Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Wordless Wednesday


What's it going to be? You tell me...
LBC

Monday, May 29, 2006

Monday Memories

Monday Memories


Monday Memories: Did I ever tell you about the Strawberry Festival?


We spend the weekend working at the church's strawberry festival. It was a gorgeous weekend. The sun was shining. The breeze was blowing. The strawberries sold out!! For those of you who don't know, our festival is our big fundraiser. Most of the money collected goes directly to a number charities in our area. We have games for the kids, live music, the World Championship Strawberry Eating Contest and more! It's a really fun, but exhausting, two days.

#1 Son ran in a 5k for a scholarship fund. (I was working at the gate, so I didn't get to see the whole thing.) I saw him come down the hill and turn into the woods. I cheered, but I don't think he heard me. He was up in the front of the pack. I was pretty impressed. (He has never run in a race.) When I found him later, he told me how he finished. He was running up heartbreak hill. He didn't feel so good. He stopped for a second. He hurled his breakfast. He felt much better. He finished the race and came in second. Now that, my friends, is perseverance and dedication. Finish what you start, I always say. He got the Spirit Award for his performance and made quite an impression on a lot of people with that finish. I am so proud of that boy.

Mr. Bug ran, too. He finished a little differently. He was running up heartbreak hill. He saw two ladies ahead of him. Being competitive, he turned on the speed. He blew by the ladies. He crossed the finish line and collapsed. He layed on the ground and turned in his number. Two people helped haul him off to first aid. He walked into 1st aid and who did he see? #1 Son. :-) 5k race-2 Bugs-0

I worked the hayride and welcome tent on Saturday. Both jobs are really fun. On the hayride, I get to tell little kids to sit down because their parents are stupid and think it's ok to let their kids stand up while they are being pulled on a wagon behind a tractor in a bumpy field. I'm always up for a little bit of discipline. Once that is finished, (it usually takes the first 30 seconds) the ride is relaxing and the views are spectacular. The welcome tent is basically an information booth and water station. We sold a LOT of water.

On Sunday, I worked the gate in the am. It amazes me that a few people come to a charitable event and want to get in for free. They will pay hundreds of dollars to see a play or a music show or even $7 each for a movie, but don't want to pay $20 per carload for a charitable event. We had 2 cars just drive through the gate. (I'm not stepping in front of a moving vehicle for $20.) We had a couple people who wanted to pay the advanced ticket fee of $15. Give me a break! Most people were happy to be there on that beautifuly sunny day and give their $20 to charity.

I helped out in the Welcome tent in the pm.
This is the best story of the weekend: We had one guy show up at 3:30pm. The whole thing shuts down at 5. He tells us that he just arrived and that he drove all the way from Timbuktu with his 4 year old and that he is upset because we ran out of strawberries. Huh? So sorry. He tells us that he is an attorney and that we misrepresented our festival because we only had one strawberry tent and we ran out. Huh? We had strawberries - you missed out pal! He says he is going to sue us. Because we don't have any berries left? Okay. Our rector, bless her heart, took the guy aside and explained to him that there are many things for his family to do at the festival and that if he really wants strawberries, he can go to the strawberry shortcake tent and get a shortcake. (He was spotted on the hayride, watching the puppet shows and , and at the children's games with his kid... I think he had fun without his strawberries.) What is the lesson here? You want strawberries? You show up on Saturday morning not late Sunday afternoon. Needless to say, this situation became quite funny for all of us very tired/punchy volunteers. We will be chuckling about this for many years to come, I'm sure.

This morning, my family is still asleep. They are all pooped. It has been a really long weekend and they need the rest. I am going to start the laundry, make my tea and sit down with my book.

Have a lovely Memorial Day, everyone!
LadyBug

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Saturday, May 27, 2006

Friday Feast One Day Late

Appetizer
How old were you when you got your first credit card?
I think I was in college. I used it for plane tickets home.

Soup
When was the last time you felt out of place?
Hmm... I feel out of place at coffee hour when my friends aren't at church.

