Hair Fiasco

I've learned a lesson the brutally hard way. "Be content with what you have." As a woman, that's a rather difficult precept. Especially when it comes to hair. Those who have straight hair want curly hair. Those who have curly hair want it straight. I fall into the latter group. My hair has not been my friend this year. I had almost gotten there, content with my curly, wiry mop. I don't know if it was the extreme humidity of this summer, but it seemed extra frizzy to me. My hairdresser suggested it was the increasing amount of grey hair making it more difficult. Grey hair apparently has more 'texture' than, shall we say 'younger colored hair'? A little slap in the middle-aged face...*sigh*

So I opted to have a relaxer done this summer, try to tame some of that wild kinky grey. That took a good bit of the frizz out but my hair was stuck in this weird state of half curly, half straight bizarre mess. I could flat iron it for a nice straight look but that takes so long! I'm a shake and go kinda girl-I don't have time or the desire to fuss over my hair. I tried a fat curling iron for a different look, still not what I was hoping to achieve.

Now there's the catch: just what I was hoping to achieve...Perfectly tossed, gently messy, no-fuss hair. Yeah? I had the picture in my head, but how to convey that to the poor stylist charged with trying to make my mane behave? It's a hopeless cause. Truly.

So, a few months past having the relaxer done and noticing my frizz trying to return, I decided to go all out, have it chemically straightened and...hopefully...much easier hair to flat iron....It seemed like such a great idea at the time.

You trust these people who do hair. And actually, the previous woman who did the relaxer on my hair referred me to a friend of hers who was more experienced with straightening hair, so I thought I ought to be able to put my faith in her, right? Oh, to simply be content with what we have...

I made my appointment for last Wednesday, wanting to be all straight and shiny for my big weekend downtown at the WOF conference. Bill was off that day so he tagged along and waited while I committed hair suicide, then we'd go off to our Wednesday lunch date after.

New hair lady was very nice, shop spacious and cheery. She even had the Christian radio station playing and Scripture signs decorating the salon along with a couple beautiful pictures of Jesus. I felt completely at ease as I placed my confidence and my head of hair in her hands. I didn't worry when the straightening chemical started burning my scalp-I thought surely some discomfort is normal in a procedure like this. The tingling subsided as she rinsed and conditioned my newly straightened hair. I faced away from the mirror so couldn't see myself as she blew my hair dry and flat ironed it smooth and sleek. But as she swung the chair around so I could see the finished result, my heart sank into my stomach. It was so thin! And flat! I smiled half-heartedly--good girls are gracious and never rude. I thanked her, paid the bill, and slunk out of the shop, shorn and sad.

I didn't realize until the next day she had burned off a good portion of my hair. As I ran my fingertips along my scalp all I could feel were sharp stabs of stubble. More so in the front of my head but not so bad in the back. I feel almost bald, it's so thin around my face. I can't help but wonder what disaster awaits as my hair grows back in, kinky curly short chunks of hair competing with the longer straightened hair...It could be a good time to invest in some cute hats...

So, I've certainly learned my lesson to be content with the frizzy fuzz the good Lord has blessed me with. Never again will I attempt to 'fix' what He so graciously gave. There has to be a better way to tame the burly beast...

THINK

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

~James 3:10

I bought a little travel size bottle of lavender body spray to keep in my purse. I love the smell of lavender and every now and then a quick spritz on a wrist, under the ear just refreshes. Every girl wants to smell pretty. Giving me a hug the other day, Michael caught a whiff of the new fragrance and said, "Mom, you smell like an angel!" Now you know that just melted my heart and made me go all squishy inside. Sweet words from my sweet boy is better than chocolate on any day.

Rewind a couple weeks ago...a completely different story. I was sitting on the couch watching TV and my sweet precious boy comes over, pokes me in the thigh, and asks, "Mom, why are your legs so jiggly and fat?" Heart dropped right out of my chest through the floor, laying broken and throbbing beside the treadmill below me. Really? I don't think more crushing words could have come from his mouth. I can handle the "I hate you"'s because I know he doesn't really mean them. But "Why are you so fat?" crumbles me to my very core. Especially because I've worked so hard to lose weight the past couple of years and have made it from a size 14, almost 16, back down to a much happier size 8. Still, yes, cellulite lingers on the thigh region. No matter how many miles I log running, I think I will always have that trouble spot. Most days I can deal with it. But to have that flaw dished out and handed to me from my child...yeah, that hurts.

Blessings and curses come from the same mouth. Smelling like an angel with fat jiggly thighs...Ten year olds don't really know better. But I am just as guilty of the same thing. I struggle greatly with controlling what comes out of my mouth. I want it to be all blessings, laced with grace, building up, not tearing down--but some days it comes so easily to complain, to criticize. Words tumbling out before you can jam the jaw shut. My brothers, this ought not be so...

I read a devotional a while back about this topic of controlling our speech. There was the acronym, THINK, and I wrote it down because it was a great way to remember what should come out of our mouths...if we just remember to think first. Here it is:

Are your words-
True
Helpful
Inspiring
Necessary
Kind?

Sometimes remembering this stops me from cursing-and that doesn't simply mean swearing-it is the complaining, criticizing, crippling words that crush hearts, spirits...no matter how unintentionally, the damage is done. Sometimes irreparably. We all know how much mean words can hurt us and I don't want to make anyone feel that way. And there's already so much negativity in this world, complaining only compounds the misery, drawing attention to what's wrong, pulling someone else down into the mire. Why? Why would we want to do that?

THINK before you speak...be a blessing.

Sweet Bugalicious

Beautiful fall foliage

Good Morning

It is a good morning indeed. Indeed. I am home following the most inspiring weekend of my life and my brain is ping-ponging with all I have been blessed with over the course of the past two days. I attended my first Women of Faith conference in downtown Pittsburgh and what an experience! Amazing speakers with incredible, heart rending life stories that touched me, taught me, tore open old hurts and brought me to tears but also blessed with healing and hope, encouraged me and motivated me, and opened my eyes and my heart to the greatest gift we've been given: God's limitless love.

Attending a function like this, immediately the verse that comes to mind is Matthew 18:20, and I am not usually a fan of the Message, but I have to say I like this interpretation the best: "And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there."  Over 8,000 women gathered in Pittsburgh this weekend because of Jesus, and you couldn't possibly deny His being there.

I'm always amazed and humbled when I hear God speak to me. He-HE-speaks to...me. Me. So often I feel like such a nobody. Invisible and lost in the immense sea of people that fill this huge world. Like I contribute nothing...have nothing...to contribute. Who am I that HE would speak to me? It brings you to your knees. But He spoke to me this weekend about my dreams and my goals and washing away the fear and the doubt that cripples me, hinders me, stops me dead in my tracks. How could I doubt His love when all around me I am blessed with His incredible gifts: my husband, my son, our home, our family and friends, every day showered with blessings and joy. How could I doubt He would carry me through to fulfill His plans for my life?

The theme of the conference this weekend was 'Imagine', with the verse from Ephesians 3:20 (and this is the Message again) ^"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!" It goes further in verse 21: "He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us." God can do anything in us. We just have to say yes. God can heal this world--through us! We just have to say yes. Stop being afraid. Stop doubting--you can't doubt the One who created this world, who gives us breath and life. We can't do much on our own but you can't doubt that HE can!! And, how great is it that He wants to do it through US! He could do it Himself--in a heartbeat. But He wants to do it through us. Healing this world, healing each other, with God, through God, heals us.

