Sign of the Times

I've been so rediculously busy this week! So much has happened and there's so much to blog about... but finding the time to publish a post has proven to be a bit challenging.

Be sure to keep checking in as I'll be bringing you up to speed on:

Mom's Got Pneumonia
Michael Earns An Award
J.C.
Costuming
The 11th Commandment
And Conferences With The SOE (sinister organization of educators)

FlashForward Friday

Tomorrow marks the 39th wedding anniversary of my parents! I was thinking about that as I was driving into work this morning. Thirty-Nine years is a long ass time to put up with the same persons B.S. year in and year out. On the flip side, there is a sort of comfort in knowing what to expect in each others particular brand of B.S., because after so long you either know how to deal with it, manage it, or simply ignore it! My Mom & Dad are such incredible roll models for marriage, for love, for parenting, for work ethics, for life, for spice, and for how to put up with B.S.! When I grow up I want to be just like them!

I promised my Mom that I wouldn’t post this picture… But I happen to love it and I think the fun and laughs my parents are able to enjoy with each other is a huge ingredient in the secret to their success!

To Mom & Dad (Oma & Opa),
Happy Anniversary!
With lots of love, Lesley, Travis, Brian, Danielle & Michael!

Raiders of the Lost Speaker

The Players:
Michael
The Toys
Sub-Woofer (with a hole on the front large enough for a 2-3 year old to stick his whole hand in)

A mischievious combination that when left to its own devices makes way for...

The perfect outlet for toy placement and exploration! Many a toy has been lost to the dark abyss of the Bermuda Sub-Woofer over the last few years. Toys have gone in to explore but have never returned to see the light of day. Once an expedition was sent in to dismantle the aphotic speaker… but the mission was aborted when realized that access to the lost playthings was not possible and the speaker would retain its prizes. Years passed and the small boy had come to accept that he would never again see the small trinkets that once brought so much joy and laughter.

Then, to everyone’s great joy Indiana Dad appeared with a drill in one hand, a screwdriver in the other, and a look of determination that would make the most heinous of all cavernous sub-woofers blow with despair! This was Raiders of the Lost Speaker! With swift action and great dexterity a precision hole was cut and Indiana Dad was able to get the first ever glimpse of the long lost POW’s (Prisoner Of Woofers). One by one he was able to properly execute the safe liberation of all the toys from the clutches of the Bermuda Sub-Woofer. Here is the exclusive footage of the brave rescue:

The first glimpse of the POW's

RESCUED!

GREAT work Dad! (But next time could you rescue a lost tomb of gold?)

Mystery Fuzz

On Saturday it was my goal to clear the old entertainment center (and all of its contents) away from the wall where it stood to make way for the all new SuperShmancy entertainment center!

First I emptied out our bazillion DVD’s, safely and lovingly removed my beloved dragons, and then threw out the 15+ years of small statues, trinkets, tacky frames, VHS tapes, music tapes, and other miscellaneous shit from the bottom cabinets. Then I quickly went to work on dismantling the shelves and separating the bookcase sections. While I was pulling the second cabinet away from the wall I couldn’t help but notice a sort of green fuzz stuck to the wall. ‘What the hell is that?’ Those cabinets had been in the same position for the last 9 years! So I went to get the flashlight and in doing so had the additional thought… ‘If I were watching a movie this would be about the time that I start yelling at the screen, ‘What the hell are you doing? Why do they always do that stupid shit!?! I would be SO outta there! I wouldn’t go back and look at the fuzz! It’s going to turn into something horrible and kill you! You dumb bitch!’

Anyway, against my better judgment and self warnings… I returned to the fuzz with the flashlight. It turns out that applying light to the matter certainly did NOT shed light on the situation. The fuzz was not just green… It was a seafoam green! An 80’s throw-back mint green! WTF!?! Was it actually pulsating?

