Elevators

I know it's Halloween and I should do some cutsie little pumpkin pictures and some of my kids in their costumes but let's face it. It's 4:19pm, the sun is shining, and Daddy is cutting the grass. My how he loves that mower. Anyway, maybe tomorrow I'll have some delightful pictures to show you. For now? My munchkins are vegging out in front of the television--taking breaks just to ask me every 10 minutes when they are going out in search of their loot. So if that is any inkling of what is in store for me this evening I shall be too tired to blog about the 'after'. Until tomorrow.

So, elevators it is. I've been wanting to do this post for a while. I've worked in office buildings for like twenty years and I spend a lot of time thinking about elevators. Kind of funny to me too since I don't really use them much in my side of the building since we don't have them. Just three floors you know. Doesn't relegate a use for them unless you are freight--no comments on whether I might be or not. I AM trying to reduce.

So, I have some elevators thoughts for you...

1) Why can't people learn "first out THEN in" Sheesh people, if you let us OFF then there will be ROOM for you to get in.
2) Do you really need to take the elevator for ONE floor? Really?
3) Sometimes, when you are really hungry and like someone gets on with food. Do you ever hash out in your mind how long you will wait before you start fighting over it should the elevator get "stuck"?
4) Do you ever wonder, if it's just you and someone of the opposite sex on the elevator, how petrified you would be if the elevator doors decided NOT to open?
5) Do you get claustrophobic if the elevator starts to fill to capacity?
6) If you are alone on the elevator do you ever jump up and down, dance, sing, or any other thing that would clearly mortify you should the doors open quicker than you anticipate?

Just a few of my thoughts. (Should you still be reading)

Mmmrou-w

So my little sis and I haven't been communicating a whole lot lately. I'm to blame. I've been the lazy sort and haven't been calling or writing with updates. Oh and I even did the unthinkable and forgot my nephew's birthday! Of course she showed me what she thought by sending my daughter's present early. Oh my. I so can not make up for that. I will be trying though.

Anyway, she sends me a response to a response that I sent to her very first note in a while. At this point things were numbered because I write jumbly confusing stuff and she has to try harder to sort it all out and be proactive in answering everything. (I do this so it takes her longer to write back because if it takes her a long time to write back then it looks like she is remiss in writing and that makes me think it makes up for me being so lame.) Anway, among her items is this.

5. Wow! RC is still alive. I had pretty much convinced myself that he was dead. Is that morbid or what? I figured since he's never on your blog, he was in kitty heaven. I was afraid to ask because I didn't want you to have to tell me. I thought he'd probably been hit, or eaten by a fox, or had pee peed on Tony's uniform again and gotten the wacked. Do you see how my mind just races out of control on me? I'm totally psycho.

RC is her son's cat. When they moved across the pond they couldn't take him with them. Well they could have if they were made of money. Which is not the case. We are simple folk. Her cat has done some stuff that was dangerous to his health. Like peeing on our carpet. Oh and peeing on my husband's uniforms. Once I thought he had pee'd in my Crocs but found out later it was not cat pee but water--compliments of the future pilot. My but that was a disgusting feeling putting my socked foot in a croc full of water thinking it was cat pee at 5am.

Anyway...

She thinks...

I would...

kill her cat...

or get rid of him...

and NOT tell her?

Wow, things have gone strangely wrong.

So without further ado I post these.
Look at him. Can't you just imagine him talking, "I can pee and I know where to put it."

I mean really. I might let my dog do this...
I mean really. YOU'd let your dog bite your sister's cat's neck wouldn't you?
And his ear. Right?
I mean really. He's a big boy and he can take care of himself.
Seriously sis. Dora and RC LOVE each other. Just like any good brother and sister should. I promise. And even if your son's cat DID have the audasity to hang out in my husband's underwear while he was um...indisposed on the toilet...and WHILE he was still WEARING them. (Uh yes we have a picture to prove it but this is a rated 'G' website). We wouldn't let anything happen to him. He's part of the family now.

So like I said to you in my note, just send that boy of your's back anytime. RC's here waiting to be loved on. Oh and maybe he could use a little time away from Dora. :)

-------------------------------------------------

I think the title says it all. I feel like I'm flat-lining. Not in real life mind you. Heck I'm ONLY 40--and you KNOW what they are saying? "60 is the new 40!" Hey I'm running with that. Gives me twenty more years to get my weak tired body in shape to NOT look my age.