So I'm willing to trust, to try, to step out in God's grace. I know He'll lead me so long as I let Him. Wherever You want me Lord, I am willing to follow...I say yes.

I'm in there somewhere--can you find me?? Haha!

Letting Go and Letting Dad...

In a few hours I'll be on my way to Pittsburgh for two days at the Women of Faith conference. I'm really looking forward to going and experiencing all that the weekend holds in store. I've been packed and ready for days! I've written notes and more notes and scribbled more notes on those notes for Bill about taking care of Michael and the dogs and the birds...and yet there's still that nagging voice in my head that I've forgotten to tell him something...

But Bill has done this before. He has a beautiful twenty-four year old daughter from his first marriage and he did just fine taking care of her on the weekends and vacations after he and his ex split up. He has raised dogs before as well. He is perfectly capable of seeing himself, Michael and all our critters through my two day absence. I know this. Yet there is that Mom-control thing I am fighting with to let go. No, he won't straighten up the house like I would. He wouldn't cook the same meals I would. The dishes may not get washed as promptly as I would do them. The dogs may not get fed on exactly the same schedule this weekend. But will anyone be the worse off because of it? No, and I am well aware that my household will survive while I'm away...it's just hard to let go. Even for a little bit.

It's gonna be such a great weekend. For all of us going to the conference to hear and share in God's Word and love. For all the hubbies and kiddos experiencing Mom-freedom for a couple of days to do as they please, staying up later than usual, eating junky fast food meals and watching scary movies that Mom wouldn't allow (she's so MEAN!!) Maybe not brushing teeth or washing faces before finally crawling under covers for the night (the horror!) A time for all to refresh and reflect, to gather and grow, and to appreciate all that we have together all the more for that little time apart.

I'm gonna miss my guys and my babies. But I know they'll all be okay without me for a couple days. I'll be home again soon enough...

Crazy Bug

Tucker's chaise lounge

Isn't he beautiful??

Love

Something that’s bothered me for some years now is that if you read the genealogies of Jesus (there are two listed: Matthew 1 and Luke 3:23-37 ) the line from David comes down through Joseph, not Mary, and well, Joseph didn’t really have anything to do with bringing Jesus into the world…Realizing that back in those days, your heritage came through your father’s bloodline, not your mother’s, it hit me this morning that maybe God was saying man’s ‘rules’ were stupid. He does that quite a lot. Jesus came to do away with man’s law. Okay, God set the original Law—the Ten Commandments…and what did we do? Went completely way overboard bonkers, implying all sorts of extra meanings and stipulations into something God meant to be so simple: Love God, love your neighbor. And we ruined it! Well, the Pharisees ruined it. They made up all these implications about working on the Sabbath, and what to eat and what not to eat, how to eat it, etc. to the point that nobody could possibly live up to The Law. And the Pharisees were so excited to condemn anybody and everybody that dared mess up and go against the Law, sitting up there in the Temple, judging the people and judging their sacrifices and charging them an arm and a leg for the perfect lamb or dove to cover their restitution…

So, here comes God—showing them how stupid all their ridiculous rules and stipulations were. He gave us Jesus, ignoring the whole familial heritage thing or, better—giving the women some credit, because it’s the mom who does all the real work in childbearing, we deserve some of the credit of who our child is, right? So, yeah, Jesus is born into David’s line to fulfill the prophecy, but through Mary, not at all of Joseph or David’s blood. And all through His life, Jesus set a new standard of living according to the Law, showing us exactly what God meant to truly love the Father in everything He did, and to love our neighbor, every neighbor—not just the rich and pretty ones, or the most Law abiding ones…ALL of our neighbors: sick, poor, sinner, Republican or Democrat.

We still try to manipulate God’s Word today to try to make people do certain things or act certain ways. I think that’s part of the problem with why non-believers don’t want any part of the church or Christians. We’re still Pharisees, sitting up in our temples, judging those on the outside and wanting them to conform to our rules: show up at church every Sunday and you better be wearing a dress or a suit with shiny polished shoes. Don’t swear, don’t drink and don’t you dare have a tattoo or visible body piercings. You need to cough up a proper tithe—we’re keeping track, you know. Don’t be gay, don’t have premarital sex, and don’t get divorced. We can’t tolerate any of those shortcomings.

Really? And sadly, that’s barely scratching the surface…all God wants us to do is love. Open our hearts and shut our judging mouths and simply love. If we really want to reach people with God’s message, to bring non-believers to the Light, we first have to stop making up stupid rules and regulations and realize ALL of us, believers and non-believers are ALL God’s children and He loves every single one of us and just wants us to do the same: Love.

Battle of the Chewies

I was talking on the phone with my mom yesterday afternoon and she could hear it in the background. "Is that Michael?" she asked. "No. It's Tucker. He's crying because Sweet Pea stole his chewie and is teasing him with it."

He was. Laying in the hallway, moaning and crying like a little child whose older sibling stole their toy, punched them in the arm and ran away. Mom laughed. It is ridiculous. Sweet Pea is now half the size of Tucker and can easily walk underneath him with plenty of clearance to not touch her back against his chest. But no matter the size and weight difference, she is that rotten older sibling who revels in taunting and teasing the younger, hoping to provoke a pitiful response-and Tucker plays the part every time, crying and howling so pitifully--it tears your heart in two, if only to just make it stop and restore peace once more! And, truth be told, Sweet Pea couldn't care less about the chewies. It's all about the torture. She'll walk around with the rawhide dangling carelessly from her jowls, slobbering on it like some prized puppy lollipop, but not be the slightest bit interested in actually chewing it up. Tucker, on the other hand, needs all the chewing distraction he can get if I'm to still have a house standing by the time he's done teething--the dog will seriously chew anything he can get in that mouth of his! Toys, shoes, furniture, fences, siding...he is decidedly unprejudiced in his destruction.

Oh, I can intervene. Step in and restore said chewie to the appropriate owner. That doesn't typically rectify anything, however. Sweet Pea will ensue a barking fit, similar to a teenager slamming their bedroom door, all the while hollering how much they hate you, the house, their life, blah blah blah...Poor neglected Pea never gets anything and Tucker always gets everything he wants...Tucker typically then drops his chewie, wondering what in the world would make her cease the racket, and Pea moves in for the kill, swipes the chewie and then the crying fit begins all over again...It's a vicious cycle that I don't have a chance of winning unless I stop buying chewies, but then run the risk of Tuck eating our house and everything in it...

I imagine this is what parenting is like when you have more than one child. Endless sibling battles, jealousies and rivalries. I remember life being that way growing up with my two brothers. Dale, the older bully, would vent whatever frustration of the day on my younger brother Tom and I: a punch in the arm if you were lucky, one in the gut if you weren't. Lots of doors slamming, tears crying, accusations screaming...makes me appreciate having only one human child when I think back on it! And to think I wanted twins when I was pregnant!! Not that we don't have our share of slammings and hollerings out of Michael--he certainly holds up his end of ushering those quite well. The dogs are just a little easier. I can toss 'em all out back for a while, shut the porch door and escape to peace inside once more...until they all come back in again...

