I've got issues

Ok. Anyone else having this problem, because it is making me irate.

There are like 3 or 4 of my favorite blogs that will not come up. Only the headers and sometimes the sidebars but never the posts. Now my other blog, Picking up the Pace, is doing it too. Is it just me or what??? er.

So anyway. I'm gonna switch my 101 in 1001 over to here tomorrow....the official starting day. I've been really pumped for it. But in case you are really wondering what I'm talking about, go over here, and if you can get in, peruse my goals and laugh it up. Cuz I'm really, really, gonna try all that! Yup. But it you can't see my posts this is not gonna help you. So you'll just have to wait til I repost all those dadgum goals.

I've already been on here too long already today and I'm gonna go clean my house. Gonna put on some tunes and do a SUPER CLEAN. {cleaning-really-fast-and-getting-lots-done-before-I-get-bored-sort-of-thing}

Wish me luck! Or pray. Thanks!

Now I know why

I picked up a realtors catalog not too long ago and it's been floating about the house ever since. We love to look at what's on the market in our area and dream about the homes we would buy if we ever won the lottery that we don't play.

There are some of those houses that just knock our socks off. We really dig the ones that have 4 or more bedrooms. Separate the kiddos and we'd have loads of peace around here. But what we don't understand is when there are all these bedrooms and only one bathroom. Now granted, when I was growing up, we had 7 people living in a 3-bedroom home with one bathroom and we worked around that quite well, even having 3 girls. And then, this boggled me even more....the homes that have, like, 2 or 3 bedrooms and 5, yes, that's FIVE, bathrooms. Whatever for????

Well, I learned why. Between last night and this morning.

Last night we got home from doing some shopping and taking the boys to Long John Silver's. The first thing the boys do is head for the bathrooms. We have two. Bathrooms. And 4 boys. So Samuel got in there. All fine and good, heads off to bed. Eli's next and he's gonna be awhile. Michael asks to use our bathroom. I told him only if he's gonna be quick. He assures me he will be quick. Half an hour later I was crossing my legs and getting mad! He finally saunters out. I was not happy.

Ok. I could justify 2 1/2 baths. But five? That's just a bit nuts.

Then Riley called to me this morning for some assistance in the bathroom. This is what I found:

We are all readers. Now I know why there are 5 bathrooms in some homes. Oiy!

We are Getting a Puppy!

This is #3 for me today. Posts that is, not puppies. I'm playing catch-up. And if my bladder and my frozen toesies can hold out I may add 2 more. Bonus! It's your lucky day!

Anyway. We have picked out a puppy from a litter born this past Saturday. We had asked for one out of Smidget's last litter but family had first dibs. That was okay. I would not have wanted to train a dog through this winter. Oiy!

3/4 Chihauhau, 1/4 poodle...she is tiny!

Here she is!

We haven't named her yet. Here are the names that we've come up with or others have suggested: Daisy, Hailey, Chi-chi, Chili, Bovine, Heifer, Precious. My idea was Daisy and Mike's was Hailey. We automatically threw out the Chi-chi and Chili (typical names for chihauhaus but we don't like typical and the coloring is all wrong for those names). The "cow" names came up because Mike didn't like my suggestion of Daisy. He said it sounded too much like a cow and we should just name her Heifer and I suggested Bovine. Or maybe we should go with Bovinia...feminize it! No?

Handwriting Challenge

Ok....I want to start off by saying that the way I write BIG is different than when I write normally. I'm usually neater, by far. Unless I'm in this huge-o hurry. Then it's completely atrocious and I wouldn't let you see it anyway. =P And if I'm writing out cards or a letter to a special friend my writing is all loopy and flourishy (that's not a real word but you know what I mean).

Want to know what this all about? Head over to Angela's blog and she'll clue you in!

~ My Husband Rocks! ~ The Moment I Knew...

