Burning the Candle at Both Ends

This cracks me up!!!

I guess eventually I'll grow up and these things won't make me laugh so much. But in the meantime see if you think this is funny.

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Small Successes

These are three recent small successes:

1) I've think I've finally developed the habit of getting some regular exercise. I've been walking our dog two miles a day about five times a week for the past two months. It is the longest I've ever had regular exercise. I really hate exercise, but that dog just loves his walk and gets really feisty when he misses it!

2) I have maintained my clean bedroom for a whole week! This is always the last room I address, but I can see that it does no good to expect neatness from the family if I don't practice it myself.

3) I planted blueberries and raspberries this past weekend... after years of saying I wanted to, I finally did it!

Read about other small successes  at Faith and Family Live .

A Touch of Class

How I wish this had turned out differently for the graduates of Notre Dame. How I wish our president would have  shown one tenth the class that Mary Ann Glendon has shown in politely declining to accept an honor from a Catholic University  so eager to turn  graduation day into a political debate. I am so disappointed at the scandal and division this has caused in our Church... all while Mr. Obama  sits back and enjoys the circus! 

Read the letter Mary Ann Glendon wrote to Fr. Jenkins here.   

Rainy Day Craft

Crafty Crow asks  What can you make from an egg carton?  While babysitting some of the Bonny Blue House children we decided to give these bugs a try.

First you MAKE the bugs ... 

... then BE the bugs! 

 

A song that rings true: Watch this and laugh!

This past Saturday night Dan and I and a couple of our dear friends went into Manhattan to attend a taping of the radio show "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor. Dan and I are getting to be something of a couple of Garrison Keillor groupies. We just really enjoy the show, so we keep going back. His Christmas tapings are always really special. And one of the best things about it is the unexpected guests he has. You never know until you read the poster in the lobby who will be joining the cast for that evening's taping. This particular show had Elvis Costello (cool) and Tom Rush (also cool). Tom Rush sang the song in this video, among several others, and it still has me cracking up. It has over 3.75 million hits on YouTube! If you are over a "certain age" listen, and you'll see why! Enjoy!

Say that ten times fast

Several years ago, Thomas, then about five or six years old, came up to me with a concerned look on his face.  "Mom," he began "who are the Friars of Hell?"

""What?" I asked, confused.

"The Friars of Hell from the prayer we say..."

Still puzzled, I asked which prayer we say that has those guys in it. I could think of none.

"You know,  the one in the rosary...

'O my Jesus forgive us our sins save us from the friars of hell'

After I stopped laughing, we learned the correct words are "save us from the fires of hell".

I thought that was the end of it. Fast forward a few years and join us in our nightly  prayers this evening.  After we say the Lord's Prayer and Hail Mary, each child shares their petitions. 

Hannah's first petition for the night, you ask?

" I would like to pray for all the friars in hell"!

At least we are consistent in our speech impediments!

Honk If You're a Right-Wing Extremist!

After reading the homeland security document  on the rise of right-wing extremism, it has been brought to my attention that since I am a pro-life citizen, unhappy with most of Obama’s policies, who believes our borders should be protected from those who wish to enter our country illegally … I may, in fact be one (right--wing extremist, that is!).    I felt after reading this, I needed to DO something.  Well, as luck would have it, there was a tea party happening not even ten minutes from my house… and as further luck would have it, some time which I thought was taken up unexpectedly freed up at the exact time of said tea party.  I convinced my daughter to join me on a mission to check this out. Initially I planned to just drive by.  But when I saw the protesters out there, I had an overwhelming urge to honk my horn, and roll down the windows with cheers of support.  The next thing we knew, Becky and I were in the thick of it!  It was great seeing so many people (my unofficial estimate would be about 400) on liberal Long Island standing together for this cause.  I snapped a few shots, but I couldn’t get the scope of the size of the party unless I had a wider angle lens, which I didn’t. 

This is a shot of Becky and me when we first got there. Notice how friendly law enforcement looks, they truly were!

 

This guy is mad as heck and he’s not gonna take it any more!

We ran into my nephew, Tom who is a small business owner and he really is mad as heck! He is already getting  killed with taxes and it is only just beginning!

 

I had to chase down the owner of this pooch and ask for permission to take his picture. I love the teabags!

 Well, I don’t know how much “change” this will bring. But the energy I felt tells me this is only just starting.   I haven’t had time to watch the news today, but I’m pretty sure there won’t be much coverage… correct me if I’m wrong. I didn’t see any local news reporters or media at this party at all.  There was tons of support from the passersby… especially the big guys driving the big  rigs… and trust me, you don’t want to get them mad!

Simple Woman

 

(Read the other daybook entries at The Simple Woman )

FOR TODAY April 13, 2009, 2009

 Outside My Window...  A pretty day… a bit chilly for this time of year.

I am thinking... I need to get on track in a few areas… mostly eating habits and home organization.

I am thankful for...  a wonderful Easter weekend spent with my brother and his family in Pennsylvania..

From the kitchen… chicken and broccoli alfredo for dinner tonight. .

I am wearing... jeans, brown zipper sweatshirt and butterfly t-shirt.  And I am wearing shoes which is an oddity for me, unless I am going out. As a matter of fact, the dog assumes if I am putting something on my feet it is to take him for a walk!

I am creating...   a plan for getting some medical testing done.

I am going…   to try and get my third quarter report done this week.. .I should have time since I am calling this week “spring break” and will try to keep schoolwork to a minimum.

