I wasn't going to blog about this because it is embarrassing...and coming from the woman that brought you "Coming In A Little Hot" that should say something.
I quit smoking...my last cigarette was at 8pm Sunday night. I have been taking Chantix for a while and changing my habits to make this time as easy as humanly possible. Yesterday was not too bad...I just tried not to think about it...oh, and I spent most of the day shopping and getting a manicure.
The headache that I have had off and on for the last two days could be because I haven't had any coffee (didn't want to tempt fate, coffee and a cig always went so well together) or just that school hasn't started yet and the boys are driving me nuts.
I was really good, I did not yell at them once...when they got annoying I just said, "boys, if you don't behave Mom is going to go buy some cigarettes."
Yeah, that probably put me right on the Hell Train Express....but it worked and I didn't smoke, scream, or throw a screaming nutty.
I also gave up this little hobby to make quitting easier.
So, lets recap shall we? No coffee, no booze and no cigarettes....
I will be posting as my sanity allows....
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Fugly Feet?
Do you have callouses larger than some of your toes? Dry heels with cracks big enough to store your spare change in?
Say goodbye to your foot woes....forever...or at least for the summer.
I have developed a sure fire way to have beautiful smooth feet....WHILE YOU TAN!!!!
First you will need to locate an "Old School" public pool.
The kind with the rough cement bottom that made your feet bleed as a kid. If you arrive at a public pool and do not see bandaid wrappers in the trash can you need to find a new pool.
Pack your children and all of their pool accoutrement, don't forget the water proof bandaids, and prepare to spend at least 90 minutes at the pool.
This is no-guilt beauty. The kids are perfectly entertained and will not need you to do a thing but "watch this" for the next 90 minutes (as long as they know where the band aids are and how to apply them).
Relax, tan...and when it is time to go...
90 minutes in the pool will have softened up even the most skanky feet, drag them on the bottom of the pool as you make your way to the ladder. You will need to make sure that you get the sides and bottoms for maximum exfoliation.
Yeah you are going to look pretty strange...but people will probably think you are just peeing in the pool, nothing gross like scraping off an inch of funky foot skin.
Say goodbye to your foot woes....forever...or at least for the summer.
I have developed a sure fire way to have beautiful smooth feet....WHILE YOU TAN!!!!
First you will need to locate an "Old School" public pool.
The kind with the rough cement bottom that made your feet bleed as a kid. If you arrive at a public pool and do not see bandaid wrappers in the trash can you need to find a new pool.
Pack your children and all of their pool accoutrement, don't forget the water proof bandaids, and prepare to spend at least 90 minutes at the pool.
This is no-guilt beauty. The kids are perfectly entertained and will not need you to do a thing but "watch this" for the next 90 minutes (as long as they know where the band aids are and how to apply them).
Relax, tan...and when it is time to go...
90 minutes in the pool will have softened up even the most skanky feet, drag them on the bottom of the pool as you make your way to the ladder. You will need to make sure that you get the sides and bottoms for maximum exfoliation.
Yeah you are going to look pretty strange...but people will probably think you are just peeing in the pool, nothing gross like scraping off an inch of funky foot skin.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
And the winner is...
Mrs. Schmitty!
The bottom autograph is courtesy of Mr. Jon Bon Jovi.
In high school my Dad was sometimes called in to be the "Rock Doc" for bands preforming in our city. Often he would return with a good story and several back stage passes. One night he got them for the Ratt/Bon Jovi concert. This was at a time when Bon Jovi was opening for Ratt, we had never heard of them.
After Bon Jovi finished we were able to meet them back stage. Dork that I am I got into a discussion with the keyboard player about...my Grandmother's Hammond Organ. Yes sir...I am awesome. He did offer to take me onto their bus and show me his organ...
Later, we (Dad and my little brother were with me) were standing around while Jon Bon Jovi was signing autographs and talking to some of the "girls" who made it backstage. My overwhelming coolness struck again and I muttered under my breath, "I would just die if he kissed me." Apparently my Dad took this as a challenge, he got Mr.Jovi's attention and said, "Would you please kiss my daughter?"
You always hear people talk about wanting the earth to open up and swallow them...it is hard to fully understand this desire until you have wished for it fervently yourself.
Mr.Jovi did kiss me; I was so stunned that I let out a little surprised "oh" after it was over to the amusement of all. As I write this my cheeks still turn red remembering it....
The bottom autograph is courtesy of Mr. Jon Bon Jovi.
