3 Day Sickend.

It's a rare moment in my house right now.

All 3 of my kids are hanging out in the other room and NO ONE IS CRYING.

Definitly an "only for the moment" moment.

I swear the oldest and the youngest fight so much.

Too much a like, those 2 are!

So I hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekend.

Mine sucked the  big balls.

I spent all day yesterday and today coughing my head off.

Which of course, makes my head hurt.

We COULD have went to my brother's house

and had a BBQ and hung out with the family

and even went swimming.

BUT I was sick.

And you know

if I went there when I was sick

I'd be the blame of

EVERYONE'S illnesses for the next 2 months.

That's how we roll around here.

Gotta have someone to blame.

Jess thought that I should just drive them over there and drop them off. 

Apparently the fact that mom's sick isn't a good enough excuse

to not drive for about 40 mintues, drop them off

and then come back later and pick them up.

I took a raincheck on that one.

So we had a pretty boring day today.

Tomorrow is my first day at work while the kids all stay home.

Hopefully they don't kill eachother.

How was your 3 day weekend?

All cracked up

The other day,

in an effort to get my son to STOP EATING

 (I swear he can eat non stop!

 I'm seriously scared for my future grocery bill)

I suggested we go for a walk.

We were going to walk around the lake.

This was about as far as we got though.

One of the pumps for our little man made lake recently broke. 

While they were trying to get it fixed the water has disappeared.

I have no idea where it went.

Here's a picture of what this area "usually looks like" from back here

Pretty different, huh?

The bottom of the lake intrigues me.

and Trevor

The cracks are HUGE.

Kind of reminds me of my legs when I forget to put lotion on them.

And/or my emotional state sometimes.

What, ME? Feeling CRACKED UP?

The Hell You Say!

Yeah.

He was able to walk out quite a bit.

Then he started sinking a bit.

It's a good thing these shoes were ready to be retired already.

I don't think they will survive the washing machine.

The birds were loving what little water was left.

I'm sure there are enough mosquitos and other bugs to eat!

My neighbor said they started filling it back up today.

No more showing us it's "underware".

Zumba kicks my ass

I was talking to my mom today on the phone. After about the 10th time I said "when I was at the bar" I started thinking that I've spent a lot of time at the bar lately. Hmmm. Well you can't blame me too much can you? I do have that teenager. (I'm planning on blaming everything on her for the next 2 years, get used to it)

Anyways, the other day when I was AT THE BAR one of the ladies in my line dancing class came up to me and told me that they are starting a Zumba class at the club house on Tuesday nights. I had heard the name Zumba a few times from a gal at work who had told me many times with a longing in her voice that she "really wanted to take a Zumba class".

I was like oh cool! And the first class is free and my friend wanted to go too. I don't know what I was expecting. I think something a bit like our line dancing class. You know, show us the routine and then we slowly learn the steps and work on it for about an hour and then by the time class is over I can finally do it!!

Zumba?

SO NOT THE WAY IT WORKS.

I got down to the club house with a few minutes to spare but they were already lined up and the instructor was giving a few instructions but I wasn't sure what she was saying. The next thing I knew? We were jumping and swaying and leaning and pumping our fists around and I reallydidn'tknowwhatfuckIwasdoing.

BUT it was kind of fun. I felt like I was at a concert, minus the band, jumping up and down and around and just having a great time rocking out.

I'm just hoping not too many people were paying attention to me.

And that those old ladies in the front there don't hurt too bad.

 Cuz I know my friend and I sure got a workout!

(picture may or may not have been taken in the bar afterwards...)

Too Good To Last

I remember the day I met you.

That trashy girl at work,

she had her hands around you.

I couldn't help but watch

as she devoured you with her mouth.

I knew at that moment,

that someday,

I too would have you.

But first?

I had to find out where you lived.

I asked around a bit

and it was revealed.

Ahhh so close to work.

I can just pop over

and drive by your window,

 and have my way with you.

Then?

I found out how much it was going to cost me.

Just THREE BUCKS

and some change.

Totally worth it.

And THEN???

I had you in my hands.

And we began our love affair.

UNTIL...

Today.

When you showed me your true colors.

Little did I know

you were trying to kill me.

I feel so ashamed

that I didn't see the signs.

