52 Weeks of Happiness - Week 16

This is a peek into our game closet. 

Most of the junior versions of games have now been replaced with regular ones, but some we hang on to just for sentimental reasons. The question never used to be whether we would play a game, rather which one(s) it would be. As the kids get older, it is difficult sometimes to lure them away from all things electrified.

I was so happy this week when board games started making their way off the shelves. There was so much laughter among friends. Eventually the husband and I got called on to play as well. Never mind the fact that on some occasions we were just seat fillers for the required number of players. I was still happy to be at the table.

It made me happy to see the developing senses of humor that both children have. So much giggling...from me especially!

Stop by Leigh's place to see where other people found happiness this week!

Random return

First, I would like to thank you for your show of support and solidarity for teen poetry and the angst it conveys. The sixteen year old girl who still lives in the corner of my mind was very appreciative, but then she got sort of cocky from having her ego fed. I think I have things under control now. The flannel book still sits here on the desk, but I cannot subject you all to another round just yet, regardless how random.

I was at my volunteer gig this morning, where I was once again blessed with the privilege of pulling cooked turkey off the bones. I am supposed to feel special I guess, since the director said I was just one of two people she trusted with this task. Hmm, so maybe that means she doesn't see how I will grab any passerby to help me. I considered throwing in a bone or two just to assure I wouldn't get this job again. She also told me to include the dark meat...from the turkey breasts? I am not sure who exactly cooked the birds yesterday, nor what they thought constituted fresh herbs...

Um, is that grass? Was chopping considered, or do the stems have extra special flavor?

The day finally came! We were low on toilet paper, but instead of writing it down on my grocery list, I decided it was time to get our tests rolls ready. (See here also.) With all of the joy those two boxes of toilet paper brought, I somehow missed this gem. 

Remember, 165 sheets and 500 potential usage boxes to check!

The medical emergency phone number!? Is that only for toilet paper medical emergencies? Is 911 not good enough? OK, I just called the number and the person who answered said "product safety"...I don't know what else to say on this, but am sure there should be something. I will say that I am not impressed thus far with the product. We have not gotten to the diary roll yet, (and yes, I still call it the diarrhea roll) nor the survey, so there could still be much fun and fodder in store!

This was a sad attempt by Fozzie to show his sea legs, which proved to be very shaky and super scaredy! That is as far out onto the dock as he made it, and then he was too frightened to turn around to get back to the safety of the sea wall. He crouched down really low and waited for rescue.

Note how he has his paws spread out for maximum gripping capacity.

I chose to go walking outside this evening so that I could breathe the allergen infested air. The hubs opted for the elliptical, and is clearly feeling the music, as he keeps shouting "Hey!" at the top of his lungs. Two things: that is not singing AND every window in the house is open and other people are trying to enjoy peaceful walks outside that do not involve wondering if they are being shouted at. Oh geeze!

Well Stacy is out driving across the country, but she is being kind enough to let us ride along! Stop by to see where her latest stop is!

My So-called Teenage Life Blog Hop

School is officially over, as of less than two hours ago, the temperature is creeping past ninety, and each of the three of us is working on forming a butt groove in our chosen seat. In an attempt to be the most productive of our lot (and because I picked the room without a television or PS3), I turned to the interwebs. (Yes, I said productive.) Lo and behold something caught my eye over at My Pet Blog...

Hosted by Christa Desir and Amy L. Sonnichsen

The general idea? 

Dust off those old sappy journals or high school notebooks filled with bad poetry

Skim through them until you find something share-worthy

On June 21 POST IT on your blog

I found my journal of poetry not that long ago. I giggled quietly to myself as I read just a couple, while remembering how certain I was that I'd be a published poet someday. Oh the angst of it all! There are seventy-seven gems for me to choose from. I'm not sure if I should aim for the best, or the worst (or if the best IS the worst). There is a page in the back where I noted who or what each poem was written about. I see that one was for a friend's yearbook in 1986. Oh sweet Jesus, yet another reason to skip the reunion! 

OK, I just have to pick one...

4/4/86 (Making me 16 1/2)

The tunnel is long

The tunnel is dark

There is no lantern

There is no spark

Of light

Just fright

Walls are jagged

Cutting fingers that touch

Wounds heal slowly

Aching ever so much

The light I saw

The light I knew

Had to be a dream

Could not be true

Anger growing

Keep going

Now the air is warming

Cold and dampness turning

There seems to be a light

A small flame burning

The walls are moving

The space is clearing

Light now shining

Better life nearing

   Unafraid

   Dreams I've made

I too sometimes move in circles

Fighting with all of my might

Trying to sort dreams from reality

Distinguishing wrong from right

You're a dream , but yet reality

You - are the light!

Go ahead, take a moment to let yourself succumb to the shear envy for whoever this was written to. Unless you actually are the person noted in my index. There is a particularly edgy (in my own mind I am sure) breakup song that I just might save for another day.

