Stink or Swim

Some of you may have remembered my first real blog post about Sienna getting sprayed by a skunk.  Well, I was afraid of a repeat performance recently. 

We went camping this past weekend to Garner State Park in the hill country near San Antonio. It’s a beautiful park with plenty of hiking trails and a freezing river, aptly called the Frio River.  The girls waded in the river up to their thighs.  I felt like such a bad parent because that water felt like what you find in an ice chest when all the drinks are gone… numbing.  They were shaking and nearly blue when we finally made them get out. 

Back at camp that evening, we noticed a skunk or two walking around just behind our trailer. They wandered nearby for those two nights. And let me say, skunks are actually quite scary in real life. I could probably equate it to seeing a lion on the prowl. It’s not really about what it does when you see it, more precisely it’s about what it COULD do!  We kept shining the flashlights in their general direction. 

Skunks look relatively the same from the front or the back… basically just a fluffy black and white kitty cat with beady eyes.  Although, you can’t see those beady eyes at night in the dark.  And it’s a great feeling when your flashlight reflects in their eyes.  At least then you know you have the more preferred end pointed at you.

We made it out of there alive and with our own aroma intact.  And thank you, Sienna, for learning your lesson and leaving them alone!  I didn’t have any tomato juice with me again!

Once again… with feeling

Again, I haven’t written for a while. The funniest part is that I still find myself clicking on my blog shortcut. And yet, I’m surprised to find nothing new. So, here I am starting to get started again. Bear with me.

There are so many things I can think of to talk about: my husband is still out of work, my kids continue to grow, I finally bought an I-phone, life has been great and life has sucked. Where to begin…

I suppose I can begin the same way I began in the beginning… with skunks.

Wouldn’t You Like to be a Lemming, Too?

So I pride myself in not being a lemming. I don’t follow the flock and purchase an I-phone. I didn’t vote for Obama. I don’t buy the same car as everyone else. And I don’t like to read what everyone else is reading, just because it is reportedly “so good” and blah, blah, blah.

For instance, the whole Twilight saga thing has been out for a while. I just didn’t get it. Teenaged vampires? Big whoop. Who cares? I didn’t read the books; I didn’t see the movies; I didn’t even know the names of these goofs.

Then, my sister who hardly reads was reading the book. She said it was sooo good and I just had to read ‘em. I figured, if it got her (who is barely literate) to read a novel, there must be something to it. I had nothing else to read at the time, I figured I could give it a shot.

Well, let me tell you… I read the first novel, Twilight, and was completely hooked. I quickly went through the rest of the series and have been obsessed by Bella and Edward ever since. I could hardly see a Volvo without wondering if Edward was driving. I constantly compared Hubs to Edward and wondered why I married him instead of waiting for my true-love-vampire (just kidding, Darling). The sexual tension in these books was just so… so… ugh… so tense.

I saw the movies and they were okay. Just like every movie, never as good as the book. But I’ll be in line when Breaking Dawn comes out in theaters. Although, I hope I can find one that is adults-only so I don’t have to listen to all the ‘tweens swooning loudly over a shirtless Jacob or mesmerizing Edward. At least us adults have the level of maturity to swoon silently in our heads… I mean, really, have you seen those guys? Hubba-hubba.

Oh, and I’m totally Team Edward. I actually wonder why there even IS a Team Jacob. Although, since I’m fully middle-aged, perhaps I should be Team Charlie, since being infatuated with a teenager (even if he’s an immortal vampire that’s older than my grandmother) is a little creepy.

So, maybe the moral to this lesson is that Lemmings don’t always get it wrong.

You need Kindling to Start a Fire

I’ve been laxed in posting on my blog again.  No apologies this time.  Just a simple “deal-with-it-I-have-a-suck-life-sometimes-and-nothing-to-share” comment… and we’ll move on.  Okay?

Anyhoo…

I love to read.  I’m probably not as avid as some people.  I won’t read just any old thing.  I have my favorite authors and I read everything they feel like putting on paper.  I had run through all of my regular authors and was ready to start someone new.

I was about to start the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series by getting it at Half-Priced Books.  However, a couple of my coworkers had a surprise for me!  They ordered me a Kindle reader (complete with frog-green case), which is probably one of the nicest things someone has done for me in a long time.  No reason for the gift, just because.  I felt so guilty because it seemed like I didn’t deserve it, but got over it because I was so excited! 

I quickly proceeded to download the book that I had intended to buy anyhow and have been LOVING my Kindle.  It’s definitely different than a regular book and takes a little getting used to.  But I have grown accustomed to it quickly and can’t imagine my life without it.  It sucks a little since I can’t share my books with my friends once I finish with them.  But heck, that only affects my friends, not me… so I’ll be fine.  :) 

I would just like to say thanks to my coworkers for such an awesome gift and for thinking of me.  With Hubs out of work, there was no way I would have been able to spend money on spoiling myself.  It makes it that much more appreciated when someone took their own time (and money) to be so generous. 

Oh… and by the way, the Dragon Tattoo book is fantastic.  I would let you read it when I’m done, but I won’t be able to share it since it’s on my way-cool Kindle!

A Perspective on Dying

I haven’t posted in a while, but I couldn’t let this one pass…

An Uncle passed away this past week. Being good Catholics, we went to the rosary and took Pumpkin and Cookie. They hadn’t been to a funeral since they were much smaller, so we talked a lot about how to behave just like they were in church. We emphasized the fact that Uncle had died and many people would be sad. They could not bounce around like monkeys and should act like proper young ladies.

