Just So You Women Know ...

You have a pretty sweet deal. Dr. Phil dedicated an entire show about women having 30 hours of leisure time each week.

I would like to say for the record that I am not a Dr. Phil fan. His voice alone is enough to drive me crazy. That being said, I still check his preview from time to time - just in case he's got a show worth watching. The other day's topic was about the leisure time study done by some dude.

Of course, the women in the audience were appalled at the idea. They offered all kinds of evidence that their waking (and sleeping) hours were spent caring for their families and homes. But there was one woman agreed with the research dude. Her response was that all the things moms do for their families are by choice - therefore fulfilling the "leisure time" theory. Personally, I define leisure time as when I am doing something strictly for me that requires me to do nothing for anybody else.

I didn't watch the entire show - something else came up. But I guess the the 30 minutes that I did watch Dr. Phil could be considered my "leisure time." Only 29 hours and 30 minutes left!

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Things that make today great: BSC with Lindley; boot camp and facebook comments; chicken salad sandwich delivery by Molly; sweet note from Anita; phone chat with Marilyn

Calling In The Experts

Today I went to a plant nursery with Matt the Landscaper. He is currently rehabbing my yard, pulling out the grody stuff and putting in new stuff. We went to the nursery together so that I could see what he proposed to put in my yard, even though I told him it really didn't matter.

When we got there, he went into the office to get a plant dude to help us, even though Matt had a good idea of what we were after. Plant Dude took us in various greenhouses to find plants that liked shade, and then outside to find plants that liked sun. Frankly, they all had green leaves and stems, so basically I just picked out the stuff Matt and PD said would work.

If it were left up to me, I'm probably just pick out things with pretty flowers, which is probably why about 93% of the flowers I planted last year died the week after I planted them - thus the call to Matt this year. I need an expert to make my yard look good. Matt got an expert when we got to the nursery - guess he wanted another expert.

Guess that's also why I don't count on my self to exercise and go to class led by Josh, the boot camp expert. I also don't try to draw my own blood to donate, or drill my own teeth, or even paint my own toenails. I need experts for all those things.

The big question though, is this: with all the experts I use, it would seem that everybody is an expert at something. So what is my field of expertise? Where am I an expert? I guess I'd better find out, because there's somebody out there waiting for me to help!

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Things that make today great: BSC with Lindley and Molly; picking out plants with Matt; Steve making Bubba burgers on the grill

This Pretty Much Sums Me Up Today!

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Things that make today great: BSC with Lindley; Molly's Vinylmation prizes; lunch delivery via Maribeth and Mathieu; boot camp Monday

Checks and Balances

Whew! I got it done!! I finally got my checking account balanced and put in order. Boy, do I feel better!!

Back in the Stone Age when I opened my first checking account, I took it very seriously. I wrote neatly, entered all my checks in the register, and made sure I balanced my account when the statement came in the mail. Not much has changed in the decades since.

Sure, now I get the statements online and I keep my register on the computer. But I still enter every transaction. Every few days, I pull up my checking account online and enter those transactions I haven't entered. I make sure all the bills that are paid automatically online get entered in my computer register. When the statement comes in, I print it out and make sure everything balances.

For the past month, due to a variety of reasons like travel, half-marathons, a grand-daughter, and general laziness, I had sort of gotten behind. The last time I had "gotten it all together" checkbook-wise, was the middle of February. But tonight, I'm current. Woo hoo!!

I realize that for many (or most) people, this may seem a little anal, and it may be. But I like knowing how much (or actually little) money I have in the bank - to the penny. I like knowing what's paid and what needs to be paid. I don't always like knowing how much money I've spent, but at least I know how much I have left to not spend.

Now, if I could only apply this attention to detail to other parts of my life, like calories consumed, or calories burned, or miles wogged. Maybe then I wouldn't have those overdraft saddle bags to carry around on my thighs!

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Things that make today great: Brunch with Sam, Lynnette, Lindley, and Maribeth; updating financial stuff; cleaning up a tiny bit; picking up Steve and Molly from the airport

What I Did On A Beautiful Spring Saturday

Nothing. What a great way to spend the day!

