MERRY CHRISTMAS

Gingerbread Houses

We were invited to join two differents friends family traditions this weekend. Saturday we spent borrowing our church's kitchen to make an abundance of cookies! Yummy the results of cooking from 9am til 5pm with 4 other women and my hubby (who made the rum balls!)!

Then on Sunday, despite the very snowy weather, we joined in gingerbread house making fun! plastic sheets on the floor is a good idea! Here are the results! (I found it strange that the others were talking of their plans to eat their houses. Eat them? Really?)

Quote

From the book "The Boy Next Door" by Meg Cabot : "Honey, if you ain't a hundred-dollar bill, not everyone is going to like you."

Xmas Songs

Every year in July, I feel overwhelmed with annoyance by the appearance of Xmas stuff in many stores. Argh! Every year the week before Thanksgiving when the 24/7 Xmas music starts on the radio and half my neighbors already have their lights up, the ARGH! gets me again! The dread of things needed to be accomplished to make the holiday season joyful begins to weigh me down. Cards to make, presents to get, decorating to do, etc, etc, etc. But then there's a moment, a moment where suddenly I'm ready, ready to hear the Xmas music, get working on the cards and spend 1/2 a day decorating the house. I never know when it will strike me. I usually anticipate it to be late - that I will need to force myself to even get the Advent Calendar out on time. But it struck me early this year. Andrew has his 4th grade Xmas concert tonight, and on Tuesday he had his last practice. He forgot the words to the song he is performing as "Bill Holly" of "Bill Holly and the Mistletoes". Jingle Bell Rock. "Okay, " I said, "Let's go play it and practice." Off we go to Windows Media Player and begin to play it. Then on to Google to print out the words. It helped him and surprisingly didn't annoy me. I switched my MP3 player to all Xmas and anticipated enjoying all my favs at work the next day. I am very fond of Eartha Kitt's version of "Santa Baby", The Eagles "Please Be Home for Xmas" , & Harry Connick Jr's "The Happy Elf". I like the goofy stuff like "I Want a Hippo for Xmas" "The Chipmunk Song" and even Cheech and Chong's "Santa and his Old Lady". But there are certain songs that make Xmas feel like Xmas. The John Denver and Muppets Xmas album, Bing Crobsy's "White Xmas" Perry Cuomo's "It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Xmas" and Nat King Cole's "The Xmas Song". What's your favorite?

HOLY CRAP!

HOLY CRAP!

It has been a while since been here! So long, I forgot how to log on! My lame excuses are : I've had nothing to say and little time to say it because I've been too busy playing in WEBKINZ! In fact I feel right now like I'm wasting precious Cash Cow time! However, I felt a need to do something more adult like this morning so...

Things I am Thankful for as the Season of Thankfulness approaches:

1. I have 2 healthy, sweet, smart boys who get spoiled with prizes when Mommy returns from Parent Teacher Conferences with great report cards and glowing reports!

2. That today is a clear day. Where none of the fog of worries, stresses and annoyances block my view of the blessings that fill my life everyday.

3. Having a talented husband who can not only make my living room into a thing of beauty, but can also make a great chocolate chip pancake!

4. Having a dog. Always coming home to a dramatic display of utter joy at your arrival is really nice. Nearly unconditional love is gratifying. (feed me and I will love you!)

5. Surprisingly unobtrusively planning 3 days worth of meals in anticipation of family being here for Turkey Day! Oh the joy of turkey day leftovers!

6. Harvey & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice tea!

7. Finding the type of Xmas gifts that you can't wait to give!

8. Feeling like I've justified enough that I am an adult and can now go play on WEBKINZ!

Independence Day

In honor of Independence Day (sorry it's late) I am suggesting a visit to this website : http://TheIndependenceFoundation.org. This is a non-profit organization started just 2 years ago by a family I know through church and have become very close with. In fact, I now work for Ben as a home health care aide. This family is making huge strides to achieve for these young adults what most of us take for granted every day. Independence. Many have fought and died to make and keep this country free, and yet here at home having a physical handicap keeps many from living a self-directed life. The good, no GREAT news is : after only 2 years the Foundation has been able to purchase a house that three on the their long list of young adults will be able to move into after a couple of adjustments! Also achieved:a Power Wheelchair Soccer League, a transportation program, 2 wheelchair access van donations, a transportation program, college scholarships awarded and many other life changing steps. Other big projects are in the works. The heart breaking news is that these changes don't always come fast enough. This is near and dear to my heart and I hope it touches yours.

