Superlatives

LLB and I were driving home from school the other day.
Mom, we did superlatives today.
Really? Those are fun. Tell me who you voted for.
Well, for Most likely to take over the world I chose my friend Robbie and myself.
Oh... Really?(there is nothing wrong with this kid's self esteem!)
For most athletic I chose my friend AS and J.
That's a good choice! (notice she didn't choose herself for this one...)
There were a few other choices and she told me her choices.
Then I asked if there were any others - there was one more...
For best eyes it was a toss up for the boys - Robbie's eyes change color but I chose HP's. HP has the prettiest eyes - he has little glaciers in his eyes.
Oh...(hmmm.... she must spend a lot of time looking into THOSE eyes!)
It is nice that she knows to look people in the eye when she's talking to them...

$25,000

According to Toby Harnden, blogger for the Daily Telegraph, Barack Obama's budget will cost me $25,573.48.

I don’t know about you but, I don’t have it.

If I did, I certainly wouldn't want to send it to Obama. I'd use it to re-do my upstairs... or put in new windows... or something - anything but give it to O to re-distribute.

h/t - My Friends at Stop the ACLU.

Another Fun Thing To Try...

I found this thing called Sproost over at Heather's.
You take a quiz based on the furniture in a room. It nailed me!
I got 33% Traditional, 33% Nantucket (there's my New England roots coming through), and 34% Classic.
Yup... that's me.

The Dress

We found a dress for LLB's cotillion ball.
It was a bargain at $39.
It is exactly what she wanted.
We had pulled into the grocery store parking lot and decided to check out the discount clothing store. We had just heard from the boys in the family. They told us that they needed another 30 min. before they would be ready to eat. (We were meeting the boys for sushi, thai, pizza, and lo-mein at the grocery store for dinner. Yes, R. I went without you... I'm sorry.) We figured we could sacrifice ourselves and do a little more shopping.
There was one dress in her size on the rack. She looked at it and knew it was "the one". It was just sitting there waiting for us!
It is a little black strapless number with a lace up back - I liked that - I can pull it tight to make sure it stays up. :-)
I need to find a few minutes to have her put it on so I can take a picture.
So - stay tuned. I'll get a picture eventually.

Ski Bunnies!

We went skiing again this weekend.
We had an absolute blast. LLB, HP, DP, etc... We all went. We skied our butts off - well, Mr. skied his off on the mogul run.
The weather was fantastic - 46 degrees and sunny. Just breezy enough to cool you off on the lift, but not so cold you had to wear 35 layers.
I took a lesson.
My instructor took my poles away and guess what?!
I ski much better without poles!! He told me I had a dramatic improvement in one run without poles. Hmmm...
Next time we ski, I'm ditching the poles.

Who wants to go skiing? I'm totally hooked!

It's Circus Time!!

Mom Central has teamed up with Ringling Brothers again this year! I have vivid childhood memories of a day at the circus with my dad in Spain. Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey came to Spain - Dad couldn't pass up the opportunity to take me. I remember the elephants, the high wire, the acrobatics and the clowns! I can almost smell the roasted peanuts and the popcorn... It was a wonderful day!!!


The circus is a terrific family outing - perfect for kids of all ages - and I have a couple of bargains for you.

Bargain #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code "MOM" at Ticketmaster. This offer is good on all performances with a minimum purchase of 4 tickets required - but additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. You can't even see a movie that cheap any more!
FYI: This offer is not valid on Circus Celebrity Seating, Front Row and VIP seating or combinable with other offers.

Bargain #2: A select number of Front Row and VIP seats have been reserved for you to buy before they go on sale to the public - just enter the code "MOM" when purchasing those seats. So - if you want to sit up front, get your rear in gear! These seats aren't going to last!

Dates and cities where families can use the national MOM discount code this spring are as follows:

Newark/East Rutherford/Uniondale/NYC
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
March 5 - April 13
Offer not valid on performances from April 10 - 13 at Madison Square Garden

Washington D.C./ Fairfax, VA/ Baltimore, MD
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
March 18-April 19

Philadelphia
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
May 13-May 25

Phoenix
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
June 24-June 28

Houston
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
July 15-July 26

Anaheim/LA/Ontario
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
July 8-August 2

San Francisco
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
August 12-August 23

Dallas/Ft Worth
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
July 29-August 16

Sacramento
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
August 27-August 30

Kansas City
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
September 16-September 20

Now, if you have a new baby, Ringling Brothers has the perfect gift - Baby’s First Circus - This program allows babies to receive a free ticket voucher that can be exchanged for a free ticket to any Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performance, anytime, anywhere. No expiration date! I have LLB's ticket in her baby book - yes, she is 13.... Actually, the voucher is so cute, I don't want to part with it... I think I will buy her ticket this time!