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Things that make today great: Stay in pajamas day; talking with Neighbor Ned and meeting Ruby the dog; Matt the Landscaper making the yard pretty; pizza with Maribeth

What Cute Looks Like

.... just in case you were wondering!

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Things that make today great: BSC; Friday at boot camp; more of Matt's yard work; Demos with Maribeth, Sam, Lynnette, and Lindley

My Path to a Pint

Today I gave a pint of blood at the Red Cross. Here's how it went:

• In order to get to my appointment on time, I decided to avoid delays associated with traffic lights and travel via the Interstate. Unfortunately it was backed up, requiring me to take alternate routes, all of which were backed up. I would have saved time by sitting through every red light I would have passed, had I gone my usual route.
• When I was called back to do all the necessary computer paperwork. Merry couldn't get the computer to log on. She asked Cherry for help, but she couldn't make it work, either. Finally we moved to another computer, which did work, and she got me checked in.
• We got to the part where I had to answer all the personal health questions. Except there were no personal health questions on the screen. Merry came back and couldn't get the questions to appear. She called in Kerry, who also couldn't get it to work. Terry came in and through a series of manipulations, got the questions to come up, but I would not be able to answer them on my own. Instead, Merry had to read out each one to me, I had to answer, and she had to check "yes" or "no."
• Finally, we got all the computer crap done, and I was ready to sign my permission for them to take my blood. Merry went out to get the paper from the printer. She came back and said that the BVD or BVR or BMW or whatever the official paper is called, wouldn't print on both sides like it was supposed to. Kerry, Cherry, Terry, and some other Erry's came in to help, but they couldn't help either. So, in my folder I had about four one-sided papers marked "duplicate" but since there was no back page.
• They called in Perry from upstairs, who is the resident computer geek. He told Merry to shut down the computer. Except he meant to log out, and then got all upset and teary-eyed when he realized Merry was shutting down the computer. He gave a little lecture about why "people didn't understand the difference between logging out and shutting down." He also talked some gossip about codes and the supervisor and power points, all of which I felt was privvy. And sort of boring.
• Finally, computers got back on and Merry goes to the main computer or printer or Nintendo and got my two-sided paper. I signed, and went with Berry, who had been constantly peering over the cubicle in which I was entombed. Sort of like the vultures you see on the highway.
• Anyhoo, Berry leads me to my gurney and I notice that Jerry is also standing there. So, I surmise that either Berry or Jerry is training. It's up to me to figure out which. It doesn't take long.
• Berry starts chatting about how she can get blood and stick needles, but she hates the paperwork. I decide Jerry is the trainer, and Berry is the trainee. I wonder if I'm the first real LIVE person she's done. At this point, I sort of wish she had a checklist. So I could help her.
• Anyhow, she feels around on my arm and tells Jerry that she feels a big healthy vein and she feels the artery. I'm hoping she knows which is which and which she needs to poke. She makes her drawings so she will know where to poke. She gets out the betadine swabs and drenches my arm.
• She gets all the bags and tubes ready and works on her handheld thingy that spits out the labels. Soon it's time for the needle stick, and she nails it. Jerry says, "What else do you need to do?" She remembers she is supposed to cover up the needle. I decide looking out the window is a good thing. She and Jerry also discuss some other points of giving blood, that probably were covered in yesterday's class.
• Soon, my bag and tubes and whatever else is filled, and I'm done. Berry bags and tags and pulls out the needle and bandages me and sends me out for my snack. Another pint for someone, totaling a gallon I've give over the years.

So that's my experience of giving blood today. It wasn't typical, and at any point I might have considered leaving because things weren't going well. But I didn't because I wasn't going to let little things get in my way - somebody's life depends on it.

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Things that make today great: Boot camp; all the people at Red Cross, my t-shirt and pin, and snacks; sewing curtains and hanging pictures at Molly's; going with Sam to pick up Lindley at her day care; seeing pictures of Morgan

Pudding, Fudge, and Kitties, Oh My!

Today I made a banana pudding, fantasy fudge, and three baby travel bed sheets. In other words, in terms of cooking and sewing, I've done my quota for the year. So, instead of blogging, here is a sweet kitty video. Deal with it!