Do you ever wonder how God feels, listening to the bunch of us whining and complaining all the time? He so generously provides all that we need and so much more every day, yet we're seldom happy with what we've received. Fussing and fighting rather than acknowledging and appreciating. Slamming the doors to our hearts and shutting out the only thing, the only One, that truly matters. From Him come all good and perfect gifts. Remember to give Him thanks today-in the very least for not tossing you out in the back yard and shutting the door on you for a little peace and quiet...Praise our Father who never turns his back on us, no matter how unappreciative we may be.

This looked prettier in the sunlight yesterday...just starting to turn.

Imagine

I am going to my first Women of Faith conference this weekend and I can't wait! I've wanted to go to one of these for years but never had the opportunity. But now that we've moved home again, the conference finally booked a stop in Pittsburgh at the Consol Energy Center and our church got a little group together to go, myself included! And my sister-in-law booked a couple tickets to be with our group but they might have had their seats changed so I'm hoping we'll still get to sit together or at least see each other there for a litte while anyway! The conference begins Friday morning with a break for dinner that afternoon, then again that night and all day Saturday. So not only do I have an inspirational faith filled weekend ahead of me to look forward to, I have two days out of the house and am spending Friday night downtown so we can be up and at the conference again bright and early Saturday morning. A weekend away....I haven't had time away from home like that for a few years-the last time was an LWM retreat in Tennessee, which was a lot of fun and a beautiful weekend at a gorgeous camp overlooking a pristine lake while the camp's horses roamed the fields, grazing in the early morning fog. Take your breath away beauty...I could've stayed forever.

This weekend's Imagine tour includes five Christian speakers: Lisa Harper, Angie Smith, Luci Swindoll, Kim Cash Tate, and Sheila Walsh; two musical guests: Natalie Grant and Mary Mary-who both I LOVE!! And Henry Cloud and Nicole Johnson will also be there. My sister-in-law Wendy has gone to the conferences before and absolutely loved them. I really hope I get to share this experience with her. At least I'll be with friends from church, great company either way!

So I started packing last week, trying to figure out what all I'd need for the overnight stay. Bought a bunch of travel size toiletries to bring along and some cute new jammies (love jammies!) with matching squishy socks. I found the perfect size notebook to tuck away for notes and scribblings, along with a few new pretty colored pens to play with and doodle. I don't think I'm bringing the laptop-the boys can play at home. I'll have my tablet anyway, so that should suffice. I printed out some notes for Bill and Michael about feeding the dogs and the birds, getting Michael to bowling on time Saturday morning and gave Bill the money for the league fees and 50/50 raffle. I advised him Michael will want to go to McDonald's if he bowls his average or better-that's always been our deal. His average keeps getting higher, making it harder for him to reach it every week, we all need a good challenge. Right now he's trying to hit his 300 series-I hope he makes it even if I'm not there to see him do it. I did offer to plan meals for them but Bill said no--he jokes about gentlemen's clubs and Japanese steak houses...*sigh* I'm sure they won't go hungry without me.

Oops, just remembered I didn't make any notes about morning vitamins, treats or chewies for the dogs (as Tucker tries to bury half his chewie bone on his pillow...) Better go do that! I can't wait!!

 

A Blessing Challenge

A little while back my friend Missy sent me a link to the most wonderful blog, A Holy Experience. Every day the author, Ann Voskamp, shares such beautiful posts along with stunning photographs of her family, the farm where they live, or trips they've been on and relates all of it back to the love and grace of God. It's not your typical devotional site, it goes way beyond that and becomes breathtaking art that I can't wait to enjoy every morning over my cup of coffee in the stillness of the early day (as still as it can be with Tucker and Sweet Pea arguing over their chewies...*sigh*) And as icing on the cake, Ann posts the best lists on the weekends (yes, I'm a list freak and this totally feeds my soul!) Things to do with your family, ideas for getting the most out of the time on hand and truly enjoying the moment and season, crafts to share, songs to lift your heart and more. I've been sharing the links on my Facebook page, but I know I don't always catch all the links my friends share, so I just thought I'd give Ann's site a little plug here because it's been such a beautiful blessing for me, maybe this post will encourage a reader to enjoy that blessing as well.

One of the items on Ann's list this weekend was a blessing challenge, daring you to tuck a little something in a brown paper bag, tagged with this printable and bless someone with a simple gift. Her suggestions: a candle, popcorn, one cookie, a love letter, a book, a caramel apple, a smiley face, a leaf, a pen, a heart shaped stone, a gratitude journal, anything! And to "be part of the revolution giving Him thanks and glory!" I was game! I had one last zucchini from our garden and decided to bake up a few loaves of zucchini bread to share with our wonderful neighbors who are blessings to us year round.

It was a perfect day for baking. The first weekend chill of fall had set in and it was too rainy to be outdoors hiking in the foliage or going on a hayride at any of the local apple festivals. So I broke out my loaf pans, preheated the oven, and baked up some delicious bread blessings. The house soon smelled of heavenly fragrant cinnamon and vanilla. When the loaves were done and cooled on wire racks, I wrapped them up, tucked them in bags with the tags I had printed out and sent Michael off to deliver our gifts of thanks. We do have the very best neighbors and I'm glad I had the opportunity to give back some of the love and thoughtfulness they've so generously given us.

A Minor Snag

I thought we were making progress. It seemed we were on the right track. Michael had chosen a goal to buy a PSP, and he was going to do chores to earn and then save his own money. I even printed out a progress chart to give him a visual of how much he had saved and how much further he’d have to go to reach his goal of $160. I was really proud of him for choosing such a considerable challenge. Money tends to fly from his fingers faster than you can say shopping spree. That’s why I thought the chart would be such a good motivator for him, so he could watch his money accumulate as he grew closer to reaching his goal. $160 is a lot for a little guy to save, especially for a fast spender like Michael. I wanted him to know he could set realistic goals for himself and realize those dreams with a little perseverance, determination, and discipline.

Then we hit a little snag yesterday. He’s had two DS’s, one broken, the other he bought himself last year on Black Friday. He also had a slew of games that he’d grown bored with. He wanted to go to Game Stop to see what they’d offer for a trade in. I tried to tell him he wouldn’t be happy with their offer since they’d been pretty stingy in the past when we traded in a couple other games he didn’t like. But once he has an idea in his head, it’s pretty difficult to get him to change tacks. So, he gathered up his good DS and put all his games back in their cases and off we went to Game Stop with his bag of booty.

I let him question the sales guy about the different PSP consoles: game capability, internet connection, cost (I thought for sure they’d charge way over what we could get at Wal-mart—wrong!), used vs. new, etc. Then they rang up Michael’s trade-ins at a whopping $175, plus change. I never expected that! So all of a sudden, Michael had more than enough money to not only buy a new console but plenty left over for games and he wouldn’t even have to touch the money he’d already accumulated from his birthday and a few weeks of chores. There went my plan for his goal setting right out the front door of Game Stop, washed away in the cold, grey, rainy afternoon. *Sigh* Home we went with his new PSP and a Need for Speed game. He saved the rest of his credit for more games later on.