Tagged

Tagged by Reason Enough, whom I will see this weekend!
1 Where is your cell phone? purse
2 Relationship? happy, good 10 years & counting
3 Your hair? fizzy due to humity
4 Work? don't get me started!
5 Your sister? german and fabulous!
6 Your favorite things? 1 asleep on couch 2 at VBS
7 Your dream last night? boring
8 Your favorite drink? today, ice water
9 Your dream car? Carmen Ghia
10 The room you're in? soon to be Book Nook
11 Your shoes? barefoot - ditto
12 Your fears? I have the upper hand today
3 What do you want to be in 10 years? watching my son graduate from High School - WOW!
14 Who did you hang out with this weekend? family
15 What are you not good at? so many things, listening
16 Muffins? cranberry-orange - ditto
17 Wish-list item? enough income to not have to worry, but not so much to add worries
18 Where you grew up? East Aurora
19 The last thing you did? burned grilled cheese sandwiches
20 What are you wearing? tank top and skirt
21 What are you not wearing? winter coat!
22 Your pet? asleep under the fan
23 Your computer? just right
24 Your life? good, very good
25 Your mood? happy despite the humidity
26 Missing? lake Erie
27 What are you thinking about? a cold swim
28 Your car? just right
29 Your kitchen? extra clean due to manual scrubbing yesterday
30 Your summer? BUSY!
31 Your favorite color? blue
32 Last time you laughed? a few hours ago
33 Last time you cried? a few hours ago
34 School? far enough away, yet not soon enough
35 Love? Everyday
36 Tag? three

I am taking gingersnapspice, navilyn, and epiphanyalone, just because I'd like to read their answers!

Summertime

Ah Summer, time for outdoor projects like gardening. I am pleased to say we actually have something growing besides weeds! We even have some new things given to us by a friend who needed to thin her garden out! Instant gratification when putting in full grown plants to an enpty space! Joe has also been VERY hard at work digging a four foot deep trench to install our water line - and will be hooking us up to city water tomorrow! He will also be putting a new roof on the garage and finishing the last corner of the clubhouse! And what are the boys up to you might ask. Making mud mountains out of the dirt from the trench, catching crayfish in the creek, being forced to clean out a messy playroom, and finally being allowed to sleep out on the sun porch with Molly! I remember wondering why my parents spent so much time working outdoors all summer long, when the should be playing. I get it now why they didn't and why my kids are irritated that I'm busy mowing, weeding and hanging laundry! I plan to take time to veg, hope you do too! (Yes Lucas actually fell asleep that way!)

Wet and Wonderful

Joy can be found in many small ways!

Jumping in mud puddles the 1st Sunday June!

Glad for the much needed rain!

Finding a good place to hide from the thunder!

(dog under desk)

Ideas approached skeptically, turn out to be good!

(Hubby wanted the mutton's in, I wasn't so sure.)

Remodeling approaching the finish line!

Three hour naps on a rainy afternoon!

(Thanks guys for letting Mommy sleep!)

Quiet in the house, while everyone enjoys their books

(except for the occasional interruption when we needed

to share a funny part!)

Good books to read!

Perfect things to snack on! (popcorn)

A good laugh before bedtime! (Thanks AFV!)

A good scratch on the back for a hard working hubby

who's sunburn has gotten itchy!

Glad to be right where I am at the end of the day!

Message of the Day

One of those e-mails you always get, but worth sharing.

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly,Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here let's dance!

Author unknown.

Alphabet Soup

While serving up dinner today, I noticed I had achieved a new culinary wonder quite by accident. Everything we were about to consume started with the same letter: chicken, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, and carrots (drinks not included). We have now decided to embark on the adventure of trying to eat different letters of the alphabet. Perhaps not each night, maybe once a week. Besides zucchini, what else does one eat that starts with "Z"?

