Gone fishing!

Okay.

Yeah, so I'm not actually gone fishing, but I am away.

Dad was feeling better, so with his blessing, I was able to chaperone my 13-yo's band trip as planned.

I'm not so sure if this is a good thing, or a bad thing.

I mean . . . 27 middle/high school kids?  Six hours on a bus to Cranberry, PA?  Another four hours to Sandusky, OH?

Yeah . . . a barrel of monkeys wouldn't have as much fun as I'm going to have!

Truthfully, the first leg of our journey wasn't bad.  We left the school before 4:00 PM.  We stopped for dinner at around 5:45 PM.

McDonald's . . . UGH!  YUCK!  In fact, my husband and I opted for the Subway next door to the McDonald's, because I just could not stomach even the thought of fast food.  I get motion sick, so I was doped up on Dramamine, and greasy fast food wouldn't have been a good idea for my belly. 

We were back on the road just after 6:15 PM, and we made another stop -- potty break -- at around 8:00 PM.  We got to our hotel in Cranberry, PA, at about 9:40 PM, and all the kids and chaperones were settled in their rooms by 10:30 PM. 

We're staying at a Hyatt, and it's really, really nice!  My husband took a shower while I sorted out our clothes for tomorrow, and dealt with some homework crisis that arose with my 12-yo back home.  Everything is all squared away now, and my husband is snoring away peacefully in his bed, and I'm about to head to mine.

Yep!  We're sleeping in two separate beds!

HA!

See, the room may be wonderful, but it's still a standard double-occupancy room, i.e. two full-size beds.  My husband -- all 6'2" of him -- does not fit comfortably on a full-size bed if I'm also in it.  So he's got one bed all to himself, and I've got the other.

No nookie, but at least we'll sleep comfortably.

I hope.

After all, we all need to be up, dressed, packed up, breakfasted, and on the bus by 7:30 AM tomorrow.

~sigh~

Anyhoo . . . I'm going to try to post while I'm away, but I won't get a chance to respond to any comments until we get home on Sunday night.  Actually, by then I'll probably be exhausted, so I may not respond until Monday. 

But it's not because I don't want to!  I love comments, and I love responding to comments! 

Really!

And I probably won't get a chance to catch up with any of my bloggee buddies out there, either. 

~sad face~

But everything should be back to normal next week. 

So don't go giving up on me, ya hear?!?

"TACO Tuesday" & Summertime!

"T" is for:
Temperature!

It's really fucking hot out there! Admittedly, the humidity is as much to blame as the temperature itself, but either way . . . ?

It's really fucking hot out there!

"A" is for:
Application . . . sunscreen application, that is.

I need to remember to apply said sunscreen to my darling monsters more than once a day, during an all-day pool-side day. My poor 6-yo and 7-yo are a tad burned on their shoulders. Not too much, but enough to cause them a little discomfort.

Bad mommy!

"C" is for:
Coffee.

I've been doing iced coffee these past couple days, and I'm loving it! I've also been using my nifty Magic Bullet to make coffee "shakes" . . . I throw my usual coffee (made a tad stronger than usual) & Silk (or creamer) into a cup with a bunch of ice . . . twist it onto the Magic Bullet blender, and voilà!

Yummy, cold coffee on yucky hot days!

"O" is for:
On the deck and patio . . .

Which is where we spent most of our weekend!

It was great. Truly. Yesterday, I took a nap on the patio after going swimming, and it was just so relaxing!

And last night, after the kiddos were all asleep in bed, my husband and I went skinny-dipping . . .

" . . . and we did things that frightened the fish!"

Well, there were no fish, of course, but . . . name that movie!

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Menu Plan Monday and Band Trip!

  Happy Memorial Day Monday!  

Well, I didn't make it to the Family Pignic (my dad wasn't feeling well, and I wouldn't leave him home alone), but my sweetie-pie husband brought me home some leftover pig . . . so I was happy!

Our cook-out on Sunday went well, too.  My dad was feeling a little better, and he even came outside to sit on the deck for a little while!  And I didn't have to work my ass off getting everything ready, because I'd done it all on Saturday when the house was nice and quiet!

And today was so, so, so relaxing!  We had leftovers from Sunday, played in the pool, sat and napped (or, at least my husband and I did!) on the patio, and then, after the monsters were in bed, my husband and I went night swimming!

So yes . . . my Meal Plan is a little late in being posted . . . but that's okay.

