great shots

Daisies, Sage blossom, and Allium.

Everything is so beautiful this time of the year.

Just wait until August when the photos are all of plants that are thirsty and withered...fun!

equal time

Because we are all about being fair in our house, here is a photo of me and Molly

at The Garden of the Gods in Colorado last weekend.

(Plus also, this is a much better photo of me!)

birthday

Mom and the newest 9-year-old in our family!

Happy Birthday, Carson! I can't believe you will be in 4th grade next year!

(Please DON'T notice how large I look in this particular photo!)

quote

We are off to Colorado for the long holiday weekend (and to celebrate Carson's birthday, ON Memorial Day this year), but I wanted to leave you with this quote from The Reader by Bernhard Schlink:

What is law? Is it what is on the books, or what is actually enacted and obeyed in society? Or is law what must be enacted and obeyed, whether or not it is on the books, if things are to go right?

hmmm, deep thoughts for the long weekend!

nursing

I have always thought I should have gone to nursing school. It was one of those nagging thoughts I had while at school at KU, getting my business degree. I knew I needed to get that business degree, but I couldn't quite figure out where the nursing thing fit in.

After I graduated from KU, I was working for a company that paid heath insurance claims (see, at some level I knew that I needed to be in the health field). All of our clients were self-insured businesses. It was an interesting and exciting job. It was my first job out of college. I was making a name for myself and proving myself. While I was working there I went "back" to school to get my Master's degree; this time in Public Administration with my emphasis in Health Care Administration. Again, it was there, in this brain, somewhere...health.

After I graduated, I went to work for an insurance broker as the operations manager for the part of their business that sold health insurance. While the job itself sucked, as well as the people I worked with, I learned very quickly that I really didn't like being on that particular side of the product. Sometimes all it takes is 2 weeks at a job to know for sure you don't want to be there.

When Todd and I moved to Topeka and got married, I took a job as the administrator of a Family Practice Residency Clinic. I needed to have a job in the same town I lived in (I was commuting to KC before that), and I loved the idea of running a clinic. What better way to marry the things I was educated in? I was in charge of all of the "business side" of the clinic. This included all of the office folks, front desk people, schedulers, etc. I took care of the A/P, payroll, computer systems and those who filed the claims. To put it plainly, I LOVED my job. However, there was still something nagging me.

All of those nurses and doctors (and the doctors-in-training) thought that I didn't know anything about running a clinic if I didn't have any "scientific" educational training. Every suggestion I made was construed as "reducing patient care"," or"eliminating patient contact." Needless to say, I was a patient too. I TOTALLY understood those things. It was my job to try to reconcile the two so that we were performing the right services on the right people as efficiently as possible. Now I could see EXACTLY why I needed to go to nursing school. If I had gotten any sort of nursing degree (regardless if I had practiced nursing or not) I would have been highly respected and my suggestions and policies would have been much more widely accepted. Ugh. 30 years old, first child on the way, and I finally knew why I had this nagging feeling about nursing school.

I applied and was the second choice (first loser) for the Department Head for the Mental Health Department at the only hospital here in Salina. Oh well. It turned out that I wasn't disappointed, mostly because of all of the politics involved and other things about the hospital here. Plus also, I wouldn't have the awesome job I have now, and would never have gotten to know my bosses.

Don't ask me why I felt the need to tell you all of this, my fingers just started typing it when I was originally going to tell you about how much of a nurse I had to be the other night for my family. That will have to come in another post.

>>image from nurseynicole's flickr photostream

nature's way

Isn't it cool that nature puts little hearts everywhere? We just have to look for them! This is a radish leaf in my garden. It was taken last week, so it is probably twice as big now!

runner's high

It happened again tonight...that rare event known to some as runner's high. I knew it was going to be a good run within the first few steps, but wow, it turned out to be great! The giant 1/3 mile hill early in my route didn't slow me a bit. I had to slow myself down on the downhills. My breathing was regular, not labored, and my legs were strong. I could have gone forever, but alas, it was a 3-mile night and I didn't get started until 9pm.

