Road Trip!

On Saturday Cool J decided to take the girls on an impromptu road trip.  They were going to go camping, but the snow killed that dream so they googled "things to do here this weekend" and found a Harvest Festival going on about 250 miles away.  (Yes, family.  Ye ol' stompin' grounds.)  They had to get up early on a Saturday, but they were willing to do so for their road trip.  The festival promised vendors, a parade, and chicken scratch bingo.  Alas, the festival was a BUST.  Six vendors, no parade--although they waited and waited for it to begin--and no bingo.  They packed up their dreams and headed back up the interstate to a "real" town where they hit the mall and the local Fuddruckers.  They had a little fun at a costume shop too.  And of course, they tamed a vicious dinosaur, so the trip wasn't a total bust!  In truth, they had a great time, got some good nap-time in the car, and would go again in a heartbeat!  Thanks J!

Columbus

Some of us still have to work today...unless we're MB.  Here are a few tidbits about Columbus that I learned on MSN.com today:


Did you know?
1.  Columbus did not set out to prove the world was round.  That had been done 2000 years earlier.  He did greatly underestimate the circumference though.
2.  Columbus did not discover America.  The people who had lived there for hundreds of years not withstanding, he landed in the Bahamas and until his death thought he had landed in Asia.
3. Columbus did not die unknown and in poverty.  He had a modest income although he suffered from severe arthritis.
4. Columbus did do something significant.  While he didn't do what he set out to do when he left Spain, he did do much to understand trade winds in between the Caribbean and Europe.

Merry Christmas

The King bought himself an early Christmas present.  He got a Kindle Fire.  He's been looking at e-readers for awhile.  He likes to read but is too "busy" to go to the library (really, that's what he told his mom--that and something about the gas it takes to get to the library about 3 miles away), and he was really wanting one that is easy to use and has back light.  Low and behold I noticed that Best Buy has dropped the price of the Fire because they have an HD version out now.  Since he wants it primarily for reading, he doesn't care about the HD feature.  Yesterday he motored on over to Best Buy and hooked himself up.  He charged it a bit and by last night he had downloaded a couple of books from the library (with some help from Jeanette) and was happily reading away.  I would like to point out that it was MY library account he used, and MY Amazon account he used, thus when he logs on, the computer now thinks that's MY Kindle!!  :)  And I have to say that it was relatively easy to upload those books.  I had heard you needed a certain Adobe program on your computer and that basically you uploaded the book to your computer and then to the reader (I think that might be true with older readers), but here he logged into the library account, chose a book that was available as an electronic version AND was Amazon-friendly (that seems to matter), clicked a few buttons, and it was loaded!  The Kindle was plugged into the computer at the time, and it did take him to the Amazon site to finish (he was not charged).  So I wish him very happy reading.  I'm pretty sure him getting a facebook account is only months away now!!

That Boy!

Dinner Conversation Tonight:

Me:  Do you have any homework?
Prince: Only to learn a song for choir.
Princess:  That's what he was doing when I called him to dinner.
Me:  No.  I heard very loud bass booming.
Prince: No, that was choir music.
Princess: Yes.  He was singing when I knocked on his door.
Me:  NO!  There was loud bass.
Prince:  Only while I was pooping!
Me:  That's going on the blog.
Prince:  Cool!
Princess:  Do you have a pooping CD?  Music to poop by?
Prince:  No, but I should make one!

I Should Bite My Tongue

I put a link to the new blog on the side.  I have added an email for those who requested.  Let me know if you can get into it.  Thanks!

Book Recommendation

I reviewed "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See last month.  But I'm adding another recommendation for this book.  Our book club met to talk about this book last Sunday.  Rarely do we all like a book, but this was one of the times when all of us liked this book.  We didn't all like it for the same reasons, and we didn't all feel the same way about the main character, Lily, but we all agreed that this was a very good book.  So if you're looking for a good read (Liz, Becky, Karen...) check this one out!

My New Blog

I'm starting a new blog.  For grown-ups only.  Nothing risque.  But, well, sometimes I have something to say that might not be appropriate here.  You know how I am.  This one will be locked.  So let me know if you want me to add you (I think I'll need your email).  Feel free to comment here or send me an email or shoot me a message on facebook, and I'll try to figure out how to add you.  

Badgers Homecoming

Is this a great picture or what?  It's the Cascade football field.  Check out the snow in the hills, brown fields, and contrasting green football field.  Our nephew will play one of his last few high school football games on that field tonight during their homecoming game.  Good luck, Mark, and GO BADGERS!