Need more information? Visit www.Ringling.com. And visit www.ticketmaster.com to use the 4 tickets for $44 code, MOM.

Spread the wealth! Share the code with anyone you know who might want to take their family to the circus.

The Hunt Continues

LLB and I went looking for a ball gown.
We went to our favorite little dress shop that has usually come through for us in the past. Alas, they had nothing - and I mean nothing.

So... I searched online and found a couple of things that I thought were cute. We are going to try to go out shopping on Sunday. We have 2 bell gigs in the morning, but I think the afternoon might be free - providing that we don't have a mountain of homework that needs to be done.

The hunt continues.
I'll definitely let you know if we find something.

Ring Ring...

The phones are here!!

Yes, I have so little excitement in my life that I get all hot and bothered by a new cell phone. Well, it WAS free and you know how I love free stuff!!

This little lovely is what LLB and I selected:
So pink! So cute!
The rest of them got the same thing in black - how incredibly boring!

We're going hunting...

Not with a gun - Not THAT kind of hunting. (Although last night LLB WAS talking about successfully hunting for a bear and hanging his head on our family room wall.. Trust me, it's not the decor I was going for...)

We're talking about the shopping kind of hunting.
She needs a ball gown.
She needs to look beautiful for the cotillion ball.
We are going to look at dresses this afternoon.
Wish me and my pocketbook luck.
We are going to need it.

Just Stuff...

It's Monday - President's Day.
The kids don't have school, but I do. Fortunately, I don't teach until later on this afternoon.

LLB has a Spanish project about her "familia" that she needs to get done today. I'm sure we'll spend the morning finding pictures, cropping them, and typing up descriptions.

We are going skiing this coming Saturday at White Tail in PA. Anyone want to join us? We've got a group rate that gives you lift, rental, and lessons. The more the merrier! We're bringing lunch because they charge an arm and a leg - and we all know you need those items to ski.

I've got a few chores to catch up on today (and since the children aren't up yet, I might be able to get them done), so I'm going to make this short.

If you want to ski, let me know.
If you didn't know your kid had a Spanish project - now you do.

Later!!

I'm so brave...

I upgraded our phones on line today - for free.
LLB and I got pink ones.
The rest of the crew went with black - they are so boring!

I usually like to upgrade in person. Alas, I was on line and decided to look around. They had this cute pink phone for free. I knew that if I went into the store they wouldn't have the pink one. It's all about the color... I've never had anything but boring phones and I really wanted a fun one this time.

I'll take picture when it arrives in a couple of days - and yes, I got free shipping.
I'm so frugal!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

What Flower Are You?

I am no gardener.
I have black thumbs.
I do love a pretty garden, though.

I am a Canna What Flower Are You?

Try it out... what flower are you? I'd love to know.

The Little Red Hen

The little red hen called all of her Democrat neighbors together and said, 'If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?"
'Not I,' said the cow.
'Not I,' said the duck.
'Not I,' said the pig.
'Not I,' said the goose.

'Then I will do it by myself,' said the little red hen, and so she did. The wheat grew very tall and ripened into golden grain.

'Who will help me reap my wheat?' asked the little red hen.
'Not I,' said the duck..
'Out of my classification,' said the pig.
'I'd lose my seniority,' said the cow.
'I'd lose my unemployment compensation,' said the goose.

'Then I will do it by myself,' said the little red hen, and so she did.

At last it came time to bake the bread.

'Who will help me bake the bread?' asked the little red hen.
'That would be overtime for me,' said the cow.
'I'd lose my welfare benefits,' said the duck.
'I'm a dropout and never learned how,' said the pig.
'If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination,' said the goose.

'Then I will do it by myself,' said the little red hen.

She baked five loaves and held them up for all of her neighbors to see. They wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, 'No, I shall eat all five loaves.'

