Confession is Good For You

So it Friday and time to confess for the weekend.

• It's been a long week.
• But tonight the boys are off with grandparents.
• Turbo with Nick's folks and Bruiser with my mom.
• A blissful night alone.
• I'm going out with a friend for a drink or two and then home to sleep in the bed all by myself.
• I had to smile last week.
• I was driving Turbo home from a swimming lesson and we went past a house with a porch full of college girls.
• Turbo perked right up when he saw them and rubber necked a bit as we drove by.
• He got embarrassed when he saw that I noticed.
• I told him that looking at pretty girls was OK, just don't stare at them.
• I have cleaning to do this weekend.
• It's time to take the vacuum for a spin.
• It's also time to do a through cleaning on the bathrooms.
• They really need more than a spot cleaning.
• My inner twelve year old still giggle like a loon when Bruiser calls Puss in Boots Pussy Boots.

Well that about covers my confessions.  Do you have any confessions?  Do tell, you'll feel better I promise.

Link up with Mamarazzi who's hosting this shindig.

Spin Cycle--Role Model

Gretchen assigned role model as the topic for the spin cycle.  Who is the woman who inspired you?  Was it your mom, a favorite teacher, or a good friend?  Or was it someone famous?
This one has been difficult for me.  I don't really have a strong role model, male or female.  I could say my mother, but while I love her, and admire the things she has done, she's not really a role model.  I didn't want to grow up and be my mom.
I don't think I've ever had a real role model.  No one specific I've ever looked up to.  I haven't really had a cheerleader.  Until I met Nick.  He encourages me to be more than I think I can be.  But he's not a girl--thanks goodness.
I hope that I can be something of a role model for my sons.  I want them to learn to respect and appreciate women.  The capable ones, the independent ones, the ones who want to be a partner and companion.  After all, the woman they choose will hopefully be with them for the rest of their lives.
I really want to be a good role model for what a woman can do.  I am in a generally male dominated field.  there are more and more women going into geology, but it's still mostly men.  I am managing a home, with help from Nick (it really is a fifty-fifty thing), raising two boys, and still finding time to be me.  I want them to admire that and know that it's not something to be afraid of, but something to be proud of.  They need to know that they need to partner and consider their wife an equal or the whole thing will collapse around them.  And if they try hard they can keep the romance going, it just may not be like it was at the beginning.

 If they can take that from me and what I have with Nick, then we will have done our job well.  So there, I want to be the role model.
Do you want to be a role model, or did you have that one lady you looked up to and wanted to be?  Spin it up and link it up with Gretchen.

WWTK--Money, Money, Money

So Mamarazzi is asking all about money this week:
{1} What is something that you currently spend money on that you consider a splurge or frivolous?  My weekly GNOs are a bit of a splurge. Necessary, but splurgy none the less.
{2} Tell us about your first paying job. How old were you?  Well there was babysitting, but somehow I don't think that's what's meant.  My first real hourly paying job was working at the snack bar at the local outdoor pool the summer I was 15.  The church youth group ran it and I worked there three or four days a week that summer.  The next paying job I had was the following summer at the same pool as a lifeguard.
{3} Do you plan date nights and extras into a monthly/weekly budget?  We try to plan for a few extras but don't get that much time to go without the boys, so we don't do it that often.
{4} Share one of your money saving tips with us.  Always take a list to the grocery store, don't try to wing it.  And never send a man to the store without a detailed list.
And finally, Christine @ http://cmgendreau.blogspot.com wants to know:
{5} If you won the lottery - would you spend it frivolously or use what you need and save the rest? Why?  It would depend on how much I won.  Let's go with millions.  I'd pay off the credit cards and then invest and then I think Nick and I would travel, but still keep our jobs--you've gotta keep yourself grounded.  Nick would want to buy a bugger house and I'd want a shopping spree of some sort.  Mostly we'd do a bit of both, spend, but then save the rest and try to use it wisely.  We don't want to burn through it in no time and be broke again.

