burger art

Q: what do you do while waiting on your burger?

A: add your eighties, summer camp inspired artwork to the wall.

Q: the best part?
A: when your daughter proclaims it the most creative one posted. score!

Like Sands in the Hourglass

(Who remembers that line?)

I have been super, super, super occupied with many things the past few weeks. And I have neglected you, my faithful {few} readers. Spank me with a wet noodle or something and all will return to its normal state.

So, I've been thinking alot lately about where our lives go, probably because my oldest is really, really close to deciding which institution of higher learning I'll be writing my checks to for the next four years. Seriously, when did he stop wearing diapers?

And I've been reading the book, The Last Block in Harlem, too.

And I've been watching all the Tim Tebow updates I could find. (See, I have been super busy with really important stuff.) He really sums it all up:

"When you die there's gonna be a tombstone. It's gonna have your name. It's gonna have the year you were born. It's gonna have the day you die. In between there's gonna be a dash and that dash is gonna represent everything that you did in your life - good and bad. It's how you're remembered. What do you want your dash to represent?"

Keep that in mind as you walk through the days of your lives.

Miscellaneous Monday

Just because I know you will certainly die if you don't know what I have been/am up to, here you go on the Miscellaneous Monday post:

1. We travelled 386 miles in two days to watch two football games: one team won, the other was robbed.

2. Last week we had to purchase a cap and gown for His Royal Highness's upcoming commencement service. Wait -- it's only September and who really wants to keep some cheap, crappy graduation gown? It's not like you're best friend will want you to wear that as his best man.

3. Miss Priss had a poster project due today. I hope we get a good grade.

4. You can learn alot of interesting stuff sitting by the school's administration during a football game. Just pretend like you aren't paying any attention. I so RULE at that.

5. Today I must walk 1/2 mile in 10 minutes. Miss Priss has assigned herself as my personal trainer. You'd be scared, too, trust me.

6. When people get on my nerves, I use big words and watch as they try to figure out what I just said. If you feel like you need a dictionary the next time you talk to me, guess what?

7. Once upon a time, I was questioned by the FBI.

8. Once upon a time, my grandmother got a ride home from a mafia member's driver.

9. Numbers 7 and 8 are in no way connected.

10. There was a dead bird in our bathroom poop fan. Can't you finish your day now knowing that, hmmm?

Mortimer Mouse

With an annual company income of over $36 billion dollars, who would have thought that it all began with a $500 loan from a relative? In the beginning, Walt Disney was selling his films for a flat fee to a distributor, who in turn rented the films to movie houses. Oswald the Rabbit was making good money but Disney was reaping none of the benefits.

Disney wised up, vowed to never sell his creations again, and Mortimer Mouse was born. Only he was very shortlived (like less than a minute) because Walt's wife thought Mickey sounded better than Mortimer. Disney brought him to life as the voice of Mickey. In three short years, the company was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and Mickey was a very famous mouse.

Not So Impressive

One way not to impress your girlfriend's father....

make him break out the Massey Ferguson because you've gotten your truck stuck in his front yard when picking his daughter up for a date.

Total Randomness

It is so hard to believe it's been an entire week since I posted the last bit of nonsense on this here blog. But it's been a really, really crazy week...

I am so distraught that the Olmpics are over. So much so that my husband felt he should do something. He bought the Sonic & Mario winter olympics game for the Wii. I can curl for real from the comfort of my own home. All is right in the world again.

My son has taken to hanging out with friends listening to their band practice in a used bookstore that sits next to a Latino market and other vacant downtown buildings. Surely child and family services will be knocking on my door soon...and catching me doing the curl and not keeping up with that delinquent boy.

I tore my meniscus this weekend. I think that's what's been wrong with my knee since November and that I reinjured it Sunday. I can't drive because I can't bend my knee. It's been really weird having to hitch rides and dole out responsibilities that usually come second nature to me. I am totally out of sorts with this thing. On top of that, I have an MRI scheduled for Friday and if there is one thing that I professed long ago that I would never do, it is have an MRI. I am not overly claustrophobic, but I am petrified of being in that small space. Maybe they will tie a string to my big toe so they can pull me out fast when I hyperventilate.