In high school my Dad was sometimes called in to be the "Rock Doc" for bands preforming in our city. Often he would return with a good story and several back stage passes. One night he got them for the Ratt/Bon Jovi concert. This was at a time when Bon Jovi was opening for Ratt, we had never heard of them.
After Bon Jovi finished we were able to meet them back stage. Dork that I am I got into a discussion with the keyboard player about...my Grandmother's Hammond Organ. Yes sir...I am awesome. He did offer to take me onto their bus and show me his organ...
Later, we (Dad and my little brother were with me) were standing around while Jon Bon Jovi was signing autographs and talking to some of the "girls" who made it backstage. My overwhelming coolness struck again and I muttered under my breath, "I would just die if he kissed me." Apparently my Dad took this as a challenge, he got Mr.Jovi's attention and said, "Would you please kiss my daughter?"
You always hear people talk about wanting the earth to open up and swallow them...it is hard to fully understand this desire until you have wished for it fervently yourself.
Mr.Jovi did kiss me; I was so stunned that I let out a little surprised "oh" after it was over to the amusement of all. As I write this my cheeks still turn red remembering it....
Monday, July 21, 2008
Ticky Taco
Friday night Magnuts asked to borrow a flashlight so he could take another look for Taco. Less than a minute later we heard him screaming that he had. Rob rushed in to try to capture the wily beast...
FYI...apparently it only takes about 24 hours for a domestic hamster to go feral.
When she was finally returned to her cage she paced the cage and every time one of us got near she rared on to her back legs and with wild googly eyes said "whatchu lookin at bee-ach!?"
I was tempted to grab my camera and snap some "not control group" pictures for all of the future science fairs we will be forced to participate in.
TANGENT ALERT! : When I was a kid my Dad helped me do my science project. We used a couple of house plants, one (control group) got plain water, the others got amphetamines...
Taco did manage to calm down, and thank God it wasn't the kind of calm down that involves her assuming room temperature. We live on a farm and have to put out rat bait or be over run. So far so good.
Hope you all had a great weekend...Here is a little preview of tomorrow:
We cleaned out our attic and I found this in one of my scrapbooks. Recognize any of the names?
Friday, July 18, 2008
Peas and Taco
We went to the Farmer's Market yesterday. I wanted the FlyingMonkeys to experience the "joy" of shelling peas....
When I was younger than Magnuts I was shelling peas. My best friend and I watched cartoons and shelled them until our thumbs were green. I wanted my kids to have this kind of fun...plus now I have this awesome freezer that needs to be filled.
Turns out that the difference in price between a hamper of peas shelled and un-shelled is only about $3. Thinking that the experience was more important than the fiscal logic I bought a 1/2 hamper of the wonderful white field peas and a 1/2 hamper of Zippers (easy to shell).
The white peas are not a lot of fun to shell. I shelled the entire bunch myself. MonkeyBoy shelled half of the Zippers by himself...at 11:30pm we were still shelling and watching TV.
It was at this time that Miss-D appeared with an empty hamster ball and tears in her eyes. Rob had put Taco in her ball for a little exercise and the lid had come off. We all searched for her...to no avail. Miss-D pulled out her laptop and found a website dedicated to helping people find their escaped hamsters....here are a few of the ideas:
-place flour on your floors so that you can identify their foot prints and track them back to their hiding places....
-place tin foil strategically around your house so that you can hear it rattle when your little pet walks over it....
-build a hamster trap....a shoe box with a hamster sized hole cut in the end, turn it on its bottom so that the hole is facing the ceiling, cover the hole with a paper towel with a treat on top of it.
-leave a trail of food all the way to the open cage....
Most of these ideas require that you check them every 20 minutes. It was after midnight...so...no. We did shut all of the toilet lids and we also put her cage on the floor with the door open...just in case.
This morning...still no Taco....and I still have peas to finish....
Y'all cross your fingers for Magnuts.
When I was younger than Magnuts I was shelling peas. My best friend and I watched cartoons and shelled them until our thumbs were green. I wanted my kids to have this kind of fun...plus now I have this awesome freezer that needs to be filled.
Turns out that the difference in price between a hamper of peas shelled and un-shelled is only about $3. Thinking that the experience was more important than the fiscal logic I bought a 1/2 hamper of the wonderful white field peas and a 1/2 hamper of Zippers (easy to shell).
The white peas are not a lot of fun to shell. I shelled the entire bunch myself. MonkeyBoy shelled half of the Zippers by himself...at 11:30pm we were still shelling and watching TV.