  This Week's Menu

• Monday:  Leftovers from Sunday's cook-out!
• Tuesday:  Grilled Cheese & Tomato Sandwiches with Fruit Salad and Raw Veggies
• Wednesday:  Sweet & Savory Pork Chops (on the grill), Potatoes & Onions (on the grill), and Green Beans
• Thursday:  No meals for us, for the next 4 days!  My husband and I are chaperoning my 
• Friday:      13-yo's marching band trip, and the 12-yo, 7-yo, and 6-yo will all be staying 
• Saturday:  with my ex (the 12-yo & 13-yo's dad ---- he's wonderful!).  Hopefully, I can get 
• Sunday:     my brother to agree to check in on our Dad & make sure he's eating . . . if not,
                     I'm sure one of my dad's sisters will do it.  Of course, if he's not feeling well,
                    then I'm not going . . . and I'll send my ex along with my husband! 

***** Check out the Organizing Junkie for an ometric butt-ton of fabulous menu ideas! *****

Sunday Stealing: The Imaginary Meme, Part Two

Happy It's-Gonna-Be-Another-Busy Sunday!
Hence -- once again -- I'm writing this on Saturday!

Sunday Stealing:  The Imaginary Meme, Part Two

21. Have you felt that life is like being on a roller coaster?
Sure.  Also, the Merry-Go-Round, the Gravitron, the Bumper Cars, and the Funhouse . . . to name a few.

22. Favorite year so far?
This one, I'd say.  Each year keeps getting better and better, truth be told.  Despite appearances.

23. Do you consider yourself religious?
No.  I don't believe in organized religion.  I wear my Russian Orthodox cross as a symbol of my faith, but organized religion -- in my opinion -- has become what Valentine's Day is to Hallmark:  Commercialized.  It's almost like how much money you have -- and how much of it you give to your church -- has become more important than faith.  It seems like image has become more important than most everything else.  

But that's just my opinion.  And what the fuck do I know, anyway? 

24. How do you dress to impress?
HA!  Abso-fucking-lutely . . . that is, I dress to impress the blind . . . bag ladies . . . those crazy kids who wear their pants hanging down past their asses, showing off their nasty ol' undies . . . 

25. Have you ever been to Connecticut?
Yep.

26. Do you eat sushi?
Nope.

27. Would you smoke pot providing there was no risk or driving involved?
You had me at, "Would you smoke pot," and the answer is, "Does a bear shit in the woods?"

28. What do you think of Idol Winner Phillip Phillips??
Who?  What?  That's not a real name, is it?  Seriously?  His parents were rat bastards.

29. Do you believe that animals have souls?
I believe that there are some animals who have souls . . . and some people who don't.

30. Who did you last talk to?  Share, if you dare.
Hmm . . . do I dare?  Do I dare to share?  

Fuck, people.  I'm married.  I have 4 kids.  I spent the day preparing for a cook-out for tomorrow, in between taking care of my dad, who has been having a really, really shitty day.  I have absolutely no life outside of my family.

Who did I last talk to?  I'll give you a hint . . . chances are, whoever it was most likely wasn't paying the least bit of attention to me. 

31. What is one thing that always annoys you?
Lately?  The sheer stupidity that spews forth from my brother's mouth . . . or, rather, thumbs, seeing as how he doesn't talk to me --- he texts me.  

32. Do you believe in a higher being?
Yes.

33. Have you ever fallen in love with a neighbor?
Nope.

34. Any plans for this weekend?
Our first deck/pool/cook-out party.  I hope I'm awake to enjoy it.

35. Would you like to rule your country, if you could?
President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet.

36. Do you like watching films about the nature of animals?
Nope.  But I do like watching my 7-yo watch Animal Planet and NatGeo.  He and his daddy just love all those shark shows, and orca whale shows, etc.  The 7-yo gets all excited and his daddy usually ends up snoring.  Not because he's not interested . . . but because if you get my husband in a comfy position for too long, he passes out cold.

I love that man of mine!

(Name that movie!)

37. What's the difference between lust and/or lust?
Umm . . . is this a trick question?

38. Do you have a soul?
Well, that depends on who you ask.  I say yes.  Other people . . . ?  Yeah . . .

39. One best friend or many good friends?
One best friend, and I married him!

40. Do you believe in spontaneous combustion?
Sure!  Why the fuck not?

***Check it out for yourself, here, and read all about it . . . and then play along!***

Saturday 9: Self Esteem

Saturday 9:  Self Esteem

1. How was your self esteem growing up?
As a little kid, I think it was okay.  I had shitty self esteem in the beginning of junior high, but toward the end, and then in high school, it was back to being okay . . . for the most part.  I had a rough time my junior and senior years in high school.  My parents were separated, my dad was seeing a skank, my favorite aunt (my mom's sister) had just become my band director & music teacher and our relationship had completely changed (i.e.: went to shit), my grandma (my mom's mom) started having more health issues and her arthritis was getting worse, my aunt (again, my mom's sister) and my mom were fighting and their mom (my grandma) was stuck in the middle, and most of my dad's family suddenly started acting like my mom, my brother, and I didn't exist.  So yeah . . . my self esteem sorta went to hell then.  I was depressed, I was self destructive, and generally fucked up.  I got better after I found out I was pregnant with my 13-yo, but that wasn't until I was 20 . . . 2-3 years later.  : (