So it's with great sorrow

that I must say

Goodbye

my lover,

I shall miss you!!!

I'm a little confused right now...

I saw this on Cute Overload the other day and I'm SOOO CONFUSED!!

First of all, how long was this person sitting on the pot?

What the hell happened to their knee??

AND is it a GUY?

or a GIRL?

The legs say GUY

The toes say GIRL

What do you think?

ETA: found the answer here

Random Dozen, some good ones!

go here to join!

These are supposed to be on Wednesdays but I'm always behind with my blogging now.

1. Would you rather host party or simply attend a party?

I'd much rather just GO to a party. Hosting a party means I have to clean. Although it is nice to get the house clean every 6 months or so!

2. Tell us about the most memorable party you've been to.

Hmmm I can't really think of any that stand out. We used to spend a lot of time at one of my friend's. She doesn't host too many parties anymore though. (damn you economy!)

3. What is one thing you hope for in the after-life?

Well first of all, I hope to not die. I'm sure at some point though it's going to happen. Hopefully not while I'm young. Or while my kids are young. I hope I die quick and painless. I hope that if I DO die no one is lying about Heaven. (and it better not be like the 5 people you meet in heaven OR The Stack!)

4. What do you enjoy most about sunshine?

Ahhhh the sunshine. I love the way it feels on my skin, warms my hair, feeds my soul!

5. When you attend a bridal/baby shower, do you prefer to bring your own gift or chip in with others to buy a larger gift?

I've never chipped in. Probably because I don't have any sisters. That's so a sister thing to do.

6. Would you rather have a FREE week of having your house cleaned or all of your meals cooked for you and your family?

Oh damn I'd take the food. We can shove the crap off the couch when we sit down to eat.

7. What song describes your mood today?

Hmmm well it wasn't too exciting. I spent my morning learning about how you can mix your cow shit water to irrigate your crop followed by cleaning the kitchen and folding laundry. I'd say my mood was pretty bored today. ETA, never noticed it said SONG til I was reading someone else's answers!)

 8. What is something you received for your own bridal shower/wedding that you still own or use? (If you are not married, feel free to sub a gift you received a long time ago.)

My most favorite gift is and was my cookbook.

I bought one for the last shower I went to. (OMG it was like $30!)  I use mine almost EVERY weekend. You'd think I'd have those pancake & waffle recipes memorized by now.

9. Your favorite flavor of ice cream is?

I really like the Peanut Butter & Chocolate from Baskin & Robbins. But I'm usually too cheap to go there and they don't have a drive through. There really isn't a bad kind of ice cream though!

10. When was the last time you felt "tested?"

Today. I have a teenager, 'nough said!

11. "[Fill in the blank] is a food that once I start eating I find really hard to stop." umm well let's see.

Chips, ice cream, steak, chicken, pistachios, pretty much anything?

12. "-----" is the best motivation.

The fear of embarrassment

Who gave me that parenting license anyways???

Tomorrow is going to be Jessica's last day of school

Doesn't she just look sooo innocent here? (wow the dog does too!)

I can't believe she is going to be a Junior. Time sure does fly doesn't it? Although sometimes not fast enough.  Like today when I was doing the dishes.  She came out of her cave to ask me if she could cut a class tomorrow so that she could hang out at both lunches. I'm like ummm no? don't think so. And of course she's all BUT MOMMMMMMMM everyone is doing it and it doesn't even matter since it's the last day of school and they don't even take roll!!!!!  And I'm like yeah don't think so?!?!?!?  We went back and forth a few times and she stomped off saying "I shouldn't have even said anything".

UMM Shit?

I'm not ready for that kind of attitude. She's pretty much a live by the rules kind of girl and I'm really not ready for that.

I totally remember being her age and cutting school. I used to go pick up my friend in the morning and we'd be all "should we go?" and sometimes we would turn and go to school. But sometimes we'd keep driving down the road and go off on an adventure.

And you know what happened?

Eventually we got caught and I had to make up about 27 cuts in one day of Saturday School (those are the ones I wasn't smart enough to "excuse"). Quite a light smack on the hand. I'm sure my grades suffered a bit too. But in the big picture when I look back? I just got a few funny stories to talk about with my partner in crime when we occassionally meet up and drink a bottle of wine.