So, he still has a good chunk of cash saved now but no idea of what to possibly spend it on. I’m anxious for him to choose another goal before the money starts screaming at him to go buy a new tin or two of Pokémon cards. But what? I know he’ll complain about how expensive games are for his PSP. He can be pretty tight at times but yet doesn’t bat an eyelash at whipping out fifteen bucks for Pokémon tins. He must have some internal limit set in his brain of acceptable expenditures, like I won’t spend more than $25 on jeans, shoes, or purses. I just can’t rationalize buying something more expensive than that. Probably one of the things Bill loves about me, I’m cheap! We’ll need to come up with something soon. That money won’t stay quiet for very long….

Time to come inside--brought all the plants in yesterday before the temps dip down into the thirties this weekend! Pretty chilly start to fall!

October at Last!

Time for candy corn and mellowcreme pumpkins, falling leaves and brisk chilly breezes, mums and corn stalks decorating doorways, soups and roasts simmering slowly, filling the house with savory warmth and comforting fragrance, sweaters and blankets and snuggling close watching movies together, sipping cider and crunching caramel apples, hayrides and fall foliage hikes through the woods. Thoughts turn first to Halloween costumes and candy, then Thanksgiving turkeys and pumpkin pies, and Christmas planning and shopping not far behind.

I love bundling up and heading outdoors under a brooding grey autumn sky, watching the trees slowly give up their summer greens for the rich golds and burgundys, flaming bright yellows, reds, and oranges. Crisp fallen leaves crunch under foot and a silent breeze chases others dancing, swirling, cascading carelessly to the ground. I take a deep breath, filling my lungs and savoring the smell of earth and fragrant burning leaves somewhere off in the distance.

Fall is by far my favorite time of year. It seems that life starts to slow down, the rush of summer is finally done, and everything about the season ahead beckons to stop and savor the moment, the beauty, the scents and scenery, to recognize the coming close of another year gone by too fast. The changing leaves will only last so long. Soon the branches will be bare, reaching, waiting for that first frosty blanket of freshly fallen snow.

There are five glorious weekends to get out and make a few fun family memories, start a new tradition, and enjoy some fall festivities this month. What plans do you have?

Photo by Christopher Jonassen

Yesterday's Proclamation at Last (Sorry!)

I realized at one point yesterday afternoon that I had never mentioned Michael's 'new proclamation' after titling the day's post that way. Just how my brain works at four in the morning--I knew what I wanted to write about then went off on a completely different tangent and never made it back to my original point. Never fear--I can be slow coming to these realizations sometimes, but I'll get there eventually if you'll just bear with me.

So, as we were driving home after bowling practice Wednesday afternoon, he tells me that he's never getting married. He only wants to live by himself so that he can do whatever he wants and not have to listen to anybody else telling him what to do. And he's not having any pets because they're too much hard work and they waste a lot of your money. I think that would be a pretty sad and lonely existence, but I doubt he realizes that. I also don't buy it for a minute. It's all words right now. He's too much of a Romeo to not have a girlfriend and eventually a wife. Someone for him to love and call his own who loves him back just as much. Yeah, his attitude will change soon enough, without a doubt.

And, yes, pets do require some work and create quite a bit of expense at times, but they give you so much more back in love and happiness, it's worth every penny. Maybe you don't need to have three dogs and six birds, maybe just one puppy would suffice. I just like having a crazy canine family--I am a total dog person to my very core and know that I'll always have at least two or three. And I never intended to have six birds, but they're complete characters and I can't imagine not having them now, their constant chatter filling the otherwise emptiness of the day. For Michael to grow up in a home that has multiple pets, I think it would be only second nature to want that for himself as an adult--but I could be wrong. My own experience though, growing up with a family dog, only made me terribly miss having a dog when living situations didn't permit one. I think he'd miss having the love and companionship of a dog as well if he denied himself because he didn't want the work or the expense. Nothing worthwhile comes without responsibility. That seems to be the core of our struggle with him, getting him to accept and take on responsibility. All part of growing up, I think. Some days we do better than others. We just keep on trying to do better.

Face off--this looks a lot more serious than it is...they'd never actually hurt each other, just make a lot of noise, especially when you want to watch some TV...

Down for the count

A New Proclamation

Michael started practicing with a new bowling coach yesterday afternoon. This is the fourth year he’s been bowling in a youth league now and he really enjoys it. He bowls way better than I do, but that’s not saying a whole lot. I might bowl once or twice a year, if I’m lucky. But, I also think he has the ability to do much better than he has in the past if he could simply learn to focus and control his ball better. So when one of the bowling lane's coaches offered to work with him, I graciously accepted.

We went to the lanes straight off the school bus yesterday, postponing homework and reading until later. I figured he could do his school work while I was making dinner-not a big deal. I was really excited to see how he’d do at the lanes with one-on-one coaching and no other kids or the pressure of a game as a distraction. Hope was there waiting for us, so he got his shoes and headed to our assigned lanes. She bowled three games with him then let him bowl a fourth on his own. I think she may have wondered what she’d gotten herself into! Michael is a stubborn little bugger. He’d follow her instructions for a couple frames and then tell her how he was going to bowl on the next frame-after all, he’s got three years of experience under his skinny-minny belt. He knows what he’s doing. Yeah…welcome to my brick wall.

Fortunately Hope has a great sense of humor and a heaping helping of patience! She’d give him his leeway then have him try it her way again. He needs to slow his approach and he still needs to keep his arm from swinging wide on his throw. He had a great time working with her and actually listened a lot better to her than he’s ever listened to anyone else who dared offer him advice before. I think it’s because he has a crush on her. Boys! Or at least my boy…he falls in love so easily. He kept whispering to me, “She’s my type! If only we were the same age!” Then a quick admonition: “Don’t you say anything to her!” Oh my…he’s really too much!

So, he did pretty well. Bowled his average two of the games, bowled over his average one and under another one. But he was happy when we left, a big smile on his face. We have league on Saturday and Hope offered to work with him again next week. In the very least it’s extra practice for him and that always helps. And he loves the attention from Hope. Win, win, I think.

Around the House and Sleeping

I sometimes have difficulty staying motivated when the rest of the house is sleeping, or at least the dogs, and they sleep a good twenty out of every twenty-four hours. Lazy buggers! Everywhere you turn, there's one of the three, either sprawled on the couch, head tucked under the bed, or falling off the puppy pillow in the kitchen. Must be nice to have such a care free, laid back life! Someone to bring you your food every day, open the door to let you in and out according to your will. Okay, so they have to eat out of a bowl on the floor, and it's the same food every day--boring brown kibble topped with chunks of boiled sweet potato. That would get old very quick, I think. But they're not responsible for cleaning up after themselves, let alone anyone else. They do have to go outside to use the bathroom regardless of the weather, be it pouring down rain, or ninety-eight degrees with a heat index of 106, or in three feet of snow with an arctic blast freezing the tears from your eyes! I kinda enjoy indoor plumbing, thank you. I suppose it's not all fun and sweet dreams being a dog after all, no matter how easy going they have it...

Queen Pea's favorite spot on the couch

Tucker has outgrown the pillow bed

Sleepy pups

Mama's beautiful Tuck and yes, that's my favorite Christmas blanket...I leave it on year round. It's festive and happy.

No you can't make the bed!!