2. Do you ever have a hard time with morals?
Depends . . . whose morals are we talking about?

3. Do you eat in bed?  If yes, what?
Oh, wow.  Is that a loaded question, or what?!?  LOL!  I'll be good, though.  Yes, I eat in bed.  Usually, I eat fruit.  The husband and I have been on a fruit kick lately, and we get cravings before bed.  (Oh, the dirty, dirty thoughts that are bouncing around in my head right now are many and varied.)

4. What was the last movie you hated and why?
The first one that comes to mind is Law Abiding Citizen, with Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx, because in my opinion, the good guy dies at the end and the bad guys don't.

5. Have you ever felt that you lost it all?  If yes, explain.
Yes.  See #1, please, for the explanation.

6. Have you ever been stalked?
Haha!!  Funny that this question should pop up!  Have I ever been stalked, you ask?  Why, yes!  Yes, I have.  In fact, I currently have a stalker!  Their name is Mr./Mrs. Anonymous, and while he/she hasn't left me any nasty comments in a few days, he/she is still stalking me here in the blogiverse, reporting to my brother nearly every move I make!  To tell the truth, it makes me giggle.  

7. Do you believe in 'self help' for problems, or do you prefer therapy?
Do you mean 'self help' as in, like, books and shit?  Because in that case, emphatically NO!  Therapy never really helped me, either . . . but then again, I think I just had shitty therapists.  It was a long time ago, so I could be wrong.  It could've been me.  

8. What celebrity do you think should make a run for office?
I'd vote for President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet in a heartbeat!

9. Do you believe in happy endings?  (We do.  That why this is the last question!)
Hehe!!  Another loaded question!  Okay . . . okay . . . sorry.  I'll behave.  ; )  Of course I believe in happy endings!  I believe in "And they all lived happily ever after," too.

Friday Fill-Ins & a Holiday Weekend!

Happy Half-Day Friday!

The kids all have a half-day at school today, which means I'll be able to put them all to work as soon as they get home!

Yay!

I'm not even bothering to send the baby to school.  She's in PM kindergarten . . . she has a half-day every day!  A quarter-day just isn't worth the fuss, in my opinion.

My dad's not feeling well.  He started feeling poorly yesterday, and last night I barely slept a wink because I was so focused on keeping an ear open and trained on the baby monitor, just in case he needed me and called for me.  But he didn't end up calling for me until this morning, which is good.  That means he got at least some sleep.

I'm debating with myself on whether or not I should call his doctor again.  Daddy hates spending time in the hospital, and if the only thing they're going to do for him is give him medication & fluids, well then we can do that here at home.  I'm also debating on whether or not to suggest some TPN intravenously . . . or maybe even a feeding tube.  He's just not feeling up to eating, which means that he's not getting the calories and nutrition he needs.  He's not even up for a Boost, an Ensure, or even a Carnation Instant Breakfast!  But I have a feeling that he's going to veto an IV . . . and flat-out say, "Hell, NO!" to a feeding tube.  Not that I blame him, but we need to do something! 

Anyhoo . . . here's this week's Friday Fill-Ins.

Enjoy!

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1. These three words describe my husband: tall, strong, handy!
2. Having a husband, who works so hard for his family, is a delight!
3. Oh, how I adore that husband of mine!  He's almost done building our dream deck -- which he pretty much designed and figured out all on his own -- and he constructed a fabulous patio, retaining wall, and fire pit -- which is going to be awesome this summer! -- and he got us a pool -- so we can vacation right in the comfort of our own backyard.  I love my husband so, so much!
4. One can completely make a random stranger's day, if one takes time to be friendly.
5. Inevitably, when I make good, solid plans to accomplish a task, those plans are thwarted . . . usually by this rat bastard named Murphy.  Have you ever heard of him?
6. Rob Schneider is someone who never ceased to encourage me.  ("You can do it!")
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hopefully getting the deck & patio furniture squared away, tomorrow my plans include hopefully attending the Family Pignic up at my in-laws' home (providing that my father is feeling well enough to be left alone . . . but I'm doubtful -- he's been coughing & running a temperature since yesterday, he's short of breath just sitting in bed, he's constipated, and he has absolutely NO appetite . . . his doctor called in yet another antibiotic for him yesterday when I called about the coughing and temperature . . . you know, I'm starting to think that I may just be staying home tomorrow, which SUCKS because I'm dying to see my niece and my brother-in-law . . . and the rest of the family, too, of course!), and Sunday, I want to enjoy our cook-out on the new deck, and hopefully enjoy some swimming if it's hot enough!

