Spin Cycle--The first time...

Jen's topic for the spin cycle this week was The First Time.  It could be any first time--first spin cycle you participated in, first time you saw your child, first time you met your significant other, first date, first anything really.  With so many firsts to choose from, I had a hard time deciding which first to write about.

In thinking about this I got to thinking about how many firsts we encounter during our lifetimes.  From our first breath to first day of school, to first baby the events of our lives are dominated by firsts.  Only a few of our celebrations are about lasts--graduations are about it.  At least until we get older and funerals take over from weddings and babies.  Wow that got morbid in a hurry. 

OK so let's lighten things up a bit.  I think I'll tell you about the first time Nick and I lived together.  It was a studio apartment.  It had two rooms--one was kitchen and dinning room, the other was living room and bedroom.  It also had a very small bathroom--with a shower and sink and toilet (there was a bonus for the guys--they could lean on the sink while using the toilet, space was that tight in there).  The whole apartment was maybe 200 square feet.  We had a daybed that doubled as a sofa (it had a trundle we pulled out at night), and a rocking chair.  We had a table that would seat two people (if they were really cosy).  there was a fridge and a small stove and a sink/cabinet combo.  Cosy living indeed.

The only reason Nick and I made it while living in that apartment was that we only spent maybe two hours in the evening together-the rest of the time we were sleeping, at school or at work.  If our schedules has matched better we might not have lasted.  Nick worked a sort of factory job--from 6:30 am to 4:30 pm.  I went to school--I was on campus from 8:00am until 8:00pm because I also worked in the cafeteria.  So we only saw each other from about 8:00pm until bedtime around 10:00pm.  Young love--it can handle anything right?

Well Nick hated the job he had, so he decided to go back to school and right about that time we were able to move into a one bedroom apartment (which was right next door to the original apartment).  We just about doubled our living space and with that added space were able to keep our sanity and our relationship.

Well, that was our first apartment, we can still drive by it on occasion and remember the good old first time in our very first apartment.  Now go spin up your own first time and link up with Jen at Sprite's Keeper.

Writer's Workshop--Camping With My Honey

The Prompts:

This week’s assignments are:

1.) It was a bad burn. Tell about the worst sunburn you ever received. How did that happen!?!
2.) Write a poem for your furry friend.
3.) Describe a memorable camping trip.
4.) It happened on a motorcycle.
5.) Post a vlog that shows you playing with your kids.

So, my choice for this week is going to be--wait for it--wait for it--number 3.  Camping is something Nick and I have done since we first met.  I think I will let you know about our first camping trip, shortly after we met--many many years ago when we were both still dumb kids.  In March, in Wyoming, in the mountains.

Now first you must know that in Wyoming, spring is use only loosely to describe the season between winter and summer.  It really does not start until the end of April, especially in our area of Wyoming--we are over 7000 feet in elevation here, spring comes late--very late.  So March still qualifies as winter, despite what the calendar says.  Still, in that new love haze, I let Nick talk me into going camping.  Tent camping in March, what was I he thinking?

Well we left early Friday afternoon and hiked up into an area of rock formations that were spectacular.  The afternoon was warm, sunny and the temps almost hit 50 degrees.  I was thinking this was not so bad.  We set up our tent and got dinner heated up--raviolis I think, or spaghettios--high class I tell you.  Then we got into the tent (very small tent) and then the sleeping bags--conveniently zipped together-- and settled into sleep--just sleep, we were on the rocky ground, nothing else happened.  That night it got colder and colder and then it snowed on us.  Needless to say the next morning dawned bright and early and I was freezing.  We hurried up and got dressed and struck camp and hightailed it back to Nick's truck and headed back to his place in town for some more(warm)sleep. 

Call me crazy, but that didn't scare me away from Nick at all.  In fact, it made me like him even more.  Hey, I'm still with him(although now our camping is considerably more comfortable, not to mention warm!)  So that was our first camping experience.  Our second camping experience is also memorable, but that is a story for another day.

Now go see Mama Kat and link up your own take on one of the above prompts.

What I meant to say--

Kay, it's time for what I meant to say Wednesday again with Brittany and Angel.  Go link at Angel's  place this week, Brittany is doing lots of school stuff.



What I said to my mom:  Sure we can have a barbecue for you at our house.
What I should have said:  We were planning to have you over for your Birthday, you just beat us to the punch and asked before I could ask you.  Love you so much, Mom!

What I said to Bruiser:  Are you not feeling good, baby?
What I said (also):  Come here and snuggle with mom, I'm so sorry you don't feel well, Mom'll stay home and help you get better.

What I said to Turbo:  You got the game finished?
What I should have said:  Way to go kid!  You rock that game.  And thnaks for getting your chores do with next to no complaining--rewards are wonderful, aren't they?

Random Tuesday

It's Tuesday and that means random with Keely time.  Or random thoughts with Keely, or, oh geez-just write your random thoughts and go link with Keely, she wants us to think about monkeys and toasters.  I found this, which is sort of toaster like.