Have a totallly random rest of the week!

Much Ado About Nothing

I am afraid I am becoming lazy. My favorite afternoon activity is watching Fox News while working on those darn Christmas stockings and sitting on the sofa. Oh, that sofa...it needs to be replaced badly -- as in you almost need a crane to hoist yourself off of it. Never mind...I'm straying again.

But today I am allowing myself to just sit on the sofa guilt free because yesterday was a doozie. While trying to make sense my planner (which I could not operate without) and the week's activities listed for all four of us, and realizing that I would see my son only about 10 waking hours between now and the end of the week, it dawned on me that I had no idea where I'd put our Auburn basketball tickets for the weekend. They were free, and they included hot dogs at the game, so there was no way I was going to lose them without a fight. I turned the house upside down. And while looking for the tickets, I realized I didn't know where my birthday card was -- and it still had money in it. For the record, there is no reason that I can see to have an immaculate house. Mine is far from immaculate, but it was just clean enough that I had no idea where the things were that I would have been able to immediately find had the domicile been in disarray.

Short version of the chaos: I found the birthday card and discovered the whereabouts of the tickets. All was well. But only after I'd obsessed a little too much over those free hot dogs that might go to waste.

Please don't call and make me get up off the sofa. Please.

I Love You, I Love You Not, I Can't Wait to Love You

Right now, and in the recent weeks, I've been lovin' many things:

Two new bottles of perfume (Ed Hardy and Sugar Lemon by Fresh) -- I walk around sniffing myself all day. Strangers look at me funny sometimes.

Home fragrances (Fresh Balsam and Frosted Cranberry candles and plug-ins available at Bath & Body Works during the holidays) -- the whole house smelled like Christmas trees and cranberries - obviously.

Cooking with the kids -- we make PW's meatballs and twice baked potatoes, stuffed jalapenos, rosemary rolls, and Marlboro Man's second favorite sandwich. I wonder if she ever makes any of my dishes for her family?

My new headlamp -- I needed some directional light to help see better at night (that happens when you get old, eh?) so I could work on those darned Christmas stockings I'm supposed to finish this year. I seriously recommend this to anyone who does any sewing, stitching or knitting, etc., with their hands -- you might look like a fly but who cares. Just don't look up at anyone when they call your name -- you'll blind them.

Edible cookie dough -- I think I'll make some more today...the bowl I made yesterday is gone. I'm supposing I can substitute this stuff for the crushed Oreos in a homemade Blizzard recipe we've used for years.

My newest cookbook -- Perfect Recipes for Having People Over by Pam Anderson. I won it. It is as pleasurable to read as it is to cook from. I guess all I need now is to have people over.

All that's well and good and all, but one thing I haven't been lovin' too much is that vegetable stock I made. Ugh! Not so tasty. I'll keep looking.

I guess I'll be okay though, because I am waitin' to love a great deal I found for myself over the holidays. I love magazines. Amazon had this really good deal (like $5 for an entire year's subscription) on some I would like to read regularly, but not for the full rate. So, in a few weeks, my subscriptions to Real Simple, Food & Wine and Travel & Leisure should start hitting the mailbox.

Ain't love grand?

You Know...

Mack Brown makes more money.

Did You Know...?

I don't have a Facebook page, but that's another story for another post. I find fascinating, though, the perks of working for Facebook:

100% employee benefit (medical, dental, vision, life and disability) premiums PLUS 50% dependent benefit premiums

4 months paid parental leave for when you have or adopt a new baby PLUS $4000 baby cash when the child is born and $3000 per year for day care costs through age 5

21 days of paid vacation PLUS 11 paid holidays PLUS unlimited sick days

Free breakfast, lunch and dinner at the office (prepared by chefs) PLUS snacks

$50 per month to assist with public transportation to the office

Laundry, dry cleaning and photoprocessing service with pick-up and drop off at your desk

Quite a package, huh?

Totally Random Thoughts

Look...my hubsy's initials are all in a row on the computer keyboard. Random, yes.