Salad
Did you have a curfew when you were a teenager? If so, what time did you have to be home?
YES. 11pm. And the car had to be in it's spot with the garage door down by then. The car I took had to be backed in. I still stink at backing up. I had to leave where I was early so I could have enough time to back the car into the garage.

Main Course
Name a person from history with whom you feel you have something in common.
Well, I'd have to say that I have some things in common with my maternal Gram. She wasn't famous, but she's part of my history. She worked hard, loved to play scrabble, and never let me get away with anything.

Dessert
When you read a newspaper, which section do you go for first?
The Real Estate pages... I love to see what is for sale where and for how much.

Friday, May 26, 2006

The Last Straw

Ok...
I've calmed down enough to tell you all about my trip to the orthopaedist.

Let me give you a little background:
I have had hip pain since last June. Not enough to make me do anything about it until about 3 weeks ago. I can handle a dull ache. I don't like to take medicine. If an advil will fix it, I'm good with that. Well the pain is now excruciating. I can't stand or walk for any lenghth of time. I can't roll over without waking up. I can't Jazzercise without limping for the rest of the day. I like to be active and I'm always on the go. Right now, I.hurt. A.LOT.

So, anyway...
I had an appointment on the 19th. I arrived at the scheduled time with my xrays and all my paperwork filled out. The lady at the desk asks for my referral. I tell her that the Dr. was supposed to fax it over.
She checks. No fax.
I call the office.
Some lady tells me that it's not her fault, but she didn't do the referral.
Excuse me? I say. I just drove over an hour to get to this doctor and you dropped the ball?
Well, she says... it's not my fault.
Well, I say... it's not mine either. What are you going to do?
She tells me that it will be ready for my next appointment providing that I wait another 5 to 7 business days to schedule.
Ummm... NO. I am in pain here. I tell her to have it ready for Wednesday, the 24th.
The orthopaedist office makes me an appointment for the 24th at 9am.

I call the PCP on Monday to be sure that there will be no issues with my referral. I get a call back on Tuesday on my voicemail. It says that the referral is all set. The specialist simply has to log in to get the number and her work is done.

That seems a little different, but okay.

I ask a neighbor to take my kids to school. I get on the road at 7:45am. I arrive at the doc's office at 8:55. I have all my stuff.
They ask for my referral.
I tell them they have to log on and it will be there.
Oh no... we don't do that.
Are you kidding me??
They call my insurance company. Yes the referral is done but they can't fax it for another 30 min. The orthopaedist office won't see me because it will be past my appointment time.
Are you kidding me??

I am really annoyed now - not to mention, I hurt. 2 trips. 36 miles each way. Gas = $3 a gallon. ADD IT UP!!

The lady at the orthopaedist office tells me to go to the emergency room. WHAT?! This is not an emergency. I am not dying. Besides, I'm not paying $50 to be seen in the ER because you people can't get your acts together! NO WAY!

I am beyond angry. I call the PCP and tell them that this is rediculous. I have never not received the referral number. Oh - they say - this is your insurance company's policy. Well, someone needs to tell the specialists. They are asking for a piece of paper with a number on it!!! I also tell them that if I could do the referral myself, I would.

Needless to say, I am still in pain. I have no answers. I am out a full tank of gas. Do I feel shafted? You bet!

LadyBug

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Thursday 13


Thirteen Things LadyBug Is Thinking About Today


1. #1 Son recieved the Outstanding 7th Grade Band Student Award last night.

2. #1 Son played a bunch of solos at the concert and nailed every one of them!

3. The baby bird is alive and well. We think it might be ready to fly. Yippee!!

4. The insulation was installed yesterday.

5. The ladies are coming over to scrapbook today.

6. I am so far behind on my scrapping, I don't know where to start...

7. Why is it that when you clean one place, the rest of the house gets messy?

8. Why does laundry multiply?? Is laundry taking lessons from rabbits??

9. This weekend is the Strawberry Festival. You going? We might.

10. I finished the newsletter for my newcomers' group on time!

11. I love baked potato chips.

12. LLB is having fun day at school on Friday. That means they get to play all day... It's a little early for that, don't you think??