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Things that make today great: BSC with Lindley and the Ms; Shirley at boot camp; banana pudding and fantasy fudge; using flannel remnants for sheets; Logan's for dinner with Steve, Sam, Lynnette, and Lindley

In Case You Didn't Know ...

... how to take a shower.

... how to boil water.

... how to breathe.

Thank goodness for the Internet!

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Things that make today great: BSC with Lindley; Day 2 of butt camp with Molly; pizza dinner with the family; Biggest Loser

Here I Go Yet Again

This morning at 5:45am, Molly and I started another session of boot camp. This session is nearly full, so there are about 28 other ladies. Most of them are newcomers, so at least for today I was not the most out of shape.

By my calculations, I should be weighing a negative amount, if I had lost the weight I should have lost since the first session of boot camp. Every session I believe I will (a) work extra hard, (b) add extra workouts and swim sessions and ride a bike and jog, and (c) eat sensibly, healthy, and within reason. And at the end of every session, I realize that while I am in better shape that I was four weeks previously, I'm still not where I want to be.

So I wonder - will this be the session that it all comes together? Will this be the session that at the end of it, I really notice a big change? Today I didn't do as well I would have liked, but I did start a new session of bootcamp. Tomorrow at 5:45am, I will go again. Maybe tomorrow I will get another component of the plan in place.

Here's hoping, anyway.

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Things that make today great: Doik Daycare with the Ms; Molly becoming employed; new session of boot camp and seeing fellow bootcampers; MB bringing lunch; reading books to Lindley; Maggie getting tape stuck on her and going beserk

So Maybe I Should Stick to Takeout ...

So the broccoli quiche I attempted for brunch didn't turn out as planned. But it could have been worse. And no, this picture is not from my oven - it rarely gets this much action!

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Things that make today great: Family brunch and Lindley in her monkey outfit; Morgan Lindsey Graves (actually born yesterday, but got all the details today); chatting on the phone with Marilyn; Sunday afternoon nap on a rainy day; unstopping the toilet with Maribeth

Meet Rambo

This is my new grand-dog, Rambo. He was adopted by Molly at the County Dog Pound last week. He is two years old and a sweet dog.

Last Thursday afternoon and most of this morning, I threaded chicken wire around the bottom of the chain link fence in Molly's back yard. I did this so Rambo would not find the gaps and decide to take a tour of the neighborhood. It was tedious and at times painful (thanks to the wire, the thorns, and the old lady knees), but I got it done. Now all we have to do is wait to see if Rambo finds another hole that we didn't remedy.

I guess that's what we grands do - whatever is needed for the safety and happiness of those we call our grands - dogs, cats, and children.

And in the end, it's nothing compared to the blessings we get back from them!

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Things that make today great: Fencing and Costco-ing and Target-ing and BabiesRUs-ing with the Ms; Matt cleaning up the front yard; hot shower after yard work

Mothering Is A Tough Gig

Just when I think I'm a complete failure as a mother, I see something (or someone) who reminds me I'm not - or at least not alone.


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Things that make today great: Doik Daycare; Matt and his workers cleaning up the yard; Steve's Bubba Burgers on the grill

One Way To Look At The Day

Today started off with an hour of picking and poking and lecturing about gingivitis and bacteria by the dental technician. It ended with fortifying the fence so Molly's new dog Rambo won't escape. In between, I missed the breakfast shift at McDonald's by two minutes thus denying Molly her bacon/egg/cheese biscuit, Lindley power-pooped through a diaper through a sleeper through a blanket onto my $8 sweater from Target, and I bit my tongue. I also ran the dishwasher, took out the trash, and aided the ill, among other things.

One might think that all these things would make it a downer day. But I would rather think of these events as affirmations of the blessings I have. I have all my own teeth, a new grand-dog, a granddaughter with healthy elimination, the money to be able to eat breakfast (if I get there when it's served), and a house with a dishwasher and back door trash pickup.

It's all in how you view things, especially if you view them with a thankful eye.