One Closet, One Wall and An Idea!

One solid wall, one useful closet (already filled) and one idea for how to decorate the "den". And it only took 11 years! LOVE my closet! Will really work better than it ever could have opening into the living room! LOVE my big long solid wall - although am still perplexed as to how exactly I want to decorate it. Have to choose which pictures where, but am currently stumped! And my brilliant talented hubby came up with good, really good use for this room that is typically (and currently) a dumping ground. We have needed to use it to fill with all the extras from the living room as we remodeled - it still has a few things left (like the old tv stand and the pictures I need to hang). The room was the previous owners master bedroom, but became our den when Joe removed the double closet doors and built me a big desk. The closet is right next to it. The rest of the room is pretty useless so far. But Joe wants to fill in the 2nd door to the bathroom, move a window, add a desk for the boys and book nook with one of those coffee house comfy chairs! I'm so excited I wish it was already finished! There are so may reasons to love him, but this brilliant idea is top of my list today!

Stolen from Epiphany

Hooray for the thieves

I've stolen yet another meme from Dad.

1. Introduce yourself…
Hi, I'm Fraukow.

2. It’s Wednesday at noon, where are you usually?
Killing time blogging before meeting a friend for a mexican lunch!

3. What kind of laundry detergent do you use?
All free and clear. Me too - just cuz there is SO much perfume in everything we use!

4. What brand of shampoo is in your shower right now?
Sauve Healthy Curls, my hair likes it, and I try not to argue with my hair. It's got attittude!

5. Did you ever get into a bar and drink before you were 21?
Yes. But never really got into the whole bar scence.

6. What countries have you been to?
Canada, Mexico, Germany, Holland,France.

7. Do you watch MTV anymore?
No.

8. What do you think about Oprah?
I think she's overrated.

9. What color are your bed sheets?
red and teal.

10. You need a new pair of jeans: what store do you go to first?
Amvets, then Walmart.I like them cheap.

11. Did you ever watch The O.C.?
No.

12. What kind of car do you drive?
A Pontiac Vibe and LOVE it.

13. Honestly, is that car insured?
Yes, for more than I really wish to pay.

14. Do you like sushi?
never tried it

15. Have you ever been to Tiffany & Co. or Saks 5th Ave?
I've been to both. LOVE Tiffany's

16. Did your parents spoil you growing up?
Not materially, but certainly with a good education. So many parents these days are too busy to care or too guilt ridden from lack of attention paid to be doing their children good.

17. Do you like roller coasters?
I used to love them, but no I find I don't have the stomach for them.

18. What magazine(s) do you buy regularly or subscribe to?
People, Zoo Books, Trains

19. Do you remember the WB show Popular?
Sort of.

20. When you go out do you prefer to go to a dance club or to a bar?
I can't claim to have been to a real dance club. depends on who you're out with which would be more fun.

21. What do you think about gay marriage?
I like Dad's answer, that it should be a non-issue - everyone should have the same rights.

Great Answer - can only add - why is the government objecting to earning more money? They would have to pay for licenses and all that crap. Plus revenue from more lavish weddings would be good for the economy.

22. Who do you think will be the next president?
I hate to say I don't care, but 2 years of presidential running is naueating

23. Are you registered to vote?
Yes.

24. Do you own an iPod?
I have a MP3 player that I adore, despite the fact it's not an ipod. The boys have idogs.

25. Is your bathroom filled with beauty stuff?
Shampoo, soap, mascara, eyeshadow, deodorant, hairspray, perfume, baby oil. too lazy for anything else

26. What do you normally smell like?
Champange and Strawberries by Victoria Secret

27. Do you like Carrie Underwood?
Never met her

28. Been to “The Vegas”?
Yes, and I got paid to be there. Went when I work for Santo Tours .

29. How far away do you live from your parents?
About 1 hour.

30. Are you happy with your job?
Mostly.

31. Where do you work and what do you do there?
I am a church secretary, and I never know what I'll be up to next when I'm there. I have just started a 2nd job helping a friend with MD do his own stuff, so his mom can do hers. Like that one!

