is in time for me to volunteer at the school. I need to be there by 2. If not.... at least in time for me to go get the kids from school and DS #3 to NOT get to know *guest pooch.*

ETA: *Guest pooch* WILL eat Momma's homemade chicken noodle soup.

AM I DONE?

No.... I don't think so. I just.....forget to blog sometimes.

Back in the day, when blogs seemed to be REALLY popular, I blogged every day.

Every. Single. Day.

Now? Well, sometimes I think to blog something....then decide that you, my reader, won't care.

Sometimes, I can't think of anything to blog.

Sometimes, I don't want to.

Sometimes, I just don't have time.

In almost all instances, more time goes by between each post. It is not intentional..... time..... just gets away from me.

I have, for the most part, been in a good place. I am OK doing laundry. (Meaning it doesn't bother me NEAR what it used to.) Yes, I still get behind in my laundry, but I don't mind schleppin' in 15 loads to fold, hang, and put away in a day.... or two..... which is where I am now. :-) I have spent the last day taking care of the clean clothes. Now, I need to hang a few more....AND..... start over....with about 10 loads that need to be washed. LOL! It never ends.

I have started going to the gym.... again. I don't mind lifting weights, but all else, I truly dislike. I am jealous of the folks who actually enjoy working out. But, I do it because it makes me feel like I've accomplished something positive.

I haven't been cooking/baking like I like. :-( One of my personal failures, I guess. It is a time thing, though. It is therapy for me..... I need to get back into it.

I haven't been reading like I used to, or want to. A few years ago, I read about 45 books, I think. Last year? Maybe 15? This year? I have read.... hmmmm.... 2, so far? Sad. Just sad.

I have been reading that blog that I probably shouldn't be reading. Why? Remember? I told you it was like a train wreck. It is hard to turn away. Yes, I will admit....it DOES make me think about some things. And, if you don't know me that well, you probably don't realize that I can go from zero to "scariest environment imaginable" in about 4 seconds - flat.

I have been feeling extremely disappointed in people. I like things "just so." I'm sure that is no fat surprise. But, I really get worked up when things don't happen the way they should.

Yes, I understand that that is a somewhat subjective statement. But, some things are understood, as a sense of courtesy. I guess that is what I'm missing. COMMON COURTESY! (That is why my hubby doesn't let me out of the house unsupervised. LOL!)

I need to learn to not be a perfectionist. Believe me.... I am NOT a perfectionist in all things, nor am I OCD. But, as stated above, there are some things I like "just so." And, it is in ridiculous stuff. Maddening things! For example....I love "The Little House on the Prairie." I record them. I have seen most of them. I MUST watch them in order. BUT, I won't watch the other stuff I record until I have watched a certain amount of LHOTP.

*smh*

Are you tired of my belly-achin'?

I am.

Sorry.... just feelin' a bit melancholy.

I think.

Let me go look it up real quick.

OK.... so maybe not quite so severe, but it's close.

I feel like Eeyore.

I HAD ONE

....a blog post, I mean. But, I forgot what all I was going to say. I know I was going to talk about the year 2011. (I know, it is a bit late.) I was also going to discuss "Me time."

Since I don't remember the points I was going to discuss....well, I will just try to put together some stuff. :-/

Let's see.... "me time."

Yeah.... right now, I pretty much don't. I don't say that to have someone feel sorry for me. I don't want someone to try to convince me that I need time to myself. I know that my thoughts are probably not shared by many. I just think that with the boys at the ages they are... well, my time is with them.

I have put my stuff on hold for years. And, I did/do it happily. Sure, there were things that I wanted to do....and didn't....for the sake of the boys. And, I didn't/don't do it begrudgingly. I have started to pick up things, as they boys have gotten older.

In a few short years, I will have nothing but "me time." It is hard being a tired mother. I think so many become... well, short-sighted. It is hard to see how quickly time flies, when you are so tired. I don't want to ever NOT be around for my boys. Soon, they will be doing their own thing.... I will not be needed, and in some cases, wanted around for things.