Now go see how everyone else does with money and visit Mamarazzi and Crazymama.

Random Tuesday Schtuff

So here we are at a Tuesday again.  Let's get all random.
Here goes:

• And my random has flown the coop.  I thought I had things to talk about but nope.
• Oh, I know.  We rented Puss in Boots.  Bruiser calls it Pussy Boots.  I giggle every time he does.  He likes the movie but can't quite get the name right.  If it's not Pussy Boots he calls it Puss and Boots.  
• And on the subject of Bruiser's mispronunciation, I think it's cute when he calls Coka Cola a Coka Roka. He still will ask nicely for things by saying "Nicely" if we tell him to ask nicely.  The kid cracks me up.
• Turbo has found out the fun and freedom of riding his bike.  We may not see much of him this summer.
• My poor fingernails have taken a beating this winter.  It's been so dry they are very brittle.  They aren't much to speak of anyway but the last few months have been really hard on them. 
• We had a nasty wind storm yesterday afternoon.  70 mph gusts.  Dust in the air, branches on the streets wind.
• We have been using Skype to talk to Nick while he is gone.  The kids love it.  They can see and talk to Nick.  It's way better for them than just a phone call.  
• I wanna nap.  Or to just stay in bed.  Sadly, neither is going to happen in the foreseeable future.  Come on weekend.
• I hate Bloggers new layout.  I have tried it a couple of times before and I still don't like it, but everyone has to use it come April.  It's frustrating to navigate the dashboard and things don't open like they used to.  Grrr.  I just don't like it.  I'm also not brave enough to switch to another blog hoster thing.  See, I need a free service and am not really excited by the other options out there.

There you have it.  I'm all randomed out.  Go see Stacy for more random posts.

Also, link up with Shawn and Impulsive for Talk to Us Tuesday.  It way fun and no rules for linking up.

And So It Starts...

Well, Nick made it to Austin, TX yesterday.  I am currently a singleish mom.  The next 10 days will be interesting to say the least.  I just hope I don't get sick.  I'm fighting it right now.
Our weekend was quiet, laundry, cleaning, more laundry.  I changed sheets, folded, ironed and did more laundry.  Yeah, there was lots of laundry done.
I did dishes too.  Domestic goddess, that's me.  Stop laughing, I can claim it of that's all I did all weekend.  I did all that domestic stuff, except clean the bathrooms.  I'm totally procrastinating on that one.  Oh, and I still need to take the vacuum for a spin.  It is pouting a bit after all the attention the washer and dryer got this weekend.
It really is challenging to feed a very picky three year old, and eight year old who doesn't eat lots and myself.  It's not worth it to make real meals, I end up with copious left overs.  Left overs are not really big with most of us.  My main left over consumer is in Texas.  I see us eating lots of chicken this week.  Chicken is one meat that is not objected to by most of the eaters in my house.
I did have a friend over and we played Pirate Farkle.  Turbo, my friend and myself.  I won two games and My friend won one game.  Turbo came close twice, but a lucky roll stole victory from him.  He took it well and is looking forward to playing again tonight.
So there you have it.  My not overly exciting weekend.  Was your weekend better?

I confess

Yep, it's Friday and it time to confess it all, or at least most of it.

• I am a bit scared.
• Nick leaves on Sunday for 10 days.
• I will be out numbered by little boys.
• At least I'm still bigger than they are.
• OK, make that more than a bit scared.
• I have laundry to do.
• Must scale the mountain and send clean clothes with Nick.
• I did Zumba for the first time Tuesday night.
• I'm feeling pretty good.
• Except for my thighs.
• They hate me right now.
• I will be doing the Zumba thing again.
• It was fun.
• As fun as exercise can be.
• It did show me that I am not at all coordinated.
• I really wish everyone in the house would feel better already.
• I really hope I don't get sick.

