READY TO PARTY

   

Miss B's best friend, Chloe is ready for the office party.  Can you say egg nog anybody?

I'd Rather Be A Pessimist

A very dear friend is always telling me that I have to be more optimistic.  He says that I always see the glass half empty.  I was thinking about this recently and decided that I shall remain the pessimist until the day I die.  Why? You ask?  Because it is much more fun and satisfying to be a pessimist than an optimist.  These are some of the reasons why:

I always hope for the best, but expect the worst.  That way if even a little piece of whatever is happening goes right, I am always pleasantly surprised.

When I don't expect things to go my way and they do, it is one of the most gratifying experiences. Kind of like finding that $100 bill in your pocket from last winter. 

If I don't presume the best from people, it always makes me smile when I meet someone that is interesting, quirky or fun.  

If I don't anticipate simple courtesies from strangers, I am thrilled to have them happen (ie. someone holding the door for me or simply smiling when we pass).

I find that when I don't expect others to help me carry some of my burdens, this is when they always step up to the plate and let me unload.

I can still smile and be pleasant while being a pessimist.  Being a pessimist DOES NOT preclude a miserable persona and existance.

And Lastly . . .   WHEN MY GLASS IS HALF EMPTY, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE THERE WILLING TO FILL IT! :)

So there you have it.  The joys of pessimism.  Try it . . . It's not so bad.

The Surgery Was Successful

I was so stressed about looking like my dog, I rushed right out to have some alterations made to my appearance.  I think the surgery was very successful.  I now look nothing like the dog and am quite pleased with the results.  Please take a look and let me know what you think.

I am mighty pretty - Don't you agree?

Photo and special effects done on the new imac.   Pretty cool stuff!

They Say People Look Like Their Pets . . .

                                   

I'M SCREWED . . . 

Enough Said

And What A Nice Treat It Was

Eldest sis and family came into town for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  They were spending it with her hubby's family.  Let me say that it is always so difficult for eldest sis when they come home for a visit because they ALWAYS get inundated with old friends and family vying to spend time with her and her darling cherubs.  

They come home every summer for an approximate 2-3 week stay.  It is always frustrating because in that time Mr. P, myself and cherubs usually get a 24 hour window in which a frenzy ensues as we try to visit, catch up and do something fun.  It is all they have to give us - others need more time.  I always tell her not to worry about us, as we totally understand the time constraints when needing to fit 5,432 friends and family into a mere 3 weeks.  But this time was different.  And a nice treat indeed.  

Although eldest sis and family were officially here for Thanksgiving with her Dear Hubby's clan, we not only saw them once, but twice - go figure - they were only here for 3 1/2 days and we saw them twice as much as when they come for the long stays.  On Wednesday, my cherubs were thrilled at the prospect of not only being allowed to play hooky from school, but having breakfast out and then celebrating Christmas (we will not be seeing them at Christmas time, so we exchanged gifts then) and spending the day with their cousins.  We also got to see them for a few hours on Friday before they left to head home.  

It is always such a joy for me to see them.  Those children are the epitome of the "Stepford Children".  They are perfect.  Always smiling, always nice, always courteous and always using exceptional manners.  They greet you with such enthusiasm that it makes you feel like a movie star and they are always so thrilled no matter what you bring.  Every gift they opened was as if I had read their minds and bought them the absolute one thing they desperately wanted this year for Christmas.  I honestly believe that I could have wrapped a rock and a stick and they would still tell me how wonderful and thoughtful I am.  These children can make anyone feel good.  I truly adore them.  

Anyway, I was just so thrilled that we got to see them.  Our visits are so few and far between and I know that my dear cherubs miss them tremendously throughout the year.  So as I said before,  "What a nice treat it was!"

PS. Jason, if you are reading this, I remember that Little Miss B still owes you a new football!  I haven't forgotten

The Holidays Have Arrived

It amazes me how time gets away from you.  Sometimes, I am in awe of how slowly the days pass, while others seem to whizz by in mere minutes.  This time of year is always of the latter variety for me.  I actually was amazed at how long it has been since my last post when I opened up the dear old web today.  