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Things that make today great: Lindley time with Molly; Molly and Lindley's closet; good dental checkup; porch time with Lindley; Rambo coming home; fixing fence with Molly and Rambo; Maribeth getting heating pad for Steve and added treats

Multi-lu-plicity

Sometimes when you're growing up, you wish things were different. If you are one of a group of siblings, you wish you were an only child. If you are an only child, you wish you had siblings. You might wish you were a girl/boy if you are a boy/girl. You might wish you were the oldest or the youngest if you were the youngest or the oldest or the one in the middle. Sometimes you just wished you were different.

Sometimes I wished I had a twin. So, today when Molly was helping me (or actually doing it) photoshop a picture, she also did this one. Here's our story:

These are my quadruplet sisters, Deeanne, Joanne, Sueanne, and me, Luanne. Deeanne and Sueanne work at Disney World (they're the ones on the end). They never got married. They obviously got the growth genes. Joanne is in the blue shirt - she is a veterinarian in Washington, has a husband and five sons, and does triathlons. I'm in the white shirt, and, well, you know all about me. We get together every year at Disney World, because Joanne and I love it, and Deeanne and Sueanne can get us some pretty sweet deals. We do have an older sister, Myrtle, but she lives on a commune in Utah and thinks Disney World is evil.

Okay, so maybe that was a little creepy, but it was fun. It was fun to imagine four of me and the different personalities and lives we could have. It was fun to imagine being someone different but me at the same time. It was fun to be out of my life and in my life in some other way.

In the end, I'm glad to be me in my life. But it's good to know that Deeanne, Joanne, and Sueanne are there - just in case.

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Things that make today great: Lindley time with Molly and Maribeth; talking yard plans with Matt the Landscaper; chocolate pie and frozen Milky ways with Molly; Maribeth's BSC purchases

The Internet and Me

I was there for the dawning of the internet. Back then it was connected to the phone line and you basically logged on and then went and did your laundry while it connected. Things have gotten a bit faster since the good old days.

Now instead of being thankful that I don't need a land line, or time on my hands for logging in, or slow service all around, I get impatient if the very thing I want isn't available to me immediately. I want to read my email, check my facebook, and surf the net NOW!!! Maybe I need to chill.

Maybe that's what I'm supposed to be learning in my current state of internet-less. Last night, our internet got slower and slower until it stopped completely. Steve called Comcast and after consulting with the dude on the phone, the decision was made to go to the Comcast office to switch out the modems. Or at least for me to go and switch out the modems.

I did that early this morning, came home and reconnected the modem, called Comcast because it didn't take, connected the modem to a different cable, and then scheduled an appointment for an expert to come to the house (first appointment available is tomorrow afternoon) and fix it because it still wasn't working. I thought we were up and going later this afternoon when all the modem's green lights were lit (maybe I should have gotten lit instead). But no - all I got was a Comcast display telling me to download the software (which I did), reset the modem (which I also did), restart my computer (which I did several times), and give up (which I did since I didn't rush to cancel tomorrow's appointment, thank goodness).

Currently I am at Molly's on her internet so that I can detail my efforts. I guess you don't realize how much time you spend on something until you don't have it. I've heard people with Blackberries who say they have withdrawal when their phones act up. I get it now. I spent all day not knowing who is friends with whom on facebook. I wasn't one of the first to know that Tiger is poised to play golf again. I haven't been able to search for cute kitty videos.

I just have to remember that there was a time I got my news via the newspaper, I didn't know who had friends, and the world seemed to keep spinning without my input.

Maybe that's why my house was cleaner!
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Things that make today great: grocery shopping with Molly; Molly taking Steve's stuff out of my closet and to the consignment store; veggie chili for lunch; watching "The Dumb Morgans" movie with Maribeth and Molly; internet saga

Blogging Fail

The ... internet ... is ... slow... so ... it ... is ... hard ... to ... surf ... the ... internet ... for ... interesting ... topics.

So, I cannot provide you with any cute kitty videos or direct you to any spiffy websites. I cannot issue a spirited commentary on current events or share my exalted opinion on the latest dumbell celebrity.

And since I am still suffering the effects of Daylight Saving Time, my brain is foggy. It thinks it's bedtime but is conflicted because the clock says no.

So, you can consider this a blogging fail. Unless you count any words as a blogging success. In that case, I pass!