This was my super fuzzy Wooley Bear I found yesterday. Look close and see how long his fuzz is--made me think of a little Persian kitten and he was just as soft!!

I saw some of this artist's work at the Butler Fall Festival and fell in love with her stuff. Check it out:

An Early Start

I went to bed almost right after dinner last night. Another migraine day, I spent a good chunk of the afternoon on the couch holding my head and wishing the pain would go away. Needless to say, I didn't get very much from my To Do list accomplished. Fortunately today's list is rather light so it shouldn't be too hard to get caught up again.

I crawled into a dogless bed (it was still too early for any of the pups to retire for the night--Dad might offer up some treats yet...Not that he ever does, but dogs are full of that eternal optimism.) Thunder and lightening kept me awake for a little while. We were in for a rainy night. It's lonely in bed without any dogs, but there's a lot more stretching out room. Eventually I got up and begged Tucker to come to bed. I still like a little company during a thunderstorm.

Four o'clock came early. Michael came peeking into my room, claiming he heard my phone alarm. Um, not my phone--I hadn't set any alarm. I can wake up all by myself by four-thirty or five, no alarm required. Bill's phone, however, was making that annoying alert tone to let you know the battery is running low. I'm a super anal battery charger--if I get any where close to half a charge left on whatever battery, be it my phone, tablet, or kindle, I've got it plugged in and charging. Bill likes to let his run to completely dead--drives me bonkers! Finally the phone offered up it's "I give up, I'm shutting down now" tone, so I dug out his charger and plugged it in. Most likely he'll end up leaving it here today since he wasn't the one to charge it, he tends to zone out if things aren't right where they're supposed to be, wherever he left it.

Just after five Michael came out to the porch to tell me good morning (again) and ask if he could watch cartoons. Fine. He wanted a Pop Tart. Go get one--I don't believe we have room service here in this house. Then the dogs started fighting over who had whose chewie. Next thing I hear is Michael crying. Tucker had jumped up on him, scratched him by his eye and stepped on his precious special Pokemon card. Really? Why is the Pokemon card even out if it's that special?? I didn't think cartoon watching required special power Pokemon cards. Now the card is dented and Michael wants Tucker kicked out of the house. Yeah, that's not gonna happen. Apparently I hate Michael now. No, I hate Pokemon cards and having to listen to a three year old temper tantrum from my ten year old at five-thirty in the morning. Surely this will turn into a whining fit, begging to go to Target to buy another tin of Pokemon cards after school today. So not gonna happen. Maybe we might learn to keep our Pokemon cards out of harm's way instead. Probably not, but I'm trying to have some of that eternal optimism like the dogs. Is it time for the school bus yet???

Doggie Heaven

Yesterday we spent a good chunk of the day meandering through the Butler County Fairgrounds, taking in all the sights of the Kennel Club's Autumn Classic Dog Show. I was truly in heaven. Dogs of every size, shape, color, and coat were there--great multitudes of them. I couldn't have been happier if I was surrounded by as much mountains of chocolate. This was pure joy for me!

As soon as we parked and got out of the car, the first trailer we passed had a couple adorable Boston Terriers and two or three French Bulldogs. I grew up with a Boston and they're such great dogs, full to bursting with personality in their formal black and white tuxedo attire. Frenchies just kick it up a notch if your a Boston fan. They're fat little tanks of dog, almost toad-ish in a way--a very cute toad-ish way, if I need to clear that up (I like toads...fat and squishy, big bug eyes...definitely love....) Yeah, I'm also a Pug fan, and there were plenty of those around, too, yesterday. Just something about that squashed in face, bulbous, bulging eyes, next to nothing nubby tails, and happy, squiggly, squirmy, super excited snorts--I can't resist!! So much fun squished into these smooshed face pups--complete joy!

We met quite a few Bassett people and shared stories of our Sweet Pea. I'm awed by the show standards massive paws on these dogs, and the piles of wrinkles! And the freckles!! Bill and I both are suckers for freckles! Bassetts have to be some of the squishiest dogs ever born. I think they must have some extra layer of velvety fat beneath all those piles of wrinkles, silken ears, and sad, droopy eyes. They're so soft and your hands almost sink into them when you give one a good hug and a scruff around the cheeks.

The Mastiffs! There were two gianormous Mastiffs-one named Sherlock (I can't remember the other's name! Shame!) But Sherlock's head was easily bigger than a basketball and just as round. He oozed slobber all over you...LOTS of slobber. Ewww...not so much a slobber fan, but I do love these monster dogs. The sheer size alone blows your mind--huge! Massive, impressive and no one will mess with you if you're in the company of one of these guys! No one!

Poodles and Cockers and Vizslas and Coonhounds...some incredibly beautiful Newfies were there. Baby doll little Malteses, Chihuahuas, a whole slew of Shelties, an Italian Mastiff-also called the Cane Corso, Bill's favorite-Spinoni's. I realized I no longer want a Chinese Crested. They're so pretty to look at but feel really, really weird to pet since they have no fur. Definitely gonna pass on those little guys! I could go on forever! Just about every breed imaginable was there. I saw a beautiful tri-color Collie that reminded me so much of my old Digby that I had years ago, I broke into tears...how much I loved that dog! But there were two breeds I wanted to see more than any other yesterday: Belgian Turvurens and the Leonburgers. I'd never seen either of those in person before (you don't realize how many breeds you've never seen in person before until you step into a dog show!) and there were two each of these wonderful, beautiful dogs. The Turvurens were much, much smaller than I thought they'd be. Gorgeous black and rust rough coats with incredibly intelligent eyes peering at you under sharp upright pointed ears. Almost reserved and elegant, unless you had food and they were just as excited and playful as any puppy! Then...after combing the entire show ground and seeing literally hundreds of dogs, I'd almost given up on seeing the Leonburger. But all of a sudden, there he was right in front of me and I just melted! Now, these dogs are every bit as big as you think they're going to be, for sure-and then some! And incredible lush, thick coats your hands just get lost in! Dozer was getting ready to head into the show ring while his brother, Gibbs, was on the outside, observing and cheering his beautiful brother on. We got to sit with Gibbs and his owner while the judges looked over the working group entries: a Great Dane, a Great Pyrennees, the most striking black and white Akita, a Boxer, an Alaskan Malamute, the Cane Corso, a gorgeous Bernese Mountain Dog, a Dobe, a Schnauzer, a Rott and a Mastiff all took their turn sitting and then running for the judge. Dozer took fourth in his class and we all cheered. The Malamute won the group, though most of us thought the Akita should've taken it. Ah well...they were all more than worthy.

We made our way back home, covered in fur, slobber, and mud from sitting on the ground playing with frisky, friendly pups all day. There was no way we'd be able to hide where we'd been from our three waiting at home for us--we all reeked of dog by the time we were done. A beautiful smell after an incredibly beautiful day. I can't wait to do that again some time! We've watched so many dog shows on TV but it's so much more fun getting to meet all the dogs in person! Best day ever!!