Dang it. Where was I going with this again? Oh yea, flat-lining. In the blog world. I have been reading a lot of them this weekend. That always seems to happen when I am supposed to be doing something ELSE on my computer. Have I mentioned lately how much I REALLY hate school? I mean I actually know people who are excited about learning. Ecstatic to be able to say to their friends, "Oh, I just enrolled in the most interesting course!" Pushaw. WHATEVER! Me? I do not like it one bit. Not one bit Sam I am. So I sneak into other people's lives when my family thinks I am concentrating on school work. Hey. Don't judge. I'm 40 and you should be more respectful of your elders.

I was driving down the road yesterday and thought, "Dang it! I should have grabbed my camera! I could have blogged some great pictures!" We were heading down the road to go to a birthday party for one of my daughter's friends. So showering, scrambling to find a big enough gift bag, and convincing the future pilot that he must eject now and get moving to MY cockpit (van), took precedence over the thought of getting the camera. So no camera.

Today I arose early to try and get the dog walked, the kids dressed, the dog crated, and squeeze in a run to Starbucks before we had to be at a nearby grocery store to pedal yet more cookies. So again, I can not share the beautiful picture that God painted before me as we passed the evolving golf course with it's shimmering frosted grass. I wouldn't worry too much though because I would maybe have been tempted to share the sights my children were most enthused about. They kind of have a curiosity of dead things. They don't rejoice in it mind you. They just as a gazillion questions about how it got there.

The day goes by fast. School certainly leaves me with less free time. I don't like to waste my favorite season being trapped by homework but I promised the boss so, well, I gotta follow through. It does leave me searching my soul again though. I won't get much in raises now I'm told. I've maxed out where I am. I just wonder if it's worth it to me to struggle through these classes when my husband tells me he's moving us to a slower pace of life in a few years. A place where I might not be tempted to buy so much. A place where I won't feel like I have to keep up with the Jones's of Smartdom.

After all, my kids would rather know me as a less than spastic mom who has time to play with them. I also think my husband would like to be able wear a shirt that isn't wrinkled because I barely have time to get the laundry done. Sorry honey. Honest, I'm trying.

So, maybe tomorrow. Since the paper is done now. Done and turned in. Until the next assignment. Maybe tomorrow I'll take some really cool earth shattering photographs. Maybe. We'll see.

Recession? What recession?

Move over London Eye. I saw an article in our paper this week and you can read about the subject here and here. It seems New Jersey is getting a humondo ferris wheel of it's own. Along with an indoor ski slope, martini bar, skydiving simulation, etc.

I find myself asking, "Who is going to have the money for all of this?" "Don't we have people worrying about having secure jobs?" "Aren't the food banks dwindling?" Call me crazy but WOW. I'm well, without any further words.

Obsessive Dreams of Botched up Blogging

Okay, so I really thought I was going to post more often. I guess you could say I have bloggers block. I want all of my posts to be quippy or funny or just well, well planned. It's so sad that I even dreamed about stressing over my blog last night.

Yesterday I went to work, went to boot camp and planned on picking up my kids and grocery shopping and maybe getting a bite out to eat with them. Of course son number one needed assistance so it was hurry home, grab the kids, plan a half way point, meet the son, hand him assistance ($$$$) and then figure out how to get eggs and some stuff to pack in my daughter's school lunch with a now sleeping three year old. So...

Mad dash into unfamiliar grocery store to grab essentials while son's girlfriend entertained daughter in her car and son watched over the pilot snoozing in the back seat of my van. Dash out starving because nearby good smelling restaurant doesn't now how to keep their good smells in. Buckle daughter back in van, tell son's girlfriend to keep son one out of trouble, peck son on cheek and plead with him to stop having crises. Grab bad burger meal for daughter at greasy fast food burger joint. Try hard to resist buying bad burger for myself. Get part way down the road (with daughter asking repeatedly if I am lost). Realize I should have gotten the pilot something for when he wakes up. Pass another bad burger joint and turn in to grab bad burger meal with "healthy" apples slices. Succumb to bad burger for myself.

Panic when daughter announces inevitable potty stop and insist we are NOT stopping because the area is bad and the pilot is sleeping. Make it home. Rush to open door, scramble to remove stuff from the car, walk the dog, help daughter get through last of homework, ready kids for bed, read to kids turn out lights. Panic when Hank (bark alarm on four legs who guards the side door) begins to announce possible intruder. Pray to God that it's a deer, or a dog, or one of the several cats that hangs around or yes, maybe even air. Drift to sleep with both daughter and pilot next to me in bed and annoying small dog on top of my aching legs (boot camp was killer).