Nothing exciting happening around here really.  Hop on over  and see Mamarazzi (who's technically not there today, Big Daddy is running the show as Mamarazzi is working on a show at the local high school.)  Check out the other confessions and confess yourself.

Spin Cycle--Road Trip! Everybody Load Up!

Gretchen decided that since Spring Break is breaking all over the place, having the topic this week for the Spin Cycle be Road Trip was a no brainer.
I'm perfectly happy with this topic as last week, for Spring Break we headed out on, what else?  A road trip.
We left Saturday Morning.  Nick and I had not told Turbo where we were going.  He had to figure it out by reading the road signs on the way.
We went to Hot Springs, South Dakota.  It's a small town just south of the Black Hills in western South Dakota.  The Mammoth Site is there and just north of town is Wind Cave National Park.  We have friends who live in Chadron, NE  who came up to see us on Sunday.  We let the kids swim in the hotel pool and then headed up to the Black Hills and ended up at the Crazy Horse Monument.
So Sunday we went to the Mammoth Site with the boys in the morning and then just explored the area waiting for our friends to come visit.  We found some area that we definitely want to go see again.

Bruiser beside a replica of a Mammoth jaw.

Turbo taking pictures--he loved this place.

Bruiser being a Mammoth.

Looking for the perfect rock to throw in the lake.

Boys and water, they just go together.

We met up with our friends and after trying to wear out the kids in the pool, we headed out to see Crazy Horse.  Then we had dinner and drove back to Hot Springs and said goodbye to our friends.
Monday we took the boys to Wind Cave and did the Garden of Eden tour.  Turbo loved it, but Bruiser wasn't so sure about the whole thing.  Happily the tour was fairly short.

Box work in Wind Cave.

Then we just took off and drove.  We found some very scenic roads to drive and had lunch with Larry,Moe and Curly (three big horn sheep).

Lunch stop.

Larry, Moe and Curly.

We skirted the edge of the Badlands and then headed back to Hot Springs.  Dinner was had, more swimming was done and then we all fell asleep.
Tuesday Morning we loaded up and headed out toward home.
One thing I do to make the miles go by faster for all of us is to read out loud.  I am the book on tape in our car.  On this trip I started a new to Turbo series of books.  David Eddings wrote a series of books called the Belgariad.  It's five books in the fantasy genre (there are five more in a following series plus two prequels).  I first started reading them when I was 14.  I read them out loud to Nick back before we got married.  Turbo was caught up in the story within the first two pages.  We finished the first book and started the second before we got home.  Turbo is looking forward to the next road trip to hear more of the story.  Since we love road hunting--hunting for roads we like to drive down, or ones we haven't driven down before) it won't be long before he gets to hear more of the story.
So what are your most recent road trip adventures?
Spin it up and link up with Gretchen.

WWTK--Techy Stuff

We Want to Know time again.  I'm trying to deal with a sick kid and a sick hubby.  Things are way fun at our house.  Don't you wish you were here?  No?  I don't blame you.
Crazymama is asking this week:

{1} How many phones do you have in your household? (cell, smart, land lines) We have two cell phones, one portable land line phone and that is about it. Oh, we have the old school phone that works off the phone line because when the power gores out, it usually still works.
{2} Are you brand loyal? (Apple or Android or something else?)  We really aren't all that brand loyal.  We go for price and quality.  We don't do Apple, though.  We are PC people.
{3} Would you rather talk on the phone, text or email?  It depends on what I'm doing.  For some things a text is very convenient, for others it's better to talk on the phone.  Email is good for work and such.
{4} What do you think of Video chat? what do you use? (skype, facetime? google talk?)  We have skyped with family in New York, but don't really use it at all.
Fulfilled Mommy wants to know:
{5}What is your favorite gadget? (Tablet, cell phone, etc.)  I like my netbook.  It makes blogging and internet surfing easy and convenient.  For some things a laptop is better,but the netbook does most everything I need to.
{6} If you had to pick just one technological gadget, (computer, cell phone, smart phone, tablet)and it was the only one you could use for a year, which would you pick? explain why.  My net book.  It would give me the connection I needed to blog and check the things on line that I keep up with.  Cell phone I can do without, I don't have a smart phone (they intimidate me) and we don't have a tablet.