32. What did you get in the mail today?
Hasn't arrived yet, but am expecting some more Netflix movies. Yeah!

33. How do you like your steak cooked?
Medium rare.

34. Britney Spears…ready to have a nervous break down or just having fun?
She definately needs help. Getting out of the spotlight would be a good start. Have always wanted to shave my head though, so am a little jealous.

35. What do you usually order at Taco Bell?
We do Mighty Taco here, and I get a bean and cheese burrito with lettuce and sour cream - yum, now I'm hungry !

36. Have you ever sat all the way through Gone With the Wind?
More than once and I own a copy. Plus I read the book - and should again, it was good!

37. Have you ever been to Mt Rushmore?
No.

38. Is it just me, or was The Marine (w/John Cena) a really horrible movie?
I never saw it.

39. Are surveys like the cocaine of myspace?
No.

40. Where is your favorite place (that you have actually been to)?
The Balckman family cottage.

41. What is your favorite candle scent?
Partylite lily of the valley - but it makes my husband sneeze.

42. Do you believe places can really be haunted?
Yes.

43. Do you smoke cigarettes?
I used to lightly, but completely stopped before I got pregnant and never went back. I do occasionally long for one.

44. Have you ever been to NYC or LA?
NYC yes, LA no.

45. How many states have you been to where all you saw was the airport?
One - Atlanta Georgia.

46. Do you think 50 questions is enough?
Today yes

47. Are you currently planning a trip?
Today to Batavia. In August to Toronto WOOO HOOO!!!

48. Is Ryan Seacrest gay?
I don't care.

49. Do you take anti-depressants? Sleeping pills?
No.

50. What do you think about space travel?
Not something I would ever do, but certainly interesting to watch!

Whatever happened to..

What ever happened to that girl I used to be? The one who was silly and fun? The one who loved to dance and be adventurous? The one who was so flirty and cute? How ever did I become someone who prattles on about which vitamins give you energy and just why this pastor isn't right for our church? How did I go from some fun to be around to a boring stick in the mud? How did dreams of traveling the world become dreams of someone ELSE cleaning the toilet I didn't get dirty for a change? What happened to the girl who jumped in mud puddles during an August rain shower? How did she go from the dancing on tables to in bed at 8pm on a Friday night? How did I get so old so young?

Ironic

I received a paper postcard in the mail yesterday with the green recycle logo on one side. The other side states : "HELP PRESERVE OUR ENVIRONMENT!" "DON'T FORGET TO RECYCLE!" (magazines, aluminum, newspapers, paper, plastic, glass) and a 1800 number to call for more info. Is it me or does mailing paper to umpteen million people seem to defeat the purpose it's trying to promote? Is this what I pay taxes to accomplish?

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Before and After

HOORAY!!! THEY'RE DONE!!! THEY ARE SO PRETTY!!! This is that point in the project, where the biggest change is finished, and the loads left to do, seems like a minor detail. It's such a comfortable change, it makes us wonder why we left the other way for so long. Happy dance!

And then there were shelves

It is all coming together so nicely! The shelves are up, painted and have things placed on them. The windows are open letting in fresh air because the sun is shining and it's 73 degrees IN MARCH! My car is vacuumed out and has new mats that are deep enough to catch and hold dirt! I thought my plans for the first day off in many weeks were foiled when Lucas spent much of the night vomiting and therefore, did not go to school. However, my husband is on second shift and we finagled it so I could still get to my much needed (and deserved) pedicure with my buddy Mary! Happy Happy Joy Joy!

Real Mom Part 2

Real Mom's don't scream, yell or go beserk when trying to figure out how to repair the scorch mark left in the braided rug from the burning napkin that was being used to snuff out the dinner candle by an almost 7 year old who thought he was being clever, but quickly realized this was a bad idea! No one was hurt ,major lessons were learned and now I am searching for guidance on how to improve the addition to the rug. Turning it over is one option, got any others?

Real Moms...

