I Might Suggest...

Wish You Here.....

2009-03-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

Ever since I went to Gettysburg with my first grade class I've been buying postcards... not as a collection, but to send. I wanted to show that I GO places... girl on the move - yup.. that's me. But there's one glitch.... I never send them - not ever. I always have the best intentions, but then they stack.... dolphins, beach umbrellas, mountains, sunsets... laughing at me... "Why did you bring us home? We're still HEEEEERE..." When I would remember my address book the front desk would have no stamps, when I'd bring stamps I couldn't find them... If I found stamps.. there were no addresses...

Last month we went to Florida and I thought the girls would go for the cheap gift store purchase and a good rainy day activity. It worked.. they felt like vacation shoppers and then attacked the cards with the same energy as a macaroni craft... Yet, now, I'm guilty.... "Momma, Delaney never got our cards... Neither did Grandma..." WHY?..."Girls, your Momma has a condition. It's called, I wish that you knew I wish you were here!" .... So, please consider this my postcard to everyone... from everywhere I've ever been. I wish you were there, but not really, I was home before I knew it.

Betrayed

2009-03-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

For Christmas 2005 George gave me a mudroom - complete with an extra (albeit old) freezer, life-size storage cabinet, coat closet slash pantry, and..... front load washer & dryer. I fought the idea of the expense, but once I saw those stacked white boxes with their space odyssey port hole doors I knew my years of unfinished, lint filter ladened, concrete walled drudgery was over... My new laundry area was sunny yellow and decorated with mid-scale Longaberger baskets... it was quite the HGTV "reveal."

At first I ignored the shaking... as it grew more violent there were times I thought some Blackhawks were using my roof as a telepad... eventually there was an unexplained leak - I blamed the new cats - then... hard plastic shards were attaching themselves to my kids fleece pajamas like burrs.

I called Sears. After waiting several days to arrive, he took thirty seconds to say "I have really bad news. It's the bearing(s).. It will take over $900 to fix it. Do you want to?" Did I WANT TO? NO, I didn't WANT to fix a nearly brand new machine! My last machine was free and older than me and hey, I got rid of it because it was ugly... not because it was broken... Somewhere out there, that thing is still spinning away! "Yeah, these don't last as long as the top loading ones.".... REALLY? 39 months isn't "as long."... After I exchanged $65 for a $100 coupon off my next Kenmore Quiet Pak II - I needed some alone time.

Why? Why the betrayal, the abandonment? Was it my fault? Was it because I washed any hard surface thing that fit in that stainless steel diameter? ... The Leap Frog Refrigerator alphabet (in a garment bag); the Target bathroom foot stool (it's just too hard to clean under those slip resistant discs); shoes - many many shoes; beachtowels accidentally harboring moon sand; maybe it was me... maybe this wasn't my Mother's Electrolux... maybe I need to be gentler? Regardless.. it hurts.

Now, especially after the dishwasher's demise just the day before I am on a first name basis with Jerry the Sears appliance sales associate who's just nineteen and putting himself through Carroll Community college - I guess it's good to help in the cause.

So, today, thanks to twelve months 'same as cash' we start over... It's the Quiet Pak IV... it's flashier, more options, more ways to break... (break my heart is more like it)... I couldn't wait to start a load... softer now though... children's play clothes (no shoes)... just to hear the purrr, ... Welcome Home Baby!

A Partnership...George is on the blogwagon...

2009-01-06T15:21:00.000-08:00

George is officially on the blogwagon.... he calls me with these inspired ideas...and it's good to hear him laugh at himself (even when it's at my expense)... I encourage you to encourage him at:
http://imgonnagetmeablog.blogspot.com/

2009 - My Personal To Do List

2009-01-03T06:06:00.001-08:00

I'm sure there's a Good Housekeeping magazine somewhere that promotes going public with ones "to do" list. Probably helps in honoring the committment. I saw the idea from friend and blogger "Mousetower." Hers was very ambitious (but she'll probably have it completed by the end of tax season) and hers also involved a great deal of sewing related activities....