Mamarazzi is very busy with a project this week, so her hubby Big Daddy is stepping in to answer the questions at her place.  Crazymama will be checking everyone's answers though.

Random Musings

So Tuesday has hit.  Since it always follows Monday, I shouldn't be surprised.  Somehow it always sneaks up on me though.  but enough about that.  Let's get all random here.

• After a fabulous time visiting with our friends,  I have to say, I wish they were just a bit less generous.  The kids shared their germs and Bruiser has a nasty cough and runny nose.  Low fever and he doesn't sleep well.  And not being able to give him anything over the counter really makes it tough on Mom.
• Kidney stones suck.
• Why are household chores so never ending?  Just get one done and turn around to do it again, dishes, laundry, vacuuming, cleaning.  It just keeps going.
• I'm looking forward to getting a pedicure.  It won't happen until May, but it going to be great.
• Nick heads out for training and work meetings in Texas next week.  One week in Austin, then off to Dallas.  He is excited about the training, but not about the being gone for so long.  I may be a basket case when he gets back.  10 days with the boys.  Yeah, basket case is definitely a possibility.
• What is it about deep fried food that tastes so good?  Even bacon tastes good deep fried.
• I think that spring is here.  We will get more snow, but for now it's nice--for us.
• I got to dance with Bruiser last night to the Muppet Show music.  Even if he doesn't feel good, he still wanted to dance with his mom.
• Gah, kids TV is sort of really inane.  As much as I love my kids, I couldn't do kids TV every day.  Of course Turbo like different TV than Bruiser does.  I don't like his preferred TV either.  

So there you have it.  I will be around sporadically today.  Bruiser is all kinds of wanting to snuggle.  Mom will be snuggling and making chicken noodle soup today.

Go see Stacy for more random.   The rebellion is still on, but I think it more like a succession now.  Stacy has pretty much become our new fearless leader.  Keely may want it back, but it's not looking positive.

Also go link up with the no rules girls Shawn and Impulsive.  They have Talking To Us Tuesday.  No rules so you can link any old post up.

Spring Break, Good and Gone

So.  It's Monday.  And the start of another long week.  The last week went by way too fast.  We started it off with a run up to Hot Springs, South Dakota.  I will be doing a post about the trip later this week.  I will say that trip was much needed and very much enjoyed.
After we got back, Nick and I got to work while Turbo enjoyed the rest of his spring break.  Both boys got a sleep over at Grandma's house, during which they had a good time watching movies and going to Burger King.
We had friends come into town on Saturday and a sitter was gotten for all the kids--six in total--and the adults went out for dinner and then to the local Irish pub to enjoy some St. Patrick's Day fun.  Much green beer was imbibed and a good time was had by all.  We got Budweiser swag: T shirts, necklaces, hats, and tiaras.  All very green and very cheesy, but oh so much fun.  I think that next year we will be doing something similar.  The going out sans kids, not so much the St. Patrick's silliness.
The only down side was that while out at the grocery store, I picked up Bruiser to put him in the car and my back said "Oh, no you don't" and promptly went out on me.  I now have lower back pain to keep me company. I hate getting old.
I also think I passed another kidney stone.  I've been feeling very similar to how I felt when I passed my first one.  Maybe a shade less pain, but very uncomfortable.  It finally passed yesterday morning.  I feel much better now.
So, now that you are all caught up on us, what's up with you?