Go to Friday Fill-Ins and play along! I'd love to read your answers!

Thursday Thirteen . . . Guest Post by My 13-YO!

Today's post is brought to you by my lovely 13-yo! I couldn't come up with something, so I asked for her help. She came up with a shit-load of ideas, so I asked her to write today's Thursday 13!

Enjoy!

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Hi, I'm the 13-year-old! I'm a huge Gleek, so I'm doing this post on my thirteen favorite episodes of "Glee".

13 Favorite Episodes of "Glee"

1. "Michael" - A Michael Jackson tribute episode. I liked this episode because Michael Jackson is awesome. 
2. "Big Brother" - Four words: Darren Criss shower scene. 
3. "Original Song" - The Warblers. And of course, Kurt and Blaine. 
4. "Furt" - Kurt transfers to Dalton Academy and Burt and Carole get married. 
5. "Never Been Kissed" - Darren Criss' first episode. 
6. "Dream On" - The very first episode I ever watched. 
7. "Preggers" - Chris Colfer in a unitard. Enough said.
8. "Pilot" - The very first episode ever. 
9. "Funk" - Puck and Finn duet. 
10. "Journey" - They sing Journey. 
11. "Nationals" - They sung Meatloaf, and they didn't ruin it.
12. "Goodbye" - The Seniors of the glee club graduate.
13. "Choke" - Rachel fails her NYADA audition. Hilarious. 

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Thanks to my baby girl for bailing me out tonight!  I love that child o' mine. 

(She just told me I should've said, "I love that sweet child o' mine."  How cool is it that my girl knows good music well enough to make GNR references?

Pretty dang cool . . . in the words of my first-born baby herself.)

Go to Thursday Thirteen and play along!

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It's my 200th post! (You may want to skip it.)

In celebration of my 200th blog post, I'm sharing with you all the following transcript of a text-message "conversation" that took place on Monday.  I think it's apropos, since the very reason I started this blog was because I needed to vent my anger, frustration, disbelief, hurt, confusion, etc. -- and the following is just yet another glimpse into Bizarro Land . . . a.k.a. my relationship with my dear little brother.

Now, a little warning before we proceed, okay?

THE FOLLOWING POST IS CONSIDERABLY LONG, AND IS ALL ABOUT DRAMA OF THE FAMILY VARIETY.  IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN READING ABOUT MY SHIT, THEN SKIP THIS POST AND COME BACK IN A LITTLE WHILE WHEN I POST MY Thursday 13, WHICH WILL BE A CONSIDERABLY SHORTER POST.  IF YOU DO CHOOSE TO READ MY SHIT, I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY BULLSHIT COMMENTS ABOUT MY CHOICE TO WRITE ABOUT SAID SHIT. 
(That means you, Mr./Mrs. Anonymous!!)
ANY DUMB-ASS COMMENTS FROM "ANONYMOUS" WILL BE POSTED ON A SEPARATE PAGE, WHICH I WILL MONETIZE THE SHIT OUT OF IN ORDER TO MAKE SOME POCKET CHANGE.  YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!  

OPINIONS ARE WELCOME IN AN ADULT, CONSIDERATE, AND POLITE MANNER.  

ALL QUESTIONS MUST BE IN WRITING.  

PLEASE REMEMBER TO FILL OUT THE CORRECT FORMS IN TRIPLICATE, AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE UTILIZING A No. 2 PENCIL, OR BLUE/BLACK INK ONLY.  

THANK YOU, AND DON'T FORGET TO TIP YOUR BARTENDERS.

Enjoy!

I Want . . . Deck Pictures Wednesday!

My 7-yo . . . trying to look innocent.  But he's up to something.

Told you!  He's a monkey!

Here he is again . . . climbing all over the joists and giving Mommy a coronary.

Look at that silly grin, though . . . how can I stay mad?

My set-up as we were screwing in the decking . . . I kept getting yelled at for taking off my sandals!

I was rocking the electric screwdriver!

There's my 13-yo in the back, my 12-yo -- or, at least, his skinny-ass arms -- in the front, and their dad (my ex) in the middle.  Yes . . . of course we put him to work!

My beautiful 13-yo, rocking the cordless electric screwdriver!

The steps from the deck to the patio . . . they're very, very nearly finished.  My husband was cutting the boards for me, and I was screwing them in place.  We had to quit on account of the 7-yo & 12-yo's baseball games.

Thanks to the good folk over at Wordless Wednesday for having me.

Are you Wordless today?