Writer's Workshop--Panic Time

The Prompts:

1.) Describe the worst diet you ever put yourself on.
2.) But teachers know everything!! Write about a time a teacher disappointed you.
3.) …And then you panicked.
4.) Signs that your little one is just not that into you anymore.
5.) 10 reasons why you’re glad it’s Fall.

I'm doing number three:

....And then I panicked.

Friday the 7 of May, was a normal Friday.  I went to work and then came home and was all ready to spend the rest of the afternoon with Bruiser.  He was just beginning to run and really had no braking ability.

I had just changed his diaper and was straightening up the changing table(which is in the living room, don't judge, the kid's bedroom is in the basement and I'm not schlepping to the basement every time he needs a change).  Bruiser had gone into the kitchen and came running back into the living room.  As he ran pell-mell into the room he tripped over the carpet(why is carpet so trippy for little kids?)  I heard more than saw him hit the corner of the coffee table/TV stand that holds toys and plants--don't ask, it's to hard to explain--and knew that one would leave a mark.  The thump was loud.

I immediately picked him up as he started to scream and saw the blood oozing from the tri-corner tear in his forehead.  And then I panicked.  And called Nick so he could come home and help with the trip to the ER.   There is just a feeling of helplessness when your child gets hurt.  You can't wrap them in bubble wrap, but it's awfully tempting.

Go pick a  prompt for yourself and link up with Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.

Followers, followers!

Hey looky there, right there, no silly over to the left.
 Yeah there, at the followers list. 
I have almost made it to 100. 
Wow.

 Not sure how that exactly happened, but I'm loving it.  This blogging thing has become such a fun and great place and I have met some fabulous people.  Thanks to everyone who checks out what I have to say.  It may not be much, but it sure helps my sanity.

Image from Google images

Random Dozen--aliens and such

Time for the Random Dozen With Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee.

1. Do you believe, somewhere deep inside, that blondes do indeed have more fun? That they are "dumber" than brunettes or redheads? Be honest! I'm not sure blonds have more fun but I like having an excuse for those moments where I am less than bright.
2. Which animal would you most like to observe in its wild habitat?  Hmmm, I get to see many animals in their natural habitat, but I would love to see the spiders inhabiting my bathroom moved back to the great outdoors
3. This week the U.N. announced that Dr. Mazlan Othman has been appointed the official "Alien Ambassador," should any extraterrestrials contact us. Have you, or has anyone you know, ever seen a UFO?  I have seen odd lights in the sky that I could not easily explain but that's all.
4. Name your favorite Hitchcock film.  I don't really like any Hitchcock films.
5. Would you rather spend time at the library, the mall, a craft store or home?  A library most definitely.
6. Which Disney princess is your favorite? (Or Disney character, if you are a guy)  I live with boys, so I have to say my favorite character is Helen Parr from The Incredibles. 
7. What kind of art is your favorite?  I love good photography.
8. How do you feel about viral videos, that is, videos made by amateurs that end up on Youtube receiving thousands of hits?  It depends on the video.  Some are funny, some are stupid and some are not worth the viewing.
9. Where do you buy your jeans? Kmart, Walmart or JC Penneys
10. Tell me about your first automobile accident.  I was seventeen.  It was two weeks after my high school graduation.  I stopped at a stop sign and then went pulling out in front of a truck.  I didn't see him at all.  He hit my little Plymouth Champ and bent the frame and the car was a total loss.  Great way to start the summer.
11. Have you ever been honest when you knew you would benefit more if you would be dishonest? I have spoken up at time when it would have been easier to stay quiet.
12. If you were appointed "Ambassador to Aliens," what would you show and tell first about life on Earth? What would be the most difficult thing to explain?  I would try to show an average family and an average town.  The hardest thing would be the entertainment industry--the way we treat our celebrities and who we see as celebrities--Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, people like that.  Heck, I don't even know why they are "famous".

Now go answer for yourself and link up!