Friday Confessions

I have confessions for this week:

• I had a fling with the Captain last night.
• I was celebrating having no kids for the night.
• Not that I really needed a reason to fling with the Captain.
• Our spring break was fun.
• Travel always is.
• We got rid of the cabin fever.
• Hotels with pools are gifts from the gods.
• Especially with kids.
• I'm really happy it's Friday.
• We have a busy weekend coming up.
• Friends in town.
• Beer bottling.
• Kids to the park.
• Yep, busy, but definitely fun.
• Pictures of our adventures on Monday.
• I still have to download cameras and such.
• I also still have to unpack bags.
• Yeah, not really on top of that one.
• At least the car is unpacked.
• Mostly.

Do you have any confessions?  write them up and link up with Mamarazzi.  

Spin Cycle--How Lucky Are You?

This week's Spin Cycle topic is luck.  Fitting with St. Patrick's Day on Saturday and all.
There are all sorts of beliefs about luck.  Lucky numbers, lucky days, lucky objects, the list goes on and on.  There are people who are considered lucky.  Really luck seems to be something that people either want to give credit to or blame for what happens in life.  You have to be lucky to gamble--at least some of the games trust to pure chance and luck has as much to do with winning as chance.
I'm not a huge believer in luck.  Except to joke that I didn't get my fair share.  I'm not really that lucky.  I don't often win at things like the lottery or scratch and wins.  I don't have a lucky number or clover or rabbits foot or anything like that.  Although I do remember fun summer evening spent hunting for the elusive four leafed clover in the grass at my aunt's house.  We finally found a four leafed one and a five leafed one and six leafed one.  Didn't find that those were any luckier than the four leafed one.
My bad luck is stronger than my good luck.  And it always comes in threes.
A couple of years ago the water heater became a waterfall and had to be replaced.  Shortly after that, the refrigerator died.  Then the car had a short in the dashboard.  All of this in the space of around two weeks.  Bad luck in threes.  A couple of weeks ago, Nick threw out his neck, Turbo got sick and then Bruiser got sick.  Again with the threes.
If there was a way to ensure that good luck would follow me around indefinitely, I would be all over it.  However, all the good luck charms in the world won't help, I'm afraid.  Some people are just not that lucky.
Are you lucky, or do you have a lucky charm (and not the cereal)?  What do you do to improve your luck?
Spin it up and join up with Gretchen.

WWTK--What do You Want to Eat?

Time once again to avoid the necessary for the fun.  This week the questions come from several people, check out the links for each question asker:

{1}Ricki Jill wants to know:

I would like to know what the WWTK's  participants serve when they have company for dinner.  What are your go-to recipes?  I don't really have a go to recipe for company.  I have made things I like to eat and think that they would like to eat.  My Chuck Wagon Ribs, Clam Chowder and Chicken Cordon Blue(the easy version) are all meals that we have shared with friends.

{2}Jill wants to know:

If you were told it was time for your last meal, what would you order up or make for yourself?  My last meal?  I'd go for lobster and ribeye steak with baked potato and an artichoke.  For Dessert, I'd have cheesecake and maybe a really good Captain  and coke.

{3}Suzanne wants to know:

Sugar or alcohol? or more delicately Drink or Dessert?  It tends to lean more toward drink.  Of course I like to have drinks like Grasshoppers which are dessert and drink combined.

{4}Myya wants  to know:

What is your favorite Crock Pot Recipe?  I have lots of crock pot recipes.  I love to make Pork shoulders for shredded pork, corned beef in the crock pot is fabulous, But my favorite thing to throw in is Bratwurst, sauerkraut and chunked potatoes and let it cook all day.  The flavors sort of meld and mingle and nothing really stands out but it all tastes great. 

{5} Mamarazzi is having a hard time getting breakfast in everyday so she wants to know:

What are you eating for breakfast these days?  I am having greek yogurt and homemade granola.  I really don't like breakfast and can't do cold cereal (I hate sweet milk and don't like soggy cereal).  I do enjoy bacon and eggs, but that takes time I don't have in the mornings (except on weekends).  I'm doing good to get the boys fed before I leave for work, so I need a portable breakfast.  I'll be able to check out what other people put up and maybe get some other ideas.