It was at this time that Miss-D appeared with an empty hamster ball and tears in her eyes. Rob had put Taco in her ball for a little exercise and the lid had come off. We all searched for her...to no avail. Miss-D pulled out her laptop and found a website dedicated to helping people find their escaped hamsters....here are a few of the ideas:
-place flour on your floors so that you can identify their foot prints and track them back to their hiding places....
-place tin foil strategically around your house so that you can hear it rattle when your little pet walks over it....
-build a hamster trap....a shoe box with a hamster sized hole cut in the end, turn it on its bottom so that the hole is facing the ceiling, cover the hole with a paper towel with a treat on top of it.
-leave a trail of food all the way to the open cage....
Most of these ideas require that you check them every 20 minutes. It was after midnight...so...no. We did shut all of the toilet lids and we also put her cage on the floor with the door open...just in case.
This morning...still no Taco....and I still have peas to finish....
Y'all cross your fingers for Magnuts.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Dear Mr. President,
We at Reevesfarm would like to make known that we support drilling.
As a matter of fact if you would like to survey our farm and and find that the only suitable place for drilling is in the middle of my living room...that would still be just peachy.
Let me know if I need to start rearranging the furniture.
Your friend,
Laura
As a matter of fact if you would like to survey our farm and and find that the only suitable place for drilling is in the middle of my living room...that would still be just peachy.
Let me know if I need to start rearranging the furniture.
Your friend,
Laura
Monday, July 14, 2008
Rockin' at Sams...
Who would have thought that spending a Sat. night at Sam's club with my family could be such big fun?
We spent about 2 hours just wandering around and loading up a giant cart. As we made our way back up to the front of the store Magnuts and I noticed three college boys standing around a big screen TV attempting to play Rock Band. They were laughing at each other because even on "easy" they were unable to keep up with the game....Magnuts snickered.
About 5 minutes later we passed by that area again, this time no one was playing and Magnuts begged me to let him play one song. Before he even had the guitar strap adjusted people were stopping to watch him. He selected "expert" and it was on...
His little fingers were flying and people were stopped in their tracks. The college boys were back, employees lingered in the area to watch, during the solo there must have been 15-20 people standing around in amazement.
I especially loved how, at the conclusion of the song, he whipped the guitar off and announced "I am the best."
We spent about 2 hours just wandering around and loading up a giant cart. As we made our way back up to the front of the store Magnuts and I noticed three college boys standing around a big screen TV attempting to play Rock Band. They were laughing at each other because even on "easy" they were unable to keep up with the game....Magnuts snickered.
About 5 minutes later we passed by that area again, this time no one was playing and Magnuts begged me to let him play one song. Before he even had the guitar strap adjusted people were stopping to watch him. He selected "expert" and it was on...
His little fingers were flying and people were stopped in their tracks. The college boys were back, employees lingered in the area to watch, during the solo there must have been 15-20 people standing around in amazement.
I especially loved how, at the conclusion of the song, he whipped the guitar off and announced "I am the best."
Friday, July 11, 2008
Nuts...
No, Jesse Jackson's latest gaff is not the subject of this particular post...funny as it was...
Today's post is about the extreme joy I am feeling this morning. As soon as I finish writing this the FlyingMonkeys will be helping me clean out and organize my laundry room so that the new freezer will fit.
Thatsssss right, a new freezer chest...the perfect way for me to satisfy my food hoarding needs.
Nuts, right? It is not really hoarding, there is just something about having a stocked freezer and pantry that makes me uber content.
Although, I may be tempting fate.
Several years ago I had my Grandmother's freezer chest. It was one of those 14 foot monsters, the kind that could easily hold a couple of dead bodies and a months worth of frozen pizzas. After we got it set up on our carport we headed to our local meat place and Sam's with most of our tax refund in an attempt to fill it up. I even had a garden that year. I carefully harvested tomatoes and bell peppers, prepared them and froze them...I was soooooo happy.
Then one day I went to get some burgers out of it...
There are really no words to describe what I found when I opened it. Consider that it was late summer in south Alabama....and someone had unplugged the freezer...it had been off AT LEAST a week....
I still have bad dreams about the smell.
My new freezer will be smaller and in my laundry room...a place the kids never go so it is unlikely that it will be accidentally unplugged.
Gotta get ta cleanin...have a good weekend!
Today's post is about the extreme joy I am feeling this morning. As soon as I finish writing this the FlyingMonkeys will be helping me clean out and organize my laundry room so that the new freezer will fit.
Thatsssss right, a new freezer chest...the perfect way for me to satisfy my food hoarding needs.
Nuts, right? It is not really hoarding, there is just something about having a stocked freezer and pantry that makes me uber content.
Although, I may be tempting fate.