My Take on Grey's Season Opener

My favorite TV couple for the past six years has to be Grey's Anatomy's Derek and Meredith. We've been through so much together and it's tearing me apart to think this latest glitch in their relationship might be the end. I am in denial--I refuse to believe they won't make it through this. All I wanted Meredith to do in the series premiere the other night was yell "Post-it!" and make it all better. They vowed neither of them would walk away. No matter what happens. It's all there on a blue post-it that they both signed, framed and hanging above their bed. Through old, smelly, senile, even when they hate each other, and I get that Derek is hating Meredith right now for messing up his clinical trial. But--it's in his handwriting, "This is forever." They have to survive this and they have to get Zola back--is she the cutest thing ever or what?? Did you get the glimmer of hope when Derek was explaining how much Meredith's incredible love for the people in her life gets in the way of her judgement? I saw it...Yeah, Post-it...everything's gonna be all right.

As for the rest of the crew--really Bailey? A little judgemental, are we? So even if Meredith does get to keep her job and stay on at Seattle Grace, (I love you, Richard Webber, by the way!! Alex, I'm not buying it, though...) I suppose Dr. Bailey will make her, in Callie's famous words, "Rue the Day!! That's right, I said Rue!!" that Meredith ever stepped foot in that hospital as an intern. And how is it that they're only fifth year residents when we've been watching this show for eight seasons now??

Is dying Owen's hair blonde supposed to make us like him better? I'm only more annoyed. Seriously Christina--you had Burke! What could you possibly see in Hunt?? He should've gotten back with Teddie when Christina offered him up as a trade off for cardio training and they both could've gone off on some post-Iraqi-war series spin off that I wouldn't have to watch. Not that I don't like Teddie--I'd just like to see Owen Hunt long gone from Grey's. I can't see how his all of sudden supporting Christina's decision to have an abortion is supposed to make him a better guy. I believe he'll only harbor resentment towards her killing their unborn child and make her life miserable wanting his forgiveness. Christina's too strong of a woman to live that life. I want Burke back!!

I also don't believe that Alex is truly remorseful for costing Meredith her job--and marriage--and parenthood. He's more shallow than a paper thin sheet of ice and just as transparent! He'll always only do whatever it takes to win him the good graces of whoever he's trying to suck up to and forge his way ahead in his own career. He really could care less about anybody else. Yeah, I felt bad when Lucy stole his job in Africa--that was pretty cold. It's also karma. Too bad, so sad Alex...

Will Lexie and Mark get back together? I can't say I really care. She's got Avery--who needs McSteamy?? You just have to worry about a show when they start bringing all these babies in--Zola, and Callie and Arizona's baby...Isn't that typically the sign that the writers are running out of ideas so they cast in cute babies?? Hmmm...Anyway--just my thoughts....

Bug's Tenth Birthday

Okay, I caved. Standing in Hallmark, looking at birthday cards, I broke down and cried because I couldn't celebrate Michael's tenth birthday. Ten!! Double digits! It was hard enough to believe he was turning ten already, but to not be able to celebrate was too crushing of a blow. I made Bill take me to Target to buy him a new scooter. The one he's had was a hand-me-down from a neighbor in Tennessee. Most of the paint had been worn off and the wheels were all cracked. It was a terrible piece of junk, but he's loved riding it the past couple of years. I just thought it was time for a new one. So off to Target we went and picked out the Pulse Slither for him--the thing is pretty wild. It's like a combo scooter, skate board, surf board three-in-one. Our only other option was an electric scooter and we just weren't going there. I didn't realize how expensive these things are! $150--for an electric scooter! Or more! Craziness! His bike didn't cost that much!

So, since Michael had had a pretty good week, keeping up with his chores and homework, earning his stars on his behavior chart, we had agreed to take him out to dinner for his birthday. All he really wanted was chocolate cake, so we made sure that was on the menu and headed to Natili's North for his birthday dinner. The scooter was in the back of Bill's car and Michael almost missed it climbing in the back seat. He tentatively asked what the scooter was for, not quite sure it was his since he wasn't supposed to be getting any presents. He looked at me and I just smiled and told him happy birthday.

"Is that my present? Only one??" he dared to ask! Only one!!! You rotten bugger!! You weren't supposed to get ANY!!! Yeah only one! And it was expensive enough! Kids!! I couldn't imagine ever saying something like that to my parents--only one?! There is a serious lack of appreciation from this child. Only one...such audacity!

So, we had a delicious dinner at Natili's. Michael had pepperoni pizza and root beer, brought his double chocolate toffee birthday cake home for later. He helped Bill put the scooter together and off he went, zigzagging and swooping up and down the street on his new Slither Drifter. He was pretty happy with his only one gift. Of course Sissie and some friends sent him some birthday cash which is going to burn a hole in his pocket until he spends every penny, so I think I know what we'll be doing after bowling this afternoon. So much for the model train show I thought he'd want to check out. Maybe we'll manage to do both...

Happy Birthday Bug--I love you!

Whacko--something about this reminds me of Mick Jagger...??

Ruby Love

Cancer. Insidious and impartial, it steals from us. The ones we love, people and pets. Precious pieces of our lives. Joy replaced by sorrow, anxiety, and fear. Bill’s finally noticed. Ruby is losing weight. She is, slowly. Her face is thinner and her waistline is more visible. For how many years I had her on weight maintenance dog food, topped with green beans, trying to get her to lose weight so the vet wouldn’t lecture me at every appointment. Now, she could eat to her heart’s content and yet she’s losing weight.

She’s had a good life. Nine years. I found her in a shopping cart out in front of Wal-mart one late summer morning. A little ball of white fluff. Her brother the same but with a dark brown mask over his eyes. “She’s got a great personality,” her owner claimed. I was sold. I ran through the store buying puppy chow, a collar, leash, treats and a handful of toys. She tried to sit under my feet as we drove home. Not the safest way to drive, but fortunately we lived only a few minutes away.

Michael was a few weeks shy of his first birthday. He would crawl around the house, Ruby right at his side. Nose to nose, they were inseparable. She grew much faster than he did. Our Willow was almost a year and a half old by then-my very first Mother’s Day present when I was pregnant with Michael. The two dogs were constant companions for our precious baby boy.

Soon we would pack up and move to Ohio. Michael climbing into their crate, sandwiched between black and white. I think he often thought himself to be one of them as much as maybe they did. Their little pack, an odd lot, but family just the same.

Cancer took our Willow this past February. She was ten. I never knew a more loving dog. She gushed love, practically oozed it from her pores. Now it’s stealing our Ruby, little pieces at a time. There isn’t anything we can really do for her. Surgery isn’t an option, even if we could afford it. Chemo might give her a few more months. Months. Being sick. I can’t see putting her through that. She doesn’t act like she’s hurting, though I think dogs are very good at masking their pain. They don’t let on until it’s too much for them to bear—unlike us, who whine and complain over the slightest ailment. Animals are so much braver and stronger than people.

So, we take one day at a time. Thankful for what God has given us that day. A hug, belly rubs, kisses. She’s a good, good dog. We’ll love and spoil her up until the end, every day together a precious gift. Love you Boo Girl—more than you’ll ever know!!