2:00 am - husband arrives home from work. Moves daughter to her room and climbs in next to the pilot. Now wide awake I try to sleep as he begins to snore. I contemplate getting up and getting ready for work but think that will be absurd and I shake bed, tap him, groan loudly, toss, turn and somehow fall back asleep.

4:35 am I wake feeling somewhat rested and realize the alarm was supposed to go off 20 minutes ago and it's not turned on. Did I already get up? Did I turn it off? Then I remember what I was dreaming when I woke up.

I was in a beautiful island hut peering out on the water. Our neighbor was calling me asking if we we'd looked outside. I told him that yes I am enjoying the day. He invites us to a dinner party with his wife Lubka and children Sven and Lana. We go and I remember beautiful kaleidoscopes of leaves and whirling waves. Cut to me in a car with the top down and (no lie here) I felt like I was in a Flonase commercial. Petals of every color were swirling through the air and I wasn't driving so I was trying hard to catch all the pretty petals. And what was I saying?????

"OH my. OH my GOSH!!!! Why? WHY???? Why didn't I bring my camera? I SOOOOOO need to blog this!!!!!" -- Is there therapy for this? Please I'm in need.

Filled Up Friday

Early morning gifts from across the pond. Thank you Uncle, Auntie and cousins!!!!
Today was one of those days where lots of stuff was just jam packed in. I should have taken my camera with me. Today was cookie pick-up day. My daughter is a Brownie. This is our first year of the cookie thing so I wasn't sure what to expect. Five of our troop moms headed to the pick-up place to help unload the truck and reload our vehicles.

After the truck guys unloaded the pallets this is sort of how it looked...
I wish I could say I requested my daughter draw me this sad picture but I'll confess right up front it was my art work. I'm tired. It's almost midnight. So don't judge.

After the pallets were unloaded we moms, some dads, and some assorted children--some troop members some assorted brothers and sisters, removed the cookie cartons to countable stacks. Once any damaged boxes were replaced the divvy up began. When it came our turn, our leader pulled up a van and we began to load it up. I'm very glad I started that boot camp I must say. I threw myself in the van and suddenly boxes began to appear at all sides. Me and one of the guys began to stack them in.

Imagine our terror when the person in charge of the cookies (someone NOT from our troop) thought some of the girls were taking boxes from stacks that were not intended for our vehicle. In a panic she wanted us to unload the entire van!!! Luckily we were able to convince them we were on top of things. All of those vehicles and we ended up being able to fit all of our boxes in one. After that we took them to one of the troop homes and divvied up the ones that were to go home with us.

After that it was time to race home to get ready for a very special event. My favorite little girl in the world was turning 7.
It's hard to believe. This precious little girl of mine...
This little diva...
This little flexible smile-bringing thought provoker,
is turning 7.

I won't apologize for the road of reflection. It's my blog and I will go off-road when I want to.

Without further a-do some scenes from the day:

Warming fire on a chilly day...
Twelve pretty pumpkins made in a row...
Hayriders waiting for rails and trails.
Pumpkin painting...
For all ages...
The party was a hit. Even though no one managed to make it back to the fire. Maybe next year.

Play room revisited...
Would you believe it was clean when the party started and didn't get like this until all of her friends had gone home? Honest. This is the work of two very precocious toddlers. I blame me. Mostly because I made a mental note, obviously forgotten, that I would remove three fourths of the toys before their arrival. Would you believe the birthday girl helped me clean this up after everyone had left? I truly love her.

I'm so grateful for a fall birthday in the family. It truly is my favorite season. I'm also very grateful that my daughter is learning the art--and importance of friendship. Thanks to everyone who made this party such a success.

If Only I'd Home Schooled...

The day starts early around here. The nights are usually late. Last night was later than usual. At bedtime, when I was relishing in the fact that I would soon be purring in my sleep, nestled down under the covers, with my head resting on a nice soft pillow; my daughter asks me a very serious question. "Mom, AREN'T you going to make cupcakes for my class? My BIRTHDAY cupcakes?"

Shock, horror, and regret came over me. You see my oldest NEVER EVER EVER NEVER EVER wanted me to make cupcakes, or cake, or any kind of announcement to his class. Even when the mother of a girl in his class called me to see if I'd like to split the cupcake number with her because our kids shared the same birthday. He flat out refused to have attention drawn to him in that way.