Random Tuesday

• I'm getting a cold.  It was inevitable.  Bruiser was sick and Turbo has been in school a month.  I was going to catch a cold sooner or later.  I just hope it's quick.
• I have found a new show this fall that I like.  The Undercovers was fun and interesting last Wednesday and I think we will be watching it this fall.  We also liked the season  opener of Bones.  And all are looking forward to Mythbusters starting Oct. 6.  Turbo is waiting for Dirty jobs too.  Bruiser doesn't have much of an opinion yet.
• Nick got his Antelope and it is quite tasty.  Turbo and he went out Saturday morning and were home with it by 10:30 am. A very short hunting season for antelope this year.
• It's sad but I'm really hoping for the first snow to fall.  I need help with the allergies and we could use less smoke in the air.  We have had two fires within 45 miles of our town in the last month.  More are on the horizon if we don't get snow soon.
• And now for a laugh go here.  It's a little gross but funny just the same--hey I live with guys, this is my funny now.

Now go see Keely for more random. 

Monday Minute with Christy

(1) What’s the last restaurant you went to and what did you order?  I went to Arby's with my mom last Thursday.  I had a chicken sandwich.  It was quite tasty, but it's getting smaller than it was a few years ago.


(2) What's your greatest phobia?  Arachnophobia--fear of spiders.  I'm also afraid of bugs, especially flying, stinging ones.  And I'm especially afraid of bugs and spiders that are in my house.

(3) On a scale of 1 to 10, how hot are you?  Hmmm, self-rating can be ego boosting.  I'd say I'm a solid six, maybe a seven.  Nick might rate me differently, but then he sees me differently than I do.

(4) You just found out you (or your partner) are having a baby. What's your reaction?  OH NO, NO WAY!  We are done having kids, period!

(5) You just won a free vacation to anywhere in the world. Where would you go?  New Zealand, if I have to go out of the country.  Hawaii, if I have to stay domestic.  Either place has great geology to look at and beaches.  There must be a beach.
 
Now go answer the questions and link up with Christy at Is there a Doctor in the House?

Spin Cycle--Religion

The Spin Cycle is Religion.  Not an easy one to write about really.  I've read and studied lots of the history of the Catholic church and the Protestant movement.  It's given me some questions and I've had to find my own answers.  Studying Geology has cast more doubt on Religion for me.  And I have come to the point where my belief in God is separate from my feelings on religion.

Here are some of my thoughts on religion:

• Religion would be wonderful if not for some of the people who "believe".  I spend all my growing up years going to church and was around so many people who talked the talk but most definitely did not walk the walk.  It's hard to feel close to God and appreciate going to church when the drama that should be confined to school (or not even happen at all) follows you there.  I had lots of difficulty with one particular girl.  She was mean, spiteful, vindictive, and even sometimes friendly when it suited her purpose.  I tried to ignore the trouble she caused but having to be around her at school and church made ignoring everything a bit hard.  And everyone else saw her as wonderful.  Such a good christian girl. Yeah, right.  I know that watching her antics and being the brunt of her jokes and meanness soured me on church.  If that was a good 'christian', then I wanted little part of a church going christian life.  I can do much better on my own.
• My mother taught me that a person can be Catholic, Jewish or Protestant and still believe in God, but did't need to be one or the other to believe.  I don't try to preach about how I believe in God to anyone.  How you believe is not as important as the fact that you believe.  And I do believe in God, I'm just not so sure about the bible--a guide to good living yes, straight up truth, maybe not so much.
• I'm not currently practicing any specific religion, mostly I hold my own beliefs.  If Turbo or later Bruiser get invited to Church by a friend I have no trouble letting them go.I just haven't found a good church in my town that I feel comfortable going to.
• I have family that this disturbs but I need to find my own feeling of comfort from what I believe and I don't think church provides that.  I had an aunt who was talking to Turbo and got awfully upset when Turbo told her Jesus died but he didn't think he came back.  She talked to my mom and mom talked to me.  I told mom that he hadn't gotten that from me.  I've talked to Turbo but we really haven't stressed the idea of religion with him. We can get more indepth with him later.