Once Travis got home we were able to move the cabinet completely away from the wall… and my best guess would be that this strange mint colored fuzz was maybe once a feather of some kind? Perhaps? Hard to say. For in a house where children are present you often find it rather challenging to identify many a substance. So I busted out the warm water and wiped mystery fuzz away. But not before I asked it to ‘Say Cheese!’

Fiery Friday (Modified)

Thoughtful Thursday

I missed Wordless Wednesday, so I’ve decided to do

Thoughtful Thursday.

This is Grandad & Grandma.

They’ve both been gone for many years now, but I have very fond and very funny memories of these two. I’m pretty sure they were both certifiably insane (undiagnosed), and that was always my favorite part about them! I still recite some of the funny rhymes and poems Grandad would tell us! Or tell stories of Grandma’s menagerie of small toys left behind by her many grandchildren after a visit. She would seize the small trinkets and put them in her display for all to see! Once they were in the exhibit, ownership transferred… so you could just forget about asking for them back! (HAHA) I think it was her way of holding on to each of us when we were away.

This Thoughtful Thursday is dedicated to my paternal Grandparents! I still think of you often and with much love.

Big Dipper

Danielle’s class is currently studying the solar system. Last week she was telling me something about the Indians and the Big Dipper.

Side Note: I must confess she did not have my undivided attention, for you see my precious baby girl does not often draw breath when she really gets going on a story and I seem to inadvertently tune her out. I would agree that this is a bad habit of mine… but then again, you may find yourself in the fortunate position to have never been subjected to one of her rants… err uh “stories,” and therefore cannot intelligently comment on the situation.

Anyway, last night we had a fairly clear sky and the warrior Orion was looking down on us. I attempted to point out the obvious belt of Orion to Danielle when Michael chimes in with… “Oh! The constellation?” WTF!?! The boy is 5 years old! Over the course of 2.5 months he has busted out with Cornucopia and Constellation!!!!

I just knew that enormous cranium of his was loaded with high powered brains! And the teacher thinks he’s not paying attention! HA! He’s just multitasking beotch! Who’s the Big Dipper now!?!

All In A Day

I really could not have asked for a better birthday! The morning started out with a delightful breakfast with my family…

From left to right: Dad, Brian, Katelyn, Melissa, Megan, Laurie, Oma, ME, Michael, Mom, & Travis

Then it was off to Disneyland to claim my free birthday gift card! This was a really neat trip because it was just me and my boys. (Danielle had rehearsal for her upcoming production of Seussical the Musical so was unable to join us.) It was a very special opportunity and I was thrilled to be able to seize the moment!

After making a purchase and then a few quick rides we were off to Living Spaces to buy an all new entertainment center! Travis & I are finally reclaiming the family room from our children! Oh sure… they’ll be permitted to visit from time to time… but admittance is at a premium and they’ll have to really work hard for the opportunity… or simply come up with the cash!

(Michael testing one of the recliners...)

From there it was home for a quick cat nap before getting ready to head out on the town! We had a great night! And even though we ended up at the worse dive bar imaginable, the one that I absolutely despise the most, I had a fabulous time!

Birthday Girls!

Great Friends!

Friend's For Life!

Sassy Sexy Friends... Rrrrrrrr


Party Friends!





New Friends! (He's a cutie!)

Keeping Friend's In Line.....

Schooling Friends.....

Friend's..... Don't Ask

I think we finally made it back home around 3:00 AM!

Thank you to everyone in attendance and thank you for the lovely gifts! A BIG special thanks to Mick & Mel for graciously hosting and organizing the evening; To Mike for being so generous in transporting a bunch of loud drunks; To Tracy for keeping a watchful eye on yours truly; and to my SuperDeluxe SuperShmancy hubbie for ensuring that I had an incredible birthday from dawn to…. dawn!

Party Like A Rockstar!

Flashback Saturday

1977 ~ My 6th Birthday

Party Dress ~ Hair Did ~ Check The Bling ~ Surrounded By The Dudes

Couldn't be more thrilled to receive my Holly Hobby nail kit and fragrance... Not much has changed.