They were very well-behaved during the evening service. Then Cookie asked me, “What did he die from?” This was such a mature question, I wasn’t sure how to respond. I looked at her trying to figure out to explain cancer to a 3-year-old. Apparently, my confused expression just made Cookie rephrase her question. She looked up and said, “Like was it dinosaurs… or a lion… or monsters… ?”

It was so hard to keep from laughing.

It’s Official

The current economy situation has finally hit us… right between the eyes! Hubs lost his job this week. He worked hard in Hell for about six years and then *wham*… goodbye.

Now, normally this would be a horrible thing. However, the job itself has become horrible, so this is really a blessing in disguise. Even though the circumstances could have been better, and it is definitely a little scary worrying about the money, and he doesn’t deserve it… all in all, I’m still happy he doesn’t have to work for that place anymore.

As I’ve stated before, I’m a firm believer in things changing. Bad times don’t stay bad forever (and neither do good times, for that matter). We don’t necessarily deserve these bad times, 0062ut I know beyond any doubt they won’t last forever. Soon enough he’ll have another job… a better job… and we’ll look back on these times and laugh.

So, Hubs, just know that I love you and that I’m proud of you despite all this crap.

But… since you are home, would you mind if I left you a honey-do list each morning?

Redemption Necessary?

Life is full of regret, right? Isn’t that what they say? Well, I now I know it’s true (as if I didn’t before).

This past Friday was our Summer Party at work. It was a pool party at my boss’ house. Most of my coworkers are twenty-somethings, single, no children, blah blah blah. They are having the time of their lives no matter what the circumstances. I, however, am full of responsibility and generally regarded as the “mom” around the office. I’m supposed to be the serious one, not the fancy free one.

All of that changed at that party. I have six words that will define the day… sweet tea vodka and cranberry juice. If you haven’t already tried the concoction, consider yourself warned. I discovered it that day and am now full of regret. The drink was wonderful, but the consequences not so much. I won’t go into all the gory details. Suffice to say I had too much.

So I’m sitting at my desk this morning wondering who will give me a hard time for my behavior last Friday, most of which I probably won’t recall. Do I laugh it off? Do I apologize? Do I ignore it? How could I have been so stupid? I am old enough to know better!

Oh, and to put the evening in true context… my husband and Weasel had to come pick me up from the party to get me home. Although that particular act was responsible, I wasn’t exactly the role model I would choose to be.

Or maybe I’m just a cool “mom” at the office… right?

Boog, R.N.

Boog is currently on the path to becoming a nurse. She is still doing her pre-req’s at school, so she’s not fully immersed in the nursing program. However, she recently started a job that is more closely related to nursing than being a hostess at a restaurant (her previous job). She has obtained a job at an assisted-living facility as a care assistant. Now she is doing some things that I could never do… and I’m in complete awe of my Boog.

Practically all Boog’s life, I was there to listen and give advice. I knew about her friends, boyfriends, school, etc. And, of course, being the overbearing mom I am, I always had an opinion or advice to share. Now, I can only sit back and listen to the stories about her new job. I have no advice to give because she is doing things I have never done – and probably could never do!

I cannot relate to having to bathe an elderly person. I haven’t bathed anyone over the age of about six. I cannot relate to changing the diapers of an adult. I’m truly not sure I would even be able to do it if I had to. And she is not only fully capable of doing these things and caring for these people, she actually seems to enjoy it.

I’m so, so proud of my Boog… and we are only in the early stages of her grown-up life – which makes this just that much more exciting. I think she is going to continue to do great at this job. I know if I were one of those residents, I would smile just a little bit more after seeing Boog.

And before you know it, she’ll be “Boog, R.N. “

Engine-uity – Update #2

Well… I hadn’t actually been giving updates to the engine swap in Weasel’s Miata. It was just too depressing. We ran into one problem after another. We were constantly problem-solving and undoing and redoing things. It has been quite a learning experience. But… THE CAR FINALLY STARTED! Weasel has a little fine tuning to do, but he should be good to go by this afternoon!

I won’t go into all the specifics as I’m sure you don’t really care. Suffice to say I now know all about: timing belts, cam gears, crank shaft sensors, ignition coils, drive shafts and much, much more. I even know how to use a torque wrench and a feeler gauge (which is not as sexy as it sounds).

The only thing that was disappointing when all was said and done was Weasel's reaction. He didn’t seem very excited. His excited face and his frustrated face and his sleeping face and his angry face and his happy face are all the identical. He is the most stoic person I know. I nearly cried when the car started, and all he could say was, “cool.” Where was the excitement and elation? Where was the giddiness that only comes with slaying that dragon? Wait a minute… I take that back. When confronted about it, Weasel said he would be excited when he was driving away from the house. I guess that’s good enough, even though I won’t have the pleasure of witnessing it.

I’m proud of you, Weasel, for sticking it out and getting it done!

And if I never have to clean black gunk from under my fingernails again, I’ll be just fine with that!

The Tax Man

Pumpkin lost her second tooth this weekend. Luckily, the Tooth Fairy stopped by and traded her tooth for a crisp one dollar bill. She was quite excited about her new found money. When Hubs asked what she planned to do with it, she quickly responded she was going to take it to IRS.

WHAT?!?!

Hubs and I were shocked by her answer. It took a couple of minutes before we were able to get her to clarify that she was taking her money to Toys R Us, not IRS. Big difference!

Now that makes more sense!