13. Grambug hurt her finger today. Send kisses... It has a big booboo on it.

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Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Cars

We are not car people. Although, sometimes I kind of wish we were. We don't know about cars. We don't know how to fix cars. We barely know what side the gas tank is on. To us a car is 4 wheels and a motor that had darned well better be dependable or it will be replaced. People who are car people drive Land Rover and Jag-U-ar. They know about cars.

Since we know nothing, and are comfortable with our ignorance, we are a Honda family. Hondas get excellent gas mileage, are extremely dependable, are relatively inexpensive, are not made in the US, and last for 10 years or more. (We keep our cars until they can't go one more mile and then we drive them to the dealer and trade them in!)

Mr. Bug drives the Civic - it gets 45 miles to the gallon - Ok, we know gas mileage... Anyway, one of those red warning lights came on over the weekend. We got out the manual and looked it up. It seems the battery wasn't charging. We thought the battery - now 5 years and 70k miles old - might need to be replaced. Nope. Battery was fine. Alternator - whatever that is/does - was shot.

Mr. Bug and I swapped cars and brought the injured party in to be hospitalized. We had to leave it overnight. Fortunately, when you spend the many hundreds of dollars required for an alternator, you get a free loaner.

I was thrilled to have a loaner. It's a Civic. It isn't as nice as the Civic we have, but it has 4 wheels and a motor. The children were appalled to have to crank their windows down and push the button to lock their doors. (Oh if they only knew..)

We discussed the privilege of having a car. They were informed that their first cars would probably end up looking very similar to this one. I told them it had everything they could possibly need: Air conditioning and a radio. What more can a kid ask for? They were humbled. They looked at this poor loaner with a little more respect. They saw their futures. Heck - my first car was a 73 Superbeetle (semi-automatic no less) with no heat and no A/C.

I am returning the loaner this morning. I am looking forward to getting our old, but comfortable car back. I like the bells and whistles. I like the radio stations programmed in a certain way. I like the ability to lock the entire car from the door handle. I like the moon roof... If only my CRV had a moon roof...

I am definitely ready to get our car back. Their radio really is pretty crappy.

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Wisdom...

LLB and I were driving to meet the teachers for her Civil War Reenactment field trip today.

We were chatting about butterflies and flowers. I mentioned that I wanted to plant a butterfly bush and then said something like "I'll have to wait for Grandpa to help me because he is the one with the green thumb.
LLB replied, "Mum, Grandpa's thumb is so green that he could plant a tire and grow a car."

I am still chuckling about that one!
LadyBug

Friday, May 19, 2006

Friday's Fiasco

Hi all!!
I haven't been posting because I've been straight out this week. I've had builder issues caused by stupid people at the town hall and multiplied in intensity by the power company. Needless to say, nobody knows what they want and I'm left waiting in the wings with spaghetti wires coming out of my walls. But, we did get stairs this week!! Check them out:


We discovered that we have a boarder... A Mommy bird has taken up residence in the ceiling joists in the family room/kitchen area. We are worried that she might not be able to stay until her babies are born and ready to fly. Any suggestions??


I had my last 2 bell concerts of the school year, have finished with grades, and briefly considered making awards for my students. (I'm still working on that one). Our last concert was today and all went quite well.

I have started the newsletter for my newcomer's group - those of you who know me remember when I stopped doing the newsletter at my old church, I swore I would never ever do that again... Ha!! So much for that! I spent 2 days reformatting the newsletter, and I am almost finished. I have a couple more things to get in there and then I can publish it! It's so much work, but it is really rewarding.

Today I had an appointment at the orthopaedist for hip/back pain that has reached the point of totally unbearable. When I arrived at the office - after driving in rush hour traffic for 45min. - I discovered that my physician's office staff dropped the ball and didn't submit my referral to my insurance company. You know what that means?? NO APPOINTMENT! Was I annoyed? Ummm.. yup. The chick at my physican's office had the nerve to tell me that it wasn't her fault. Excuse me?? I can't do the paperwork - only you can do the paperwork, HONEY... So, I'm still in a lot of pain and I still have no answers... maybe the paperwork will be done by Wednesday's appointment.