1) Perpetually Craig's List everything that is not being used or enjoyed (that means I keep the kids). If it's not a sellable items throw it in the van and head for the Rescue Mission.

2) Find a way to have our July 2000 wedding video edited. I'm sure the guy doesn't work from VHS anymore, I should probably call. (The editing is paid for, but I've been busy - look for this In my 2010 list as well).

3) Clean out closets at least three times per year.

4) Organize barn (that's where all of the storage is).

5) Apply for Section 8a (disadvantaged business status) - this is a January priority.

6) Apply for Maryland (women owned) - MBE/WBE status - 1st quarter priority.

7) Decorate computer lab

8) Clean or replace basement carpet

9) Book one full week of camping vacation

10) Have all scrapbooking within one year of being current

I guess I should include health & fitness goals..

11) Eat at least one fruit & one vegetable & drink one water bottle per day

Shoot! I forgot spiritual issues... I'm a mess! goals? spiritual goals.... George suggests, "Obey Your Husband."... I'll get back to you....

There... that's a good start! What's on YOUR "To Do" List?

Whether you are red or blue - this is just plain funny!

2009-01-01T15:29:00.000-08:00

Thanks to gracesuponus for this fantastic visual!

Happy Unscheduled New Year!

2009-01-01T11:10:00.001-08:00

While I try to give the kids lots of exposure to activities (t-ball; dance; camps; gymnastics; scouts et al) I think it's so important to schedule nothing... Some folks call them "Pajamas Days!" That really works for me - I also think it does a lot for family team building. How can they be close if they're only together on the run? A friend once told me that they tell their four children, "You're a Partenza - and that means something!" I LOVE that! Can you imagine if every family was it's own team? So we are the Schooley's! No uniforms yet, but we can work on that.

Goodbye 2008 - Goodbye to Princesses!

2008-12-30T17:05:00.000-08:00

It appears that we did Disney World in the nick-of-time. It's so rare now that anyone wants to be Snow White or Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty - we're more the Disney Channel now than Disney Dreams... It doesn't seem fair. I understand that a 7 year old would be finishing up, but even our 4 year old is following suit...quickly.... So, I guess it is time to say a sweet goodnight to the girls, Aurora, Cindy and the gang... it was a lovely horsedrawn ride... And they Lived Happily Everafter....

Monday Movie Review

2008-12-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

For the first time EVER I went to the movies on Christmas - with my family and Mother In Law, Shirley. Being there was marvelous! We saw Marley & Me and... it was pretty good although disjointed at times. I guess I thought it would be a movie about a Dog and his overwhelmed Family instead it seemed to be about a Family that happened to have a really naughty dog. I definitely didn't think it was ideal for some young children. 2 3/4 stars.

Just two "Regal Theater Point Days" later George and I went on a date to see Yes Man. Look, other than In Living Color and Truman, I'm simply not a Jim Carrey - how many ways can you twist your face - fan. However, this was laugh out loud funny. My only challenge was getting past the fact that his love interest was about 1/2 his age... Also, there was one scene that I found objectionable (obviously do not take the kids), but George seemed to really like it... hmmm... other than that.... 3 BIG stars... so I recommend that you turn off your reality gauge and say "SURE" to YES Man!

Old Man - Or is that Old Man Winter? Still Wanted - V-Box Salt Spreader

2008-12-27T20:49:00.000-08:00

While normal people are hoping for a snow day - I'm watching the weather and biting my nails... For only a Snow Contractor really knows the pitfalls....

The Punishment of My Departure

2008-12-27T20:44:00.000-08:00

SO, After my Panera high, I came home... ready to see my babies... all four of them.... The largest one, curiously enough, in the exact same "La-Z-Boy" position as when I left. Following a glance at the sink and chip bags and more used cups then occupants, I surveyed the girls room..... hmmmmmmmmm..... (Stock Photo provided for dramatic effect - not the actual room)... "Logan, what did you do in here?" she quickly replied, "We played Pinata!"... indeed...