'Excess profits!' cried the cow. (Nancy Pelosi)
'Capitalist leech!' screamed the duck. (Barbara Boxer)
'I demand equal rights!' yelled the goose. (Jesse Jackson)
The pig just grunted in disdain. (Ted Kennedy)
And they all painted 'Unfair!' picket signs and marched around and around the little red hen, shouting obscenities.

Then the farmer (Obama) came. He said to the little red hen, 'You must not be so greedy.'

'But I earned the bread,' said the little red hen.

'Exactly,' said Barack the farmer. 'That is what makes our free enterprise system so wonderful. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers must divide the fruits of their labor with those who are lazy and idle.'

And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, 'I am grateful, for now I truly understand.'

But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her. She never again baked bread because she joined the 'party' and got her bread free. And all the Democrats smiled. 'Fairness' had been established.

Individual initiative had died, but nobody noticed; perhaps no one cared...so long as there was free bread that 'the rich' were paying for.

EPILOGUE
Bill Clinton is getting $12 million for his memoirs.
Hillary got $8 million for hers.
That's $20 million for the memories from two people, who for eight years, repeatedly testified, under oath, that they couldn't remember anything.
IS THIS A GREAT BARNYARD OR WHAT?

An Economic Primer

My mom sent me this and I felt it was something I should share with all of you.

Sometime this year, taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus Payment. This is a very exciting new program that I will explain using the Q and A format:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. No, they are borrowing it from China . Your children are expected to repay the Chinese. Note: This is sarcasm...

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ?
A. Shut up. You aren't supposed to be smart enough to figure that out.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:

If you spend that money at Wal-Mart, the money will go to China.
If you spend it on gasoline it will go to Hugo Chavez, the Arabs and Al Qaeda.
If you purchase a computer it will go to Taiwan.
If you purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala (unless you buy organic).
If you buy a car it will go to Japan and Korea.
If you purchase prescription drugs it will go to India.
If you purchase heroin it will go to the Taliban in Afghanistan.
If you give it to a charitable cause, it will go to Nigeria.

And none of it will help the American economy. We need to keep that money here in America . You can keep the money in America by spending it at yard sales, going to a baseball game, or spend it on prostitutes, beer (domestic only), or tattoos, since those are the only businesses still in the US.

Bathroom Tales

Some things are just blog fodder... this, my friends, is one of them.

While at Wegman's, LLB decided to use the facilities (which she and R both rated at a 9.0 because the facilities were exceptionally clean, quite lovely, they had 3 choices of soap and one hand lotion - but the hand lotion was out).

When she came back, she had this tale to tell.

She had finished doing her business and was buttoning up.
She didn't know that the toilets were automatic.
It flushed.
It startled her
She squealed and ran smack into the door.
Bang!

Classic LLB.
We are still giggling...

Dinner anyone?

LLB and HP made District Band this year.
The director was a little weird, but then, most of them are... Their major complaint about this guy - he didn't say one word for the first 45 min. of their first rehearsal. They decided that his not speaking was particularly weird considering he COULD talk. His choice of music was also a little weird, but.. whatever...

So anyway, the concert was terrific. After the concert they both had Cotillion. We had some time to kill and it was dinner time so we were standing around trying to figure out where to go when J, R's husband, suggested Wegman's since it was on the way to Cotillion.

For those of you who don't know, Wegman's is a grocery store. But, it's not just any grocery store - it is open 24/7, has a food court, wine tasting, a furniture department, and more.

We arrived at the local Wegman's. It's a brand new store.
We walked in and J's mouth dropped. He turned to R and said, "This place is great!" (or something to that effect) R turned to me and said, "He doesn't get out much." LOL! I giggled! He gets out more than any of us...

Everyone scattered to find an appropriate dinner entree.
The following food items were on the table when we all sat down to eat: sushi, summer rolls, pizza, salad, Thai chicken, Indian chicken, Cashew chicken, fresh fruit, fried rice, lo mein and more. It was all delicious! And it was fast! We ate, laughed, chatted, and still had time to get the kids to Cotillion on time.

So - if you need a new dinner location - try your local grocery store. I know R and I are going to be taking a drive to this Wegman's now and then for lunch - we might even bring a few friends! It's not too far... And the food is great!