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Things that make today great: Staying in my pjs until noon and getting stuff done at home; picking up Maribeth at the airport; preparing Disney trip stuff for Jeni and Jamison; Molly picking up Chinese food for family dinner

Home Shopping

I read this quote today:

"When you can't have what you want, it's time to start wanting what you have." - Kathleen A. Sutton -

It's a great perspective on looking at the many things with which we surround ourselves. Certainly when we acquired that outfit, or book, or exercise doohickey, or whatever, we simply had to have it. We thought it would make us look better, or seem smarter, or feel healthier. We had the means, and we got the thing we wanted at the time we wanted it.

But somewhere along the line we stopped wanting it. We still possess the thing - so on some level we still must want it. But maybe now we have to cultivate the want. We have to find the reason we are still hanging on to it. It's a whole new way of looking at the stuff we have sitting around. It's certainly an economical way of shopping - in our own home.

So instead of scanning the ads and magazines, we can scour the closets and recesses of our own home. Maybe we can find that object that we had to have once and have now forgotten. Maybe we can find that excitement we experienced when the thing was acquired and begin to use it.

And if not, maybe we can let it go to someone who will be excited to own it. After all, isn't the purpose of having something to want it and enjoy it?

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Things that make today great: Brunch with the Ogles, Smiths, and Davidsons; watching MSU Dawgs almost beat Kentucky in SEC Championship game; Cook Molly and her brunch delights; Steve picking up dinner

Daylight Saving Time

Apparently it is that time of year again. I have to go through the house and change the clocks - unless I ignore them and get someone else to change them. I apparently will lose an hour of sleep, which I need and it is no consolation that I will get it back in the fall. I have to get used to it being darky dark in the mornings again and light in the evening when it should be getting dark. I have to adjust my internal clock to go by the time on my watch instead of what time it looks like it should be outside. Can you tell that I'm not exactly a fan?

I know that I will have lots of extra daylight hours. It's a spring tradition that promises lots of summer sun to come. It's the theory of late nights of summer fun. It's saving daylight so I can enjoy it. Yippee.

It's just an adjustment. It's just a change. It's something good. At least that's my mantra. So I guess I'd better go to bed to get an early start on saving daylight. Or is it a late start since I am moving the clocks ahead?

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Things that make today great: Pedis and Factory with Molly; accompanying Molly on her adoption quest at the dog pound; Molly and Plates doing my grocery shopping

It's Friday Night!!

Which means tomorrow is Saturday and I can sleep late!! That means sleeping past 5am. Think I'll go get started ...

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Things that make today great: Lindley time with Molly; Targeting with Molly and spitting Starbucks; clean curtains in the den; last day of boot camp for this session

Lessons in Babysitting

1. If the recliner doesn't have a lever and you think you can pull the foot part out with your hand so that the current sleeping baby holder can put her feet up, DON"T DO IT!!! Smashed fingers will result. This advice applies to the babysitter, since the baby is too little to be a factor.

2. Babies are entertained by overweight granny dancing. However, it is best that all cameras and camera phones be confiscated before said dancing commences, lest all of America and the world be entertained by the aforementioned overweight granny dancing.

3. Babies make the schedules. Not mommies, not daddies, not aunties, not grannies, and not the best selling baby books. Babies make the schedule. And it is best if you listen to the babies and do as you're told. Otherwise, you will be doing a lot of overweight granny dancing.

4. Babies like baby swings. Unless they hate them. They hate them because they like the floor gym thingy. Unless they hate the floor gym thingy because they like the mobile in their crib. Unless they hate the mobile in their crib because they like the baby swing. Try to stay current on what baby likes. Or hates.

5. What goes in has to come out. There's lots of openings for it to come out. And it will. The best way not to get splattered by the stuff coming out is to get someone else to be holding the baby when the stuff comes out.

6. A striped onesie and polka-dotted pants make for a fetching outfit. Especially if it's clean and close at hand. And teaches you to keep your mouth shut when baby shows up at your house wearing a similar outfit that her daddy dressed her in.

7. If mommy says baby should probably wear a bib and tells you where they are, but you are too lazy to get one and put it one, baby will end up in a striped onesie and polka-dotted pants. Remember the "what goes in, must come out" theory. Bibs are the first line of defense and a deterrent to a fashion disaster.

