Life On The Planet

Summer Magic

Hi all! How has your summer been. Good, I hope.

Ours has been hectic, but fun. Summer camps, VBS and visits from family have taken up our time, and we couldn't be happier. June has been hotter than average here. Ice tea and lemonade have been consumed in vast quantities. The freezer has done a steady business in popsicles.

Everyone on the Planet is looking forward to a mid-July Greek Geek review!!! Not really. But you know the old saying...you don't use it, you lose it. Or something like that. It will be too hot to do anything outside by then, in any case. Right? Right. (I knew you'd see it my way.)

Why is it that time seems to pass differently in the summer? The days last forever, but time flies by. It reminds me of that old Hayley Mills (of original Parent Trap fame), Summer Magic, which, of course, Butterfly knows by heart. Summer is a magical time. Enjoy it. Savor it.

Winter will be here before you know it.

Saturday

Oh, Saturday! How I loved you as a child. Cartoons and pancakes ushered in your glory. Lazy mornings were followed by bike rides and sunshine. Remember that time Dad took us for a walk and we threw Mom's unfinished ceramic Easter Eggs, filled with baby powder at each other? Good times...

I loved you, Saturday!

Saturday, in college you were the BEST. After a late evening of, uh, studying at the uh, library, you allowed me time to recoup my energy and sleep in.

'Til four p.m!

When I was in college, Saturday, you were DA BOMB.

But lately, Saturday, I must admit I haven't been feeling that certain je ne sais quoi.

Saturday, my old pal, it's time to face the truth.
I do believe we've lost that loving feeling!

(I think it's buried somewhere under the whites.)

'Twixt and Tween

She is a tween. A drama queen. She likes Twilight and Camp Rock. The nails are done. The hair is fixed. The fashion is questionable. We are counting on her growing out of it.

She is sandwiched betwixt two of them (brothers, that is), and will kindly let you know she is unappreciative of the fact. She finds the "short one" to be occasionally annoying. She wanted a little sister, y'know. However, when all is said and done, I think she actually loves the little blighter. How many twelve-year-old sisters would otherwise be caught dead doing this?

Yeah, she loves him.

Just keep it to yourselves, will ya?

A Different Christmas Spirit...

At A Hen's Pace.

I wonder how that would fly at my house.

Just Checking In

Here is the rundown on the inmates inhabitants here on The Planet. It's been awhile since our last post, but hey, we're busy people, you know?

Sal is doing Algebra. And eating fudge. He knows how to multi-task.

Tiger is reading Tales of the Beadle Bard.

Butterfly is also reading. I'm not sure what she is reading. I plan to investigate shortly.

The C.F.O. came home for lunch and LOADED THE DISHWASHER. He's such a keeper.

I am on hold with Dirt Devil. My vacuum has been in the shop for a month. A month.
The pet dander is somewhat overwhelming.

"We are sorry for the delay. Please stay on the line for the next available representative."

I feel sorry for people whose lives are not this riveting.

I'm living large.

Thanksgiving Week: The Highlight Show

It's not much of a show, actually. I just liked the title. However, I can give you the highlights.

Last weekend: Boy Scout / Webelos joint camp-out. It got done to 23 degrees. Tiger got his polar bear patch. Woo-Hoo. Sal's troop held a flag retirement ceremony / campfire. They invited a troop from inner city Memphis to join them. It was fabulous. Freezing, but fabulous.

Monday: School work. "AAAHHGGG!" screamed the children as they ran in horror from the house. It had been a while since they had had to endure been treated to a full school day. (She chortles evilly as she types.) Sal came back from Scouts with a rough-housing induced black eye. Scratch Take-Christmas-Photos from week's to-do list. Boys.

Tuesday: More school work. Trying to get caught up in Greek. Will we ever get caught up in Greek?!? Speak to me, Oh Great and Omnipotent Mystical Eight Ball.

Wednesday: Whoever said peace on earth was a possibility obviously never shopped at my neighborhood Wal-Mart the night before Thanksgiving.

Peace. Ha! My Wal-Mart scoffs at your peace.

Thursday: Thanksgiving dinner with Aussie Kim, et al. Eat food. Drink tea. Swing on hammock. Eat food. Drink tea. Play board games. Eat food. Drink tea. Create massive bonfire in order to roast marshmallows. Eat marshmallows. Drink tea. Waddle home.