My girl turns seven tomorrow. She is all about attention and hosting her friends. So at bed time I was baking cupcakes.
Cupcakes that would need to be frosted before I head to work today. So, if the day didn't already start early enough. This day when the outside air was still somewhat crisp. When the outside world was just a reflection of the inside...
When the outside looked like this...I was doing this...
Oh if only I'd home schooled. The class would be smaller. If I'd home schooled a birthday celebration--that has been planned and in the making for days, one for which a gargantuan cake is already sitting in my refrigerator, a party like that would have been sufficient.

I still have to get through a day of work and endure a session of boot camp. Oh but I do hope I will be ready for that.

Peeeeanut Butter Pie

I'm famous for this recipe now. A nephew in Texas calls me from time to time begging for the recipe. When he's up I make it. My brother-in-law across the pond also loves it. When he and my sister's family visited in May I made him one. I'm happy that it goes over so well because it is sooooooooo easy.

So, here are the essentials...except for the dinosaur of course. He just kinda looked lonely on the counter so I let him help.
Because I am making this for work, and nursing an unexpected cold, these are also essential.
oh and this get up...
Well, maybe not really, but I do want it made clear that I won't be coughing intentionally all over food that I will be sharing with the outside my family type. The glasses? Well, my daughter has a party this weekend and I just really wanted to wear them and I'm still a little shy about "showing myself in the blogger world".

So, shall we begin?

First up is the cream cheese. Now I doubled this recipe because I don't have a headcount of who will be feasting with us today. Now some people have time to sit these blocks on the counter to soften. I on the other hand am an impatient sort AND in this case it was like 9pm and I was just getting home for the day. So, I gave it a bit of warming time in the microwave. I just throw it in for a few seconds, take it out, stir it, and if need be do that a few times.
Next comes the confectionery sugar. Mix that in until there aren't any lumps. Lumps are bad. We aren't talking tea time here.
After that you want to throw in your peanut butter and mix that in really good.
At the end of this stage is looks very much like a good peanut butter cookie recipe and I have to hurry up and dump in the whipped topping so I don't get forgetful and try to bake the stuff. I prefer to use the extra creamy variety because, well, I don't "fold" it in like you are supposed to. Usually because, like tonight, I'm in a hurry and can't be bothered with thawing. Again, lumps bad. Smooth good.
See this mixture? It means we are ALMOST done!
Now we chop up a bunch of Resees peanut butter cups. I use the miniatures but you can use the big ones too. I just think the littler ones are easier to get smallish. Don't mind that little guy. I sure don't. I didn't expect him to get in the picture though. I had to set the timer so I could get myself chopping up those fine morsels. Who knew he was going to pop in when he did.
Next, fold some of these babies into your filling. The amount you use is totally up to you and the crowd you are feeding. Or in my case dependent upon how much chopping I feel like doing. Oh but do make sure you leave a few out...
Pour into crust. Somehow it just looks a bit more presentable with a few lingering on top.
Drizzling chocolate syrup on top is purely optional. Hence the reason it's not shown in the essentials. (I say that because I forgot to put Mr. Hershey in the picture)
There you have it folks. A decadent extremely NON-Weight Watchers recipe. One that I am hoping to be able to resist today.

Perfect measures:
8 ounces cream cheese
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 (8 ounce) carton Cool Whip
1 baked chocolate cracker crust
Resees peanut butter cups (chopped)
Chocolate syrup (optional)

Beat cream cheese and sugar together. Add peanut butter. Fold in Cool Whip. Add chopped peanut butter cups. Pour into baked graham cracker crust . Sprinkle peanut butter on top and chocolate syrup-if desired. Chill for several hours.

The Weekender

Part I
Sometimes I don't have time to post every day and this weekend was no exception. I found out Tuesday I had a three page paper due for school and it was due TODAY! Just a note to any whiny young college students--GET ER DONE BEFORE YOU HAVE A JOB, SPOUSE, OR KIDS!!! Honest. I mean it. I know sometimes it gets in the way of a social life but at least when you are young it's just YOUR social life that chances rescheduling.

My husband worked all weekend so by Saturday morning I was very panicked about my paper that didn't seem to be materializing very well. I had a topic and concept but the rest was just mush. This is when folks like me rejoice in sisters. Oh and this time around I don't mean ones that move halfway across the world to leave you lonely. No this time I mean the ones that live close enough to volunteer to watch your kiddos so you can have some peace and quiet and work on your paper.