Prompt/Theme for Friday, January 30, 2009

.....the moment or the circumstances that led to you knowing that you were going to marry the man who became your husband....

As I've mentioned before, Mike and I would drive around after work in the wee hours of the morning. Sometimes we would go to a truck stop diner and have a cheap breakfast or go fishing or just burn up miles of asphalt and talk. Most of the time my brother Jason was with us.

It didn't take long before Mike knew I had a huge crush on him. I really didn't ever think anything would come of it; I was just having fun. But the longer we worked together and the more time we spent together, the more I liked Mike and really wanted our relationship to go farther than just work acquaintances or friends.

I remember sitting in the parking lot one morning as he was dropping me off at my car and I was looking at his profile and thinking how he was becoming more to me. He was my confidant and I could really tell him EVERYTHING. It was just a week or so later that we were driving down Riverside and we were talking about how we wanted our homes decorated, the number of kids we wanted, how we would raise those kids and where we wanted to live. The conversation started with us talking about our individual lives and as we talked we were soon incorporating each other's ideas into what we wanted and what we "would do". That is when I thought in my mind that he wanted to move forward in a serious relationship and that we were on the same page with values and dreams for our futures. I KNEW he was the one I wanted and somehow, despite the circumstances we were in, we would end up together.

Happy Birthday, Eli!

10

I can not believe it's been 10 years since Eli was laid in my arms and I fell in love with his eyes and his headful of hair and shortly thereafter, his cheeky smile.

Alas, time moves swiftly on and we have no recourse but to chronicle the years in pictures and words that may or may not make sense to us or them years from now.

Anyway. We had fun last night.

Trick candles. I took him awhile and there was lots of smoke.

Eli proclaimed his fishing pole from {G} his favorite gift.

PS> Eli is a year older than his friends. Don't tell him I told you. He's short. Very.

Eli has actually begged to go to WalMart since {M} got him a gift card.

Eli hates WalMart!

Eli thanks {M} for his new snowball maker. He is already planning his sweet revenge on his brother, Michael.

How many boys does it take to fly a plane?

The boys try to figure this out and can't get the plane to fly. Dad tries to do it and gashes his hand in the process. Then Mom says "Are there directions?" Ahhh! The red thing goes on the front of the 'gun' and it works wonderfully. Gee, directions are pretty handy.

Happy 10th Birthday, Eli!

Thank you, fellow moms

Thank you all for your advice. I know it's not easy to help another parent as all children are different and some things work for one and not another.

Fortunately, Eli did shape up and was able to have his party tonight. Luckily for us, only 3 of the 5 invited were able to make it and only 1 was able to spend the night. whew! Seven boys under the age of 12 in one small home is quite a riot.

I still don't know what got into him this week. There are times when you know your kid is acting out to show off or because they are tired. Oddly enough, Eli was the first up each morning this week (definitely not the norm)so we didn't think him being tired was the issue. I'm sure I'll never know what it was (though it bled over into his school behavior as well).

Now, if only we could get through to Michael. He's grounded into the middle of February. Aye, carumba!

PS. My plans for tomorrow: making caramel sweet rolls, reading more Anna Karenina, and posting pics from Eli's party. Sweet!

What to do? What to do?

I love my children. I want what is best for them. I hope they will realize this truth someday. Someday soon.

We have a birthday sleepover planned for tomorrow night in honor of Eli's 10th birthday. He has invited 5 boys over and I'm sure they plan to monopolize the XBox 360 all night - much to the consternation of Eli's brothers.

But now we have a problem. Eli. Yes, Eli is the problem. He has had the most durned-awful attitude the last two days and I am at my wit's end with him. He has been treating his brothers so badly, arguing with Mike and myself and he gives me the goofy grin that says, "Oh, I know I'm in trouble but I'm gonna make it worth my while!" Do you know the look? Er. That look pushes me to the edge, let me clue you in.