In response to the "Real Moms..." challenge : This my be a mother-of-boys thing. When approached with a screaming and crying or a yell of "Mom, Lucas is hurt!" the immediate reply is : "Is there any bleeding?" if no, then comes : "You'll live, go play!"; if yes, then : "Sigh, fine let me put down my drink and have a look." Real moms let their boys wrestle even if it means one looses a tooth due to the other's foot! They were SO proud of themselves!

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!!!!!!

Spring has sprung

Spring has sprung
The grass is ris'
I wonder where
The birdies is?
Mom repeats that every year, just like her father did, and now I do. Today when I got up at 6am it was 57 degrees outside! The kind of weather you leave your winter coat, long sleeves and even socks at home. The kind of weather that doesn't require preheating your car or a constant cup of hot java to have blood circulating in your finger tips. The kind of weather that makes you turn off the heat, open windows and doors just to bring the fresh air in. The air that smells like wet happy dirt; dirt craving to spring back to life and make the flowers grow! The air that makes the dog go two extra blocks before doing what needs to be done, because she just wants to get more of that mud in her paws! The kind of weather that you have forgotten during the long, pretty, but very cold winter, how very much you needed in order to have energy. The kind of weather bears decide is worth waking up for after months of sleep! Where swans and geese giggle through the skies, worms burrow deeper to avoid being eaten and all types of animals start feeling frisky! If only it wasn't going to be merely 37 degrees tomorrow!

Jackpot!

Oh yes, I did run right out and buy it! And I can't wait to watch it on the new TV that will be on the new shelf (once the paint is dry)! Happy Sigh, the littlest things can bring such bliss to your day! What little thing brought bliss to your day?

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change
courage to change the things I can
and wisdom to know the difference.
Epiphany Alone brought this up. It is one of my favorites. I have a framed version that hangs in my office at work. Right under the clock. My life is one of luxury and ease compaired to many, and everyday I am grateful for all we have and more grateful for what we don't. Knowing people with much larger troubles who deal with them with grace and ease, makes it easier to do the same. Some days it's hard to be calm and accepting, some days it's too much work to change what needs changing. But all the while, others are striving to change, tired and daunted, but not discouraged. Like those ants who never seem to tire, we watch and gain strength in their example. They may wish their lives were easier and we may wish that for them as well as ourselves. However, I am grateful for the example set before me. "God has a plan." my friend is always saying. I just really wish He gave outlines.

Oscar Beauty Tips from the Ellen Show

Another tip that I thought was good to know. Visine doesn't just get the red out of your eyes, it can take the red out of your blemish! How very handy! The beautician lady on Ellen also said that a slice of raw potato is better than the slice of cucumber to reduce puff eyes and that a paste made from lemon juice and a crushed aspirin will remove zits! Oh La La!

Follow the trend

You know those hideous rubbery-looking clog things with holes in them that everyone is wearing? In my search to find a pair of slipper I don't despise, I got desperate and decided to try a pair of the clogs. A $6 red pair from Dollar General. They aren't rubber, they are foam, so they are very light. They are also as comfortable as they are hideous. Therefore, very! My boys decided they loved them and needed some of their own! I'm not usually one to follow a trend, however, I think that sometimes all those people are actually on to something. Does this mean I need to buy a pair of the equally hideous Ugg Boots?

Household Tips

I have been wanting to do a Tips Blog for a while, but was lacking enough material to do one. I love hearing ideas on how to keep things organized or make cleaning easier. So PLEASE give me LOTS of feed back!

