Gardner's Moon

I showed the Gardner's Moon today. I feel as though I should put a sign up in my yard for 24 hours before I work outdoors that reads: "Warning! Fat lady will be bending over out here tomorrow!" I feel that that would only be courteous as I do like most of my neighbors. As I was bending and moving today I chuckled to myself imagining the view from across the street. Oh well, the yard looks pretty.

Because I Have Something to Say

I've spent part of the morning reading blogs of note. These are blogs that have received some sort of acknowledgment from the mainstream media because, I'm assuming, they are considered good. While I absolutely won't deny that many of these bloggers have great writing skills I have come to believe that the true test of a blog becoming widely read (more that your mother and three friends) is the correct and prolific use of profanity. Really, what sentence doesn't have more meaning when it's laced with a few **** or some #$%@^*. I realize now that I have been so wrong in my attempt to carry on a somewhat intelligent (I realize this is up for debate) conversation with folks who's mouths didn't come from a truck stop. So to you, my few and related readers, I apologize. I am clearly lacking in my emotional ability to connect. Please, feel free to seek entertainment elsewhere should you need your daily dose of crap.

International Body

As I was showering this morning I realized that my time in the sun is made manifest on my body. Looking down at my skin color I realized that my arms look like they're from Brazil when my bum looks like it's from Alaska. Ah, the early spring farmers tan, gotta love it.

Memorial Day Vacation

Sleep Deprived

I don't know about you but I operate on an perilously balanced sleep schedule. I really am amazed at my ability to appear fully functioning on limited hours of sleep. Really, I think I could challenge my college days self to a no-sleep marathon and win. I've gotten so used to the feeling of fatigue that I can't remember what it feels like to be rested. I mean yeah, I've had a day off here and there but if you amortize out my sleep loss over the eleven years of my motherhood, a day or two of extra sleep really is a drop in the bucket. What surprises me most is that this really doesn't seem to bother me anymore. It's like my mind has finally given itself over completely and utterly to mommy hood. There is no struggle for an extra five minutes in the morning or a dumping of projects for an afternoon nap. I have succumbed entirely. This is a badge of honor that I wear- "I am mommy and I am tired but I'm rockin' this gig anyway!"

Wake Up

I wish I could write. I wish I could express the amazing things that come into my head when things are quiet. I want to change the world somehow, to make it better with some grand idea or memorable saying. I have no life altering story, no grand awakening to share. I guess I have been seduced by the idea that change only matters when it is great. But then.... I remember that there are many small awakenings each day and that these things are not only revelations to myself but to everyone who opens their eyes to the light of the sun in the sky. Do we forget to give ourselves credit for waking up? Do we forget that the very act of choosing consciousness is a declaration of possibility? I suppose there are many who journey through life in an unconscious state, unable or unwilling to open their eyes to the possible effect they could have on this world or the effect of the world on them. Life is too great an opportunity to sleep through.

Musical Monday-Movie Moments

There are so many, many movie moments I was overhwelmed. I picked these movie theme selections because they are random and fun. I know we can all remember the scene from the movie that accompanied the music. Don't we love the movies?!

What are you favorite movie songs?

Time Filler

Just for fun....

Your Noble British Name Is:

Lady Jenny Synge Ironside

What's Your Noble British Name?

Nothing Brilliant

I've called a repair man to fix my microwave. He should be here sometime between the hours of one o'clock and three o'clock. That works great for me because, well really I have nothing else to do today besides stay at home and wait. (That last bit was dripping with sarcasm in case you missed it.) I'm almost giddy about the prospects of doing a plumber's butt expose but I will restrain myself. After all, he's only a microwave guy. I really would have to say that my experience with repair men has been pretty good. Typically they get the job done fast and without any big to do. Unfortunately I think that I've called some of them so many times I've developed a reputation. The last time my plumber visited he was joking about my ineptitude on the phone with another one of his plumbing buddies. I need to set the record straight here, it's not me, it's my husband. Seriously, my husband, bless his white collar heart, couldn't put a puzzle together! Even if the pieces were numbered. His first response is "get someone to fix that" whenever something breaks down. Now to many women this would be a dream, I know. I'm sure you are scratching your head thinking what's her problem? Well let me tell you! It's not easy being the laughing stock of the plumbing/electrician's community. Seriously, hubby says call the plumber and he's off to work. I'm the one who has to answer the door, make small talk and corral the kids all while smiling as the repair man tells me "see here, it just wasn't turned on." (honestly, that's happened.) I'm the one who gets the goofy laugh when they pull corn dog sticks from the disposal. I'm the one who has to explain that we put the faucet in ourselves so I can see why it's leaking now. See, it's rough!