So there you have it.  Answer up the questions for yourself and join in the fun.  Mamarazzi and Crazymama are hosting, but do give some love to the other question askers this week.

Random Travel Thoughts

We got back this afternoon.  There are a few observations I have from travelling with little boys.

• The miles seem longer when two boys get whiny.
• The miles go faster when mom is the "book on tape".
• Frequent stops are necessary for both little boys and mom and dad's sanity.
• When put to the test, both boys are pretty good in public situations.
• A hotel with a pool makes anything better.
• The trip home was better than the trip there.  Both boys were more used to the car then.
• We need to make sure the car seat is high enough to see out the window.  Being able to see makes the ride easier.

There are more but I'll save them for another post.  Maybe the one where I tell you all about the adventures of the Jones family over Spring Break.

Confession? You bet!

So it's Friday.  Just about the best day of the week.  Especially at going home time.  This one is particularly nice.
Next week is Spring Break around these parts.  So I'm going to confess so I can head into the weekend with a clean conscience.

• I am ridiculously happy to be heading out of town for a long weekend.  
• We need to get the heck out of Dodge.
• This should be a fabulous cure for the rampant cabin fever that has been infecting all of us.
• Bruiser is feeling better.
• After throwing up on me Tuesday night.
• And running a low grade fever all day Wednesday.
• He is back to his usual, imaginative self.
• I feel particularly proud that I got the laundry done... 
• ...While I was home with a sick Bruiser.
• Have I mentioned how thrilled I am that we are going out of town?
• I'v been a slacker this week.  
• I have not done my dishes at night.
• I've let them wait until morning before doing them.
• Still that's better than I used to be.
• I don't let them sit all week.
• I am not at all happy about the time change this weekend.
• It so screws up our schedules.
• Being on a mini vacation should help the soften the blow though.

And with that I'll send you to see Mamarazzi for more confessions.  Really, it is good for you.

Spin Cycle--Hair!

Gretchen chose hair for the topic this week.  Hair.  For some it's an obsession.  For others a nuisance.  For others a  quest to keep what they have or get more.
I have had an uneasy relationship with my hair since I was given control of it at about age 12.  Before that my mom dictated what my hair was like.  She preferred my hair to be long and in braids.  Unfortunately, braids were not the cool thing to have in the early 80s.
Because she didn't do a lot to her own hair (still doesn't) she really didn't show me how to style my hair.  I learned by trial and error and by watching my hair dresser and copying what she did.  It was the time of big fluffy hair.

Here is an idea of how long I had my hair before cutting it.

I started by getting bangs cut.  I have stick straight hair, with a slight wave if left alone.  It's relatively fine, but I have tons of it.  When I was 14 I cut it short and then embarked on the long process of growing it out.  I grew it until I got pregnant with Turbo.  It was almost waist length at that time.  I cut it to shoulder length.  It has hovered between my shoulder and chin ever since.  I'm currently growing it so I can put it into braids and pony tails for camping this summer.

What my hair generally looks like.

Oh and when I was 15 I got my first body wave permanent.  I have had it permed about once a year ever since. It makes for a much easier wash and go hair style.  With two boys, I just don't have the time to spend lots of time on my hair.  I have played with color--but only the demi-permanent kind that washes out.  I don't want to have to spend the money to and time to keep it up.

After playing with color. I liked it and will probably do it again.

So there you have it, the story of my hair and it's lack of a true style.  I do sort of dream of getting a makeover, but that's probably not ever going to happen.
What do like or hate about your hair?
Go see Gretchen for more hair spins.

WWTK--Birthdays!