Well there are some of my thoughts on religion.  Go see Sprite's Keeper for more spins on religion.

Dear Someone

Dear Turbo,
I know you love your friends but the hugging has got to stop.  You can't run at your friends and grab them to hug them.  They are starting to run the other direction.  Tame down your enthusiasm or trouble will result.  Let's work on high fives, not hugs!  Got it?
Love you just not the attacking hugs!
Concerned Mom

Dear Left Wrist
STOP HURTING!!!
So done with you.
Me

Dear Nick,
Knock down a big antelope this weekend, we need to meat!
Wifey

Dear Mom,
Drive safe on your trip, we'll miss you.
Your daughter

Dear Bruiser,
Be really good for Papa next week so he'll want to watch you after next week.  It will give grandma a break and you will have fun, so please be good.
Mommy

Random Dozen--In-laws, Out-laws and Patriots

Random Dozen Time and, OK, not so many outlaws but some great random questions. 




1. Have you, or has someone close to you, ever won an award for anything?  I won an award for my GPA twice when I went back to school--the presidents honor roll for like three semesters.  There was an awards ceremony and everything.

2. Who is the nearest relative to you who has served in the US Military?  Nick almost went into the army, my brother almost went into the air force, but the closest relative that went into the military would have to have been my father.  He was in the navy.

3. Share something that stirs the patriotic spirit in you.  Fourth of July flags and parades and hearing the national anthem at the Olympics.

4. Where are you in the birth order in your family? Do you think your "placement" made a difference in your personality?  I am the oldest of two.  I am a people pleaser, and a bit competitive.  I try to be the best and an achiever. About the only trait first children have that I don't is the outgoingness.  I'm really rather shy IRL.

5. Name one trait you hope you carry that was evidenced in your parents or grandparents.  Perseverance, a sense of humor and sticking to my word.

6. If female, do you prefer wearing a skirt or pants? If male, shirt and tie or polo?  Mostly pants, although when I have a reason, I like to wear skirts.  My job is really casual so skirts are not necessary and I have not had a job that required them for years.  I did wear a lot of skirts when I had my kidney trouble but that was out of necessity.  Comfort dictated my wardrobe choices then.

7. Approximately how many times do you wake during the night? What do you do to go back to sleep?  I usually wake up once or twice--aided by Bruiser, who still is not the world's champion sleeper.  To go back to sleep, my methods vary--sometimes I can just go back to sleep easily, other times I tell my self stories--or think about disaster preparedness, what we'd need to survive in a disaster--weird but the details put me to sleep every time.  If I really can't sleep I'll get up and go to the couch and read for a bit from a book I've read lots but really enjoy, the story redirects my mind and I'm usually able to go back to sleep after a half an hour or so.

8. Share a favorite movie quote.  This request always stumps me.  We quote movies when the occasion calls for it but I don't really have a favorite quote.

9. What is your favorite Fall candle scent?  Cinnamon Stick or Macintosh Apple from Yankee Candles.

10. What is one Fall activity you're looking forward to?  Halloween with the boys. 

11. Tell us about a pleasant surprise that happened to you recently.  Hmmm...last week on Tuesday a friend called and we went for margaritas.  It was fun.

12. What was it like when you first met your in-laws-to-be?  They were the nicest people.  Nick's mom was sweet and his dad wasn't that intimidating. I met them in April I think after Nick and I had been dating for about 6 or 7 weeks.  They were really nice.  That Christmas I sort of got dumped on them (a long story, another time) and they made sure I was included in the Christmas activities and had presents under the tree.  They are still the best people.

Now go link at Linda's and check out the other random answers.

Random Tuesday

Man has the last week gone quick.  Here it is time for Random Tuesday.  Random up and go link with Keely at The UnMom.  It's fun and non fattening.  Mostly.