So when things like this happen I'm always fighting with myself inside.

Follow the rules. Be straight. Walk the Line.
Bend the rules, get in trouble, maybe go down the wrong path or maybe not.

Being a mom sucks sometimes!! It's hard being resposible for someone else's life that they may or may not fuck up. Be too strict and they will rebel, be too nice and they'll walk all over you.

I think when you get pregnant instead of the What to expect when you're expecting book they should give you a "How not to fuck up your child" manual instead.

How about you? Are you the STRICT PARENT?

Random Dozen

Come Join Linda at Second Cup of Coffee for today's Random Dozen!!! (I'm a few days late, got this from Annster

After you read mine, jump over and join in!!!!

1. What is one really fast, know-by-heart "go-to" meal to fix in a pinch? 

No Fuss Tex-Mex Roll Ups, We've renamed them those enchilada roll up things.

2. What is one item you won't leave home without. (Purse and license do not count.) My phone. I :heart: it

3. Where is one place you never tire of visiting? My brother's house. He has a pool and we sit outside and hang out. And he has a crazy dog.

4. Share one factoid of your family's history.  My Great Grandparents were named Frankie & Johnny (husband and wife). I find that so funny! Check out some old pictures here


5. Complete this sentence: "Once upon a time I....only had to wash my own clothes.

6. If you could win a one year's supply of anything, what would it be? Groceries. That shit is expensive.

7. "One quirky thing you may not know about me is ....hmm I think I've probably told you all about me here lol.

8. You have one dollar in your pocket. What will you buy? Probably nothing since the kids will either steal it or need it by the time I get around to using it.

9. "One thing that always makes me laugh is my friend Sarah. She's the bomb!!


10. What is one thing you could do today to help yourself reach a personal goal? Hmm maybe get off the computer. Nah I can do that later.

11. What is one thing you could do today to bless someone else? There is some food in the house and the kids have some clean clothes, isn't that enough???

12. What is one thing you're looking forward to soon? I'm hoping my vegetable garden survives and gives me some good stuff!!

One Sweet Blog or Ten

Chris over at Diet Coke Rocks gave me this little bloggy award.

I'm supposed to pass it on to 10 of my favorite blogs.

 I know not everyone does the "awards" thing so you can

take it or leave it

but I'm going to share some of my favorites right now with you.

Go check them out!

African Kelli has such a sweet soul.

She's a nurturer at heart and is always making people awesome care packages. She shares her awesome recipes and craft projects.

Bare Foot Foodie is all about the shock factor. I'll be reading along and be like "OMG did she just say that!!?!?" and then try not to laugh my ass off while I'm at work. Don't go if you are easily offended.

Crissy is a lot on the same lines. She totally cracks me up and her little girls are freaking adorable!

Life with Kaishon is an awesome photographer. She weaves great stories in with her pictures.

Pooba is a lot of fun!

Saucy is the bestest cupcake and charm bracelet maker EVER. She makes lots of other neato things too.

Mama Kat of course is all around awesome! She's got her own following now. I can't wait until she gets on Ellen and I can say I followed her way back when.

Mariah has 4 teenagers. Enough said.

Mary has 2 teenage girls and 2 little girls. That's about the same isn't it?

Sarah is just awesome. She can go from talking about vibrators to how much she loves her kids in one post. You have to be awesome to make that work.

And that my friends, is 10 blogs I like.

How about you?

Post your favorite when you leave me a comment.

Another One Bites The Dust

My sister in law, she took all those extra ribs home to my brother.

Guess what?

He thought they were GREAT!

I'm starting to think it was just the power of suggestion that had us all freaked out.

Today was another co-workers last day of work.

I didn't want her last day to be like mine was when I got laid off.

(She's quitting to stay home and be with her kids.)  

I took her a cute balloon , a card, and a gift card.

Everyone else?

NOTHING.

FOUR YEARS she's worked at this place and they give her nothing for a going away party.

How rude is that??

I'm going to be really sad not to see her when I look to the right of my monitor from now on.

Speaking of monitor, how do you like my collection of Cuties stickers?