Crazymama is asking the questions this week:

1. What is your favorite way to celebrate birthdays?  We tend to keep birthdays relatively low key.  No wild parties, crazy activities or anything like that.  I like going camping for mine if it's close enough to a weekend, or just dinner out with the fam.
2. Which is more fun to celebrate--yours or your loved ones?  Well, mine of course.  I like getting stuff.
3. What is your dessert of choice for birthday celebrating?  I'm not a fan of most frosting on cake, but I do like whipped cream frosting on chocolate cake.  But I really prefer cheesecake.
4. Tell us about your best birthday you've ever had.  I have not really had too many memorable birthdays.  When I turned 35 Nick set up a sort of surprise party and that was fun.  Other than that, none really stand out.
5. Share your favorite birthday song.  Can I go on record as saying I don't really like Happy Birthday.  I don't really have a birthday song.
6. Bonus Question:  If you could pick any age to be again, how old would you be and why?  I'd go back to 26.  Nick and I had been married for a year, I was starting a pretty good job and life was pretty good.

Now go see Mamarazzi and Crazymama for more birthday question answering fun.

Favorite Things Swap Goodies

So I got a fabulous package from Allstarme at Incognitus Scriptor.  She really nailed just what I needed, with all her favorite things.

All the goodies.

Two new to me books--ones I haven't read!

Lovely cards and a pen and notebook.

Pamper me stuff.

For the chocolate fix and Gummies that I'm fighting the boys for.

There you have it.  Some awesome stuff for a great swap.
Now go see Mamarazzi to check out the other great swaps.

Tuesday Randoms

So it's Tuesday.  Time for randoms and Talking to Us Tuesday.  So here are my Randoms:

• Oh man, little boys can be noisy.  They sort of feed on each other and get louder and louder.  I think we all need to get out of the house.  Thank goodness Spring Break is next week.
• We are going some where.  Nick is thinking the Black Hills and visiting some of the caves there like Jewel Cave and maybe Wind Cave.  I think we might have a good time there.  Hey, at this point anything out of town would be good.
• I'm not thrilled about the time change that's coming up.  I actually hate the time change.  We spend less time on "normal" time than we do on "Daylight Savings" time.  And what about it is saving?  I really wish they would just leave the stinking time alone.
• Trying to keep little boys separate when one is sick is next to impossible.  Next time I'm putting one in the basement and the other up stairs.  It's the only way to keep the healthy one well and keep the sick one from sharing his germs.
• Love going to the doctor, paying out the nose and finding out that the kid doesn't have what you thought he did.  Lovely.  Oh, I'm glad Turbo doesn't have strep throat, but not thrilled about the cost of discovering that little tidbit.

I think I'll close now.  A Migraine is creeping up on me and I've got a full day of work to manage.  Hope everyone's Tuesday is as good as can be expected.  It is after all Tuesday.

Go link up with Stacy for Random Tuesday.

And link up with Talk To Us Tuesday with Shawn and Impulsive.

Another Monday? Not Really...

This last weekend went by with it's ups and downs.  Really a lot more ups than downs really.
Saturday we got the grocery shopping done and then took the boys swimming at the rec center.  A good time was had by everyone.  Bruiser is getting brave about floating with a life vest one and not having a death grip on us.  Turbo loves to dive in and swim under water.  Swimming lessons have been so good for him.
Saturday afternoon Turbo had a birthday party to go to.  He ended up staying a lot longer than originally planned and had lots of fun.
Sunday was a lazy day.  A bit of cleaning, a bit of beer bottling, and lots of couch surfing.  I got a nap and it felt good.  Cabin fever is still pretty rampant in our house, but the ice outside is still not really letting us go outside.  It is melting, but more snow is predicted for tomorrow.  such is "spring" in Wyoming.
We have had a bit of a situation here since Thanksgiving.  Nick's dad usually watches Bruiser on Mondays and Fridays.  Just after Thanksgiving he had surgery on his right wrist and a week later he had surgery on his left foot.  This put him out of commission as far as Bruiser sitting.  My mom took up the slack, expecting Papa to be able to watch Bruiser again after a couple of months.
Well, Papa's foot did not heal right (he walked on it far too soon) and he had to go back to surgery in January.  My mom was facing five days a week and wasn't really happy or physically prepared to do that.  So nick and I went to our boss and negotiated a temporary fix.  I am working from home on Mondays and Nick is working from home on Fridays.  My mom will watch Bruiser on Tuesday through Thursday, like she was used to.  hopefully Papa will be back on his feet (both of them) in another month or so.
this whole issue of who is watching Bruiser has been weighing heavy on me.  he about half way potty trained and I didn't really want a major change to his schedule to disrupt that.  As soon as he is trained I have no trouble finding a daycare to put him in if necessary, but I would like to avoid that as long as possible.  I want his potty trained.
So, today I am home.  Working, chasing a little boy, getting a big boy to school.  you know, imitating super mom.  Not sure I can really pull it off, but I think I can fake it.
so how was your weekend?