So, things here have been hot--not as hot as the rest of the country but still, hot.  So Saturday I took the boys to the park near our house to go see the new splash pad that was installed.  Turbo loved it--he ran around like a fool.  Bruiser would have nothing-I repeat nothing-to do with the water.  I coaxed him over to one fountain and he touched it once or twice and he was so over the whole experience.  Let's go swing Mom, that's much more fun than the water!

My mom has a birthday on Thursday.  She started counting backwards at 29.  She is minus seven now. (You do the math.)  We are having her and Nick's folk over for dinner that night.  It will be nice--I hope.  There might be thunderstorms but with any luck we can be outside.

I'm sending Nick and Turbo camping this weekend.  They will take the four wheeler and head to a lake that is only accessible by a rough four wheel drive road.  They should have a great time.  I get to be home with just Bruiser--and he goes to bed early.  Quiet time for mommy--yippee!

And Bruiser is scaling anything he can.  Man that kid can climb.  Anything he can get up on that gives him access to a higher shelf, that's where I will find him.  He's making me nuts.  Climbing the couch is one thing--most of the landing places are soft--ish.  The things he is climbing in the kitchen--not so much.  I was cutting up chicken last evening for dinner and turned around to find him standing on the bar stool we have in the kitchen--about three feet off the floor.  I got him down after I recovered from the minor heart attack he gave me.

And is anyone else's kid fascinated by utensils?  Forks, spoons and stuff like that?  Bruiser loves any he can get ahold of--but most especially forks.  I don't let him run around with the real ones but he loves them.  One perk--he will eat anything if he can eat it off a spoon.  At least a couple of bites anyway.

We have one month before Trubo goes back to school.  Where has this summer gone?  I blinked and July is almost over.  How did that happen?  I think I need to stop blinking--Bruiser just climbed up on the coffee table.

We have been watching the Muppet Show on DVD.  Bruiser loves to dance to some of the music and Turbo likes it better than MASH on DVD.  I like it better than the cartoons on the Cartoon network.  So it is a win for all of us.

Now go random up and link at Keely's.

Monday Minute--Kmama Time

Monday Minute time and this one is brought to us by Ian and Kmama.  Answer the questions and link up.

1. Who is your "what-if" person?
   (What-if person being what if I married this person or am now in a relationship with "this" person)     I don't really have a what if person.  I dated guys before Nick, but none of them were marriage material.  Of course, I was 18 when I met Nick so that might have something to do with it too.
2. What is you nickname?  Nick calls me Boober--like from the Fraggles.  Otherwise I don't have a nickname--Vandy is my whole name, not short for anything.  But, ohhh the times I have been asked if it was.
3. If you could choose how you died, how would you like to die?  As quick and painlessly as possible or quietly in my sleep.
4. If you could have named yourself, which name would you have picked?  I spent years growing up hating my name.  It was too different, I lived in a small town so I stuck out, it was a weird name, not cool at all.  Then I went to college and I wasn't one of six Lisas or Stacys.  I learned to appreciate it then and now I like it.  At 14 I would have taken anything that was more normal, but now not so much.
5. Who were you named after or for what reason did your parents choose your name?  Interesting story here.  My father choose my name.  He had a favorite science fiction short story where the heroine was named Vandy.  He loved the name.  When, the year before I was born, my folks bought a new VW Van, he wanted to name the van Vandy, but my mom would not let him.  Then about four months later they found out they were expecting and he told her that she didn't have a choice, if the baby was a girl they were naming her Vandy.  So here I am.  I would love to find a copy of that short story but I have absolutely no idea who wrote it or anything other than the heroine was named Vandy.
   
   

Five Question Friday

1. What were your school colors? High school-Black and Gold,  College-Brown and gold--I think there is a theme here.
2. What's the best compliment you ever received?  I like the compliments that come out of no where.  The ones you were totally not expecting to get--I know, I know your not supposed to expect a compliment but I mean the ones you get for things and times when you would not even think you are going to get a compliment--like in the grocery store someone tells you you have cute kids, or your boss out of the blue acknowledges the hard work your putting in, or the in-laws tell you you are doing a wonderful job with the grandkids.  I guess I like surprises.
3. Do you buy cheap or expensive toilet paper?  I go with the more expensive Charmine--strong version, not soft.  I can use less so it lasts longer than the cheap stuff you have to use lots of.
4. Have you ever had a surprise party thrown for you?   For my 35 birthday, I was pregnant with Bruiser and Nick organized a surprise party--sort of.  I knew we were going to have friends over but not the number that showed up.  He organized it all on his own--made me so happy.  Or have you had one for someone else?  For Nick's 20 I helped his parents invite his friends over and he didn't know everyone was going to be there so it was a surprise kind of.
5. What is one material possession that you "can't live without"?  Hmmm, can't live without?  Well let me think---I'd have to go with the lap top.  It lets me keep my sanity when everything at home seems to fall apart, lets me connect to others who understand in way my hubby just can't, keeps me connected.  Yep the lap top,  or maybe it's the car.  It takes me away from the home and to fun places like the mountains and shopping.  Hmmm, this might require more thought.