While I was looking for this picture

(don't you hate when you save a picture

and then when you go to find it you're like

where in the bleepidy bleep is it??),

I found a picture I took a long time ago to show you all my work space.

(her desk is WAY more messy now)

You see the chair closest to you?

That's my chair.

I have that 12" space and another girl has the rest.

It's really FUN sharing a desk.

Especially when the person you share with isn't very organized and has crap everywhere.

Instead of using that whole long section on the back there?

She uses the space to the right of her monitor.

I about went postal the other day.

I think I'm going to get me some of this

And put it down the middle.

(seriously people, go google duct tape and click on images,

people have entirely too much time on their hands!)

Since the one girl is leaving

and I'm pretty sure the person that is going to get her position

already has a desk, I emailed the big boss asking if I could have her desk.

He told me we could talk about it Monday.

Since then I've found out that they have someone new coming in

with a whole new position, which I'm sure,

means I have no desk still.

Freaking sucks.

What does your work space look like?

The Secret's In the Sauce

Friday night we had a girl's night out with my Mom, SIL, Niece and SIL's Mom.  SIL had been wanting to try this BBQ place that she had driven by quite a few times. She told us going in that if we didn't like it don't blame her since she had never been there.

So we all go with an open mind. We drive in and it's a building behind a building type of place. I thought it was kind of a strange place for a restaurant. We go in and there is one man eating at a table watching TV. We are met by a 'waitress" and we asked if we could sit outside on the patio.

We're all sitting around chatting and we decide to all have some sort of their BBQ plate combinations. My mom orders the ribs and tri tip and I get the same. The food eventually comes and I dig in, starting with the tri tip, which was good. I move onto the rib and it tastes kind of weird. I'm thinking it needs some salt or something and say so when my mom asks me what I think of the ribs.  I was just trying to be nice since I didn't want to make SIL feel bad that she picked a nasty place to eat.

My mom takes one bite and says "this isn't beef" and has this weird look on her face.
I'm like "well what else could it be?"

Mom: I don't know but it's not beef!

Me: Deer?
Mom: it tastes gamey and has a weird texture
Niece:  I'm glad it's not just me that thought it tasted weird.
SIL: yeah it's weird

SIL's mom: ?? (she got the chicken)

Me: Maybe it's DOG?

Mom: EWWWWWWWWWWW
Me: OMG it's so like Fried Green Tomatoes, you know, "the secret's in the sauce"
Everyone: OMG!!!

So we're all sitting there thinking we've probably just ate some part of some person and the lady that actually cooked the food comes out.

Cook: SOOOO I DIDN'T HEAR ANY SCREAMING!!!
Us: blink blink
Cook: Those are some big ribs ain't they??
Us: ummmmmm
Cook: giggle giggle

At this point we are all SURE we've ate someone. I'm trying not to puke.

Eventually we leave and all the way back to my Niece's house I'm thinking I'm going to puke. I'm still wondering WTF we ate (2 bites worth)

Another Season Is Over

Oh man peeps. I'm so TIRED. TIRED TIRED TIRED. But we have reason to celebrate!

Today was the last SOFTBALL GAME!!

Do you know what that means?

No more having to rush from work to rush to pick up the kids to rush to get her to practice.

No more car smelling like death from dirty softball socks
No more hanging out in town for 2 hours while she has practice

No more driving to cities where I think the game is at one place only to find out that it's at some other place, but she doesn't know the name or the street it's on and no one else does either

No more having to pay money to get in to watch my kid play softball

No more drama about the stupid coach

No more drama about the stupid team mates

No more cut up knees

No more late night dinners (almost Trevor has 3 games left)

No more sitting in the wind (except at Trevor's THREE games that are left)

No more worrying or praying for or not for rain

I'm really going to miss it!!

If only I spent every day at work like this

Woohoo I finally got my google reader read and all my comments I wanted to make made. I can read in google reader at work but I am now blocked from clicking on any of the blogs. Sucks!! Guess that's what I get for reading blogs at work. I gotta do something to keep my sanity though...

Today was pretty cool. A co-worker and I got sent to Gallo Center to man a booth for my work place. It was pretty uneventful with the highlights being the free lunch which ROCKED because it included cheesecake and trying to fold up this big ass display board into this little plastic box. Whatever, it used up my WHOLE DAY for work!!