When I started to slow a bit, I remembered my technique (I follow Chi Running techniques) and drew my shoulders back and hips forward, and right back to speed I went. My core muscles carried my weight and and absorbed the pounding, and the music was just right tonight.

Since I haven't started formal training for THE triathlon, I have been running some and resting some and biking a little. Last week I did a 10-mile ride at the club and then got on the treadmill. My legs felt like jelly, but I ran 1/2 mile after the ride. I have to work up to 10 miles on the bike then a 2.6 mile run. Then there is the swimming...oh the swimming!

Soon you will see a new tracker on the side of the blog, when I start the official training for September's triathlon.

>>high runners, rather than runner's high, from Martinjones Flickr photostream.

ps

:: if you are in the club room talking really loudly on your bluetooth headset thingy about the $155 million sale of your business you are really annoying.

:: do you chuckle a little when you go into the airport bathroom and hear someone sit down on the toilet has a huge expulsion of gas? I know it's childish, but I do.

:: if you finish your book in the club room (and have packed your kindle in your luggage) and have to go the the airport bookstore, don't count on being able to get the book for the hermit book club.

:: cheese and crackers and beer for dinner in the club room kinda sucks

:: every chair in this whole place is occupied at this time, there are people wandering around looking for seats.

:: someone who HAS to be famous just came in all dressed in black and with long black hair and dark glasses. He is being followed by some type of bodyguard person who is rolling his luggage behind him. The famous person is old.

at the airport

photo from petervanallen's flickr photostream

this week of travel has done me in:

• left town at 4:30 am on Wednesday to catch the 7am flight...ick. The reason we did this was so we could leave early this morning and get home around 1pm and have the afternoon to ourselves.


• We usually fly thru Atlanta to Jacksonville, FL. When I travel with my boss, he likes to go thru Memphis since there often are delays if we go thru Atlanta. Today we went thru Memphis


• On our flight this morning (which left Jacksonville at 6:30am) there was a medical emergency. A guy lost consciousness, and had to be given oxygen. We had to make an emergency landing in Montgomery, AL. 643 firemen got on the airplane to check out this dude who was back to normal by the time we landed. We were initially told that we would have to all de-plane and make other travel arrangements as they couldn't fly without the full oxygen bottle. As I was on the cell phone with the booking agent (while we were still on board the plane on the tarmac), she tells me that we are indeed going to take off again and fly on to Memphis. Hooray!


• We land in Memphis with 35 minutes to spare before our next flight leaves (our original layover was 2 hours), and are told that there is a traffic jam and we have to drive around the airport until we can get to our gate. 30 minutes later we park at the gate.


• We get off our plane and find out that the plane that just left our gate was the one we were SUPPOSED TO BE ON! We missed the connection!


• We stand in line and rebook. The next flight to Wichita is at 2:55, and it is full, but we are on standby. We are booked on the 7:55pm flight to Wichita.


• We go into the Delta Crown Room for Bloody Marys and bagels for breakfast (plus also a small nap).


• We go to the gate to see about the stand-by situation. It doesn't look hopeful. They tell us that the flight is now delayed due to mechanical problems.


• They then tell us that the gate has changed to another terminal. We walk all the way to the other gate, fully prepared to NOT get on the flight.


• It is indeed full, and we have to wait.


• We eat BBQ in the airport with out $10 vouchers from NWA.


• We return to the Delta Crown room for another 4 hours. We have moved on to cookies and dirty martinis (for my boss) and wine for me.


• We should arrive in our town by 11:30PM tonight. Sheesh!

ps, there is a girl here behind me who thinks she should be French. She is dressed all in black with a beret on her head. The guy she is with is in his scrubs. He is traveling in his scrubs. He is so showing off that he is a doctor or something Like there isn't time to change your clothes? You are in the Club Room and all...

poppy

Blooming poppy, right outside my front door this morning

I might be getting better with my camera

20-18

My 20-18 birthday was on Saturday. What a fabulous day it was! My mom, my mother-in-law and my work-mom all went to Wichita to shop for garden plants. We do this every year together, and this year was no let down! We had a blast, and as you can see, we filled the van with plants and pots galore!