A TWIRP Invite

The Prince got invited to TWIRP today.  One of his friends who is a fellow cheerleader brought a pizza to cheer at 6AM today.  He told me said, "Cool.  Pizza.  I hope she shares."  The she said, "Pizza Delivery for Mitch!"  He was very excited that the pizza was for him.  He still wasn't clued in.  So he opened the pizza.  I have no photo of it, but there was a cheese pizza with TWIRP in M&Ms across it.  They ate the pizza for lunch.  He said yes.  

As you can see, the box said, "With Joanne"?  Joanne was not the girl to deliver the pizza, but her sister was.  The prince has a couple of classes with Joanne, and she's a junior.  They are just friends, which means they'll have a great time.  There is a group of about 30 of them going together including a couple of the prince's bffs and Joanne's sister, the pizza delivery girl.  I don't know how they'll figure out dinner for 30 people, but I'm sure they'll have a good time.

I don't remember it, but in "Princess Diaries" Anne Hathaway delivers a pizza to her boyfriend with "Sorry" written on it in candy.  Thus the reference.

I guess a trip to the tux rental shop is in our future since he's out-grown his suit.  But first he has to find out what color her dress is.  

Big Change

This will SHOCK the people who come to visit us.  They will not believe it, and I'm still wondering how I'll host book club, but we did it!  We moved the tv into the living room.  We haven't had a tv in the living room for YEARS...since way before we moved into this house.  And frankly, the layout of this room isn't really conducive to it since there's only one wall.  But we moved stuff around, pulled a chair out, added the recliner, and we'll see how it goes.  It comes with all kinds of "issues" like can the king and I ever agree on something to watch??? And I did slam my leg into the couch today.  But I'm willing to give it a little time.

About "Dark Tort"

I gave "Dark Tort" by Diane Mott Davidson two stars.  This is a murder mystery series and not the first book in the series.  It's the first time I've read this series, and it's definitely one of those books you can pick up in the middle of series and have little trouble following.

In this series a caterer stumbles onto murders that she solves with the help of friends and her cop husband.  Behind the scenes there is lots of cooking and the back of the book features several recipes from the story.  This is probably the 4th of these types of books (with recipes) that I've read.  It must be popular with the middle-aged ladies out there, but not this one.  It was a predictable story line that was sometimes rather jumbled.  She took the last chapter to reexplain (wrap-up) everything, in case we didn't sort it all out on our own.

The Yearbook Photo

It was a hard decision, but with the deadline fast approaching, the prince chose this photo to go in the yearbook for his senior photo.  It's my favorite too...or one of them.  It will be cropped to show less of nature and more of his face, but it's a keeper!

Good-bye September

I have said it before, and I'm saying it again.  September is the BEST month to be in our town.  The temperatures have been in the 70*s and 80*s every day.  We've not had any bad weather (not even high winds).  It cools off at night so we have not run out air conditioner all month.  It's been great sleeping weather.  I will miss September.  This coming week we are expected to see highs only in the 40*s for part of the week and will probably see our first hard frost.  Good-bye, September.  Until next year...

The TWIRP Invite

The princess decided to invite her "friend" (not allowed to date until 16 so...) to TWIRP (The Woman Is Required to Pay).  There was much discussion about how best to ask him.  She wanted it to be clever.  I wanted it to be cheep!  Eventually we were both happy.  

They have a running joke where he tells her to, "Make me a sandwich!".  He even has a  t-shirt that says that.  I think it comes from a tv show or movie.  Anyway she usually tells him to make her a sandwich.  She's having none of this!  But it was the perfect way to invite him to TWIRP.  She made him a sandwich of PB&J (really just a pinch of jelly as we were almost out).  She put it in a bag, that when in a box, which went inside another box, and then another box.  There was much bubble wrap and tissue paper and the boxes were all wrapped multiple times.  We drove to his house (she was in contact with his mom to make sure he was home), as she planned to leave it on the front step, ring the doorbell, and run back to the car.  But his mom called when we were minutes away to tell her he'd just gone outside.  Yikes!  She called him back in the house, and the princess was able to successfully complete her mission.

 "Merry Early Christmas Andrew.  Feel free to open it now."

Attached to the sandwich (on the right of the photo) is a note that reads: 

The dream has finally come true. 

 I've made this sandwich especially for YOU.  

Now my only request would be dinner and dancing with the BEST.  

TWIRP with me?

As luck would have it, he said YES!  The hunt for the perfect dress is complete.  Shoes are next.  Stay tuned...

Where there's smoke...