So to all you women with DIY hubbies, take it from me, it's not all wine and roses for us with inept spouses. We suffer!

Musical Monday-Theme Songs

I don't know about you, but I wait all day to get the kids in bed and catch a favorite show. How many hours do I spend in front of the T.V.? Probably way more than I'd like to admit. I think that DVR is the single greatest invention of all time. Forget the wheel. In honor of the countless hours of viewing pleasure, I dedicate this Musical Monday to the T.V. show theme song.

I had to stop myself from adding every great theme song I thought of. The first is what I consider to be the best theme song of all time! Yep, The Office ! The songs great, the show is great, need I say more. If it's a blast from the past you want, scroll down to the play list and skip to the next song. I guarantee you'll find something that will make you smile.

Happy Musical Monday!

I Need You

I think Jane Austen was a purveyor of truth. Stories of romance and social injustice are often laced with the pitiful cattiness of humanity as well as the triumph of the good heart. I love books like this. Not just clever romance novels or writings on class systems in various countries, but the mesmerizing relationships of women. It's not a hidden sexual fantasy about the same sex but a longing for the freedom to openly need one another. How deeply we need each other! It seems that women from bygone times knew this, or were more open with these expressions. Perhaps it was because equality with men was unattainable and so for our survival we formed the ranks of sisterhood. Have we sold our female closeness for what we perceive to be equality with men? Throughout the ages women have sought each other for compassion and comfort. We have wept with one another and laughed with one another, shared life and death and every daily struggle. But it seems today that acknowledging our neediness is perceived as our greatest weakness.

I have the privilege to know great women. I watch them when I can, I admire them always, but so often from these feelings come insecurity and even jealousy and a desire to hide my weakness. How many opportunities for learning and kindness I have missed because of my desire to appear strong. Maybe life is too fast or maybe we have created a world where individual enrichment and strength is seen as the greatest wealth. I'm not suggesting that women no longer share kindnesses with one another, I am lamenting that we are forgetting how to accept them, or even more so, we have forgotten that it's important to need them. I believe it is probably one of the greatest gifts women can give to one another, the open acknowledgement that we need someone. We all need to be needed. We crave it! And when we feel unneeded, we make room for all the emotions that are hard and sad.
I have thus decided to become a follower of Jane's heroines. This will be a difficult task, one through which I will feel a great deal of discomfort but I am determined to show my friends and family I love them by allowing myself to need them and allowing them to know I need them. I am convinced that through this I will learn more than I could ever dream of understanding on my own.
To every woman on this mother's day weekend; you are needed, wanted and loved.

If a Tree Falls in the Woods...

So last week was crazy. My microwave broke, I had a church function to prepare for and my grandfather passed away. On Wednesday night while I was trying to get everything prepared before I left for the funeral Thursday, I had reached my limit. My husband, in his growing wisdom, recognized the early signs of maternal malfunction and handed me the car keys. With a few half-hearted words of protest I dismissed myself with the assignment to go find a new microwave. After 20 minutes at Lowes with no help in sight I jumped back in my car, locked the doors, rolled up the windows and unleashed a verbal tirade at my dashboard. I will admit that in the heat of the moment I laced my barrage with a few choice adjectives. This leads me to my question of the day, if a mom swears in her car while no one is around to hear it, does it really count as a swearing?

It's Stuck in My Head-Musical Monday

I apologize in advance for what I'm about to do to you. I know that by this evening you will curse my name and scream "make it stop!" but it was such a fun idea I had to do it. You are hearing songs that you have probably tried to forget and that annoyed you when they were popular. Hope you have a great time singing "Don't Worry be Happy" all-day-long.