When I got home, the kids were excited to show me my birthday present from them!

Here is the view from my present, can you guess what they got me?

meme

My new friend CC over at sunshine lovin' tagged me a while back, and no, I have not been ignoring it, but a little thing called life just got in the way for a bit! Here's the rules:

1. Mention the person who tagged you...here she is: go visit her and cheer on her running like you did for me!

2. List 6 unimportant things that make you happy...coming right up!

3. Tag 6 blogs & notify them with a teeny comment on their blog....I tag all of you! Play along and have fun!

6 "unimportant" things that make me quite happy:

A cold Diet Coke from McDonald's

image from john-pittsburgh's flickr photostream

my dog, Emmy, sleeping

Matthew McConaughey

image from here

Runner's World Magazine in my mailbox

image from haronovich's flickr photostream

Blooming Alliums

Photo from Ian1947's Flickr Photostream

Target

spring is when I get jealous

Image from nhatran152's flickr photostream

It is 71 degrees and sunny outside right now. I just came back from a meeting and a quick stop at Taco John's for a taco bravo and potato oles (I love me some oles). I do not want to be at the office. I do not want to be at my desk. I do not want to be looking at my computer screen.

Days like today make me wish for 2 things:

• First, that I never went outside in the first place (that way I didn't know how nice of a day I missed).
• Second that I didn't have to work. I suppose I don't HAVE to work in the sense of money (or maybe I do, we have just never considered it), but I do HAVE to work for sake of my own sanity. I made a terrible stay at home mom. I was "between opportunities" for about 6 months after Carson was born, and I stayed at home with him. It sucked. Me with no adult conversation makes for a really bad wife, mother and all around person.

Days like today make me jealous of "lunching ladies." They make me jealous of those moms who are able to run their kiddos around to all of their various activities all day long. Days like today make me jealous of folks who are out working in their gardens and enjoying iced tea from a sweating glass during a break (it's really humid here in Kansas). Give me 2 weeks, and I won't be jealous any longer. It will be 600 degrees and no one will want to step foot outside, much less eat anything...other that watermelon while standing in front of the fridge with the door open.

That's all for today, thanks for reading!

where we cook entire meals on our new grill

Beet photo from Darwin Bell's Flickr photostream

On Friday, we got a new grill. Not just any new grill, mind you, but a Traeger. If you don't know about Traegers, go here to read up. I had some other ideas for where to spend that $600, but I was over-ruled. Actually, I wasn't even asked, but that's a whole other post. And after you read what's coming next, you wouldn't argue either.

In order to inaugurate said new grill, we had a few people over on Friday evening for meat. We cooked/smoked a beef brisket. OMG was it good. I mean really good. After we served the meat course, I remembered I had some fresh asparagus left in the fridge from last week's event, so I doused it in evoo (I hate Rachel Ray, for the record, but didn't want to type out the whole 4 words) and salt and pepper, and we roasted that on the new grill. We stood around the bar and ate it with our fingers after it came off the grill...it was that good. Finally, after the vegetable course, we had dessert. How, you might ask, did we do dessert on the grill? Well, I had stuff for strawberry shortcake (real whipping cream and all) and wanted to make the Bisquick shortbread. I got it all mixed up and ready to put in the oven to bake, but when I opened the oven, smoke came pouring out. Yes, I admit, my oven was so dirty that smoke was actually pouring out of it. So, we baked that shortcake on the 'ole grill too. Damn, it was good. Guests who insisted on not having dessert were begging for some after they saw everyone else. Too bad, I didn't take any photos for you.