So, what to do? Can I, and should I, wait until the last moment (tomorrow morning) to give him a chance to shape up or call the party off? What would you do? We want Eli to take us seriously and that just isn't happening. Oiy!

PS. I realize that I have neglected to introduce you to E and Sam. And I will be doing that soon. They are both integral parts of our family. But they are both in the middle and tend to be lost there sometimes. So, pardon! I will get to it. Sometime.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday
Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Should be Reading:
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

I actually just finished Vampire in Moscow by Richard Henrick this morning. Here's a teaser for you....

Dressed in white coveralls, this individual spun to face them and let out a deafening, mournful howl that was unlike anything Yuri had ever heard. Yuri dropped his cigarette as his jaw opened in astonishment.

The Well Seasoned Reader Challenge

I picked up this challenge over at Book Nut. I think this will be the last challenge I sign up for until this one is over. I have a few going and I want to be able to keep up with them. But this sounds good and it will definitely get me into some new books.

Here's how it works:

Rule #1: The challenge runs from January 1 to March 31. (No cheating and starting before!)Rule

#2: You must read three books. After that, it's up to you how much you want to read.

Rule #3: The books must:
have a food name in the title

OR

be about cooking/eating

OR

have a place name in the title

OR

be about one (or more) person's travel experience

ORbe about a specific cultureOR

be by an author whose ethnicity is other than your own (see, I squeezed it in!)

I'll leave it up to you to choose how the three books you read fit the criteria.

Rule #4: They must be middle-grade on up, but can be either fiction or non-fiction.

The purpose, this winter, is to take yourself someplace out of the ordinary, to go on a literary trip, whether that be challenging your expectations, discovering a new place, or enjoying the experience of reading about good food, places, and people.

So, I will add my reviews here as I finish my 3 books. Stay tuned!

My first book to fall into this challenge-I say fall because I was already reading it when I stumbled upon this challenge last week-is A Father's Law by Richard Wright. This falls under an author of an ethnicity other than my own category. Mr. Wright was an African American writer that made his way into the world of writing through Communist groups in Chicago in the 1920's. Mr. Wright's last novel, A Father's Law, is an unfinished work. I wasn't too sure if I'd even read through to the "end" when I was a chapter into the book. It was a bit on the dry, psychological side. But as Mr. Wright builds up the characters of Ruddy (the father) and Tommy (his son) it kind of grips you. The story is about a father that is promoted as police chief into an area with 5 unsolved murders and for reasons unexplained, besides misunderstanding, he suspects his son is involved somehow. As the story progresses, the reader can't help but side with the Ruddy and than Tommy alternately, and almost believe Tommy's guilt right along with Ruddy. Mr. Wright died before he finished the book but his family believed it was his best work yet so published it "as-is". I won't ruin the last page for anyone but let me just say this....You'll be wishing he'd survived to finish it. A Father's Law is one of the best "chance picks" I've ever read. *****
Vampire in Moscow begins in ancient Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero. There the author sets the tone for what becomes a very interesting read. Quickly we catch up to a more modern era of post-war Russia and Richard Henrick entertwines the lives of 6 main characters. What I liked most about his book is that he really goes into details of each of the victims' lives. They aren't just a name or body discovered. You know why they are where they are and you know they are the expendable characters but after you've had a glimpse into their lives you want them to survive. There are some weaknesses in the plot that could have used some shoring up, just as there are a few characters that need to be fleshed out a little more. Overall, I was pleased with this read-especially since I went into it thinking it would be a cheap-o novel. Also, except for a couple paragraphs of slight allusions to sex, it is a very clean book with no profanity. Mr. Henrick also does a good job of describing the godless society communist Russia propagated. I do recommend it for anyone that likes historical fiction with a penchant for the darker side of fantasy, but it's not for everyone. ***

Woo Hoo!