And, that's all I have to say about that. :-)

Last year:

Last year was a tough year. In fact, several times, I referred to it has our toughest year....but, I was convicted. Yes, last year was one of the toughest years, but last year also brought many, MANY blessings....miraculous blessings. Some of the blessings, we didn't even know to pray for. We would pray for big things, or so we thought. Now, looking back, and seeing what God did for us.... well, our prayers were small potatoes!

For example, our house. You can read about it here.

Another miracle. This post has several great things that happened to us.

Those are just a few things.... the sell of the house, insurance covering one of the surgeries, the surgeries themselves (well, 2 out of 3, anyway), new carpet, new air-conditioning, wonderful trips, celebrating 20 years of marriage..... all of this made even sweeter by the difficulties we went through.

So, 2011? It was a great year! A year filled with many, MANY blessings. The beautiful thing is that God's hand can be seen in every bit of it!

Have a great day, y'all!

TAG! YOU'RE IT!

My dear friend Catey, tagged me in a meme. Here is what it is, and what I have to do.

This round is the tag of 11's.
The deal is that I have to
1. Post the rules
2. Share 11 random things about myself
3. Answer the 11 questions from the post in which I was tagged
4. Create 11 new questions for my tagees to answer
5. Tag 11 people-legitly

Methinks this is going to be difficult.... I don't know that many people, I don't think. Well, I DO, but some were already tagged. Also, there are some blogs I read that I will NOT be sending traffic. (Don't ask.)

SO, here we go:

11 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT MYSELF

(if you have read my blog since its beginning, you already know some of this)

1. I do not understand tax forms. Honestly. Hmmmm..... I don't understand insurance forms, either. Like when you are applying.... is that what you do? Apply? for insurance, I always have to bring it home for my hubby. Every job I ever had, when all the "new people" are filling out all their paperwork, I have to bring home the 2 pages dealing with taxes and insurance. Now, we solely use hubby's insurance. But, if I do ANYthing where I have to fill out one of those W-things, I need hubby's help. Now, he just tells me the final number that needs to be printed on the bottom line.

2. Pinterest causes me anxiety. Serious. Anxiety. SO MANY of my friends are in love with Pinterest. So, I pop on over to see....HO-muh-GAWSH! How in..... really? So, I give it a few days, ask questions, and go back in. It's not 3 minutes and my palms are sweaty, I feel clammy, and my heart is racing....I'm not EVEN joking.

3. I am a room mom nazi. OK.... that might be a bit offensive. What I MEAN is that I AM the room mom.....for every kid. It is understood, (except to the newer teachers), but to everyone who knows me.... or knows of me.... I AM the room mom. For the past, um....4 years, I guess, I go into my boys' classrooms and introduce myself as "so-n-so's mom" and "Your room mom." Those who don't know me give me "THE SMILE" that says, "Whatever, Honey," and try to brush me off to see their other options. Those who DO know me, know there are no other options. In fact, it is just crazy enough that the other parents, tell the teacher that I am the room mom. Why? Because, I AM. The room mom! I do get folks to help. I'm not a control freak.... well, not in this, anyway, but I know what I'm going to do, for what grade, for which party, and who needs to do what. Why? I already told you.... I AM THE ROOM MOM!

4. I did not always know how to cook. My job, when I was growing up, was to set the table and to cut up the salad. We ALWAYS had salad.....and it wasn't a fancy salad. It was iceberg lettuce and tomatoes. Sometimes, there might be a bit of green onion in it. If I didn't get the tomatoes diced just so, my mother got MAD-mad, would snatch the bowl up, chop up the 'maters and return it to the table. The first few years of marriage..... I would say from 1991 - 1998, I couldn't cook. Now, let me clarify: yes, I could brown ground beef. Yes, I could put a meal together. And, yes, we enjoyed Hamburger Helper. BUT, when we lived in Florida, we missed Mexican food. SERIOUSLY missed Mexican food. Plus, we were so poor that Hamburger Helper was getting a bit too steep for our budget. So, I studied. I had a cookbook.... a Better Homes and Garden cookbook (the red and white cover? right?) AND I read it like a book. From cover to cover, I read it. On Saturdays, Sundays, and Tuesdays, I would go to the beach with my cookbook and choose 1 recipe and read up on it. Then, on Thursdays, my day off, I would cook that new recipe. Then, I would interrogate DH to see if he liked it, wished for change, and would ever want it again. I got to where I really enjoyed reading cookbooks (which is a current problem of mine.) Cooking became a hobby, before I really began cooking. And now.... well, I'm pretty good, if I do say so myself. And for the record, Hamburger Helper hasn't been in my house for over 10 years, and I am appalled at the thought of Stove Top Stuffing.