Four Friends-Three Hours-Too Much Coffee-One High Backed Booth

2008-12-27T13:42:00.000-08:00

All add up to a recharged battery!

Thank God for impromptu get togethers... Susie, Beth, Trudy and I shared a little time today at Panera - an oasis of peace in this Post-Christmas world... We discussed Disney, kids, Christmas, homes, vacations and so much more... It makes me laugh to think what three hours in a Panera booth would do to any normal man... but for women???? It's like a warm hug.... Happy Birthday Tru!

Another Day In Paradise...

2008-12-21T08:59:00.000-08:00

Have you ever scheduled an activity for the children - planning every detail - just knowing that you are giving them a great experience... only to find out (for whatever reason) the mark was missed. Here's Logan's response to a long day at Animal Kingdom Disney World - Asia on a hot Floridian day... "We paid a lot for this - and YOU ARE going to have a good time" was met with this expression. Truth was that she and Camryn (who you can see is just as pleasant in the background) just wanted time in the unspectacular "Value Resort" pool.... They won. I loved Disney, but we could have done this at home!

Mimmie Counting Down!

2008-12-21T08:52:00.000-08:00

Three Quarter Century Mark is just TWO Days Away for our Beautiful Mimmie - My Momma.

Button Button Who has the Button?

2008-12-21T07:20:00.001-08:00

When the girls were very young we stumbled across Family Fun's version of what we quickly called "Buttons." Now we do these throughout the year - the only true variation being the seasonal color of the M&M's....

Buttons

Large Bag of Pretzels - "Snaps"
Hershey Kisses
Hershey Hugs
M&M's

Preheat oven to 170 degrees
Cover cookie sheets with aluminum foil
Cover the aluminum foil with pretzels
Place Hershey Kisses on pretzels

If using Hershey Hugs it is critical that you use separate cookie sheets for the white chocolate Hugs as they melt quicker

Put cookie sheets in oven
Check every few minutes - once the chocolate is soft (but not totally melted) remove from oven
Push one M&M into each Kiss (or Hug) - I prefer the M&M letters to face down, my children do not seem to care.
Refridgerate or freeze trays for just a few minutes

Just A Head!

2008-12-20T13:38:00.000-08:00

Just 3 days until Mom (Mimmie) turns 75!

Love on the Rocks... Ain't No Big Surprise...But THIS Was! :)

2008-12-17T07:08:00.000-08:00

Pour me a drink and I'll tell you some lies... now THAT's what I expect from Neil Diamond. And let me say, I really think he's great - Sweet Caroline - however,... this morning on a local Country Station of all things, they played - Neil Diamond sings "Oh Holy Night." Of course, I know that the Lord celebrates when we praise him, perhaps especially in song, but unless Mr. Diamond has had some sort of theological conversion... well, it was as surprising to me as "Pavarotti's - A Pickin' and a Grinnin' Bluegrass Tour"

I have Bagnesia.. do you?

2008-12-16T21:50:00.000-08:00

My best friend from growing-up (and my maid of honor) has co-launched a company called Bagnesia. I think it's a great concept and I'm so proud of her (I forget my bags almost everytime!) ....I fully expect to see this become one of Oprah's Favorite Things and I wanted to pass it on to you. ... If you look at the photo gallery Pam is the slender blond walking down the street, sitting at the little 2 seater table, and has the visor on walking out the door....

http://www.bagnesia.shutterfly.com/

The Spaghettiesburg Address ...

2008-12-16T20:23:00.000-08:00

I'd been telling the girls that we would go Outlet Shopping soon in Pennsylvania. They had no idea what Outlet Shopping meant, but they were very excited. It would be our first ever - Official Girls Day Out!

The night before, Camryn asked me if we were finally going to "Spaghettiesburg." I told her absolutely we were and prevented her more knowledgable sisters from correcting her...

Later that weekend my 4 year old precious blond was singing with the car radio a winter seasonal favorite... "Let It GO... Let It GO.... Let It GO!".... And isn't that great advice? Out of the mouths of babes... my sweet girl... don't change too fast... I like your language better!