• Hunting has not gone well for Nick yet.  He has seen them but not at a time or way when he could get one.  This weekend he will get an antelope.  They almost out number people in our state so that one won't be hard. 
• He did have a bear encounter last weekend.  It turned out well, but he did have one come to about ten yards away.  Not what he was expecting.  When it moved off, he had to sneak away and work his way back to camp all while keeping an eye behind him.  Later when he had changed his shorts and calmed down a bit he could view it as a cool encounter, no one got hurt and he got to see a black bear.  He could have passed on the whole event though.
• The boys are finally well here.  A cold made it's way through the boys and I'm hoping I don't get it.  I'm not holding much hope.  I've been exposed from both boys.  It's inevitable I think.
• Bruiser has finally started saying English words.  He is very good at Swahili, but he is finally throwing in some real words we can understand.  He says shoe, tushie, kitty, I-do, I-do-it, yes, yeah, tursty(thirsty) and daddy.  Nick says he heard him say oil last Friday, but the kid is no mimic if he doesn't want to, so I haven't heard that one yet.  But he is finally giving up on the Swahili, but it is a slow process.
• Turbo has become obsessed with the Lego video games.  He is good at them, but given the choice, that's all he wants to do.  How do you explain to a seven year old that only video games makes you a dull boy--also lazy.  We limit his time but he really doesn't get why.
• I had a moment this weekend.  I kind of cracked.  After being around both boys without a break for three days, I hit the wall.  Nick was home and I took a comment he made about the state of the kitchen counters all wrong.  He reacted badly to my reaction and things quickly went downhill.  We ended up talking it out but the whole episode was no fun.  I still don't know why I have these dips in my mood, maybe after being on for the boys for that long, I felt that I could crack because Nick was there to pick up the pieces.  Stupid moods that make me crazy.
• On a brighter note the camper worked great for Nick all weekend.  Next summer is going to be great fun going camping with our Hilton on wheels.

Now go see Keely, she can tell you how Zombies learned to run.  Fun times.

Meet on Monday/Monday Minute

It's meet me on Monday again.






1. What is your favorite all time movie?  I can't just pick one.  There are so many I love.  But most of them are older--like the Thin Man series, Goonies, Ghostbusters, The Topper movies, My Fair Lady, Hello Dolly and so many more.  I really have not been too impressed by the newer movies that have come out.  Although the kid ones have been good--Shrek, Cars, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Ice Age, ones like that.  Yeah, my movies watching is dominated by the kids.


2. How often do you go over the speed limit?  Sometimes, but not by much, the cops are pretty vigilant here cause we have lots of out of town kids going to school here so they watch pretty close for speeding.

3. What really gives you the creeps?  Anything with more than four legs.  I can handle mice, and certain snakes, but the bugs and spiders, ewwww!!

4. What is your favorite snack?  Sunflower seeds.  I love to nibble as I read.

5. Would you rather be a dog named Killer or a cat named Fluffy? A cat named Fluffy cause you could be all bitchy and still be loved, unless the dog is a cute cuddly fur ball that just needs to be petted and the name is more of a joke.


OK now go answer the questions for yourself and link up with Never Growing Old.

And now for the Monday Minute.  This is the last Monday Minute with Ian.  Next week the winner of the Monday Minute challenge will take over the Monday Minute.  The winner was Christy at Happily a Law Mama.  This week Ian has a co-host, Laura the Purse Blogger.

And now for the Questions:

1. Have you ever lied on one of your Monday Minute answers?  Nope.  I've answered with incomplete answers but not lied.  Hey, I don't need to tell everything, just some of it.
2. What is on your bedside table?  An alarm clock, carmex, ear plugs, lotion, a book and a lamp.  Oh, and a bottle of water.
3. Would you rather lose your hearing or your sight?  Hearing.  Seeing things like books and my kids is too important. And little sounds drive me crazy sometimes.
4. Would you rather give up all forms of sexual contact for a year or give up your DVR for three months?  Since we only got the DVR like four months ago, it would be out like yesterday's garbage. 
5. Name one thing that you are proud you've accomplished in life.  I've been with my husband for 17 years now.  I think that's pretty impressive.  And we are still madly in love with each other.  So while it's a work in progress, I'd have to say my marriage.  I have a best friend and two great boys from it.