Sisters that take your kids to riding stables with them while they watch their own take riding lessons. Sisters that know you have a future pilot that gets really excited over airports. Like this...
Sisters who know that the outdoors does a little kid's body good.
I submitted my paper today after two revisions. Thank you sis. Oh and thank you to my friend who also helped proof it a second time because I'm just the sort that freaks out over everything and well, I needed that extra reassurance. (I hear it's because I'm the middle child)


Part II
Cramming lots of activities into a short amount of time is one of my specialties. I don't usually recommend this because it's stressful. Even though I know it I still do it and sometimes I get militant and then it certainly becomes unfun. Thankfully this weekend was not one of those weekends. We love fall--me most of all. I walked the dog this morning and even though it was 8 in the morning there was a pretty hefty fog on.

Of course I didn't have my camera on me so by the time I took the dog back to the house and grabbed my camera some of it had lifted. I still got a couple of memorable shots of some of the outbuildings.

I absolutely love barns. I remember the first night we stayed in our new home I stared out the window at this one until I fell asleep. That was when I thought to myself, we are never ever leaving here.
In the afternoon I met up with a friend at a local nursery for some fall festivities. Fall plantings are so beautiful.
My daughter thinks so too...
The future pilot was up for exploring everything...
People are just so clever. Aren't these little cows just the cutest thing you ever saw? The future pilot wanted to ride but not without me. Unfortunately they were only big enough for the small cowfolk.
We actually made it through the corn maze. Pretty impressive since we let the kids lead.
All in all the weekend was a success.

A Star is Born

On October 7th a very beautiful person took her last breath here on earth. She hung on for several days in a state of sleep where I understand her heart fluttered when her husband was visiting. She and her husband were responsible for my parents meeting. Without them I would not be here writing this.

We called her Aunt Elli and for a long time I was sure we were related. As it turns out she and my mom were just really really good bosomy friends. They met at nursing school and graduated together. Their husbands were friends so naturally our families spent a lot of time together. She watched us grow and was one in a village of many that nurtured us as we grew into mostly responsible adults.

She had so many good qualities. She was patient. She was giving. She was very funny. My favorite line from her was "don't be ignorant". I don't know why that sticks out but she used it like another would use "don't be silly". She could make a really good tuna sandwich. It just always tasted better when she made it. At holiday functions she would bring a chocolate cake with a chocolate pudding and whipped cream icing. I'm not a cake person but I would eat it just to have that delicious topping. It got so she'd bring it in a throw away container so she could leave it behind for me and my little sister. She also gave to my children. Watson, a stuffed dog, has been my daughter's buddy since she received him almost four years ago.

When I had my first child, as a single parent, she did not judge. She made it a point to ask me how I was doing and was always there to encourage me with uplifting and positive thoughts. You might say she just always made everyone she touched feel more special somehow. The hour she slipped into a coma I felt it. I was many miles away but she came to me in thought and I started to cry. It was just moments after that I received the call from my mom that she had taken that turn for the worst.

Always a twinkle in her eye, she now resides in heaven. I know as I watch the clear evening skies I will remember her. A star born, twinkling down. A loving soul ne'er forgotten.

Freddy Comes Over

My daughter came home from school Friday with a friend. Unbeknownst to me this friend would be staying with us. We were heading to Hershey for the weekend. I wondered if he knew. I have a feeling his "mom" knew.

You see, Freddy is the class bear. He goes home with a child each weekend based on good behavior. So Freddy came home with my favorite little girl in the world.

My daughter did a good job of taking care of him. She buckled him in snug when we rode in the car--without being asked.
She changed his clothes when he needed a new outfit.
She also was very good at keeping his journal so she could share his adventures with her classmates once back at school.
Including Freddy in our weekend excursion really was like having another child around. As a parent I worried about him being eaten by alligators...
and wondered if he felt lonely when he saw his cousins.
I also hoped he wouldn't get too close to the edge of the bridge when we crossed over the water.
Just like one of my own I worried about him making a wrong decision to take that last leap over the fence to his doom in a pen of wild animals.
Lucky for me Freddy isn't fond of pools so I didn't have to worry much about him getting in over his head. I had all I could handle keeping an eye on the future pilot and his sister.
Ah but Freddy also didn't eat very much and never asked for hot chocolate so I didn't have to worry about him burning his delicate tongue like I worried about the future pilot...
or eating too much chocolate here.
Freddy did get a bit tuckered out at the end but he was such a quiet little soul. He just sort of hung out with some new friends he made while at the park.
We made it home safe and sound on Sunday afternoon. I was so relieved. All weekend I was very afraid of losing the class bear. After all, what would all the kids think if "I" made it impossible for them to take Freddy on any adventures with them?

Freddy enjoyed one last night with us. Nestled between the other various creatures that share my daughter's bed. (He's hiding a bit over on the left)
We miss you Freddy.