I drowned my sorrows and my serious pain in some power shopping at AC Moore. Yup, I got some scrapping stuff!! Woohoo for me! I also poked around at Target, Kohls and Old Navy for a while. I didn't find much, but it was kind of nice to just poke around while I waited for time to pass. (Mr. Bug and I had arranged to meet for a lunch date and I wasn't just going home to have a fried egg sandwich by myself.) Mr. Bug took me to lunch at Costco. I know, I'm a cheap date, but the pizza is pretty good.

In the good news department, LLB placed 3rd overall in the History Challenge at her school. She wins a field trip with 5 other students to a historical re-enactment tomorrow. She was thrilled!! She was a bit sad that one of her bestest friends (with whom she shared her birthday) placed as well, but couldn't go due to prior commitments. Alas, we cannot have it all. So, I drop her off in the morning and pick her up in the evening. Life is sooo good.

LadyBug

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Monday, May 15, 2006

Monday Memories



Monday Memories: Did I ever tell you about Our Trip to Busch Gardens?


The middle school band had a competition at Busch Gardens over the weekend.
We arrived at the middle school and boarded the busses. The band director made me a Bus Captain. Hmmm... lucky me. Anyway, we hopped onto the first bus - the one #1 Son had chosen. Come to find out it was called "The Loud Bus". It is early in the morning. I haven't had my tea. Are you kidding me? The LOUD bus? Okaaay...

They were not loud. They were a terrific bunch of kids who were really really funny!! But, not loud.

We arrived early at the competition site and they took us early. We were thrilled!! The kids played great! They all looked terrific! Okay - back on the bus for the 5 min. ride to the park.

We were the first group in the park!!

We had the place to ourselves until about 1:30 when the rest of the bands started to arrive. It seems they got stuck in some horrible traffic. (It pays to leave before sunrise!!) We rode the flume and took LLB to all the rides she enjoys. #1 Son took off with one of the high school teachers who loves roller coasters. He rode 2 big ones! He chickened out on the one that corkscrews and goes upside down... I can't say I blame him. We met up with #1 Son at about 2:30 and took him with us for the rest of the day.

At 4:30 we met at the Royal Pavillion for the awards ceremony. It was a lovely ceremony with kids from all over cheering wildly for their schools. The middle school placed 1st!!!!! They went wild when our school name was called!! It was really neat to see. We got a huge trophy that the kids passed around. That was really cool, too! The band director sent two kids down to the front to receive the trophy. When they came back, they immediately (without being prompted) passed the trophy around to each and every band member. They all got to look at it, hold it, and appreciate it. It was such a little thing, but oh so special.

After the ceremony, we hit the flume again. Then we decided that we needed a break. We went to Ireland and had a ruben and a beer. Mr. Bug and I weren't official chaperones, so we were allowed to imbibe. Ahhh it was terrific!! We hit a couple more rides and headed for the bus.

The kids were great on the way home as well. They really are a funny funny bunch. If someone had to use the bathroom on the bus, when the door opened, they all hummed. When the door closed, they stopped. (I guess you had to be there.) I named them the BBC - The Bus Bathroom Chorus.

LadyBug

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Friday, May 12, 2006

Friday Funny

A dear friend sent this to me and it made me laugh...
Have a laugh on me today!!

1. When you are sad -- I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.

2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile -- I will know you finally got lucky!

4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.

5 When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.

7. When you are sick -- Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.

8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.

9. This is my oath..... I pledge it to the end. "Why?" you may ask; "because you are my friend".

Hope you all have a gread day today.
I probably won't post tomorrow. We are off to Busch Gardens for a band competition and some serious fun - Yippeee for us!!