Now go answer the questions for yourself and link with My Little Life.

Writer's Workshop--Heaven in Pictures

Time for the Writer's Workshop.  Just pick a topic from the list write a post and then go link at Mama Kat's linky place.
This week’s assignments are:
1.) Write about your wedding song. What was it and why did you choose it?
2.) A movie you probably should have previewed before letting your kids watch.
3.) We talk about mother’s guilt a lot…who needs it? Describe a good mom moment!
4.) Post a picture and a description that fits into this quote for you: “How far to heaven? Just open your eyes and look. You are in heaven” -Shankar
5.)Earthquake! Where were you when it happened?

I chose Number 4.  "How far to heaven?  Just open your eyes and look.  You are in heaven."--Shankar

Heaven is being able to go play in an area that is as beautiful as this.

Heaven is seeing this face happy.

Heaven is seeing this smiling face greet me at the door when I come home from work. (Even if it is a little banged up most days, the kid is a klutz.)

Now go link your post on the above prompts with Mama Kat.

What I meant to say--What were you thinking?

OK so it's time to play with Brittany and Angel and get those tongue biting moments off your chest.

To Nick:
What I said:  Sure, you can get a four wheeler.
What I should have said--We don't even all fit in our camper and you want to get a four wheeler?  I thought the camper came first, then the four wheeler.  We are getting things in sort of the wrong order, aren't we?

So we now own a four wheeler.  I guess it's cool and it will be fun and useful for Nick's field work this summer and next.  Still I really want a new(er) camper--definitely pop-up style.  He has pinkie swore with me that I get a new pop-up camper next spring.  We shall see what comes.

To Bruiser:
What I said:  Are you dancing? 
What I should have said:  Nothing--I should just enjoy watching him get his groove on.

Random Tuesday Thoughts--Summer is slip sliding away

Tuesday and that means random time right?  I got the purple button and I ready to go:

Is is just me or is this summer going by way to fast?  How did it get to be the middle of July?  And now the stores are already threatening us with back to school sales.  Where are the brakes?  I want off this ride.  The lazy days of summer are whipping by at a rate that I am not ready for.

Anybody want a daredevil kid?  Bruiser likes standing on the arm of the couch and diving either on to the couch seat or the pile of blankets at the end.  When he stands up there, he give Nick heart failure every time.  He also likes to scale the chairs and sit on the edge of the table--that one gives me heart failure.  He's for sale--he comes with toys.  Any takers?  (I'm reasonably sure that no one will take the offer.)

Turbo has hit the bored portion of the summer.  Unless he's able to play video games or do exactly what he wants, how he wants, he's bored or not having any fun.  Save me from the whining of a seven year old.  If I get a good offer from the circus, I'll take it.

And the allergies have hit again.  The rest of the summer will be sneezy and itchy and only livable with Claritin.  I heart allergy medicine.

I want a new pop-up camper in the worst way.  Nick wants a four wheeler in the worst way.  I think his want will win.  Mine will be fulfilled next spring.  His will be fulfilled this week if the bank agrees.

Mmmm, Ben and Jerry's ice cream.  My favorite flavors are Pistachio Pistachio and Peach Cobbler.  I even got to tour the factory once.  No place better to tour even of it was Christmas time.

I've been a bit moody lately.  Not sure if it's because I'm not sleeping well or if I'm just a bit off.  I'm hoping it's because I'm tired.  I can't sleep when I'm hot-especially my feet.  Hopefully summer lets up with the heat soon.

And in more Bruiser news--the kid is a dancing fool.  He will get his groove on to whatever music strikes his fancy--the Scooby Doo theme, the zoo pals commercial, country radio, really whatever has a beat he likes.  His little shoulders and hips get to moving and then he is bopping to the music.  He's got better rhythm than his dad does.

OK, so that's my random for the week.  Go see Keely and get your random on.

Monday Minute

Ian has his monday Minute Carnival up again this week.  Co-Hosting is Michelle of Mommy Loves Stilettos.  So off we go!

1. What is your real name? Vandy--and that is not short for anything.  It has a story to go with it-but it's kind of long so we will get into that another time.
2. Have you ever fabricated a story or anything on your blog?No, my life is interesting enough with out making things up.
3. When in the car do you listen to the radio/CDs/iPod/etc?Mostly the radio unless we are headed into the mountains where radio reception gets sketchy, than we take the Mp3 player.
4. Describe the 'sexiest' item of clothing that you own.  Nick got me this outfit, it's a bustier/garterbelt/undies set in black--mmm has resulted in a fun evening or two.  And he picked it out all by himself and this outfit is one I don't mind wearing, point to him!
5. Would you be willing to breastfeed your friend's three year old child?  Nope, by three he can manage with regular food like the rest of us.  My youngest boy is finally weaned and I'm not going back.

OK so there are my answers, go answer for yourself and link up with Ian and Michelle.