Let's see, since my last post, our small brood has successfully celebrated Thanksgiving Day, semi-successfully attended and sang at the 2 Chorus Concerts for the Middle School, sat through 2 Parent/Teacher Conferences (which by the way were surprisingly and happily wonderful news), attended 2 consecutive puppy classes and did quite well, celebrated (yet again) eldest cherubs actual Birth Day, attended a birthday dinner for a dear friend, decorated the house for the holidays (the tree is a bone of contention with hubby, myself and children right now - but that is a story for later - maybe Monday's post?) and Little Miss B has started a career as model extraordinaire for UP COUNTRY pet products (adorable collars, leads, bowls, beds, treats and other accessories - rumor has it that they will be producing belts and flip-flops for the ladies soon too).  

We have also written, printed, copied and mailed 103 Christmas Cards.  We are doing well, right on schedule this year.  

Mr. P and I send so many Christmas Cards because it has become somewhat of a tradition since the birth of eldest cherub to do some sort of crazy, silly or nonsensical photo with an even sillier, nonsensical caption.  People love them because they break the monotony of the same old lovely family photo everyone else sends.  Each year, we have friends of family, friends of friends and even random strangers call or approach us and ask to be put on our card list.  It gets a little longer every year.  The biggest problem with this is that I think Mr. P and I are now actually out of ideas.  Please let me know if you or anyone out there has a good idea for something different for a Christmas photo - always looking for something interesting.  

I digress, anyway, last year, as the cards rolled in, I was particularly interested in the ones that we received that had the rundown on friends' and acquaintances' lives.  It makes me laugh, because it seems to me that everyone that sends those "newsletters" has such amazing children, spouses and lives.  Family members are traveling abroad, out saving the world, making millions and living the grand lives.  Do these people really exist??  I want to ask them, first of all, I wonder who is really interested in EVERYTHING that has happened in your family life all year?  And second of all, whose life is always coming up roses?  No one's I tell you, and if they are saying it is - THEY ARE LYING!

I decided, upon reading those letters, that I was sending one too.  So this year, I started it in January . . . only with a twist . . . I was going to label it "ALL THE THINGS THAT PISSED ME OFF IN 2008", only I figured that would send Dear Old Mother over the edge (I send them to her friends too and I wouldn't want to bring that kind of embarrassment on our family) . . .  So instead, I wrote a poem and labeled it "THE 12 MONTHS OF CHRISTMAS".  It is as follows:

BECAUSE OF MISFORTUNE

BAD LUCK & DREAD

THIS YEAR BRINGS NO PHOTO

BUT A POEM INSTEAD

LATE IN MONTH 1 

MR P FELL

HIS SPILL WAS QUITE BAD

WE THOUGHT HE'D NEVER GET WELL

LEAVING THE HOSPITAL

MR P ON HIS BACK 

ARRIVED AT THE CAR 

TO A BIG WINDSHIELD CRACK

THE DISHWASHER & DRYER

IN MONTH 2 THEY DID BREAK

THE DOWNSPOUT WAS HANGING 

THE RAIN MADE A LAKE

MONTH 3 WAS THE CHINA HUTCH

IT FELL JUST FOR KICKS

THE MAILBOX GOT SMASHED

IT COULDN'T BE FIXED

OPENED THE POOL 

IN APRIL TO SWIM

THE HEATER BROKE DOWN

ON IT'S OWN VENGEFUL WHIM

MONTH 5 BROUGHT US TERMITES

THEY CREATED A TOWN

3 DAYS OF POISON 

SO THE HOUSE WOULDN'T FALL DOWN

MONTH 6 IT WAS PROBLEMS

WITH A BIG BROKEN TRUCK

NO ONE WOULD TAKE IT 

JUST MORE BAD LUCK

JULY BROUGHT US BEATRICE

SHE JOINED OUR SMALL BROOD

WHAT A GREAT PET

SHE NIPPED, BIT AND CHEWED

OUR HOUSE IN MONTH 8

STILL DIDN'T IMPROVE

IT GOT TO A POINT

I THOUGHT WE SHOULD MOVE

IN MONTH 9 IT WAS MEDICAL BILLS

THAT MADE OUR HEADS FOG

NOT FOR DEAR HUBBY

BUT FOR OUR DEAR DOG

IN MONTH 10 OUR HOT WATER

OH, IT DID FLOOD

THE BASEMENT WAS SOAKED

THE GARAGE FULL OF MUD

MONTH 10 ALSO BROUGHT

A SICK PAPA SCARE

A TYPICAL WAY

TO END THIS STRANGE YEAR

NOVEMBER WAS TIME

FOR A NEW FRIDGE SO NICE

BUT ALAS, IT WAS BROKEN

AND WOULDN'T MAKE ICE

WITH ALL THAT WENT WRONG

AS 'O8 SLOWLY PASSED

WE GREET THE YEARS END

WITH THE SIGH, "OH, AT LAST!"