1. Those blue dryer balls advertised on TV really do work! I still use a dryer sheets with towels, but it shaved 20 minutes off the time to dry my husbands jeans!
2. Like to moisterize with baby oil post-shower-pre-towel, but hate smelling like a baby? Make your own. Get an oil version of your favorite scent (I found my Victoria' Secret scent on E-bay for $.99 with $1 shipping) and add as many drops as it takes til you like it to a cheap bottle of mineral oil ($.79 at Wegman's). It's a bit thicker than baby oil, but that's a good thing and I smell great!
3. To help keep all your matching sheets together, fold both sheet and one pillowcase and put them inside the other pillowcase. Then everything is very neat and all in one place! ( if your sheets don't match, who cares!)
4.Left over coffee in the pot? Add water and pour it on plants. They love the extra minerals!
5.I haven't tried this but I plan to do so this summer. Place a dryer sheet in your pocket to keep the mosquitoes away!
6.Baby/bridal showers - buy thank you cards in advance. Give the envelopes to each guest and have them fill out their address. These can then be used to give out door prizes as well - no will get missed!
7. I haven't tried this one either, but it sounds interesting. Take a small bottle of baby powder to the beach. When you are ready to leave sprinkle it on to take the sand off.
8. Put a mini marshmellow at the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent the ice cream from leaking.
9. A small bowl of vinegar absorbs cooking odors, like bacon or liver with onions!
10. Those Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are totally awesome! Cleans everything from crayon on the wall to dirt on sneakers!
Hope this helps and I look forward to more tips!

Things I love...

In honor of Valentine's Day (a little late) here are a few things I love: 1. My Dad, Happy 60th Birthday Daddy! 2. A snow day that my husband stays home for and helps change the sheets on the beds. 3.Having a snow day that I manage to get lots accomplished. 4. Ziploc BIG bags! 5. Being in the middle of a good book. 6. Being strong enough to help my husband bring the pellet stove in the house. 7. Getting to go out to dinner because I didn't feel like cooking after all the other stuff I got done today! 8.How nice my livingroom is looking! What are some things you love?

Another Snow Day

I was looking forward to today. It was to be a day at my pace; get the kids on the bus, walk the dog, get ready, and go shopping. No hurry, no 5 other things I needed to be doing in the next ten minutes. "Curses, foiled again!" This picture was take Sun at 7:30am, by 5:30pm there was 25 inches. There has been more falling and blowing every day since, hence the 3rd snow day this week! The boys are happy, Mommy really wanted to get stuff done all by herself. She is now searching for a solution that will make kids and self happy. The local bounce house place that won't be busy because none of the other schools are closed, or drag crabby kids with her shopping with the promise of lunch at McD's? Sigh. How one begins to depend on school to give one a few hours of freedom. Hope your friday is a good one!

Joys of technology

There is nothing sexier than a man with good taste. And my hubby has good taste. During our remodeling of the livingroom, you will recall that the TV was causing issues due to its rather large size and our desire to have not so deep shelves. Problem solved! After doing some research - asking brilliant people named Chris and Mike what to buy and checking the web - it was discovered that now (pre-Super Bowl Sunday)is the time to buy a great TV for a great price. So after picking my hubby up from his red-eye flight from California and feeding him breakfast, I suggested ("Since we're out here."{we live in the boonies}) that we pop into Circuit City and check out the deals. We dilligently compared TV, I asked more questions, boys whined they wanted to be elsewhere and with great speed (likely due to a tired hubby) we made a choice ! (see photo) A very technologically savvy shiny black SKINNY TV that does great things. And even with only a measly attenae (no cable!!!no thanks!) we are able to get a few extra stations and the others have never looked so good! All of this is madebetter by the on-sale-at-Target purchase that is old technology but works great!Life is good my friends! Even better when you have a talented, smart, good lookin' spouse who happens to have great taste!

More Games

Another kids game. One that predicts the future. First, that lovely little folded paper thingy that you count and swish and unfold to get the answer. How do you fold those anyway? Second, M.A.S.H. No not the TV show. This one stands for Mansion, Apartment, Shack or House. You choose 4 potential spouses, 4 numbers and 4 types of motor vechiles. Then your 81/2 year old son predicts your future. I will be marring Daniel Craig, having 8 children, living in a Mansion and driving a VW Bus! Thankfully, the 2 boys I have count and I'm allowed to adopt the other 6.("Although, it would be fun to have 6 babies around the mansion!" - Andrew). I did ask what I would do with my husband, the relpy was : "Throw him out in the snow!" Well, okay then.