I know you might not even believe this, but last night we again cooked our entire meal on the Traeger. We started out with beer can chicken...it came out so golden brown and moist. I stood at the counter peeling hunks of the skin off and eating it before it even came off the beer can. I also had some leftover fresh beets from last week's event to use up. I remembered hearing about some recipe for butter and garlic roasted beets, so I made up something similar. I sliced up the beets (I didn't even know I was supposed to peel them first) salted and peppered them, and added evoo. I also sliced up several cloves of garlic (the more, the merrier, right?) and threw them in there. Todd roasted them on the Traeger, and my god were they delicious. To make things even better, I whipped up a loaf of fresh bread from this book and we cooked it on the grill too. Really...what is better than roasted chicken, beets and warm fresh bread?

Maybe the only thing would be beef brisket, asparagus and shortcake...

on throwing a party

You may remember that on Friday night of this weekend past, Todd and I were the chair people for an annual fundraising event for our Local Art Center. Our community is so fortunate to have a facility like this. The Art Center is affiliated with a small cinema (which gets the real movies that the local 'big box' theatre doesn't think they will make any money on...think Brokeback Mountain and The Wrestler). The Art Center has also built The Warehouse which is a great space with an apartment for artists-in-residence to work and live in. It is a wonderful space for working, gathering and partying.

Anyhoo, this year Todd and I were asked to chair the first year of a new party, WarehouseLIVE, benefiting the various programs at the Art Center. The band was Disco Dick and the Mirror Balls, and naturally, the theme was DISCO! Both Todd and I headed up 2 committees. Mine were Raffle/Sign-Up-Parties and Logistics and Todd's were Fun and Sponsorship. Our goal was to raise $25,000. I thought you might be interested in seeing what we did to raise money...

Raffle Items:

We raffled off 4 really cool "techie" items. With Julochka's help, we came up with these ideas: A Kindle (2nd generation even...donated by an avid reader who loves hers), An ipod touch (donated by my mama), a netbook, and a FLIP camera. We raised cash donations to pay for the netbook and the FLIP.

Raffle #2 was for 2 Saturday night tickets to Wicked, which opens in Omaha, NE at the Orpheum on May 6th (the tickets were donated by a committee member). The package came with hotel accommodations at The Magnolia Hotel (donated by the hotel) and brunch for 2 at Vivace (again, donated by the restaurant). Another committee member also purchased the Wicked soundtrack CD and the souvenir book for the winner to take with them that evening.

Raffle #3 was a trip for 2 for 4 days and 3 nights to Napa...yes Napa. A frequent business flyer donated his miles for the airline tickets, and another who has many Mariott points donated them for the hotel stay at the Sonoma Resort. Marriott does a cool thing for charities: they allow you to convert your points into a gift certificate (at little or no charge) in order to donate it to the charity. The airlines are not as easy to work with, but if you have someone who has a lot of points, they can just book your flight directly with no additional fees.

Raffle #4 was for 4 bottles of scotch. I know they were good ones, but sadly, I know nothing about that particular kind of alcohol. If you are curious about them, email me and I will ask my spouse.Raffle #5 was for food. Not just any food, but 3 winners get food made by wonderful local cooks during 4 different months. There were things like Francie's home made cherry pie, Wendy's coconut creme pie, and Tom's chicken green chili soup, and home made bread. MMMMM.

The next items were all "sign-up parties." If you don't know, this is a party that has a set price per person to attend. Hosts and themes are acquired before the event, and both help to get people to "sign-up" for the party.

Sign-up party #1 was called a Cocktail Crawl. It was $65 per person for 32 people. Attendees will be split into 4 groups and will rotate to the 4 host's fabulous homes for a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres. An antique firetruck will take guests from one place to another. This party sold out, and even has a waiting list!

Sign Up Party #2 was the Band Blast. For $45 per person (100 people can attend) you get to listen to a great local band, and eat pizza and drink beer! How great of a deal is that?