MONTH 12 OF '08 

THE END IS IN SIGHT

IN 2009, WE KNOW

ALL WILL BE RIGHT!

Please note:  I did add a little disclaimer to avoid the need for medical services for Dear Mother and Father.  It says -

FOR ALL WHO READ THIS

PLEASE TAKE IT IN JEST

FOR ALL THAT WENT WRONG

OUR LIFE'S STILL THE BEST!

So, there you have it - the first REALITY BASED Christmas Poem.  

No, really, I wish all who stop by a truly wonderful and blessed Holiday - and always remember to make it at least a little bit fun!

Till Later . . .

I Won, I Won, I Won

I was just catching up on some of my "Good Reads" and Lo and Behold, guess what I found!  

I got the Cool Blog Award because of an amazingly witty caption in a contest I entered. 

This is what I won

 

Please check out Dad The Dude if you are interested in my brilliance :)  The post was from Saturday, November 15, 2008.  

The Big Party

So Saturday was Eldest Cherub's big "Guys Only" Birthday Bash.  Newest Sis-In-Law and I took Littlest Cherub and her 3 female cousins to a movie and dinner because we weren't invited to the party (yes, we are girls), leaving Dear Hubby and his 2 eldest Brothers in charge amidst approximately 1 dozen 13 - 14 year old adolescents, dinner to serve, cake to cut, heavy winds and blinding rain.  What could possibly go wrong?

Let me stop here and say - BIG MISTAKE!

Coincidentally, because of the heavy winds and blinding rain, a tree had fallen on a telephone pole and the entire neighborhood was in darkness - For quite a while.  There are no street lights.  

Upon our arrival home, this is what we encountered - At least 8 (possibly more, we couldn't tell in the pitch black) of the young cherubs left in dear hubby's care wandering at the end of the street, "checking out the scene" of the downed tree limbs, broken telephone pole and sparks flying from both, and pretty much just all-around getting in the way of the fire fighters, policemen and utility workers trying to fix the problem.  Where was dear hubby, you ask?  We found him sitting on a rocker on the front porch of our home, with the dog, drinking a beer.  In his defense, eldest brothers had walked down the street with cherubs to check out the commotion.  However, (yes there is always a however!) had gotten so enthused at the goings on of the men working, apparently forgot that they had numerous adolescent boys in their charge. 

After rounding up all the boys and taking a head count (it is now 1/2 hour after the official "end time" of the party), we realize that 3/4 of the partygoers have yet to be picked up.  Into the house we go.  In the midst of the mess of strewn clothing, shoes and other various and sundry party accoutrements and items, there are numerous candles dripping a steady flow of wax onto the tables, floors, countertops, coffee tables and any other flat surface in the house.  Good for you, Dear Hubby, for thinking of lighting some candles - but again, HOWEVER. did you ever think to put something beneath them to protect all the flammable surfaces in our home?  And, why, may I ask are they all lit and left completely unattended while the entire party is outside?  And did I mention a reddish-brown, clumpy, smelly, soupy, I-don't-know-what-the-hell-this-is substance filling approximately 1/3 of the kitchen sink.  Do I even dare ask?

There are a few flashlights and lanterns, also, left on, strewn about the house and yard - Also unattended.  I grab the largest, brightest lantern of the bunch and venture onto the front porch where Dear Hubby and Eldest Brothers have now parked themselves for the duration of the evening.  It seems that at this point, a few more relatives, neighbors and random people from the streets have decided to join them.  It only took the simple question "Where did the boys go?" for me to realize that they have spent the evening having a party of their own.  Of the, oh, I don't know, 15 people milling about, I think that maybe 2 had an even semi-quasi-literate answer.  

After, AGAIN, rounding up the boys and asking them to not venture from the yard - Because PARENTS SHOULD BE HERE SHORTLY - I venture yet again to the front porch.  "Do you think we should contact the parents and let them know that there is a detour at our street?"   "Oh, stop worrying, they'll figure it out."  

Little did I realize that the detour WAS our street.  Which proved to be a colossal source of entertainment for the 3 Day men.  You see, we live directly across the street from a cul-de-sac.  In the dark, you can't tell it is a cul-de-sac and the 3 men and various other party-goers and crashers took sheer pleasure in the fact that confused motorists that had been detoured into our little end of the earth would turn into it in hopes that the road was a thru-way to the other side of where the downed pole and trees were.  Only to find that it was a dead end and have to turn around and come back out.  