Friday: Shop. What else?

I hope your week has been as delightful as mine.

Tomorrow we put up the tree. And so it begins.

If Anyone Needs Me

I'll be in the restroom. Just yell, knock or slide a note under the door. Morse code is also answered promptly. However, I would prefer not to see eyeballs through the keyhole, if it's all the same to you.

A girl has her limits. Yeesh.

High-Speed Internet, Duct Tape and Dastardly Pirates

I've been off line for a while. Our Internet connection was getting slower by the day, until this week it came to a screeching halt. The service guys had been out so often they were on a first name basis with the dog. We were considering inviting them to Christmas dinner. (Sarcasm alert.) So, when we called to request their beloved presence, needless to say we were a little miffed when they told us, "You're just in a bad spot. We'll try to get out tomorrow."

In a bad spot. The city provided our Internet connection. We live EIGHT BLOCKS from city hall. They can't send a signal strong enough to make it EIGHT BLOCKS? I'll show them a bad spot, I thought. So, I called city hall, ranted and raved about wasted tax dollars and fraud. Then I called the cable company and got us a bundle. Woo-wee! I feel like a pig in slop. This baby is FAST!

I love you, High-Speed Internet. Don't ever leave me. Please.

Being unable to play on line, Butterfly found new, exciting ways to entertain herself. You may remember that I recently went to Arkansas and came back with Duct-Tape on my car. I couldn't post the photo then (curse you, old Internet connection!), so here it is.

Nice job, isn't it? (And to think, I blamed Typepad for my photo not loading. All along it was that rotten Internet connection. Curse you again, old Internet connection. I'm truly sorry, Typepad. Please accept my apology.)

Anyway, Butterfly got hold of the leftover Duct-Tape and decided to build a Pirate Ship.

"Ahoy, Mateys!"
As you can see, there were two dastardly pirates aboard.
Sure, she looks cute as a button, but she's as bloodthirsty as they come.

"Arrrrrrrrgh!"

Now, about the hole Tiger dug in the front yard and filled with water - we like to call it the "High Seas" - how do you think Duct-Tape would work on that?

"Yo, ho, ho, ho, it's a mother's life for me!"

My Favorite Things: Kitchen Edition

The Grandparents have come and gone, taking a child with them. I've been wandering around my very quiet house, trying not to miss my Butterfly too much. I ended up, as I inevitably do, in the kitchen making myself a cup of tea. It's a dark place, this kitchen. The lighting is horrible, and we often refer to it as the bat cave. However, it is full of treasures that I love, so I thought I'd show you some of them. 

This is my newest favorite thing. I really like this area rug. (Target - $3.99 - Cat not included.)

The cat and concrete stripe on the floor are not necessarily included in favorite things list.

The C.F.O. found our radio at a White Elephant sale. (I love a man who can bargain!) The radio is my best friend and closest companion. Not really, but I do love it.

Speaking of companions...

 

Aussie Kim went to Australia and bought me this groovy tea towel. No, I didn't clean the stove before I took the photo. You know me well enough by now to know better than that! Love me, love my splotches of baked on strawberry jam.

 

We picked up this bowl in Nashville. ("Memories, like the corners of my mind...") We use it as a bread bowl. When Aussie Kim comes over she can't resist the raisin-cinnamon bread doesn't spare a glance at those carbs. Her will power is astonishing.

 

My Aunt Sis made this for me. (Do you have an Aunt Sis? You need to get one if you don't.) I need to iron it. I don't iron enough. They'll say that about me at my funeral, "She was a nice girl, but she didn't iron enough." Don't look at the wrinkles. Look at the rooster. He has sass.

Well, I'd show you more of this riveting stuff, but my tea is ready. Thanks for hanging out in the kitchen with me.

Next time you visit we'll have My Favorite Things: Shed Edition. You'll love the spiders!

Drawer Dilemma

You may remember my desk. It's still relatively clean. (Really! Ask Aussie Kim!) At least, the top of the desk is clean. The drawer, however...

Stop yer naggin'. I'm getting to it.

Now, I found a drawer organizer I like, but before I spend $12.79 of The C.F.O.'s hard earned money, I'd love to hear your ideas.

Help. Please.