The third sign up party was $150 per person for 8 people. It was a locavore dinner hosted by my boss, his wife and one of their sons and his wife. They are FABULOUS and experimental (and willing) cooks. I thought it would be fun for them to cook a meal (served on their amazing deck) made only of local items. The meal is in July, so there will be all sorts of wonderful fruits and veggies for them to cook with. We also have several local, organic dairies and beef farms nearby, so it should be fun! This party sold out in a flash...which is good as I was a little worried at $150 per person.

The last sign-up party was a Costume Ball. This party is AWESOME! The hosts will rent full costumes for all 50 guests. For $100 per person, you will get a costume, drinks and food, and can dance the night away as an alter-ego. How great is that? Someone to take your measurements, bring you your costume and provide you with drinks and music and food...that is MY kind of party!

As you can see, we made up little vignettes for each thing to give the WarehouseLIVE guests a feel for each give-away and party. This is a really long post, and if you are interested in more, let me know. I am happy to share any and all ideas with you. Some day I will tell you about the food we served...it was a hoot!

exploding bean

image from here

I just went into the break room to warm up a can of soup for lunch (since I am leaving at 4pm to go run), and I was reminded of a funny story from a few years ago...

One winter day, I went into the break room to warm up a can of soup for lunch. It was cold out, and warm soup sounded good (as opposed to today where it is warm out and soup didn't sound so good, but it was available and edible). After pouring the soup into the big soup-mug-cup-thingy and putting it into the microwave, I proceeded to open a Diet Coke and wait for 3 minutes for the soup to be warm. By the way, 3 minutes is the PERFECT amount of time for soup to be hot, but still edible. Anyhoo...

as I took the soup out of the microwave, I heard a loud pop. The next thing I know, I was writhing in pain. I shouted FUCK and put the cup of soup down to figure out what had just happened to me. My hand made its way up to my eye and cheek. A frigin' bean exploded. The insides of the bean had splattered onto my eyelid (thankfully, I got my eye closed) and cheek. I was burned!

I am sure you assume that co-workers came running to see what was the matter...but no! You see, I often cuss to myself: at the copy machine, at my desk, etc. Everyone just sat at their desks, assuming I was just cussing to myself. It took 1/2 hour for anyone to notice my burn and offer help. Thank goodness for the first aid kit in the warehouse!

As you might expect, I now make soup in the microwave with a paper towel covering the cup. I also wait for several minutes before I uncover said soup.

Happy Thursday!

playing with the macro setting

Early blooming Gerbera

soon-to-be carrots!

allium

peach iris (my FIL calls them flags)

About-ready-to-burst-open chive blossom!

While I was outside yesterday, I took a few shots with my macro setting on the camera.

Wow, I almost look like I might know how to shoot a photo! Enjoy!

spring

Today is really spring-like. The sun is out, it is cool, and I just feel springy. My outfit today is:

A crisp, white linen blouse (mine is from Allen Allen, but i couldn't find it on the 'net)

A pair of spring-green pants from the Gap, again years ago.

Cutest spring Qupid shoes. I got mine at The Buckle years ago

(could be why they are dirt cheap right now!)

While I was at home today, I made the best spring-time lunch:

• egg salad made from farm-fresh eggs, with fresh dill on hearty white bread

• served with fresh radishes
  
• and a Diet Coke (natch)

statistics

I DID IT! I finished the 1/2 marathon yesterday! Actually, I knew I would finish it, but I actually did OK. I was shooting for a 2:30 time, and didn't quite make that, but here are the statistics:

bib number: H1689
gender: F
location: KS
overall place: 3998 out of 5773
division place: 385 out of 594
gender place: 2175 out of 3585
time: 2:39:50
pace: 12:13
10k: 1:11

The temp when we started was 71 degrees, with overcast skies. The humidity was about 100% (or it sure felt like that), and there were wind gusts of up to 43mph. However, if there hadn't been wind, it would have been awful. I am thankful that Cara made me do some training in the wind. We needed that!