Several years ago I had my Grandmother's freezer chest. It was one of those 14 foot monsters, the kind that could easily hold a couple of dead bodies and a months worth of frozen pizzas. After we got it set up on our carport we headed to our local meat place and Sam's with most of our tax refund in an attempt to fill it up. I even had a garden that year. I carefully harvested tomatoes and bell peppers, prepared them and froze them...I was soooooo happy.
Then one day I went to get some burgers out of it...
There are really no words to describe what I found when I opened it. Consider that it was late summer in south Alabama....and someone had unplugged the freezer...it had been off AT LEAST a week....
I still have bad dreams about the smell.
My new freezer will be smaller and in my laundry room...a place the kids never go so it is unlikely that it will be accidentally unplugged.
Gotta get ta cleanin...have a good weekend!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Dear South Alabama Electric Coop,
In you recent letter you reminded me that I am not only a customer but an owner. Apparently I should have long since taken a more active roll; consider this a Memo from Management.
First let me tell you what you did correctly:
Updating our power lines to improve service is a good thing.
Sending customers/owners a letter alerting them to this action and the power outage that it will cause is also a good thing.
Now, to the other:
Mid July, really? Is this really the best time to shut down power for 3 hours? really?
What about November? A month when it probably won't be 90 degrees by 11am AND THE KIDS WILL BE AT SCHOOL!
When they are home and the power shuts down the FlyingMonkeys flock to me like chiggers to underpants. Because I am an owner of the power company they want answers. This sweaty discourse breaks down as they ask me "what did you do back before there was electricity?"
Obviously the pressures of being Management were getting to me because my response was less than motherly and ended with me telling them to call their Grandmother if they really wanted to know. Of course they couldn't do this because our non-cordless, circa 1980's phone is on a shelf so high that the only person in our house that can reach it was sitting in his nice air conditioned office far far away....a ladder was just too much trouble.
You warned me that the power would be out...so turn about is fair play.
If you EVER intentionally cut power in the middle of summer when the kids are home, this Owner will be delivering all 3 of her little Share Holders, un-medicated, to your office for the duration. When you crack, and you will, anyone in your office that has retained the ability to walk will be able to find me in the parking lot enjoying the quiet hummm of my car's AC.
That is all.
First let me tell you what you did correctly:
Updating our power lines to improve service is a good thing.
Sending customers/owners a letter alerting them to this action and the power outage that it will cause is also a good thing.
Now, to the other:
Mid July, really? Is this really the best time to shut down power for 3 hours? really?
What about November? A month when it probably won't be 90 degrees by 11am AND THE KIDS WILL BE AT SCHOOL!
When they are home and the power shuts down the FlyingMonkeys flock to me like chiggers to underpants. Because I am an owner of the power company they want answers. This sweaty discourse breaks down as they ask me "what did you do back before there was electricity?"
Obviously the pressures of being Management were getting to me because my response was less than motherly and ended with me telling them to call their Grandmother if they really wanted to know. Of course they couldn't do this because our non-cordless, circa 1980's phone is on a shelf so high that the only person in our house that can reach it was sitting in his nice air conditioned office far far away....a ladder was just too much trouble.
You warned me that the power would be out...so turn about is fair play.
If you EVER intentionally cut power in the middle of summer when the kids are home, this Owner will be delivering all 3 of her little Share Holders, un-medicated, to your office for the duration. When you crack, and you will, anyone in your office that has retained the ability to walk will be able to find me in the parking lot enjoying the quiet hummm of my car's AC.
That is all.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Bangers and splash...
We spent most of last week at the lake, AKA my Parent's house. It was our first visit since the completion of the new boat house. Might not sound like a big deal to you but....
Several years ago, and by several I really mean like 6 or 7, my parents were going to build a new boat house. Step one in this process was going to be the demolition of the old one. Some people might spend the weekend sweating and cursing while trying to pry the boards apart and then lug them to the shore...My Dad...not so much. He has always been a man of expediency so the removal of the old boat house was no different. It was down in less than an hour thanks to Dad's trusty flame thrower. The only thing that survived the fire was a portion of the walkway and the part that we used to lay out on...and that was only because it would not "catch".
Now they have a new one. It is outstanding. 2 slips for the boats, both with electric lifts. This is particularly exciting to me because it means that I won't have to wear a helmet to keep from being brained, again, by a manual one...(thanks Mom). It also has a large locking closet that is now home to all of the floats and a full sized fridge. My favorite part is the large "sitting" area, 1/2 covered and 1/2 open. The covered portion has ceiling fans and was the best place on earth to be this weekend.