The Blackberry Phenomenon

Does your spouse have a blackberry? The little technological marvel is also known around here as a "crackberry".
Mr. got one from his office so he can be more productive and work more than the allotted 18 hours a day.
At first I was happy.
Mr. was able to get email, talk on the phone when he needed to, and the reception out here in the boonies is terrific!

Now - I'm not so happy.
He has developed what I call the "crackberry stance". He stands, feet firmly planted, blackberry in hand, head bent over and thumbs frantically working the keys. He will no doubt need physical therapy to fix all the posture related aches and pains.

He as also developed "Blackberry ADD". This happens when we in the middle of a conversation - that he started! - when all of a sudden, he takes out his Blackberry, assumes the stance, and proceeds to ignore every thing coming out of my mouth. I have not changed the subject. I'm simply answering his question or asking for more information - for which, by the way, google does not have the answer.

He can be talking and simply switch over to "Blackberry mode". Everything and everyone in the vicinity now does not exist. The email is now the most important thing in the world.

My dear friend, R's husband has the same Blackberry issues. She told me this morning that she used to get upset, but now it's become a part of life - and it puts food on the table.

She has a very good point.
As long as he's on that Blackberry, he's collecting a paycheck.
I'm good with that.

Kids are Funny!

We are selling chocolate lollipops in the shape of a rose at the school for Valentine's Day. The kids can send a chocolate pop to their friends or themselves - even. They can send it anonymously or not.

The kids are hysterical! They come up in pairs - especially the boys. They spend an inordinate amount of time writing their name and then they practically scribble the intended recipient's name. As if the recipient might happen to walk by and see his or her name being written... The funniest ones are the kids that send it to themselves. They all put "from a secret admirer". LOL!

Yesterday I had a girl come up with a dollar. She said, "So and so gave me this dollar and told me to send him a lollipop." Her friend who was already filling out a form, said, "Yeah, right!"
"Really, he did."
I didn't believe her and neither did her friend, but they dropped it right there. The friend had a little grin on her face, but the girl purchasing the candy - she had a big grin on her face...

The best one so far is this:
A young lady comes up to the desk. She pays her $1. She writes her name and her homeroom. She pauses. In the recipient's line she writes her homeroom teacher's name. She leaves. We parents think it is sooo nice that she sent one to her teacher. 30 seconds later she is back. "Can I have my form back? I need to change something."
We give it back. She crosses out her teacher's name and puts a boy's name down. She quickly hands it back and scurries away.

Yup. She wanted to put that boy's name down all along... we just knew it.

Another Meme

My friend Janet sent me this Meme to do...

1. Ladybug
2. Mom
3. Mommy
4. Hey, you!
5. Mrs. X
6. My real name


Three things you are wearing right now:

1. Black fleece pants
2. White turtleneck
3. Woolly socks

Three things you want very badly at the moment:

1. The house elf to come and clean my house.
2. To not be PTO Chair any more.
3. For the weather to warm up... it's cold, man!

Three People who will fill this out

1. Your guess
2. is as good as
3. Mine

Two things you did last night:

1. Sent email
2. Went to bed early

Two things you ate today:

1. Cup of tea
2. English Muffin - Hey, it's only 6:48am...

Two people you last talked to on the phone:

1. Mr.
2. R

Two things you are going to do tomorrow:

1. Substitute
2. Pick up LLB from District Band rehearsal

Favorite Drinks
1. Mimosa
2. Coke with a lemon.

The Urine Test

I got this from my Aunt and I thought it was quite timely since the Stimulus Plan and Obama's Tax Plan are on everyone's minds...

Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test.

Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check (or a tax refund check) because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their ass, doing drugs, while I work. . . Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?

I guess we could title that program, 'Urine or You're Out'.

Is this Normal?

Last week, LLB and I were driving along a country road on our way to scrapbooking. It was dark out.
We were following a car from PA. This is not unusual.
What is unusual is that every few hundred feet, the car beeped its horn.
There were no deer.
There were no dogs.
There was no other wildlife.
There were no other cars.

We thought it was a bit odd. But then we got to thinkin'... Is this normal behavior for driving country roads? Are we missing out? Is this a tradition we didn't know about? Is there a horn beeping rule??

High School MeMe

I've had this thing sitting around unanswered...
I think it's about time...