LadyBug

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Thursday 13


Thirteen Things LadyBug Is Annoyed About


1. I tried to post a WW yesterday and Booger wouldn't take it...

2. Children/people who can't stop talking long enough to watch a performance.

3. Sales calls during dinner.

4. Children who pick on other children just because they are different/smart/funny/motivated.

5. Behr paint. It is horrid.

6. It's raining...

7. English teachers who can't spell or form a complete coherent sentence.

8. Children who don't do what they are supposed to do and then wonder why there are consequences.

9. Students who think the other class is more advanced.... Ha! Wait until they find out how good the had it... :-)

10. Funding that doesn't appear in time to purchase a great set of gently used handbells for 1/2 the price of a new set.

11. I have to drive 40 min. to an orthopaedist because my insurance company doesn't have a prefered doctor anywhere closer.

12. Laundry - why doesn't it ever all get done?

13. And, to top it all off, it's raining.

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Tuesday, May 09, 2006

A Cat Meme!!

Carmen over at Gone to Plaid had her cat do a meme yesterday. She invited all felines to participate and Miss Angel was on board immediately. Angel sat at the keyboard until I left. I guess she didn't want me to see her answers...


1. What's your favorite food?
My absolute favorite food is tuna. I prefer white albacore, but I'll settle for the chunk light.
2. What is your favorite toy?
Milk tabbies. I like the blue ones the best, but green will do in a pinch. I like them best when they are fresh off the milk bottle.
3. What is your best trick?
I play fetch. But only on my terms. I will NOT show off when my people want me to. It's all about me.
4. What is your favorite human trick?
When I want them to sit still, I sit on their laps. I make them pat me in the morning by sitting on their chests. I also like to sit on full bladders. It makes them squirm. I find it quite enjoyable.
5. What human rule do you break often?
I like to claw the new couch. It irritates them...
6. What do you wish your human knew about you?
I wish they could understand me when I talk to them. They just don't get it. I hate to play charades.. it's so much easier to talk.
7. What are you glad your human does NOT know about you?
I'm afraid of spiders. They always want me to kill them, but really... they are just the creepiest things with those little legs... and they skitter across the floor.. eewww.

Marmalade was feeling a little left out, so once Angel finished with the survey, he decided to give it a whirl. I set him up at the keyboard and walked away...


1. What's your favorite food?
My absolute favorite food is salmon. I like it best when my Mr. cooks it on the grill. Yumm..
2. What is your favorite toy?
Toys... I don't play with toys. I do like to chase butterflies when they let me out.
3. What is your best trick?
Looking innocent. I can actually smile...
4. What is your favorite human trick?
I can make them feed my by meowing and then licking my lips.
5. What human rule do you break often?
I sneak outside if they leave a door open even the littlest bit. Then, I hide in the grass. They can't find me...
6. What do you wish your human knew about you?
I really don't mind being toothless. I like soft food so much better than kibble.
7. What are you glad your human does NOT know about you?
I am a lazy slob. My favorite thing to do is lounge in the sun... oh... maybe they do know that...

Monday, May 08, 2006

Monday Memories



Monday Memories: Did I ever tell you The Corkscrew Story?


Last week the Drama teacher wanted Mr. Bug to build a bench. Everyone who knows Mr. Bug knows that this is not his forte.
Wanna know how we know?

Picture this:
We are young. We have a tiny infant - #1 Son. We have just met some new parents very much like ourselves. We decide to have a dinner party to swap war stories. We don't know these people very well - yet.

I set the table with our best china and silver.
I make a lovely casserole for dinner. (I was still cooking back then!) Everyone brings something. One family brought a beautiful salad, another brought dessert... you know the drill.

Mr. Bug brings home a bottle of wine to have with dinner. It has a cork in it. We usually buy the jug wine with the screw top. We are Italian. That's what you do. But, we figured we'd be hip and have a "nice bottle of wine" with dinner.

Everyone is in the kitchen chatting. The babies are in the living room passed out in their car seats. Mr. Bug gets out our one and only corkscrew. He inserts it into the cork and turns it in. He starts to pull it out and we hear... "snap". Mr. Bug looks shocked. He has part of the corkscrew in his hand. The rest is in the cork. The cork is still in the bottle. (Insert expletive here.)

We cannot just shove the cork into the bottle. We can't get the corkscrew out. The guys start tossing ideas out...