A few thoughts and memories:

• Once again, the car ride to OKC and back with the 5 of us was as memorable as the race!
• OKC is a great place to visit...many great places to eat and see
• 19,000 people in one place getting ready to run is a sight to see.
• 19,000 people running up and over a bridge ahead of you looks like a wave of human bodies.
• If there is ever a race in your area, go out to cheer the runners on. Especially at the finish line. I had energy I never knew I had for those last 4-5 blocks.
• Streets with spilled water, cups, and smashed pretzels and oranges are pretty slick.
• 5 women (ages ranging from 37 to 51) getting out of a van after running 13.1 miles and then riding for several hours look really, really funny. We could hardly walk, and were giddy with the adrenaline of friendship and running and racing.
• The larger the race, the less likely it is that you will ever run without many, many people surrounding you.
• A cheeseburger after running 13.1 miles sounds like it would be delicious, but I couldn't even imagine lifting my hand to my mouth after the race. Boy, they sure did smell good though!
• I'm pretty sure I have no desire to run a full marathon...ever!

On tap next: A 5K trail run in early June with the same girls. In September we are all going to do a mini-triathlon in Kansas City. There will be several other gals joining us for that one. I can't wait!

10

ten. diez. dix. the big one-oh.

Yesterday I did it. I ran ten miles. I ran to Target AND BACK. On my feet. As Todd said: "that is a long-ass way." Sunday is the 1/2 marathon in Oklahoma City. My girls and I are all ready for it...hopefully! What I am really looking forward to is our spa day next Wednesday. Our reward for all that training. oh yeah, and that bloody mary I am going to suck down after I cross the finish line!

*image from here.

a few fairly recent purchases

The Keen Presidio...purchased in Colorado

Gap ruffle neck tee (only 9.99 now on-line!)

And these Megan Bow Moccasins in Turquoise Patent from Target

Tagline: a form of advertising slogan (thanks, wikipedia)

Julie tagged me and I kinda liked this one, so here goes:

The rules:1. Respond and rework. Answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention; add a question of your own.2. Tag eight other un-tagged people.

Why do you blog? I blog as a way to keep a journal. I have never been good at a real journal, but I have succeeded at blogging. I have also made some great friends.

Good fika place? Mokas here in town. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I am all over the diet coke or a hot tea.

Do you nap a lot? Any time I can. Most days I wish I lived in Japan where it is acceptable to nap during the day at work.

Who was the last person you hugged? Molly. She's the hugger in our family.

If you were a tree, what tree would you be? Bradford Pear, I love the blossoms in the spring. Plus also, it has a weak crotch, and I kinda do too.

Have you ever had an altercation with the police? Nope, unless you count the time in high school that my friends got busted for having a 6-pack in the car. It was just my ride. Honestly.

What was the last thing you bought? Professor Layton and the Curious Village Nintendo DS game for Molly. (Bribery for being good last week while she was at the office with me)

What are you listening to right now? The wind blowing 65 miles per hour, seriously, this is Kansas.

What is your favourite weather? I love all of the seasons. As much as I love California and Florida, I could never live anywhere where the changing of the seasons did not happen.

What’s on your bedside table? My Kindle, a pen and chapstick. Several hair rubberbands and a tiny empty photo frame. I just haven't gotten around to finding a tiny picture to put in it.

Say something to the person/s who tagged you. Julie has become one of my bestest friends. She may not know that, but it's true. I think we were sisters in a past life. But, she's so much smarter than I am.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? The mountains of Colorado.

Favourite vacation spot? Captiva Island, FL, with my whole family around me.

Name the things you can’t live without: My laptop and diet coke. Running shoes.

What would you like to have in your hands right now? my faithful running companion, Emmy the dog

What is your favourite tea flavour? Ginger Peach

What would you like to get rid of? I would Ike to get rid of all of the accumulated crap in our garage.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? running on the beach...any beach

What did you want to become as a child? I don't remember what I wanted to be when I grew up. I need to ask my mom that the next time I see her. I am pretty sure I wanted to live in Boston, though.