Spin Cycle--Education

Hmm, education.  My thoughts on education are awfully sketchy.  I know that a good one is necessary and that to get one you have to work for it.  I also know I'd never go back to junior high or high school again. 

We had issues with Turbo last year.  He did not get along with his teacher well at all.  We were worried about how he would do this year.  I didn't want him hating school at the age of seven.  That should be saved for later, like high school.  Were we relieved when he took to his second grade teacher like a duck to water.  He is doing great.  It does break my heart a bit when he says to me after a day at school, "and Mom, I didn't get a note today!"  I have to remind him that the notes were only for first grade for the teacher he had.  And he's older now.  And has a bit better impulse control.  Still just a bit sad/mad at his first grade experience.

I myself came thisclose to being held back in the fifth grade.  I hated fifth grade.  It was boring and a repeat of everything we had done up to that point.  I was sick a lot and did not turn in the reports we had to do on time at any time during the year.  The school officials came to my mom and said that I should repeat the fifth grade, not because I couldn't do the work but because I was younger and smaller than the rest of my classmates.  They felt I was not emotionally ready for sixth grade (which was part of middle school in our town).  My mom wanted to be assured that I would not be bored the next year if I did repeat. They said no I would be in the "bright horizons" advanced classes. 

Well my mom made a deal with me that summer.  She gave me a week to do a report and I did it so on I went to sixth grade.  I had one C for the three years of middle school and two C's in high school.  The work was not the problem.  Yes, over half of my class was a year older than me, but then my home town had a high hold back rate. I now have two bachelor degrees to my name and feel I'm quite educated.  I also use the common sense that my mom instilled in me all the time.

Now go see Jen for more Spins on education.

Dear Someone

Dear Turbo,
I'm so glad you are enjoying second grade.  Let's keep up the good work.  It's so much more fun to send you to school when you like it.
Love you,
Mom.

Dear Mom Nature,
Could you send a bit of colder weather our way,the hunters would really like it.
Let's see if you can work on that one for us, mm-kay?
Empty Freezer

Dear Deer and Elk,

Please present yourselves to my husband so he can get a good shot. We need the meat in the freezer. So a little cooperation would be appreciated.
Hungry Mom

Dear "FBI" guy on the phone,
No, I'm not falling for your story that I won the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes and the employees of said company stole my winnings.  And are trying to fraud me out of the money.  When your number comes up from Quebec, that sort of sends up a red flag.  Don't try to tell me it is scrambled through there to prevent FBI killers from targeting you.  Do you think I was born yesterday?  So not falling for that one.  It was almost as good as the call a few weeks ago when I was told my debit card had been compromised and I needed to tell you my account number so the charges could be "verified".  Yeah, sure.  Not giving that info out over the phone.
Not that Gullible.

And how was your week?

Random Dozen

I'm doing the Random Dozen again.  It's easy and requires minimum thought, something that is good for today--last night involved a couple of margaritas, so I'm on the slow side, but on the plus side the margaritas were out at an actual bar and there were no kids in sight!


So here goes:
1. Do you do garage sales? If so, tell me about one great find. If not, tell me why not.  I most definitely do garage sales.  When I can find the time.  I got to go about two weeks ago and found a booster seat for Bruiser and a Columbia snow suit for Bruiser for a dollar.  For the day I spent less that $10 and got some great stuff.
2. Name the last thing you fixed.  Fixed as in fixed for dinner, or fixed as in mended?  I'll go with mended, I sewed a button on one of Nick's shirts.

3. Name your A) Favorite item of makeup OR B) Favorite tool.  I don't really do lots of makeup(or any really) so I'll have to go with favorite tool.  That would be a screwdriver.  I use one all the time to get those battery compartments open.

4. Which room in your home needs organizing more than any other?  My kitchen.  Things tend to pile up on the counters, especially now the Bruiser likes to mine the lower cabinets for fun things like the spatter screens, pans, bowls, etc.  Things end up on the counter where he can't reach well yet.