Mr. Bug runs down to his toolbox. (You all do remember he isn't handy, right?) He comes back with a pair of red handled pliers. He clamps it onto the corkscrew. He tells one of the guys - who we barely know - to hold the bottle. I am mortified as I watch. He pulls the pliers. They inturn pull the winebottle. The guy holding the bottle is running across my kitchen to try to keep hold of the bottle. I am laughing now. As are all the other ladies... Fortunately, everyone in attendance had a wicked sense of humor.

The rest of the guys get in on the fun. They try various things and then decide that they should all hold the bottle securely on the counter. Yup - 3 strapping guys holding one bottle of cheap wine... Mr. Bug is in the zone. He gives one final tug. The cork comes out of the bottle, the pliers handle flies directly into Mr. Bugs exceedingly large forehead. Blood pours down his face. He is ecstatic! The wine is open!

I try to shuffle him into the bathroom ASAP. He has put a hole in his forehead and we haven't even started the salad yet! He keeps telling me he's fine. He'll be fine AFTER I clean him up, put a bandaid on his forehead, and set a large glass of wine in his hand!!

Do you see why the man knows he shouldn't play with power tools?

LadyBug

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Friday, May 05, 2006

Ahhh --- Friday...

It's Friday!

Let me update you on my life.

I went to MommaK's yesterday. We had every intention of removing all the "lovely" wallpaper from 3 bathrooms. 2 small baths and one extra large. We started in the extra large bath and we are still there. How much wallpaper can people use in a bathroom? Let me tell you - a whole lot!! As each piece came down, the place looked better and better. I hope to get back over there soon to help her get the rest down.

Mr. Bug came home with a printer! Yippeee!! He is a good man!

I got a call a couple of days ago from the Drama Club teacher. He needed help making sets. I couldn't make it but Mr. Bug said he'd go and help out. Yesterday when he arrived, the teacher asked him to make a bench. Ha ha ha!!! Mr. Bug is not Norm, nor is he Tom, and he is certainly not Bob Vila. Anything Mr. Bug builds is not fit for humans to be around never mind sit on. Mr. Bug explained this. They decided to give him a staple gun and simple tacking tasks - a much safer option for all involved. The safest option would have been papier-mache or painting...

Tomorrow is another busy day at The Crossing. #1 Son has a band thing in the morning. I am helping out from 8:30 until noon. It is one of those painless jobs where you check people in. I love those jobs! In the afternoon we are going to a rollerskating birthday party - Little LadyBug and her dear friend are joining forces and having a combined birthday party. A good time is guaranteed! Will I skate? Ummm... yup. Will I fall? I hope not... it's a long way down.

Today I was going to go to my Jazzercise class. I think I'm going to stay home to plant those poor plants and paint the door. After that, I'm off to my volunteering at the library. They haven't hired a new Page to shelve the books yet, so I'm it. I just can't leave the two weekend ladies with dozens of carts of books to shelve. I'll give them an hour of my time - that should help ease the load.

LadyBug

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Thursday 13 - Already??


Thirteen Things LadyBug Is Thinking About


1. I have another big day planned! I'm off to MommaK's to help steam some absolutely "gorgeous" wallpaper off of her bathroom walls. I love to help my friends with things like this. It's an easy task and I get to chat while I work!!

2. The fireplace guy was here yesterday. I didn't even look to see what he did. That man has no personality at all. I'll take a look in a few minutes... It looks really nice...

3. Grambug will be happy to learn that her laundry area now has ceiling height cabinets above her washer and dryer and all along that wall. She will also be happy to learn that I - LadyBug - told the cabinet man that Grambug absolutely needed her counter in there and that I believed it could be done with the narrower upper cabinets instead of the wider base cabinets. The builder grinned and the cabinet man agreed. Grambug - you got your counter and your storage space!! :-)

4. I went to the plant sale at school yesterday and purchased 2 lovely pink hydrangeas. One is for Grambug for Mother's day. She's going to have to wait until she gets here to receive it. In the meantime, I will plant it in a safe place and hope for the best.