I'd like to send a special shout out to my Mom & Dad who always made sure this early January girl had a birthday party! Thank you for so many wonderful parties and for being the bestest parents any kid could hope for! I love you!

(P.S. Be sure to read this before assigning a final number to my birthday check!)

CELEBRATE!

This Saturday we will be celebrating the thirteenth anniversary of my 25th birthday! Lucky 13! YIPPEE!!!! I love a good party and this year will be no exception. We’re slated to have an evening of immeasurable fun and debauchery surrounded by many of our very most favorite delinquents!

This year I celebrate with fellow Capricorn, Jennifer! From left to right she’s sexy beotch #3 and her b-day is the 13th! (The 13th? I’m seeing a pattern of mischief developing here!)

Fun Facts: The earliest birthday parties were held because people believed evil spirits were particularly attracted to people on their birthdays. (Attracted!?! Hell I invite those little demons in with every Jager shot!)

At first it was only kings who were recognized as important enough to have a birthday celebration. To protect them from harm, friends and family would come to be with the birthday person and bring good thoughts and wishes. (They’re supposed to protect us from harm? Hmmmm… I may have to rethink the invitees.)

Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to ward off the evil spirits. As time went by, children became included in birthday celebrations. The tradition of children's birthday parties first started in Germany, Kinderfeste. (Germans… Parties... Jagermeister… Coincidence? I think not.)

The largest private birthday party to ever happen was in 1970 for Colonel Harlan Sanders' 89th birthday. The event was attended by over 35,000 people. (Wooooo… People knew how to parTAY in 1970! Look out! That had to be some damn fine fried chicken!)

Almost Wordless Wednesday

The funny part was that Brian thought I was taking HIS picture!

CALLED OUT!

Of all people... it was my loving husband that called me out! And damn quick I might add. Claiming that SHMANCY was not my word at all and that Fancy Schmancy had been in circulation for years.

To this I rubut... TOO TRUE! However, schmancy (as in fancy schmancy) is used as either an insult to high class or as a high brow word for a common item. SHMANCY, on the other hand, is positive and uplifiting... all about the good and shine!

The dictionary is full of similar words with different meanings:
Here / Hear
Heard / Herd
Hair / Hare
(why so many 'H's?)
There / Their
Etc...
So, now we add schmancy & SHMANCY!

This is my argument and I am standing by it!

Expressions

I’ve noticed that I’ve been using the expression “holy cow” quite often… especially when instant messaging. After typing it, yet again, today it struck me… what “in the hell” does that mean exactly? What am I talking about… and where in the world did it come from? So I did a search. And the bottom line was that no one really knows for certain where in the “blue blazes” such an odd expression came from. Oh sure, there’s plenty of speculation… but no definitive answer. Amazing. Suffice to say that we’re all just a bunch of “tards” communicating daily with idiotic gibberish. “JEEPERS!”

So, I would like to offer up a new expression to our highly evolved society… “SHMANCY!” Feel free to use it! Spread it amongst your community! It is a combination of Shiny & Fancy with the added feature of the letter ‘M’. Why ‘M’? Why not!?! I’ve been saying it for months but the published origin is right here right now! And to think you were here to be part of this exciting moment in time! Say it with pride! “That new car is SHMANCY!” “The party was SHMANCY!” “Dinner was SHMANCY, thank you!”

And with that contribution… “I’m off like a herd of turtles!”

CHANGE

New Year ~ New Color ~ Same Me!




I love change...

And conveniently there's always room for it!

Flashback Friday!

New Year’s Eve 2007 ~ 80’s Workout!

Let's get physical, physical

I wanna get physical

Let's get into physical

Let me hear your body talk, your body talk

Let me hear your body talk

Let's get animal, animal

I wanna get animal

Let's get into animal

Let me hear your body talk

Let me hear your body talk

Good Times, Good Times!

Say! This move looks familiar!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!