5. Which room could use re-decorating?  Our front room.  It has our dining table in it and the walls are a blah cream color and the rug just sucks.  It could really use a makeover.

6. Share something unique about your town.  We have the highest institution of learning in the country.  No really, we are at 7200 feet and we have a four year university.  Highest elevation for a four year university in the country.

7. If you could send a one-sentence message to your great-grandchild, what would it be?  Make time for the little things.

8. Do you Facebook?  Yes, but not religiously.  I like to check it but keep it mostly separate from my blog.

9. Describe your favorite shoes.  They would be my Keens.  A trail shoe and one of the most comfortable shoes I own for long wear and lots of walking.

10. Do you listen to more talk radio or more music radio? What kind of station is it?  Music radio.  We don't really get much talk radio here in the boonies.  My favorite in country, but I'll listen to rock too.

11. How far would you travel for a really good (favorite) meal?  I have to travel about an hour for a decent seafood meal. And about the same for a good steak dinner.  My town is lacking in both departments.  However, if you want a good Mexican meal you have about 5-6 different choices right here in town.

12. If you were totally honest with yourself (and us) what should you probably be doing right now instead of blogging?  Napping, Bruiser is down and Turbo is at school.  Just wanted to get this knocked out before resting a bit.
 
So go link with Linda and answer the Random Dozen for yourself.

Random Tuesday

Time once again for Random Tuesday Thoughts.  Get the new and improved button from Keely and link up.

• Weekends are entirely too short.  Especially if you spend them doing laundry.  But hooray for me, mine is done (for the next two weeks anyway).  I even got the towels folded and put away and the sheets, too. I'm usually content to let them sit in the dryer until I do laundry again.
• Fall has hit with a vengeance.  Mornings have had frost and the afternoons are in the 70's.  Makes getting dressed interesting.  Layers, it's all about the layers.
• Bruiser had his first cold of the season.  Snotty nose and all.  He's learning to run when I come at him with the tissue or hanky.
• I'm looking forward the the new seasons on TV cause there is nothing there to watch right now. 
• We had a garden fail this year.  The zucchini plants grew but did not make zucchini.  we got lots of dill, a few carrots and a couple of beets.  Not very productive.  Maybe next year.
• The Tooth Fairy made a visit last night as Turbo lost another tooth.  This particular tooth has been loose all summer but last night it got very wiggly and kind of hangy and Turbo let Nick help it come out.  Thus the Tooth Fairy had the scrounge up quarters for him and remember to get them into his room before light this morning.  Go Tooth Fairy!

OK that's my random ramblings for this week.  Go see Keely for more.

Meet Me on Monday

Trying something new today with Meet Me on Monday.  Sounds like fun.  You answer five questions and than link up at Never Growing Old.
1. What is your favorite pasta dish?  I love lasagna but love a good Alfredo any day.


2. What is the last thing you do before going to bed?  Put carmex on my lips.  Keeps them nice and soft cause it's really dry here.

3. How many nights a week do you go out to eat? We go out to eat maybe twice a month.  We order in maybe three times a month.  The rest of the time we cook in our kitchen, or the back grill.  The budget doesn't allow for more than that.

4. Are you an avid book reader?  Most definitely.  I love to read, romance, fantasy, action adventure, mystery, nonfiction, anything that catches my interest.  I'm most often seen with a book in hand, or my computer, even when watching TV--this habit drives my husband nuts.  I read during the commercials and then watch the show unless it's boring than I will read during the show too.

5. Would you rather have x-ray vision or bionic hearing?  I'd have to go for x-ray vision, but only if I could choose when to use it.  I hear too much already--little sounds can drive me crazy.  But I'd have to be able to turn the x-ray vision on and off, so I could use it when I wanted to, not all the time--that could be more info than I wanted if it was on all the time.

Now go answer the questions and check out other's answers at Never Growing Old.

Friday Confessional

TIme once again to confess all, or almost all, or, well, really what you want to confess.  Anyconfessions, go link with Glamazon and get it off your chest.