As each car turned into the cul-de-sac, and there were quite a few, numerous comments such as "It's a dead end, just like your brain . . . Ha Ha - it goes nowhere . . . Good Luck getting out . . . " etc . . . were yelled with vim and vigor all around.   As the cars stopped and slowly proceeded out of the cul-de-sac to find their way out of our neighborhood, more comments were spewed with the same vim and vigor and possibly even a little vulgarity thrown into the mix.  THIS. NEVER. GOT. OLD.  Not to them.  

As each parent pulled up to a stop in front of our home, visions of conversations regarding the "white trash Day family",  ". . . and did you see how drunk the dad was . . . ", " . . . can you believe their family members? . . . " and the fact that each and every one of these children would probably never be allowed back to our home floated through my head.  Which really might not be such a bad thing. :)  

So even after the last young party-going cherub pulled out of our driveway, the party went on. Well into the night.  Dear Hubby and his 2 Brothers, a massive source of humor for all who stayed.  And we had a great time.  Even when we woke to the candle wax, dirty floors and the I-don't-know-what-the-hell-this-is substance still taking up residence in my kitchen sink.  We had a great time.  

PS - Eldest Cherub said the kids couldn't stop talking about what a great time they had at school on Monday and the substance turned out to be the remnants of a beef stew Dear Hubby had made and lost power before he could turn on the garbage disposal when he dumped it out after dinner.  

So, I guess it was a success.  And as favorite bro-in-law says - "Hey, no one was lost, hurt or killed - it was a good night."

Getting Back To "Normal"

It's been a bit since my last post, but I have whole-heartedly been trying to get our little brood's lives back to "normal".  

Since my last post Little Miss B has been spayed - trying to keep her quiet and calm is proving to be a tremendous feat.  And only 7 more days to go before the sutures come out (Lucky Me). We are still waiting on her second set of x-rays to make some decisions regarding whether or not she will have surgery on her leg.  

Mr P has graduated from his cane, now he only walks with an exaggerated limp (Just like Little Miss B) and is trying to get back into the swing of full-time working.  His days are getting longer and dinner is getting later.  

Eldest cherub is getting ready for his 14th birthday party - this coming weekend - a guys only (16 guys to be exact) football and movie fest, leaving his little female friends planning and conniving a way to "crash".  Oh what fun it will be. (Yes, that is a note of sarcasm)

Littlest cherub is busy with a social life that rivals Paris Hilton's.  I have become a chauffeur and short order cook on a daily basis to get her fed and where she needs to be on time.  

And both cherubs seem to be bringing home enough homework, that it seems to be that they are in some sort of doctoral program to become high placed, top-secret, government engineers of some sort.  I am NOT doing well in sixth and eighth grades!

Suffice to say, "Normal" does not seem to be coming any time soon.  Which got me thinking.  How can I possibly get my brood back to our scheduled, organized, quiet life?  How can we get back to "Normal"?  Then I remembered something a wise woman (Dear Mother, of course) said to me 14 years ago.  It was just after eldest cherub was born and I was tired and frazzled and queried, "When do things get back to normal?"  Dear Mother's response was, with a small giggle, I might add, "Oh honey, you need to find a new normal."

So, as of today, I have resolved to find our new normal.  If our new normal is keeping the pace of a race car driver (feeling like one at least - going around and around in circles with the feelings of accomplishing very little) then so be it.  At least everyone is happy.  

So, with the days getting shorter, the weather getting crappier and the onset of the coming holidays, decorating and gift buying, the making of the Holiday Card list (then actually sending the cards), long distance shipping, home and food preparation, Parent/Teacher Conferences (how convenient that they occur smack dab in the middle of the holiday season), clothes shopping for and then attending Holiday Concerts (yes, both cherubs are in the chorus - it is mandatory), the random birthday and holiday parties, packing for the post Christmas ski trip (do you know how much you need to pack for a week of skiing?), and let's not forget - going to work, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, etc. etc. etc. . . . . . . . .  it will be "Normal", oh so "Normal".  Bring it on!

So, in the words of Mr. P, "It's All Good."  

We will be having a very "Normal" Holiday Season.  

Happy Belated Birthday To Me

Mr P's birthday present to me (my birthday was Sept. 27) finally came in.  I absolutely love it. Yes, I have gotten quite a few of the "You are soooo gay!" comments, but I like what I like.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Notice that Little Ms. B made the cover too :)