8. Babies are the best. Period. End of discussion!

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Things that make today great: Spending the day with Lindley and Molly; Baha Burrito delivered by Molly; camry lady at Ruby Tuesday; Danny and van driver at Toyota; Molly putting IKEA furniture together for me!

Unbridled Joy

Sure, she spent the day with Granny Lu and Aunt Molly, with a surprise visit from Pawpaw, but I don't think that's why she is so happy...

... wonder if this contraption comes in an adult version?

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Things that make today great: Back to butt camp with Molly; spending the day with Lindley

Lessons Learned From The Road

Today Molly and I spent a decade in the car returning from our trip to Nashville. It's amazing how much longer the trip back seems than the trip down. However, we finally made it home, and I wanted to share some of the lessons we learned along the way:

1. Cruise control supposedly helps with your gas mileage. It also helps keep you under the speed limit, especially when the GPS says your average speed is 92 mph.

2. GPS will get you to the nearest Starbucks - but it won't tell if (a) the Starbucks has a drive-through, or (b) the Starbucks is in a Target or Kroger.

3. There are only so many times you can play the Alphabet Billboard Game before your head explodes.

4. Florida has about eighteen gazillion specialty license plates - a problem if you're trying to find all the state license plates and you think you've found a new state, only to find that it a Florida plate.

5. 600 Trivial Pursuit cards will only last a few hours. Clearly not long enough for a complete one-way trip to Florida. Of course, they go even faster when you know the answers to exactly zero of the questions on the cards.

6. In the space of 11 hours, you have the possibility of hearing the same song on the radio at least twice an hour - on different radio stations in different cities in different states. But it only happens to the song you hate most in the world.

7. Eleven hours in the car makes one seriously consider the two terrifying hours spent in an airplane covering the same distance. Both experiences make one consider staying home the most desirable choice.

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Things that make today great: long road trip back to Nashy with Molly; Olive Garden with Molly, Lynnette, and Lindley; sleeping in my own bed

Happy Birthday To You!

Just in case it's your birthday, here are a few freebies for you.

And if it's not your birthday, try here or here or here.

As a last result, you could try this.

Just trying to help ...

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Things that make today great: Ikea-ing with Molly; relaxing in the hot tub at the pool; chatting with ladies about my Mickey robe; Disney monopoly with Molly; cast member help in getting the security tag off; beautiful Florida day

Running Like A Princess

Today I finished my fourth half-marathon since January 9. I actually had the best time that I've had in awhile (but that's still very s-l-o-w). It was a great day - beautiful weather, lots of people to watch, lots of encouragement from spectators, and a successful half marathon.

There were many high points. I was happy not to have fallen when I stepped in the pothole, and even happier when I thought I was about to pass Mile 10, only to find out it was Mile 11. Mile 9 seemed like one long, slow incline (up an on-ramp) that ended up being my longest mile time. There were several runners who were running for friends and family who had cancer, several runners dressed up as Disney characters, and several runners who were running their first half marathon. The real Disney characters were out all over the course and once again, I got to run through Cinderella's castle. As I ran past Mile 13, I looked over and saw Steve and Molly cheering me on.

All in all, a good day for running with 11,000 other princesses. Instead of glass slippers, we wore running shoes. Instead of ball gowns, we wore assorted running togs. Instead of being defined by a midnight deadline, we ran our own time. And instead of waiting for Prince Charming, we ran for ourselves.

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Things that make today great: Beautiful day for a 13.1 wog; Princess Half-Marathon; Steve and Molly waiting at the finish; Earl of Sandwich with Molly; relaxing on the couch and finishing "The Help"; stroll with Steve and Molly to get dinner

Sometimes You Run ... And Sometimes You Don't

Last Saturday, I jogged 3.1 miles in the ESPN The Weekend 5K. Today I mostly walked the Royal Family 5K. One might wonder why the difference in effort in only seven days.

Maybe it's because there were about three times the number of participants in today's race, making for a more clogged course. Maybe it's because there were more children (and strollers) in this race, making it a generally slower pace for everyone. Maybe it's because today's race wasn't timed, whereas last week's was. Maybe it's because I have bigger fish to fry (and more miles to do) tomorrow. Maybe it's because there were three of us today instead of last week's duo. Maybe it's because there were Disney princesses and characters out today on the course. Maybe it's because it was colder today.