I confess:

• I'm thrilled that Nick (and the bank) let us get our new camper--even if he lied about the loan the first time.
• My laundry is taunting me.
• It's time to do it and I really lack the motivation to start it.
• The piles are just sitting there laughing at me.
• Bruiser is sick and he just wants to be held while he sleeps.
• I make a lousy mattress.
• I'm looking forward to having Nick gone this weekend--he's hunting.
• Also looking forward to refilling the freezer with meat.
• I'm sort of sad and sort of happy to see summer go.
• Do you ever hit the end of your day and are just tired of being touched?
• I'm looking forward to a glass of wine tonight.

Your turn, what do you confess?

Camping, Jones style--Spin Cycle

This week's Spin Cycle is the Great Outdoors.  We know lots about the great outdoors at our house.  I also know that a tent is not the most comfortable way to experience the great outdoors.  It's much more comfortable in a camper.

Nick lived up to his part of the bargain.  He got his four wheeler and now I have my new camper.

We went from this...

...to this.

Quite the upgrade.

And now I will leave you with a tale of camping with a three year old Turbo.  That summer was the first summer we had the first camper.  Turbo was three and quite the loud talker.   He had trouble saying S's, they came out sounding like D's.  And he liked poking sticks in the fire.  He also liked marshmallows, but not roasted ones.  He liked eating them plain but called it eating them naked.

Now imagine you are in the next camp site and hear form the other camp site, "Mommy, Mommy, I want to eat marshmallows naked and put my 'dick' in the fire!"

We got some really strange looks the next morning.

Camping is something that we do every summer and plan on doing lots more especially now that we have the new camper.  Getting out is our way of having fun and we have a great state to get out in.

Now Go see Jen at Sprite's Keeper for more great outdoor spins.

Random Dozen--Labor Day Edition

1. Describe the best sandwich in the world, according to you.  I love French dip sandwiches.  We make awesome ones at home--with Swiss cheese and mushrooms and we dip them in consume.  Just makes me hungry to think about them.


2. Which inspires you more: a good conversation, a song, a book or movie? I get inspired by music, but love a good book.  And I won't turn down a good conversation.  So I guess all three.

3. What is your favorite board game?  Trivial Pursuit.

4. As you grow older, are you more or less patient with small children? I have small children at home now, so I guess more patient, most of the time, but they have such a knack for doing the one thing that gets on my last nerve.  Talented little suckers.

5. Name one item you never let yourself run out of.  Lotion.  It gets really dry here and without lotion, my skin just gets so dry and itchy.

6. Do you agree with Tennyson's assertion, "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?"  It's our experiences that make us who we are and if we don't experience things like love, we are not complete human beings, so yes loving and losing is better than never loving at all.

7. Name one national treasure or monument that you have visited.  There have been many--Yellowstone, the Tetons, Devil's Tower and Mount Rushmore are just a few in the last few years.

8. Which is more painful, to be disappointed in someone else or to be disappointed in yourself?  For me being dissappointed in someone else becasue I have no control over their actions and they can hurt me far more than I can hurt myself.

9. What makes your kitchen uniquely yours?  We have concrete counter tops we made ourselves.

10. Are you a crafty person?  Not even close to one.  My mom can do anything, my skills extend to scrapbooks and that's it.

11. What is your favorite traditional picnic or BBQ (cookout) food?  Spareribs on the grill with a recipe we found last Superbowl.  They are so good we have made them four or five times since.

12. Name one leisurely activity you enjoyed over Labor Day Weekend.  We went camping Sunday night.
 
And I just need to get the pictures of the new camper taken and downloaded and pics will be up, I swear.

Random Tuesday--Oh What a Weekend

So a new Button for Random Tuesday Thoughts.  Looks pretty cool, but then I didn't really have anything against the old one.

Ever need a weekend from your weekend?  We did so much this last weekend and are now feeling like we had no weekend at all and are now back at the grind.  We had family in town, Nick went to the first football game of the season, we went and drove across our great state to get a camper, bought said camper, took it camping, then came home-back across our great state(5-6 hours each way).  Stick a fork in me, I'm done.