1. Did you date someone from your high school? No... I was friend, not girl friend, material.

2. Did you marry someone from your high school? No.

3. Did you car pool to School? No. Dad gave me a ride or I walked - up hill both ways... in the snow...

4. What kind of car did you have? I got to borrow Dad's station wagon if I was lucky.

5. It is Friday night then; where are you? Babysitting next door.

6. It is Friday night now, where are you? If I'm not at a swim meet or a football game, I'm hopefully home.

8. What kind of job did you have in high school? Front desk at Dr. Soper's office and lifeguard.

9. Were you a party animal? No

10. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? I was in band. I was the Band President. :-)

11. Were you a nerd? Yes.

12. Did you get suspended or expelled? No.

13. Can you sing the school song? No, but I can play it.

14. Who was your favorite teacher? Joyce Aldrich - Advanced Grammar and Usage.

15. Where did you sit during lunch? I didn't get a lunch. I took an extra foreign language.

16. When did you graduate? 1982

17. What was your school mascot? Wildcats - Navy blue and white

18. If you could go back and do it again - what would you do? I probably wouldn't change a thing - except maybe my prom date.

19. Did you go to the Prom? Yes. It was a nightmare.

20. Do you still talk to the person you went to the prom with? No. He moved to New Hampshire with his wife and 3 children years ago.

21. Do you still talk to people from your school? A couple.

Just for fun, tell me some of your favorite high school memories or better yet, copy and paste this meme and answer it on YOUR blog!

It's Grrrreeeat!!!

Check it out! Go vote!
Let's get some fields refurbished and ready for spring!
Vote for Tony! Earn your Stripes!!

Phones...

Mr. got a new blackberry through the office. He LOVES it. And so do I! He's now using office minutes for office calls. Fortunately, we never went over our minutes and even if we had, we have those amazing roll-over minutes to cover it.

The rest of us have cell phones on the family plan with AT&T. LLB got Mr.'s old phone which has a couple of issues - the biggest being that it vibrated itself off the window sill (the only place in the house that gets signal) and into the sink - which had dishes and water in it. :-) It works - except for the * key. So... now we are looking into upgrading - we are at the point that we can upgrade for free - you all know how cheap I am. I have always had AT&T - for the last 7 years or so. But, I was wondering if a change might be in order... What cell service do you have? Do you like it? Why? Do you text? Is it worth the extra cash? We need to have 5 phones on the plan. Does that make a difference? Help me out here.

Whiny? Irritating? Me?

Puhleese!
I got a comment from someone I don't know (whose name is Jess) on a previous post - which, by the way, was an email that I received from Gram that I found particularly wonderful.
Her comment was: I find you irritating and whiny.
So, Jess, if that's your real name, if you find this blog irritating, don't read. Move along. That's why there are delete buttons and next buttons.
Use them.

Babysitter Extraordinaire

LLB has a new job. She is babysitting for 2 families in our neighborhood.
There are 3 children - 2 boys and 1 girl.
Last night was her first foray into the world of the younger set.
FYI: LLB doesn't normally "do" little kids. She finds them irritating and whiny.

In the afternoon before LLB was due to be picked up, she made them each a coloring book, with easy to color pictures, and she baked cookies for them to decorate. She was prepared.

They arrived a 5 to pick her up and off she went with her basket of cookies and magic bag full of crayons and custom coloring books.

Needless to say, she had a marvelous time and so did the kids. We will definitely put fewer cookies in next time - as they ate all 24 cookies. We thought they might save some for their parents. LOL!! That's a technicolor dream!

Their favorite part - the coloring books. Go figure! Well, she brought a box of crayons for each of them to use, so that's wicked cool!! They spent almost an hour coloring and when their parents arrived home, they couldn't wait to show what they had done. LLB was impressed and thrilled! (There is nothing better than impressing the parents with a 3 cent box of crayons and some pix pulled off the internet!!)

She made some decent cash. She felt that what the families paid was fair.
LLB is going back to sit for them on Valentine's day. She has already decided that she will make new coloring books for the kids - with red covers this time. She also said that she will put more pictures in there, because they asked her if she had more pictures for them to color. (She told them that she would bring more next time - oooh she is a smart girl!!)

She needs a nifty valentine craft to do - that isn't too messy. The children are K and 1st graders. You got somethin'?