I am reading… almost done with the dog- training books I was studying… want to finish Liberty and Tyranny this week.

I am hoping…for some decent weather this week since  have the kids don’t have school... maybe we can get outside a bit.

 I am hearing… the Beatles on my internet radio. 

Around the house...I have cleaned two junk drawers so far today and I’ve organized a dish closet.

One of my favorite things...  is enjoying my children spending time with their cousins.  Although they don’t get together nearly enough, they get along great and always have fun! 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:  Little Flowers, track practice, track meets, Defenders of the Faith, a show in the city with friends on Saturday night, spending time with the kids!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...   She turned fourteen on Easter Sunday.  I clearly remember bringing her to Easter morning mass  when she was all of three days old!  Where does the time go?  Happy Birthday Becky!

 

I Need To Slow Down

No, I am not one of those frantic Moms, driving hither and thither to one activity after the next.

Yes, my kids do participate in outside activities... enough to keep me in the car for a fair amount of time each week.

As my children have grown, my own load has gotten easier. With two (soon 3!) of them driving, they don't need as many rides and I can designate someone else to do some of the dropping off and picking up that comes with the territory of a large family.

Leave it to my five year old, in all her wisdom, to open my eyes to the fact that I still don't take time to stop and smell the roses as much as I should... as much as I am able to with older children who don't need me around to meet their every need as in the old days.

You see, when driving home from points east of my house, I have two options of where to turn left into our neighborhood.  One is slightly faster because there is no traffic light at that corner and I can make the turn pretty quickly. The other way, which runs alongside a canal with dockage, has a traffic light which is ALWAYS red when I get there. Also, the route with the traffic light takes me exactly ONE HOUSE west of my own house. So you can see the enormous amount of time I save by turning left at the first corner.

Recently, Hannah has been piping in from the back seat every time we approach home. "Mommy, turn by the boats! Turn by the boats!" 

'No, Hannah," is my answer. Always. "It is faster to turn here. I don't want to sit at that red light. Stop being a backseat driver!"

She wouldn't give up. Finally in exasperation, one day I asked her. "Hannah, why do you want to sit at that red light, just to turn down that street? It doesn't make sense."

"I like to see the boats, Mommy" was her reply.

"What's the big deal about boats, Hannah?  We live half a block from the water, we can see boats any time."

"When I see the boats, it makes me feel like summer, that's why!"

Oh, that summer feeling. I remember it well.  It is the carefree bliss, that comes with being a child who hasn't a worry in the world.  This little exchange between Hannah and me reminded me of once knowing that  "summer feeling". Could driving past boats on the canal actually give me that feeling?

Well, let's just say that with or without Hannah in the backseat, Ifind myself waiting at that red light more often than ever. Adding a few seconds to my ride home actually does give me an opportunity to peek at the boats, wonder about where they've gone, where they are going. Perhaps see some mallards crossing the road to the water.  It is like slowing down to smell the roses.

Where are the roses in your life that you are passing by?  It could be boats on the water, it could be actual roses blooming just ouside your own front door; maybe it is the spilled juice cup that you are wiping up for the umpteenth time.. a sign of your toddler's newfound independence.  Many times the moments that can cause us aggrevation, when turned on their head, can be moments to savor...  like the summer feeling of boats on the water.

Simple Woman

 

(Read the other daybook entries at The Simple Woman )

FOR TODAY April 6, 2009

 Outside My Window...  Dark, dreary,  drenching rain

I am thinking... I may run out and pick up some Easter candy this afternoon

I am thankful for...  safe travel for Katie going out ot visit her future in-laws.

From the kitchen…  homemade pizza for dinner.

I am wearing... new favorite jeans and Henley t-shirt

I am creating...   Easter surprises for a big Easter egg hunt this weekend.

I am going…   to be spending  Easter weekend with family in Pennsylvania. It always makes me happy to see my brother’s boys and my own children having fun together.

I am reading… I am reading a few  different books, depending on my mood, but at the moment Mark Levin’s Liberty and Tyranny is at the top of my list.

I am hoping…for some good weather this week so I can do some planting.  Having grown up with the world’s best blueberry bush in my yard, I want my own children to have the same pleasure of growing, picking and cooking with freshly picked berries.. I am going to try raspberries, as well!

I am hearing… it’s pretty quiet here for late afternoon. Becky is playing with Thomas and Hannah nicely in the living room.

Around the house...the ants are marching two by two and we are doing our best to minimize the problem!  Ever since construction on our house three years ago, the problem has only gotten worse!!!.

One of my favorite things...  is lilacs! I see my lilac bushes waking up and I can’t wait to smell their beautiful aroma when I cut bunches of them for the house!

A Few Plans for The Rest Of The Week:  It is Holy Week and I am going to try and make it a truly “holy”week. The children’s activities are, for the most part, on a break and Dan may have off from work Thursday and Friday. The years that he has those days off it is easier to get to all the services of the Triduum, which really helps me enter into the mystery of Easter.

Here is picture thought I am sharing ...    this poor little robin crashed into our front bay window this afternoon. The thud shattered the relative silence in the house. As I got up to investigate, I actually saw the outline of his wings and head, in water, on the window!  We gingerly went out to investigate and he seemed OK, believe it or not; just stunned. He remained stunned long enough for me to get my camera and get this close-up shot. I am happy to report that tough little guy recovered and flew on his merry way!