We did go listen to one speaker. It was Lynda Resnick who I had never heard of before. She was talking a bit about her book Rubies in the Orchard and about how they got started with their POM and Pistachio business, which come from the Central Valley where I live. She was very articulate and people laughed along with her little jokes.

They showed some of their commercials for their products too.



My co-worker said that she had recently read an article about her and her husband in the paper. Apparently they have some kind of water controversy going on.

The things I learn because of my job, they are never ending I tell you!

Anyhow, I was pretty close to a slightly famous BILLIONAIRE today and I got out of work and had cheesecake. So it was a pretty good day. How was yours?

WTF I did something Green?

Today was the day!

The day when I was to go pick up my CSA (community supported agriculture) basket. I've been reading about them on blogs for awhile now. Finny Knits is always talking about hers and what she does with it. She posted a link awhile back which took me to Fresh Edibles which delivers RIGHT HERE, in my town. Amazing! It was $100 to sign up for a one month trial. So basically $25 a week, which let's face it, I spent more than that at In & Out Burger today for dinner. (don't judge we had softball!)

So anyhow, here's my basket!

Hmmm pretty scary!

Oh look I know what these are!!

according to the paper this is "spring" garlic. That thing in the middle is some kind of onion (not listed on the paper) and look carrots!!

Someone was pretty excited about those!

Don't try to take her carrot, she might stab you!

I'm guessing these are the "lettuces" not quite the ball of iceburg lettuce I'm used to. But I'm like 36 so I guess I can try something new right?

hmmmm oregano. Not quite sure what I'm going to do with that.

beets, what the fuck do I do with beets? I like beets on my salad but they aren't quite that texture so I'm thinking there is more involved than just cutting them up. And radishes. Why do old people like radishes? I just saw that Finny has a recipe for some radish thing. Guess I'll wait until I have a few more for that. And spinach. That I can just throw in a salad.

and strawberries! Score we love strawberries. They are a little tart so they are going to have to be dipped in sugar first I guess!

Do you get a farmshare? Suggestions on what to do with some of that stuff?

Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin

So I'm totally thinking that I need to start keeping a pair of tweezers in my desk at work. You see, I sit here and occassionally put my hand on my chin/neck area and I keep feeling this random hair.

Isn't it just great getting older?

And it's not just this nice soft hair, it's a hair like a wire brush.

Just one.

Random

Wirely

Hair

And then it will drive me flippin nuts because of course I can't just pull it out with my fingernails. So I spend all day sitting here worrying about this big ass hair that I'm just sure everyone else can see poking out of my chin/neck area.

And of course,

I can't stop touching it and trying to pull it out with just my fingernails.

Oh wait!! I think I got it!!

Let me go get my walker and my slippers now....

PS. after googling for a picture, I don't think I have much to worry about. GROSS)

Diet Coke Junkie

This is day 3 with no soda.

I only wanted to kill everyone yesterday evening.

I was sooo tired and grouchy!!

I didn't really think about it being from not having any soda until this morning.

Hopefully it will get better!

Although I'm wondering if I am going to have to find a new "drink"

since my whiskey & coke contains COKE.

Picture originially from here

but found here through BING

both are interesting articles.

Do you drink soda? What's your poison?

Nothing says class like

A toilet in your front yard. This is my neighbor's house. And yes, that's a for sale sign in the window. Think he'll get any offers?

I know who loves me

When I got home from San Francisco I went and laid down on my bed. I was promptly joined by Trevor, Melissa and Rusty.

 

They were all over me and so excited that I was home.

At one point the three of them were lined up in a row laying on the bed next to me. It was super cute.

I couldn't help but feel sad though. Because my husband didn't even seem to care that I was home. When I walked in the door I gave him a kiss and said hello. I got a hi back and that was it.

All night.

He never asked how my trip was. What we did. Did we have fun.

Some times I wish with all my heart I just had someone who really was "in to me". Someone that couldn't stand to be away from me, wanted to know what I was doing and wanted to be with me.

I guess the kids are like that. But somehow I thought when I married someone that they would be that person.

Sixteen in San Francisco

Thursday was Jessica's 16th Birthday!

We celebrated by going to San Francisco with 2 of her friends, getting a hotel and the girls going to a concert.

and we're off!