By Friday afternoon we had a full house. Kids were skiing, tubing, and swimming until their little feet were wrinkled little prunes. Late in the afternoon the dinner bell rang...BBQ to die for. If you had any room left there was homemade ice cream, pound cake, 3 different kinds of brownies and lemon pie.......
To end the night we sat on the pier and watched the neighbors fireworks display. Well...that may be a little misleading....no one went to bed after that and the fireworks are nothing like what you might find at Crazy Bills. This neighbor hires "AGuy" and puts on a professional show every year, it is amazing.
No wonder my Brother says this is his favorite holiday.
Hope you all had a good one too!
Several years ago, and by several I really mean like 6 or 7, my parents were going to build a new boat house. Step one in this process was going to be the demolition of the old one. Some people might spend the weekend sweating and cursing while trying to pry the boards apart and then lug them to the shore...My Dad...not so much. He has always been a man of expediency so the removal of the old boat house was no different. It was down in less than an hour thanks to Dad's trusty flame thrower. The only thing that survived the fire was a portion of the walkway and the part that we used to lay out on...and that was only because it would not "catch".
Now they have a new one. It is outstanding. 2 slips for the boats, both with electric lifts. This is particularly exciting to me because it means that I won't have to wear a helmet to keep from being brained, again, by a manual one...(thanks Mom). It also has a large locking closet that is now home to all of the floats and a full sized fridge. My favorite part is the large "sitting" area, 1/2 covered and 1/2 open. The covered portion has ceiling fans and was the best place on earth to be this weekend.
By Friday afternoon we had a full house. Kids were skiing, tubing, and swimming until their little feet were wrinkled little prunes. Late in the afternoon the dinner bell rang...BBQ to die for. If you had any room left there was homemade ice cream, pound cake, 3 different kinds of brownies and lemon pie.......
To end the night we sat on the pier and watched the neighbors fireworks display. Well...that may be a little misleading....no one went to bed after that and the fireworks are nothing like what you might find at Crazy Bills. This neighbor hires "AGuy" and puts on a professional show every year, it is amazing.
No wonder my Brother says this is his favorite holiday.
Hope you all had a good one too!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Farmers in South Alabama:
You. Are. Welcome.
Yes, this rain that has popped up every day, breaking the drought, was a gift from me. It is the result of what might be described as an economic rain dance.
Thinking I was sooooooo smart I went and bought a family season pass to the public pool. The FlyingMonkeys needed a diversion and with our cousin coming to spend some time with us I thought it the perfect solution.
Our cousin got here last Sunday and I will be taking him to his Dad today. 10 days and we got to visit the pool ONCE. ONE TIME. NOT TWICE, ONCE.
The flash flood advisory occurred a few days ago, shortly after I returned home, with all 4 children, from buying pool toys. Can you say denial?
I did have enough sense to know that while the kids might find something fun to do with Noodles in the house I would probably not share their enthusiasm...so I also bought them a puzzle.
So in this last 10 days we have been pretty cooped up. My attempts at entertainment feel on deaf ears..."Hey kids who wants to learn how to fold a fitted sheet!" does not get them to come running.
*********
Sorry about the blogging lapse...you would think with 4 kids I would have had something funny to say...not so much. Seriously. Today we leave for the lake for the week. On the way I have promised Magnuts that he could spend some birthday money at the fireworks stand...blogging gold or a trip to ER?
Yes, this rain that has popped up every day, breaking the drought, was a gift from me. It is the result of what might be described as an economic rain dance.
Thinking I was sooooooo smart I went and bought a family season pass to the public pool. The FlyingMonkeys needed a diversion and with our cousin coming to spend some time with us I thought it the perfect solution.
Our cousin got here last Sunday and I will be taking him to his Dad today. 10 days and we got to visit the pool ONCE. ONE TIME. NOT TWICE, ONCE.
The flash flood advisory occurred a few days ago, shortly after I returned home, with all 4 children, from buying pool toys. Can you say denial?
I did have enough sense to know that while the kids might find something fun to do with Noodles in the house I would probably not share their enthusiasm...so I also bought them a puzzle.
So in this last 10 days we have been pretty cooped up. My attempts at entertainment feel on deaf ears..."Hey kids who wants to learn how to fold a fitted sheet!" does not get them to come running.
*********
Sorry about the blogging lapse...you would think with 4 kids I would have had something funny to say...not so much. Seriously. Today we leave for the lake for the week. On the way I have promised Magnuts that he could spend some birthday money at the fireworks stand...blogging gold or a trip to ER?
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