Political Correctness

Alright, so who remembers that oh-so-funny-when-you're-7 game where one person tells a story, leaving dramatic pauses for the other person to fill in the phrase "So did the big fat lady."?
This is a current fave of my 2 boys to keep themselves amused during any car ride. They take turns telling the story and changing the phrase to things like "So did the big fat balloon." or "So did the big fat dog." Each time it ends with the storytellers balloon popping and therefore "So does the big fat whatever." This brings gales of laughter and shouts of "My turn, my turn!" All the while in the front seat I'm wondering why the lady has to be big and fat. Is it really necessary to use those words? Couldn't she be the silly happy lady or the goofy gabby lady or anything that was more P.C. lady? Ugh! I get where being politically correct really has helped a society lacking in basic manners behave better, but I am beginning to see where it is taking over every little thing. This is a silly harmless kids game that is only being heard by my husband and myself (and, well, now all of you), so what's the problem? I have yet to say anything to my children about using others words - they are just having fun - but should I really feel the need?

What does it mean?

Okay, so reoccurring dreams are normal, usually caused by something. Can anyone explain mine? I do not have the exact dream every time, more like the same theme. I have to use the bathroom and the only one available is an unpleasant public one. The reasons for the unpleasantness change. Most often it is just very dirty, sometimes the stall doors are made of glass, sometimes there are no doors at all, and other times everyone I have ever known is in the bathroom with me. I have discovered no pattern to these dreams, not a particular time of month or food that I ate that day. I always awake with the same sense of "YUCK!" and bewilderment as to the reason behind the dream. I cannot recall the first time I had one, but it has been happening once every couple of weeks for years. I would love to know why, and love for them to stop happening. Any ideas?

conversation with lucas

"Mommy, someone killed Martin Luther King Jr. They shouldn't have done that. Why did they do it?" - Lucas

"No, they shouldn't have done that. Some people think that black people shouldn't be allowed to do what white people do. And Dr King was trying to change that. That's why they shot him. It wasn't very smart, was it?"

"No! Are black people still not allowed to do things?"

"No, Dr King changed that. ALL people are allowed to all things. Black people, women, all people, just the way it should be."

"But, they still shouldn't have killed him. It's all so confusing."

"Yes, it really is confusing."

"Can I have 2 cookies?"

"Yes, you may have 2 cookies."

Let's keep them confused, so they always question the reasoning behind bigotry, terrorism and any other acts of violence and evil.

Weekly progress report

I have been reading "You on a Diet" (by Dr Oz, who is often on Oprah) and he recommends having a friend to tell about your progress. I figured this worked. So I have been doing pretty well keeping to my first resolution to loose weight. I have even managed to keep to the exercising despite having a treadmill that doesn't really work right. (Buffalo weather was accommodating until yesterday!) I have noticed that you can flucuate a pound or two throughout the day, so I am trying not to use this as a way to measure my progress, although I will continue to track with my scale daily. I am finding that my second resolution is causing more difficulties. I'm like a little kid(or many adults) that has been told "No!" and therefore has to do it all the more. Not that I'm dropping F-bombs every 40 seconds, but it's become complusive to say something unseamly. I need to find replacements words that will come easily to mind when an inapporpriate word would normally. Like my sister-in-law Shelley instead of saying "Good Heavens!" or "G--da--it!" she says "Oh, Good Night!" I can't carry that one off, but I'm open to suggestions. Got a favorite?

Suggestions

Dec 28, 2006 (before) Jan 3, 2007 (during)

Like every new year, my husband has time off and a driving need to demo some part of the house! Last year I got a new gorgeous bathroom, this year I am getting a new living room, complete with a removal of a non-working wood burning fireplace and the addition of a new pellet stove. We are in need of some suggestions of how to handle the surrounding walls. There will be tile on the floor and up the wall behind the stove with a mantle.( the mantle will be a few inches above the window sills) There needs to be book shelves on either side of the stove area, the left side holding the tv, dvd,vcr, etc and the other side for books, photos, nicknacks, etc. My husband does not want the shelves to be too deep. We are considering having the shelves turn and extend on to the other walls (no too far as the front wall has BIG windows) and tucking the tv into the corner - in hopes of having it be deep enough, but not, ya know.. We are both having trouble getting the right visual in our heads. It's there, like on the tip of the tongue thing, but just not quite. Any thoughts?