That's not blurry.  That's smoke.  As we watched the JV football game yesterday, we could see this rolling in.  Our state is still on fire.  Someone in the stands yesterday said we've gone 45 days without precipitation. Make that 46 now.  This fire is about 50 miles from us.  The western side of the state is the same.  The cross-country meet was in the northwest part of the state yesterday and was almost canceled due to poor air quality.  I guess it's a good thing cooler temperatures are on the way.  Hopefully they'll bring some rain/snow to put all these fires out.

Night Driving

Part of the work you have to do to get your full driver's licence is 10 hours of night-driving.  That's hard to get during the summer when the sun isn't really down until almost 10 PM, but it's getting easier now.  Slowly, but surely...

A Busy Cheer Day

The prince cheered Friday night and then had to be at a local park at 9AM Saturday to help with a fun-run followed by the city-wide, all-school carnival where the cheer team had a booth.  He was there until mid-afternoon.  Meanwhile, the princess cheered a JV football game--we won!--followed by a varsity volleyball game--we won--before moving onto the carnival, where she worked the booth until it closed at 4:30.  That's a lot of cheer responsibility for one day!!

They got their pompoms this week.  Finally, cheering with pompoms!  And "jazz hands" look so much cooler with sparkly pompoms attached!  They did some nice builds; they aren't quite ready to fly girls around yet, but no one got dropped this week, so it's all good!  The last picture is of them at the volleyball game.  It's not great, but it's the best I got, as they were almost done by the time I got over there.

Friday Night Lights

Fall is in the air, and the nights are getting darker sooner.  I had to use my "night" setting at the game Friday, and it makes action blurry.  Grrr...  It's a bummer, because these are some new, cool builds.  They did a great job and didn't drop anyone.  You can't tell, but those girls on top were spinning around.  I like the last one as it shows the beginning of the end of the build as Ally starts to drop.  :)  Only 2 more home games before playoffs.  I don't know if our boys will pull off a trip this year, but it'll be close.  They lost this weekend but only by one touchdown.  

The Rest Of My Week

This is why I need a new blog.  Should I really post this here?  Too late.  I just did!

My Week

Nature

Last night the princess and I were once again discussing her run-in with the antelope.  She said, "That was the scariest thing to ever happen to me."   

I said, "Really?  Wasn't the skunk in your window well that you thought was an intruder scarier?"

"Oh yeah.  It was.  I forgot about that."

After a minute she added, "I hate nature."

She does.  She really does.  :)

Eggnog

My kids LOVE eggnog.  I like one drink--one sip--every 5 years.  The king isn't a big fan.  But our kids would drink it by the gallon, if only I could afford to buy it for them like that.  And " by the gallon" I mean each of them would drink a gallon each day!  It's eggnog season now which means I buy a quart every couple of weeks and they have to share it!  I bought it Saturday.  It's gone.  I think they are "eggnog-aholics"!  

The Antelope Stampede

Here's the sweet princess at the start of 1st grade.  Cuteness, I know.

Fast-forward 9 years.  It's the beginning of 9th grade.  And she's learning to drive.  Yesterday, as she drove us to a cross country meet, she was recounting the story of her near-fatal encounter with a "herd of antelope"--TWO.  I wish I'd had a video recorder.  My version won't do it justice as you won't see her hands waving WHILE SHE'S DRIVING or hear me laughing hysterically!  Still.  I'm glad she lived to tell the tale.

In her words--to the best of my recollection (with my thoughts in parenthesis):

Did I tell you about the antelope that tried to stampede me Thursday?  Well, I cut across the field to where you were picking me up (there was a sidewalk she could have chosen though it would have made the walk longer), and I heard "ker-thump, ker-thump, ker-thump" behind me.  These two male antelope with really big reindeer horns (taking both hands off the wheel to mimic antlers above her head--already I'm cracking up because she uses "reindeer horns" instead of antlers but HELLO!  Both hands on the wheel!) came running toward me, chasing each other. They galloped around me two times, obviously fighting over their lady-love, and spitting up all kinds of dust!  I don't even think they knew I was there.  Meanwhile, this guy on the road pulls up to watch.  He didn't even get out to help.  He was just sitting there laughing.  Finally they ran off, still chasing each other, and that guy just drove away.  He didn't even ask if I was okay!!!

We live in an antelope-heavy area.  They are EXTREMELY skittish of people.  They wouldn't usually charge a human (unless they thought you were coming after their babies), but watch out!  You don't want to get in the way when they are fighting over their lady-love with their big reindeer horns!!!

I do so love this girl!