What do you like better, e-mail or telephone calls? E-mail. Definitely.

What do you do when you get time alone? Read, nap and knit.

I will change this to tag 4 people, mostly because I don't have that many friends. I would love to hear from Jessie, Mary, Gin, and Kathy.

*image from here.

quoted

"you're not even close"

"close to what?"

"to what you were really put here to be...not to do, to be. Doing is overrated. Being is where God works, what he's most concerned about"

I love this bit from the book I am currently listening to in my car. Dogwood by Chris Fabry.

*image from here...the dogwood is the official flower of the state of North Carolina

school board and other things

Last night I interviewed for the vacant position on our local school board. It was a very interesting process as the interview was open to the public and occurred during the regular school board meeting. There were 2 other candidates who interviewed, but I got to go last as my name came last in alpha order...sometimes being last is a good thing.

They will announce their selection at the next board meeting on April 28th. I don't know if the candidates will know before then or not. I am excited and a little nervous. I will keep all 5 of you posted!

Easter was good at our home. On Saturday Molly had 2 basketball games and 2 soccer games and Carson had 2 soccer games. Our day was full and we rolled into bed exhausted. At least the day was beautiful and we were outside. Sunday, however, was another story. After church I had to do a 9 mile training run. It rained ALL DAY. Not a hard rain, but the soaking, damp, icky steady rain. Todd dropped me off 9 miles out of town and I ran home. I literally ran home. I was soaked to the bone when I arrived, but exhilarated that I had done it. I don't really remember the last 1/4 of the run as I was just on auto pilot and gunning for home! My reward was a Brookville Chicken Easter dinner. Yummo!

After next weekend many, many things that we are involved in will be finished: the marathon, a charity party we are hosting, a soccer tournament, and a few work deadlines. I will be glad. I feel a bit overwhelmed at this moment. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, though.

**image from here

What the Fuck Wednesday (on Thursday)

toilet paper...I had no idea that there were so many opinions out there about how the tp must be put on the holder. We were at a lovely birthday dinner a few weeks back, and 1/2 of the adults there had very firm opinions about how the paper is placed. Several of them even change it when is isn't correct. What the Fuck? I mean it's tp and you wipe with it!

• Do you require the tp be hung over (like above) or under?
• Do you change it (if possible) when you are in the bathroom and it isn't "your way?"
• Do you prank folks who you know have a preference?

Some references for you "anal" folks: here, here, and here

no excuses

Image from Toni_V's photostream

Really...I have no excuses. It has been a week since I posted last, and things just seem to have gotten really busy. Take note:

• C and M both have 2 soccer practices each week
• C and M also have basketball practice once a week
• Both soccer and basketball seasons (for Molly)have started, that is several games each day of the weekend
• Todd is the asst. coach for C's soccer team and I am the manager for M's
• We are so glad that Carson didn't fight us over not playing baseball. Those practices started already too.
• The race is 19 days away. I have been running. A Lot.
• We have refinanced our house and had 2 appraisals
• I went to Atlanta
• I finished reading Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
• Todd and I are the chair-people for a charity party to be held on April 24th. Lots of committee meetings have been had
• We're hiring a new employee...interviews and paperwork
• There are only 6 weeks of school left for C and M. Field trips and "stuff" happening all the time now

Some days I have great thoughts that I want to take time and expand on, but by the time I get somewhere quiet for a few minutes, they are gone. Just. Like. That. On the other hand, I have really been enjoying the quiet reading time the kids and I spend together almost every evening(weekends included!) Bless those teachers for requiring at least 20 minutes of reading as homework every night. I hope and pray I am raising readers. To spend time with them snuggled up on the couch just reading is my personal heaven.

How about you? Are you feeling harried and hurried as this winter turns to spring? Tonight I WILL take a few photos of the brilliant tulips beginning to show their color. I think they may have been spared from the brunt of the 14 inches of snow we got 10 days ago.