5. I'm still trying to find 30 minutes to repaint the front door. It looks really stupid without the knocker and that lousy Behr paint on it. FYI - use only Benjamin Moore paints, people. They cost more, but they cover and they look so much better.

6. My printer kicked the bucket. I am annoyed. 6 months ago, the magenta wouldn't print. Now it tells me that it is out of magenta and refuses to print in B&W.

7. I am on the prowl for a laser printer. Mr. Bug is looking for one for me today. I think the stress level was showing on my face and the grey hairs were popping out all over my head. Mr. Bug will have a solution today, I'm sure. The kicker is that I have an old but functional laserwriter in my attic, but the emac I use doesn't recognize it.

8. #1 Son has a project due on Friday. I have no printer. I told #1 Son that he needs to get his rear to the school library to print out his stuff. He also recognized the stress level and agreed without a fuss.

9. My handbell classes are almost done for the year. I have 3 rehearsals, 2 concerts, and one graduation to get through. No pressure.... no stress...

10. My Director of Music agreed to let the two handbell directors go to a Director's Seminar in September. I guess I'm being rehired next year. :-)

11. My hip is really bothering me today. I wonder if the weather is going to change or if I'm just getting really old really fast. I think I'll sprinkle some ibuprofen on my cinnamon toast this morning.

12. Little LadyBug took Marmalade outside with her over the weekend. He was such a happy cat! They ran around, they chased butterflies, they sat in the dirt together, they chatted... it was really cute!

13. I have to remember to plant Mr. Bug's tomato plants that I purchased for him yesterday. I am planting them in containers for him. (You all remember the black thumb I have...) I just hope they survive until the deck goes up... I'll post pictures for you all once I get them planted...

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Monday, May 01, 2006

Monday Memories and A Perfect Post



Monday Memories: Did I ever tell you about My Trip to The Vet?


I went to the vet last week.
That sounds so mundane...
Well, to get to the vet I had to catch 2 cats who flee at the mere sight of the carriers. We are getting smarter in our old age. Mr. Bug and I each grabbed a cat and put it in the bathroom before we got the carriers out. Aren't we brilliant??

It is brilliant until you remember that to put the cats in the carriers you have to get them out of the bathroom - one at a time. To reach the cats you have to open the door wide enough for them to escape. They have two methods - 1. by running through your legs or 2. by jumping over your head (because you thought they were on the floor waiting to escape but instead they were on the washing machine) Therefore, they really are smarter than you are.

So we go to put Marmalade in the crate. He doesn't really want to go in there. He puts all 4 paws out just like the cartoon. He struggles. We sweat. It takes 2 of us to get him in there, but we win.

Time to get Angel. She's a little tougher. She's got claws and she knows how to use them. She also has no intention of getting in that crate. She pulls the same stunt with the paws, but as I mentioned, she has claws. She hangs on to the edge of the crate with those. She hangs on tight. She hisses. We are sweating even more. We finally get her in there. She is angry. I certainly hope the vet will help me get her back in there after...

We load the crates into the car. Marmalade starts to cry a long melodramatic meeeooooowwwwww. He does it all the way to the vet. I laugh. I think it is funny. I am covered in cat hair. I am sweaty. My cat is crying... The other one joins in. I am hysterical when I pull into the vet... And I wonder why they put me in that little tiny room....

LadyBug

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The Perfect Post Award
On the first day of each month, all participants will give out the award to their favorite post written by another blogger during the preceding month. The "winners" will receive a cool Perfect Post button for that month that they can put on their sites if they wish. MommaK and Lucinda will link on each award day to everyone who's giving out a Perfect Post award.

This is a chance to read some of the best stuff written each month- and to spread a little warm fuzziness, too. If you'd like to present an award yourself next month, e-mail Lucinda or MommaK and they'll send you the latest award button code a few days before June 1st, so that you can participate, too!

I have decided to award another Perfect Post this month. I have been reading this guy for quite a while now and he is really really funny!!

My Perfect Post Award goes to....
Muzikdude at The Sound of Muzik
My favorite post this month was This one

Please stop by, wish him well, and tell him Ladybug sent you.