5. I am still just arrogant? Immature? Stupid? Misguided enough to think that when I decide that I will lose weight, that I will suddenly have by 25 year old body. And then, I try on clothes. :-(

6. Speaking of clothes. I have no fashion sense..... zero. Zip. Nada. Zilch. My only saving grace in this area is in my shoe-choices. I have some truly fabulous shoes...some I have no idea what to wear them with. Hubby would be happy for me to...... well, we won't go there. ;-) No, I could be a really great subject on TLC's "What Not to Wear." One of my problems is that I am too cheap. Really. I see a dress I like, and I won't consider it because it costs x-amount of dollars and I need to buy shoes for my kids.... or for me. :-) Another reason for my clothing issue? I don't know what style is for me. And, if I see something that I like, well it doesn't fit correctly. Of course, if I would suck it up and try to find good quality clothes, instead of shopping at WM.... well, that would help.

7. I am an OK musician....used to be awesome. It is only my lack of practice that has changed it. I played the piano, actively, from the age 5 until 18. I. Was. Good. I am still good enough to sit and read music.... practice it to play it. And, I can read it to help my kids with their piano practices. Flute...... I played the flute and piccolo for years..... sat first chair for years. I played in church. In 7th grade, I was selected "Outstanding Woodwind Soloist" at a contest with several participants. There were probably over 100 other woodwinds. Kinda cool. I can sing. Not being arrogant or proud. I can sing. I love to sing. I never wanted to do anything with music, career-wise, so I never pursued more training. And, as far as piano, I do NOT like performing for people. I play for myself. Flute....it has been a few years since I have played in front of folks, but if I am asked, and they need a soloist, I pull out my flute, practice up, and play. Singing.... I currently sing on our worship team, and I am in our choir during other weeks. When I am not singing on backup vocals or in the choir, but just singing in church, I often have someone comment and say, "You should be up there with the worship team!" To which I say, "I am.... I just wasn't scheduled this week."

8. I flunked out of college my 3rd semester of school. Really. That was after the fall of 1990. Then, in 1998, after 2 years back in school I earned a full-scholarship for my next 2 years of college..... based on....... academics.

9. Yeast breads scare me. Not the actual bread. I LOVE yeast breads. But, baking yeast breads..... I make 2 loaves of sourdough each week. I turn them into various delectable delights. I can bake great. I can cook even better. I really can. I read cookbooks like novels. I love cooking magazines. I read the recipes, but then do my own thing. I know techniques, flavor profiles, how to fix some "different" stuff. Heck, last weekend, I made a dessert (a triple chocolate mousse cake) that took me about 4 hours, total, to complete. When I make lasagna, my sauce is homemade. But, yeast bread? About three times a year, I buy yeast..... determined to conquer. About three times a year, I throw out inactive/dead yeast.

10. Expiration dates. These things should be honored and respected! My hubby and I used to have arguments about the dates. Now, he just tolerates me. Our discussions often revolve around milk. THE DATE. He says it' s a "sell by" date. I say it's a "Get it out of the fridge right away or it will get crusty, swell the gallon jug, pop the top, and ooze over everything contaminating anything that is not hermitically sealed" date. I look at the dates on EVERYTHING! Toothpaste. Canned goods. Dairy products. My problem comes in things that I have put in the deep-freeze. Yes, I have "bought time" for it, but when I thaw it, and I see the date.... oooooooooh, I itch to toss it.

11. I cannot sharpen knives. Nor can I be in the room..... shoot, I can't even be in that part of the house when the knives are being sharpened. I get DH to sharpen my knives from time to time. I have to leave that part of the house and either listen to loud music, or close my ears. The sharpener makes my teeth hurt? How? I don't know. But, that is the only way I can explain it. It makes my teeth hurt.

These are the questions my friend posted.

- What is your most embarrassing moment?