The Circus

That's the top of the prince's head.  He and the princess went to the circus yesterday with Aunt Kathi.  Aunt Kathi could hardly sleep the night before.  She was so excited.  The kids have been to the circus with her before, and she's a little bummed that they are growing up.  Who will go with her now?  She even mentioned to the princess that she hoped she would have babies soon so she'd have someone to go with!!!  The princess declined--good thing since she's 14!!!  And just in case you're unaware, Aunt Kathi has her own daughter who is plenty old enough to have some kids for her!!!  Anyway they were a little disappointed in this top-of-the-line circus.  No ringmaster and only one ring--not three.  The prince was most impressed with the band (they even have "clean up the elephant poop" music).  And they both were impressed with the acrobats.  Thanks for making the arrangements Aunt Kathi!

Best Class Ever

That's the prince, on the right.  They are riding a nice, Coach bus on a school field trip.  On this day, last week, they were headed to the mountain resort town nearby.  After passing through the town, they took the nice, Coach bus on a dirt road for 20 miles.  They got out and hiked for a few hours, got back, made lunch, and then took the bus home.  It was an all-day trip for this one class, and there will be more like it.  The class is called "Life Skills".  Is hiking really a life skill?  I don't know.  It's really a health/PE class, but they never meet in the gym, and they have been to several parks already this year.  He has it 1st period, and they meet at these locations and are back in time for 2nd period.  He is loving this class.  I'm not sure what they'll do once the weather turns, but I do know this class includes a couple of skiing trips.  Is this the BEST CLASS EVER for a senior, or what???

When I asked how the hike was he said, "It was good.  But We just kept going and going and eventually figured out that an adult wasn't with us so we turned around and went back.  I guess we went an extra mile or so!"  DUH!  Stay with the group, silly!

And we got off CHEAP for this trip.  The kids were put into groups, and each group was to make part of their lunch--main dish, side dish, dessert.  He was in the dessert group.  I spent $3 on marshmallows for s'mores.  Some kids had to bring hamburger!  

By the way, that's Ben sitting next to the prince,  I wish his eyes were open.  He has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen, EVER.  Just sayin'...

Good Lookin'!

It was homecoming for some of the cousins last night.  In their towns Homecoming is a more formal affair.  And this was Jajuan's first year to get to go!  Good times for everyone!

CREEPER!

A couple of years ago the prince was featured in a local newspaper about some mascoting he was doing for his high school.  Last night someone contacted him via facebook and twitter claiming to be from a mascoting organization.  I told him to have them send documentation to our email if they are legit.  But he said he became suspicious when they A) asked for the name of the current mascot and B) asked if there were any pictures of him taking the mascot outfit off!!!  GROSS!!!!!!

Worst OTC so far!

Yesterday I made a reference to MB about it being my worst OTC day so far this school year.  She came here looking for the story.  There isn't one story.  OTC is where the kids come (my room) during their lunch hour to finish the homework they didn't finish--Opportunity To Complete (OTC).  

Yesterday was a bad combination of kids acting at their worst.  One was sent to the hall.  One was sent to the office.  Hall Boy and Office Boy got a detention for their antics.  Others in the room just seemed off their rockers!

When MB asked about it I was already worrying about today's OTC.  Several of the same kids, including Hall Boy and Office Boy were scheduled as were about 40 kids total--I have 27 desks.  But as it turned out, today went much better.  Office Boy didn't even come to my room; he just took himself straight to the office.  And Hall Boy was much better behaved--probably because he feared another detention.  As they all finished their work I let them leave, and by the end of the hour I only had about 20 kids left.  Hall Boy even got his work done and didn't get sent to the hall today!  

I'm tellin' ya.  Ya just never know!

Are you blind???

I had a follow-up doctor's appointment today.  A weird throat thing that has ended up being allergies so all is well.  When the doctor walked in the room today he said, "Wow!  You look so much better than you did the last time you were in my office!"  

What?  I saw him 5 weeks ago when it was summer.  Back when I got more sleep.  Back when I had less on my plate.  Back when I had a tan.  And I didn't think I looked THAT bad 5 weeks ago.  But he must have noted it in my chart. 

Is he blind?  It must be the extra layer of make-up I put on this morning trying to disguise the fact that I only got about 5 hours of sleep last night!  He lectured me for 5 minutes last time about getting enough sleep--there is no clinical link between lack of sleep and allergies, but he felt compelled to lecture.  

He invited me to come back a year from now.  I bet I'll look flippin' FANTASTIC by then!

It must be hard being so perfect.

Tonight the princess was getting ready for dance and put her hair up in an amazing bun.  I told her as much.  She let out a heavy sigh and said, "I was going for a messy bun, but it turned out perfect instead."  Must be rough!