Friday--Let's Confess!

Oh my goodness.  I'm sooo happy it's Friday.  Let's confess and then get on with the weekend.

• I had maybe a bit more to drink on Wednesday's GNO than I should have.
• It was fun while I was doing it.
• Yesterday morning not so much.
• I excited to send out my swap package tomorrow.
• My face seems to think it needs to go back to high school.
• It's acting like a teenager and breaking out like crazy.
• The dish fairies have the worst sense of direction.
• The stupid idiots can't find their way here.
• Of course the house cleaning elves are no better.
• I'm making bread this weekend.
• With the spent grains we saved from the batch of beer Nick made a couple of weeks ago.
• We froze it and the bread I make from it tastes really good.
• I have cabin fever.
• The cure is to get outside.
• Going outside here right now is not really advisable.
• It's cold, windy and on occasion snowy out there.
• And we have at least another two months of very unpredictable weather.
• "Spring" in Wyoming is a blink you miss it type of season.
• I'm seriously jealous of all the bloggers talking about the 70-80 degree weather they are having.
• Sigh, I have to kepp telling myself that this summer when everyone else is complaining of 100+ weather, we will be relatively cool and comfortable here.
• It doesn't help much right now.

Now go confess with Mamarazzi and get it all off your chest for the weekend.

Spin Cycle--Phobias, What are you scared of?

Phobias.  The fear of something.  Extreme fear of something.  Everyone has them.  Some, a lot of people share, some are as unique as snowflakes.  Mine, well, I have a few.  Arachnophobia, fear of spiders, and Entomophobia or insectophobia, fear of insects are two of my worst ones.

Gives me the willies just looking at it.

Wolf spider, entirely too many of these live in my house.

I truly hate bugs.  Especially the flying ones.  They give me the willies.  And I hate spiders.  Really anything with more than four legs bothers me.  I can't understand why they find it necessary to share my living space.
This fear makes it difficult to be outside in the summer.  Hornets and wasps will send me inside faster than a thunderstorm does.  The buzzing (shudder), I know they are just zeroing in on me and trying to figure out how to sting or bite me.
I also have glossophobia.  This is fear of public speaking.  I really don't like to give presentations.  I manage to, but don't like it one bit.  What's odd about this is that I was active in plays and the speech team in high school.  The difference is that with that I had a memorized piece that I gave and it was not something I had to come up with.  Just the thought of giving a presentation now sends me into a cold sweat.  I get the jitters, and become an instant stress case.  No matter how well I prepare, I'm one sweaty, stressed out mess when I get up in front of a group to give a presentation.
I'm not really afraid of much else.  I get the occasional touch of claustrophobia when I'm in a tight space, and I may have a bit of Pistanthrophobia--the fear about trusting people--mostly people I only know as acquaintances.  The worry that they are talking about me when I'm not there.  Irrational I know and most likely a hold over from high school, but it's there all the same.
So what scares you?  Spin it up and link up with Gretchen over at Second Blooming.