I have posted about my most embarrassing moment before.... so, I will just refer you to my MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT!

- Biggest pet peeve?

Sadly, I have so many pet peeves. But, probably my biggest has to deal with grammar and spelling. And, out of those two, probably grammar. In the age of facebook, it is coming out how really.... um..... uneducated people sound. I will give them the benefit of the doubt... that they KNOW the words to use. Perhaps they got in a hurry. Either way, PLEASE! PEOPLE! Learn the difference between: there, their, and they're; between who's and whose; between to, too, and two. Learn when to use choose and chose, lose and loose. JUST because they *look* the same does not mean they sound the same. LOSE rhymes with CHOOSE. CHOSE has a long "o" sound. And loose rhymes with noose... as in YOU'RE KILLING ME! There is another one..... your and you're. SO MANY GRAMMATICAL ISSUES! There is NO such thing as a spose. Yes, it SOUNDS like you are saying it, but you are really not. What you are saying is "SUPPOSE." You are never, evereverevereverever SUPPOSED TO say spose to. *stepping down*

- Are you OCD about anything? If so, what?

Um, yeah. I just wish I was OCD about housekeeping. :-) I am a bit OCD about my FTU keys, door locks, and the alarm clock. As I get out of the FTU, before I lock it, I must SEE the keys in my hand. Yes, I feel them, but I have to SEE them. Door locks: as in front door and back door.... well, I always lock the doors behind me. Yet, when I go to bed, I turn on the lights, and look at each door, just to be sure that the locks (including deadbolt) are locked. Alarm clock.... I am always worried that I will sleep through something. If I have to get up earlier than normal, I really worry. I also worry that I will set something incorrectly, like a.m. vs. p.m. SO, despite the fact that I don't CHANGE the times, I check every night..... my clock, with 2 alarms, AND my phone, with 2 alarms.

- Celebrity Crush?

I don't know that I ever really had one. There are certain celebrities that I have found very nice looking, but to call it a crush? Well, that is a bit extreme. BUT, the celebrities I have looked at a few extra times are: Sean Connery, Harrison Ford, and Orlando Bloom. BUT, Orlando ONLY if he has the long blond hair and the pointy ears..... yummy.

- What was the best vacation you've ever taken?

Our family vacation to Disney World, a few years ago, was certainly wonderful. I can't wait to go back. But, our 20th anniversary trip to Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and Boston.... wow. It was truly a trip of a lifetime. I pray that I am able to revisit those destinations. PEI was a place I have always wanted to visit. It is absolutely beautiful. Pictures do not do it justice. Then, the drive down through Maine and into Boston. Lovely. Just lovely. This Texas girl wants to relocate and live in Maine. That won't happen, but if possible, I will return often.

- If you could have one superpower what would it be?

Who says I don't have superpowers? I feel I must have something, in order to accomplish what I do. However, if I had to choose *another* superpower, I would probably want to be able to get places faster.....super-speed. I spend a lot of time driving to places. If I could just be there, that would help SO much.

- Biggest Fear?

Well, of course, every mother's fear is that something will happen to her family. So, I won't list that as an answer. That is too...well, that is just a fear of everyone. I certainly creep out around spiders, scorpions, and snakes. But, my biggest fear is probably tornados. They fascinate me. And, I love a good storm - the more thunder and lightning, the better. Tornado warnings? There is a certain amount of excitement that comes with each siren and green sky. My fear is in the fact that, if hubby is gone, and there is a storm at night, that I won't be able to get my kids to shelter in time. Hmmmm....I guess that ties into the greatest fear of every mother, huh? I am also quite claustrophobic. Even seeing someone in a tight space, on TV, makes my heart race, my breathing shallows, and I have trouble watching. *shudder*

- What was the last thing you ate?

Homemade chicken tortilla soup with a slice of homemade sourdough bread. It was delicious.

- You have 24 hours to do whatever you want. What do you do?

Ooooo......a free day! Yea, me! Of course, there is a babysitter thrown into this mix, too, right? Let's take care of the food, first: I will eat breakfast at my favorite Mexican dive. Then, lunch at Chipotle....or maybe a sushi place. Then, supper will be... I think supper will be Greek food. Around that, I will go to The Lobby for a bit. I will cook for awhile. Maybe I will take a nap, what a little TV, read some recipe books, roam around a library, go to a Christmas store, then maybe design some Christmas cards. Yeah....that sounds like a GREAT DAY!