Or maybe it's just because I didn't feel like jogging today and I did last week. Maybe just because something seems the same, it isn't. Maybe just because you did something once, doesn't mean you have to have a repeat performance every time. Maybe sometimes it's better to slow down and enjoy the journey.

Today's race wasn't diminished by a slower race than last week. It was fun and I did it with family. I saw other families and friends doing the 5k together, I got a picture with Mickey and Minnie, and I got to wog around Epcot. It was a beautiful morning to enjoy being outside.

How could a 5k be any better than this?

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Things that make today great: Royal 5k with Steve and Molly and all the people (and characters) involved; breakfast at First Watch; new watch replaced for broken one; dinner delivery by Steve and Molly; rocky road ice cream from Ghiradelli

Hello Your Highnesses!

Today I volunteered to pass out race packets during the Princess Half-Marathon Weekend. As you can see, Molly and I were greeted in style (well, so was everyone else, but that doesn't matter). I thought it was a pretty good way to say hello and welcome.

Wonder if they hire out?

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Things that make today great: Meeting people at Expo and giving out race packets; cobb salad at ESPN Cafe; purchases at Expo

X in Exit .... Y in Disney ... Z in Pizza

We made it to Orlando. We did it with only a few stops along the way, many sessions of Jeopardy via Molly's blackberry, and countless games of the alphabet game, name that movie star's movies, and any other game we could make up. We've checked in, been to the grocery store, and picked up pizza for dinner.

I believe that's enough effort for today!!

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Things that make today great: Successful road trip with Molly; pizza for dinner; Shell station with Dippin Dots and boiled peanuts; road games

On The Road Again

Due to some random brain fart, Molly and I decided to drive to Orlando tomorrow. In an effort to make sense of it, I decided to come up with the Top Ten Reasons We Are Road-Trippin' to The Mouse:

1. We are saving $800 in airfare. Hopefully that will cover the cost of the therapy we will need upon our return.

2. We are saving $200 on a rental car. That means $200 more of Disney World crap we can purchase.

3. IKEA is in Orlando, which means we can get stuff. And if we need more IKEA stuff, we can stop on the way in Atlanta. Now, it's just a question of which Toyota to take - the Prius, the Camry, or the Sequoia.

4. Four words - full sized personal products. None of this 3-1-1 clear bag stuff. None of this "what kind of shampoo is this?" None of this "what do you mean, you don't furnish conditioner?" None of this "maybe I can make this teensy bottle last five days."

5. No flying in airplanes for me - 'nuf said.

6. Twelve hours of mother-daughter bonding. Yeah, you know you wish you had this chance. Maybe Molly will explain my phone to me. Or facebook. Or my computer. The possibilities are endless!!

7. The opportunity to appreciate flying in airplanes. For Molly, not me.

8. The probability of getting lost somewhere looking for a Starbucks in rural Tennessee/Georgia/Florida. It's happened before. Maybe I need to figure out my GPS thingy.

9. The possibility of finding boiled peanuts along the road. And goats milk fudge. And gator jerky. Beats a pack of peanuts.

10. But the real reason is: two words - brain fart.

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Things that make today great: Finishing Lindley's daybed cover; lunch with the Ls and Ms; an hour with Jeremiah at Massage Envy; mailing packages and monogramming bags

There Are Cats, and There Are Cats

One of mine (neither has fessed up) left me a dead bird at my back door this morning. I'm not sure if that's better than this cat, though:



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Things that make today great: Shopping successfully for new wogging shoes with Lynnette and Lindley; shoe dude at store; babysitters club meeting with Lindley

Mommies

The announcement came today - a new baby gorilla at my favorite place, Disney's Animal Kingdom. Judging by the smile on her face, Kashata had an easy delivery (or an effective epidural).

Come to think of it, she sort of reminds me of another mother, about 29 years ago. Guess all mommies are the same!

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Things that make today great: Another episode of Davidson Moving company; shopping with Molly; chicken sapa suppa with the family; pictures from Jamison and Jeni