If you're still reading all the way down to here, thanks!

52 Weeks of Happiness - Week 15

I remember the first time I ever drew up my baby girl's hair into one of those top of the head ponytails. She is twelve now, and her hair is pretty much off limits to me, unless she wants me to make another one of my valiant attempts with the flat iron. 

She has a lot of hair...a lot. Sometimes it seems like a sore spot between the two of us as she yanks it into that strained ponytail holder every morning. Her hair does get a bit of attention from people, and I was never quite sure how to gauge her reaction, or lack thereof. I don't know what to do with my own hair, nor how to use any styling products (including hair dye if you recall). However, I held out hope that she would appreciate the beautiful head of hair she has someday.

It made me so happy this week to find out that day had come (without me ever knowing it). It also made me happy that she shared this writing piece from the first day of school...

She also let me read what she wrote for the very same assignment a few days ago...

The funny thing was that a lot of the kids didn't remember doing the assignment before.

It made me so happy to be invited into her world. It made me so happy to know this little thing about her. It made me so happy that she was willing to be playful, and let me take these pictures to share with you. (Truth be told, it took a small bribe, but there was much laughter.)

Stop by to visit Leigh and see what made other folks happy this week!

Random treats

Stacy (Queen of the Random Rebellion) truly is the hostess with the mostess...hospitality AND wine!!!! I can barely control my giddiness when I see a hand-written real envelope in our mailbox, so imagine the joy when I saw a Priority Mail box on my front porch, from Stacy! And then...then...look what was inside (prepare to be envious)...

I am willing to share, as soon as I decide which one to open first!

You can treat yourself to some at princessnagger.com!

The sun was hot for strawberry picking and the berries were small...really small. I got an attractive itchy rash on the pasty white part side of my forearms (as if the other side is sporting some exotic tan). However, I did find Minnie Mouse...

The house was much quieter yesterday after I silenced the leftover strawberry shortcake that kept calling me. I had put some mini morsels in the batter to make sure the hot fudge knew it was not needed and could mind its own business, as I was only back in the refrigerator for the whipped cream.

I flipped Mother Nature the bird today by closing our house off from the increasing heat and mugginess and baking some cookies. You would think I had the air conditioning chugging, as I thought I did as well. Thanks to the chilly day yesterday, it just felt a little bit warmer than I expected when we got back from the store. I thought I had just eaten too many cookies until I  checked the thermostat to find that the A/C was off.   Suffice to say the cool air is flowing now though. 

Anyhow, I felt a little flat after watching these chocolate chips deflate...

Instead, I found love in the peanut butter cookies as I spotted this one coming out of the oven...

There were some oatmeal raisin cookies too, but they know their role was just to pretend to be health food, so they avoided the paparazzi.

Thanks for stopping by to share these random treats!

Don't forget to visit Stacy too!

Buckle up

Sometimes when I meet people amidst a lot of activity, I am sort of distracted and may not catch their names. If the interaction does not prove to be a favorable one, I don't give much concern to whether I properly filed any pertinent data. The faces may look vaguely familiar at a later date, and require no more than a pleasant smile of acknowledgement. One face in particular though, for some strange coincidence, seemed to constantly appear at the worst times. I could barely muster up a happy visage, let alone any conversation. I might hear a voice, but pretended to not think it was directed at me, so I could continue about my business of fretting over this and that.

One day recently, I sat down to rest for a few minutes. I noticed someone headed for the last vacant chair next to me, but was too tired to execute a proper look away and dodge maneuver.

"You don't recognize me, do you Andrea?"

"I'm sorry. I know we've met, but..."

"Let me reintroduce myself, as I am not surprised your memory is failing. I am Yermid Lifecrisis."

"Oh, I barely recognized you, your hair looks..."

"More gray?"

"Uh, and your outfit.."

"Doesn't fit quite right?"

"No, noooo, that wasn't at all what I was thinking. I just...um, is that a wine bottle sticking out of your purse?"

"Don't judge!"

"No, I was just wondering if it was any of those new kinds I like."

"Oh honey, wine and hair dye aren't going to help you make friends with this crisis."

"Well, then what do you suggest?"

"Laundry and housework. That ought to do it."

"Are you serious?"

"Serious, no. Hilarious? Yes." (Gets up to leave.)

"Wait! What's this you're handing me?"

"The only thing that might help. A seat belt!"

What a bitch! No chocolate for her.

52 Weeks of Happiness - Week 14

 It made me happy that my daughter overcooked her microwave s'more, as I had a feeling she wasn't going to want to eat it...

I usually put the halves side by side instead of stacking, but she wanted to try fully assembled zapping.

Oh my gooey goodness!

...and I certainly couldn't let it go to waste. 

I must've looked really happy because she decided to make hers the same way again, just cooking it for a little less time.