Appliance Annoyance

The 'new' new dryer is coming today. Yep, Lowe's is already replacing the dryer we bought two weeks ago. The problem? The lights aren't bright enough on the dryer's display. They're barely visible if you squinch up your eyes and look at the lights from a few inches away. I should be able to see what functions I have set without giving myself more wrinkles and straining my eyeballs. The lights on the washer are as bright as a Christmas tree! That's how I want the lights to be on the dryer. So Lowe's offered to send us a brand new replacement and it arrived at the store late last week after being on a brief back order. Bill has to be here to hook up the 'pigtail', which is just a weird name for 'the plug'. Lowe's won't claim any liability for using an old pigtail, so you have to hook it up yourself if you don't buy a new one. And this is Bill's day off this week, so hopefully Lowe's will get here bright and early and we can be off and adventuring the rest of the day--and by that I mean wandering around Butler for a few hours until it's time for Michael to come home from school...Yes, it's an exciting life--I don't know how I stand it most days. Hard to keep up a lot of the times.

I missed a great picture yesterday. A squirrel had a double cluster of acorns hanging from his mouth as he perched oh so cutely on a garden fence post, peering in the porch door at me as I worked on my Word 2007 book (trying to understand WHY anyone would bother to use the paragraph editing button!) He dared me to grab my camera and try to snag a shot before he was off and running. I fell for it--Word wasn't holding my attention much anyway. Just as I got the camera turned on and tried to zoom in on Mr. Nuts, off he went, scampering up the nearest tree. I think I heard him chuckle as he stole a quick glance back at me lamentably putting the camera back on the shelf...Squirrels are really insufferably annoying little creatures. I don't care how cute they are!

A Little Sunshine in My Heart

Dare I say that things are starting to look up a little once again (knock wood, just in case...) Ruby's ear is finally beginning to look better. The swelling has started to go down and if it continues to shrink I will most likely cancel her appointment next week since the vet wants to put her under and my girl isn't exactly a young lady anymore. Anesthesia can be very stressful, especially on older dogs, so I don't see a reason to put her through that if it isn't absolutely necessary. Tucker is almost at the end of his coccidia treatment, with his last dose of medicine due on Monday. I had to put him back on rice, ground beef, and pumpkin this week since his runs came back Sunday night, but so far he's doing well--fingers crossed that he'll stay on the mend! Ms. Pea has also had another flare up of her anal sacs but that seems to be under control now. Perhaps I caught early enough before it had a chance to get seriously inflamed and burst, so she's looking good this morning, too. Aaahhh...a little sigh of relief...for now.

It's just a beautiful morning, got a quick run in on the treadmill downstairs before it was time to get Michael off to the bus. He's had a few good days in a row and earned some TV time back along with buying lunch at school today. He really wants to celebrate his birthday and asked if he'd earned any presents back. I think we'll at least have a cake and some ice cream after dinner, and let him have his birthday cards from Grandma and Sissie. I have a surprise in store for him for later, if he can continue on his good behavior streak. I finally found Steeler sheets and a matching comforter for his bed and Grandma agreed to sew up some Steeler curtains for his window once I get the fabric measured and bought. That will be his belated birthday present. It's not Hot Wheels and Gogo's or Pokemon cards that he's been begging for--but all of those make great stocking stuffers anyway.

I also managed to do a little weeding out front. It's such an overgrown mess out there--my poor neighbors who have to look at it every day, I'm sorry! It's just been such a hot summer and then so wet lately, there really hasn't been much time to be outside doing yard work. Hopefully now that the weather is cooling off, more opportunities will arise--surely I'll need it since our leaves are already starting to fall as well! There's always something to keep us busy around here!

My beautiful Ruby

What Day is It?

I don't know. I'm so lost as to what day of the week it is most of the time...I've got multiple calendars and planners to help me keep track of what I need to do, places I need to be, events going on at school and around Butler. In my kitchen alone, I have two hanging calendars, well, three if you count the Steeler schedule that's now posted on our refrigerator, and then on a dry erase board is a list of "Important Dates"--all special things happening this month: birthdays, holidays, golf tournaments, doctor appointments, etc. Then! I have a pocket size calendar to carry in my purse, along with my daily household calendar where I list all the chores that need done each specific day, with special notes highlighted for any appointments or happenings I need to be aware of, and there's the calendar on my laptop, my desktop, my tablet and my phone...I am inundated with calendars! But yet, if someone was to ask me what day it is, I'd be hard pressed to come up with an answer. Oh, I'd get it after I put a little thought into it...searched the brain a while to recall who am I packing lunches for the next day, or do I need to scour Michael's room for library books that are due back at school...And now my routine has had a wrench thrown into it since Bill's changed his work schedule this week, I'd really have to struggle to come up with the answer to what day it is. Usually he's off Sundays and Wednesdays, works late Mondays, so I don't have to pack Michael a lunch on Friday, just Bill, then no lunches get packed Saturday since everybody's home on Sunday, but I have to pack a dinner for Bill for Monday, and Tuesday I get a little break and only have to pack for Michael since Bill is off on Wednesday. Nope, not this week. Bill works late tonight, so I had to pack him a dinner last night and he's not off until Thursday, which means I have double lunches to pack today for tomorrow since he's now working Wednesday, and then he's off Saturday for his golf league's end of season tournament, so no lunches to pack on Friday...this week. I have no idea what he'll be up to next week...is it any wonder I'm lost as to what day it is? Do you know??

Mom & Pop out adventuring this morning

The Bug Man

Michael has discovered Wooly Bear caterpillars and he is in love. We found two yesterday that he named Mr. Flubbers and Mr. Silverstein. You gotta love the names! He's also discovered those fuzzy yellow caterpillars with the tall black spikes and is equally fascinated, mostly because I've warned him they can sting and cause his hands to swell up. So he's got a million questions about how they sting, why they sting, how bad does it hurt if they sting...Found a couple of those out back as well and I think Tucker even ate one. That can't be good. The dog will eat anything it can get in its mouth! No wonder he's always sick...I believe all the caterpillars have been relinquished back into the wilds, except the unfortunate eaten one. Well, we all must meet our demise one day...

Michael has always had a fascination with bugs-hence his nickname, Bug. I told him he should become an entomologist. "What's that?" he asks. "Someone who studies bugs." Yeah, he thinks he'd like to do that--and get paid! To look at bugs! Cool. Who knows, maybe he'll end up in the movies someday like those two bug nerds in "Silence of the Lambs"...he could be a star! Or he could have his own reality TV show, flying to exotic locations around the world and tracking down the world's weirdest bugs. It could happen! As long as he's not eating those bugs like Andrew Zimmern...yuck!

There's actually quite a lot of interesting jobs for entomologists--who knew? Forensic entomologists study the bugs found on corpses involved in criminal investigations (ewww!) There are all sorts of research avenues in pest control, agricultural as well as medical studies. Jobs exist with the government, at colleges, universities and museums. Apparently they even make a pretty decent living!

So long as all the bugs are kept OUTSIDE of my house, McBug can study all the creepy critters he can find in the yard and around the neighborhood. We've already gone through myriad bug houses and terrariums over the years--fortunately they're fairly cheap and easily replaced. You never know where simple curiosity might take you...