Bruiser is living up to his nickname--his forehead is all scraped and bruised up.  He crashed into the bottom step of the back porch Saturday.

Our new (to us) camper is great--pictures tomorrow.  We will be so comfortable once we get the electricity figured out.  There is space for all of us and we are just thrilled and so looking forward to next summer and going on camping trips.

OK so enough gushing about our new acquisition. 

I am addicted to reading advice columns.  I read Dear Abby, Dear Prudence (on Slate magazine), Dear Margo, and the Mouthy Housewives.  If Keely actually does it, I might get to add Ask Keely(or the UnMom, whatever she calls it).  I love reading about other peoples problems.  I'd never ask a question of my own, I like to think I'm not that messed up, don't burst my bubble.

Fall is definitely in the air here.  It frosted last Thursday and this morning our furnace kicked on.  The S-word is just around the corner, I know it.  In some ways I'm looking forward to it, in others I really could have used another couple weeks of summer.

Now go see Keely and get your random on.  Ask her a question if your feeling brave, or just want to know the answer.

Spin Cycle--R-E-S-P-E-C-T

The Spin Cycle this week is all about respect.

I thought I'd find some quotes about respect:

• Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners. Laurence Sterne
• To be one, to be united is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater. - Author Unknown
• Tolerance implies a respect for another person, not because he is wrong or even because he is right, but because he is human. - John Cogley
• Love and respect woman. Look to her not only for comfort, but for strength and inspiration and the doubling of your intellectual and moral powers. Blot out from your mind any idea of superiority; you have none. - Giuseppe Mazzini
• That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong. -William J. H. Boetcker
• Treat others as you want them to treat you because what goes around comes around-Anonymous

Respect is hard to earn but easy to lose.  Without respect society does not work, but fear does not lead to respect.  And respect starts with yourself.  once you respect yourself, respect for others is easier to have and demonstrate.  I'm trying to teach my boys to have courtesy and respect for those around them--mostly by teaching manners--cause that's where it starts for most of us.
This Spin brought to you courtesy the Spin Cycle for Sprite's Keeper.

Writer's Workshop--When I was a kid I was afraid...Still Am Sometimes.

Writer's workshop time.
The prompts:
1.) Childhood fears you’ve taken into your adult life.
2.) Write a post that begins and ends with a merry-go-round.
(inspired by writingfix.com)
3.) Why were you mortified? Write about a true embarrassing moment as though it was happening in slow motion.
(inspired by writingfix.com)
4.) Open letter to a celebrity.
5.) Oprah says we all have a story. If you were on her show, what would your story be? What would you be talking about? What advice would she give you? Write about it and provide a snippet of your interview together.


Number 1: Childhood fears you've taken into adulthood.

• fear of spiders
• fear of bugs
• fear of large groups-where I don't know anybody but am expected to "mingle".
• fear of scary movies--even Dracula is too much for me.
• fear of miller moths
• fear of anything that has more than four legs really
• fear of looking like a fool in front of everyone--a la middle school and high school.
• fear that 'they' are talking about me
• sometimes I can even spook myself in the dark.
• fear of public speaking

These are the fears left over from childhood.  I'm not even going to go into the ones I have developed since "growing up".  What are you still afraid of that you were afraid of as a child?
Go link your own take on the prompts at Mama Kats.

P.S.  The bank said yes so we get to go get the camper this weekend.  Pictures next week.

What I Meant to Say

Free therapy time for all those times you bit your tongue and didn't say what you meant to say.  Give your poor tongue a breaka nd say it already!  Then go link with Brittany and Angel.

Mine for this week:
To Nick:  What I said:  "It's up to you if we go for the sweet deal on the newer pop-up camper."
What I meant to say:  "You are nuts if we don't go for this camper.  It is what we want and for aprice we can't turn down, and besides you promised I got a camper if you got a four-wheeler."

To the bank:  What I said:  "Please give us this little bitty loan."
What I meant to say: "Please, please, please give us this little bitty loan.  Please?!"