I had to drop the girls off at the concert first and then go to the hotel. Someone had to do an interview for a school thing so we got off to a late start. We got there just in time for them to get in line though. I dropped them off in the middle of the street since I made a wrong turn and we could SEE the place but not get to the right side of the street lol.

I then proceeded to find the hotel and then drive around the block THREE times trying to figure out where to stop for the valet parking. I found a place to pull over and called and asked where to stop. Um right in front of the hotel in the white zone you idot. bahahhaha

The hotel staff was really nice! Here's the room at the Hotel Adagio. I got the room for $89 on priceline.com. The valet parking was $39 which is cheaper than we paid last time and with BART being $10.50 round trip per person it was about the same to have the car with us and not have to worry about how to get to point b from point a.

Weird thing about the room:

I thought the bathroom faucet didn't work. Tried pulling the lever up and down and nothing. Later the kids figured out it pulls OUT to the side. WEIRD. Get a regular faucet already. 

I kept hearing a weird noise coming out of the furnace area. Not sure if it was critters or what but it kind of sounded like it.

The windows opened a bit so that was nice.

 Beds were nice and comfy and everything else worked just fine.

So back to the overnighter. The girls were doing this:

and this (someone may have made out with the boy at the top of the picture, I don't really want to know)

and me?

I walked around Geary street and ended up eating at Pinecrest Diner. My food was SO GOOD. I got the house club or something like that. Best sandwich I've had in a long time.

I wandered around a bit and then went back to the hotel. Seriously all the homeless people were really kind of getting me down. People walking with no shoes, feet all calloused up. Begging and following and holding doors open for me in hopes of some money. If you came with a fifty dollars and gave them each a dollar you'd be out just walking down the street I think. Really sad. It makes me wonder HOW they got there and WHY they are still there with no one helping them. Or if someone has TRIED to help them but they are so used to their life on the street they end up back there? I don't know but it's really sad. (and I'm used to beggars we have them all over around where I live but these people weren't sporting nice white tennies like ours)

So back to the hotel and then someone brought up cupcakes because I told the check in girl that it was my daughter's birthday. Totally nice, huh!?!

Then I just layed there and watched TV and played on my phone and dozed off and then woke up and was like HOLY HELL is the freaking concert over yet???? Not too long after she said they were done and I went and picked them up.

Everyone wanted to shower since they were covered in sweat and they were all STARVING. So after they showered we walked down to Jack In The Box for them to get some food and then came back to the hotel and crashed. 

Got up the next morning and went back to the Pinecrest Diner for brunch, walked around Union Square for a bit, came back and got our stuff from the hotel 

and then went to the warf.

Where I was promptly ditched.

So I walked around and found 

The Musee Mecanique

Which is basically a place with a lot of the old penny type arcade games (kind of reminds me of the one at Disneyland). It's pretty cool and a cheap way to entertain yourself. I've been to the warf a lot of times but never noticed this place before. It's free to go inside and most of the "games" are a quarter or two.

Here's more pics I found trying to find a video of the fair up there in the middle, it' a model of the world's fair and it lights up and moves. Couldn't find a video but found this blog with more pictures of the arcade.

Then I wandered out back and there is a submarine and this big ship.

I was too cheap to pay for a tour but it looked pretty interesting.

I was wandering along and there were some signs with some information about the area. One was saying how they basically built out SF into the bay and how it's built on any old crap they could find to fill in the bay. Nice huh?

Back out to the street and over to Pier 39.

Every time I see succulents I think of Danger Garden

Tons of people over by the sea lions of course.

I was feeling kind of loney and wished that I had brought someone with me. Not too long after that I met up with the girls. Here's some of their pictures of what THEY were doing. Looks like a lot more fun.

Although this one? She had just lost her sunglasses in the bay when she leaned over the railing. She was totally devastated.

After we met up they decided they wanted to go to the beach. I was pretty tired but figured ok, just one more thing. We found our way over to Baker Beach.

We drove right in and up to the day use area, there was hardly anyone there. When we got out we found out why. Cold and windy!! We stayed a few minutes

then it was back to the car.

And of course? It was commute time and it took us FOREVER to get home, where I promptly collapsed.