Mr Flubbers

I Love Fat Books

One of the cool things about being adopted when you're a little kid is that it opens up your imagination to an entire realm of possibilities regarding where you came from. I could be anybody! And I suppose most little girls fantasize that they're princesses at some point in their little girl dreams, but their reality, when it was all said and done, was that they belonged to their family, and unless that happened to be the Royal Family, then true princesses they were not. Me, on the other hand, did NOT belong to my family. I had a whole other family somewhere out there and they could be anybody I wanted them to be in my mind! Maybe that's what makes me such a romantic at heart, all those daydreams as a little girl of being some stolen princess, held captive by this cruel, uncaring family, ever waiting for my Prince Charming to come rescue me and take me back home where I belonged once more. Okay...my adoptive family wasn't really all that cruel, unless I'd been grounded or suffering some other impervious injustice and I felt so forgotten and unappreciated...oh, so woe was poor me!

I also wonder if that's where my love of great epic novels of both fiction and fantasy comes from? I can get so swept away in some stories, I almost feel like I'm living in them. I truly don't understand people who don't love to read. They're obviously not reading the right books. Boring??? Reading?? Yeah, I've read some boring books, but you toss it aside and find a new one to read! Books are endless opportunities to go exploring wonderful new worlds, meet incredibly fascinating people and creatures. Anything can happen in books! My husband, one of the great non-readers, makes fun of me when I'm crying over a book I'm reading. "It's not real," he laughs. It doesn't have to be real, it just has to be believable, imaginable, and then it becomes real in my head.

A big, fat, juicy, epic novel is my all-time favorite escape. And I never truly appreciated fantasy novels until I fell head over heels into Harry Potter. JK Rowling has created such an incredibly realistic yet fantastical world, I think part of me still lives there at Hogwarts, long after I've finished reading all seven books and indulged repeatedly in the movies. I actually go into Potter-withdrawal some days and feel almost homesick, missing the comraderie and misadventures of the world's three favorite magical characters-Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Fortunately now there's Pottermore to explore--JK Rowling's new website to enhance the reading experience of her beloved books, so whenever I need a few minutes amid the magical world, it's only a few clicks away on the laptop!

Another favorite set is Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, a sweeping saga set way back in Medieval England. Knights and kings, and monks and priests, paupers and peasants, witch hunts and beheadings are all just the icing on the cake of these two rich works, wonderfully woven around the lives of Tom Builder's family, new and old. Mr. Follett released the first of a new trilogy earlier this year with The Fall of Giants, set in the more modern twentieth century. I couldn't let go of the Pillars pair and kept wanting to link Giants in with the other two books--which certainly doesn't work. They're completely unrelated, but my mind inextricably links Ken's writing with 12th century England now. Hopefully whenever the second book of this new trilogy comes out, I'll be past that confusion. One can always hope, right?

My latest reading adventure is amid George R.R. Martin's Song of Fire and Ice fantasy series. Five books long, I'll be able to hide away in this mystical world for a good while to come. I'm already completely wrapped up in the great cast of characters--the different Houses and Great Families. There's even a breakdown of the family trees in the appendix to help sort out who's who--it does get a little confusing. But he's got my full attention--I'm in for the long haul and looking forward to a great ride.

And there's still a little part of me, that given up little girl who can picture herself in these stories, as part of these families--that's the beauty of being adopted, I guess. I can still pretend to be anybody (even though I know a good portion of my birth family now and, yeah...they're not the Royal Family...but I don't know ANYONE from my birth father's side, so the possibilities are still wide open!) Seriously, I can't believe there are people who don't appreciate getting lost in a great story! That's almost tragic to think about all that they're missing...

Weekend Plans

There’s just too much to do this weekend, so much so that we’re staying home and doing nothing…Well, that doesn’t make any sense, does it? And it’s gorgeous outside, sunny and not quite sixty--definitely my kind of weather! So, what should we do? There’s Butler’s Fall Festival in town. They shut down Main Street and vendors line up and down both sides, selling food and crafts--lots of great stuff to see, eat and buy. Then heading out the opposite way, there’s also Evans City’s Oktoberfest happening this weekend. Yeah, I know, it’s only September but they’re getting a head start on things. And you all think I’m nuts for starting Christmas early? At least I know what month it is! I also believe the Penn’s Colony Festival is happening over in Saxonburg this weekend and next--but you have to pay admission for that because they do this recreated colonial times village thing with battle reenactments and such…I’d rather spend my money on goodies instead of just to be able to get in somewhere! So Penn’s Colony is out. Since Oktoberfest will still be going on tomorrow and Butler’s Fall Fest is only happening today, I think the plain choice is to head into town and see what all is going on there. Tomorrow we can head to Evans City and experience their Oktoberfest in September. I saw a flyer up in the library for next weekend about a dog show out at the fairgrounds! We’ll definitely have to check that out!! Pups everywhere! So--time to put the birds away here and head on out to enjoy a beautiful fall day in Butler--I hope you’re enjoying your day, wherever that might be!

Michael, Master Negotiator

Michael. The boy is too much. He’s trying his hardest to ensure that he will have some sort of birthday recognition this year. He keeps giving me the boo-boo eyes, asking tentatively if he can have his birthday back and sadly I have to remain adamantly against it. It hurts not being able to celebrate this year, especially since ten is such an important birthday—moving into double digits. Oh the joyous pre-teen years…But, he’s done what he’s done, his punishment has been set, and we have to follow through. He has to learn some way and he also has to learn that what Bill and I say as his parents really does matter. Even if it breaks my heart. Parenting can really be the pits some days.

So, the worry is setting in. Michael is trying to find ways around the No Birthday decree and has started soliciting for presents elsewhere. Seriously. I overheard him telling our next door neighbors that he wants Gogo’s and Hot Wheels for his birthday and reminded them of the date. We have super sweet neighbors and no doubt Charlene would actually go to the store and buy him something, unawares of his grounding, so I had to send Bill over to ask her not to buy any gifts. Now if that doesn’t make you feel like the scummiest parent ever, I don’t know what would! You may as well have ‘EVIL’ in red stamped right across your forehead! But, Charlene has two little ones—someday when they’re older and rebellious pre-tween heathens, she’ll understand the frustration.

Our Michael is also a little money miser. He wants money for everything! Don’t we all? And with our new behavior and chore chart, he is able to earn some allowance, which inevitably will burn a fierce hole in his pocket and send us rushing to Wal-mart to buy the coveted Gogo’s and Hot Wheels that he’s been trying to solicit from the neighbors! First, however, he has a little debt to us that he has to pay off before he can go on his shopping spree, and so he’s endeavoring to earn as much as he can as fast as possible to get that paid off before some other more fortunate child buys out Wal-mart’s entire stock of Gogo’s and leaves him enviously empty-handed. Doing chores isn’t earning him cash fast enough, though, so he’s begun negotiating other terms, or at least trying. I haven’t been buying. He wants money for doing his homework. Nope. He wants money for scoring well on quizzes. Nope. He wants money for getting strikes and spares at bowling. Mmm, nope. Really? Bribe the kid to bowl better? I do know parents who do that…as much as I don’t understand it. He’ll offer to do chores to earn money, but it has to be a chore he actually wants to do—which we haven’t quite figured out what that might actually be yet. Pick up dog poop—doesn’t wanna do it. Pick up the sticks around the yard—doesn’t wanna do it. You know, they’re not chores if they’re fun! So, we’ll keep trying. In the very least, he’s learning some excellent negotiating skills if he ever decides to head into the business route later in life!

An oldie, but a goodie--this has to be my all time favorite picture of Michael, so silly and cute, the essence of Bugalicious!