- What is your favorite blog to read?

I have been so behind in blogging, both reading and posting. There are a few I like, because they are my friends. There are a few I like, because they are train wrecks. I don't go looking for other blogs, because frankly, I just don't have the time. Another reason I don't "blog-hop" is this: if I DO find a blog that I kind of like, then I feel I have to read the whole thing. That causes a bit of anxiety. BUT, I guess Catey is probably one of my faves. :-) I won't connect you to the train wreck. Quite honestly, it's a bit embarrassing AND I do not want to be responsible for what you may take from her blog. She is vile. I haven't read her in awhile......

- Greatest accomplishment last year? Biggest goal this year?

I don't know what my biggest accomplishment was last year. :-? I did a lot of stuff. Most of what I did was to help my children accomplish things. I guess getting to where I feel I am OK with my personal performance as a housekeeper. For years, I always felt like I was a really bad housekeeper. Heh....it was seeing other people's levels of housekeeping to know that I am either on the same level as, or even better than they were. LOL! I know that seems judgmental. It doesn't make me feel badly toward these others. But, it sure helped me. :-) Now, I don't beat myself down for not getting laundry done, or if the kitchen isn't spotless. I am allowing myself to focus on the boys more than the clean house.

Next year? Wait.... THIS year?

Well, I have lots of projects that I want to accomplish. A lot of the normal type things. Probably the biggest undertaking is to scan all of our photos: wedding, baby, family, and get them saved. I also want to start tracing our families.

NOW, I have some questions for you!

1. What is one of your earliest memories?

2. What is a hidden talent that you have?

3. If you had to choose only 1 food to eat for a week....ONLY ONE....what would it be? Any cooking and "free" stuff (seasonings) is OK. It can't be a type of food, or a mixed dish.... but one food.... like chicken.

4. If you could change your ethnicity, what would you choose to become?

5. Money and time being no object, what career do you wish you had?

6. You have to move. But, you are given your choice of location. The thing is, you have to stay there for the rest of your life. Where are you moving?

7. You get a "walk on" for a TV show. What show? What do you do?

8. What is your guilty indulgence?

9. In what subject, in school, were you just HORRIBLE?

10.What is your favorite household chore? Why?

11. What is the one thing, in your home, that you absolutely refuse to do? And who has to do it?

And, now to tag 11 people.

Lisa

Laurel

Miss Paula

Estelle

Mommy Spice (if she is still blogging)

Mary

Ly

Claudia

Danielle

NiftyThrifty

Kaira

If I have you on FB, I will try to tag you, but if not, and your in my list.... PLEASE do this. Leave me a comment when you have. I would love to pop over and read!

DON'T KNOW WHAT TO WRITE

Sometimes, I think I know what I want to write.

Sometime, not.

I can't say that it is writer's block. I just feel that what I have to say is dull. I NEVER want to be accused of being dull.

For awhile, I just wrote stories of what was going on with the little boys. Since they are getting older, I don't have a lot of stories..... sure, the boys say funny things, and I share those, but there is usually not a story to go with it.

Some things, I am not at liberty to share because.... well, there are just too many people involved, and I am *sometimes* smart enough to NOT burn a bridge that I may need later.

I don't often have things to say that are inspirational. They are not profound. And, I doubt their entertainment value.

I used to obsess over how many hits I got on my page.....how many comments. Then, I got busy. Now, I don't worry so much. My numbers are OK, I guess. I don't know how much I average per day. I could check on my site meter, but every time I get the update, I delete it.

I read one blog where she does some housekeeping type stuff; lists and such, that I have really enjoyed..... she has an easy writing style....but, quite honestly, I'm getting a bit tired of it. She says a LOT of the same thing. I have read her for a few years now....and I haven't read anything new, in awhile. She does write quite a bit on religious issues. I don't necessarily disagree with her too much, BUT she is very legalistic....I think fundamental baptist.

I just don't know what direction to take this. It is hard for me to not have a scope.

What to do....what to do.....