This is #3 for me. A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam is fits the challenge as the author is a different ethnicity than my own and the book is about a specific culture other than my own. It also mentions ethnic food, a lot. Does that count? A Golden Age is set in 1971 East Pakistan during the Bangladesh War of Independance. It is a masterful telling of a family affected in all aspects by the war. It is poetic and suspenseful. There were times I could not put it down because I just had to know what was going to happen.

I came upon this book by accident. I was at our local Target and was actually looking to buy a totally different book--The Love Dare. Then I remembered that I needed to get this challenge wrapped up very quickly. I turned around, saw this book on the shelf, read the synopsis and bought it instead. For a chance find, it is a great read.

Rehana Haque, a young widow, blissfully prepared for the party she will host for her son and daughter. But this is 1971 in East Pakistan, and change is in the air.

Set against teh backdrop of the Bangladesh War of Independance, A Golden Age is a story of passion and revolution; of hope, faith, and unexpected heroism in the midst of chaos--and of one woman's heartbreaking struggle to keep her family safe. From A Golden Age

I found myself inspired by the character, Rehana. The edition I purchased included an interview with Tahmima Anam. I was awed by the account of her maternal grandmother's tale of life during the war, on which A Golden Age is based. The story is at once believable but also fairytale-like in it's ending. It took me by surprise to learn it was based on fact.

I have to say this was my favorite read during this challenge. I enjoyed all the books I read but this one really took me away, beyond the borders of what I know and understand about the world and opened my curiousity towards a custom and way of life I had never regarded closely before.

My Husband Rocks

1. Where did you meet?

Mike and I met at my brother's house briefly. He came over to check Jason's stove before heading to work at Burger King where my brother also worked. Jason was bringing me in for an interview. Mike interviewed me and hired me that night. He still remembers what I wore to that interview. Though his he remembers my skirt being a bit shorter than it actually was!

2. How long did you date before you were married?

We dated 5 months before he proposed and we were married 11 months later.

3. What does he do that surprises you?

The thing that surprises me the most about Mike is his connection with little girls. We only have boys but our nieces and friends' girls are always drawn to him. He always has room on his lap for one of them when they visit. He always says that if he had had a girl he would have been the one to spoil her.

4. What is your favorite quality of his?

My favorite quality of Mike's is his humor and his laugh. He giggles. I love to make him giggle. He can be violent when tickled but I'll brave the thrashing feet, knees and elbows just to hear him giggle. He can say the darnedest things to make me laugh (and blush).

5. What is your favorite feature of his?

Picking a favorite feature is really hard. I love to look at his face. I always have. He's got a great nose and I LOVE his lips. But I think if I really have to pick a favorite then I'd have to say his hands. They are great for holding of course and they are strong. But he could stop biting his nails. Heehee.

6. Does he have a nickname for you?

He used to call me Thumper when we were dating but I don't really know that he has a regular nickname for me anymore. There are names he calls me to get a rise out of me. But I'm not sharing those at this time.

7. What is his favorite food?

Mike loves a good beef tenderloin. He also loves peanut butter, a lot!

8. What is his favorite sport?

Mike's favorite sport is NFL football and thankfully he's a Green Bay Packer fan. He wouldn't get along well with his in-laws otherwise.

9. When and where was your first kiss?

Our first kiss was on July 3rd or maybe it was the 4th. It was the wee hours of the morning after working a closing shift at Burger King and Jason, Mike and I always drove around a bit before heading home to go our separate ways. That night, Jason wasn't with us but we drove down to the lighthouse and we were sitting on the rocks listening to the waves. The air was balmy and I looked up at him and he leaned over and kissed me. Then it began to rain. I love this memory.

10. What do you like to do together?

We like to take drives around the area to find where different roads will lead us. We also like to spend the quiet hours after the kids go to bed just being together, not necessarily doing anything together but being in the same room. We also love to play games. Mike is so competitive!

11. Do you have any children?

Mike has a 17 yo son from his first marriage. We have 4 boys together, 12, 10, 8 (ages are rounded up as their birthdays are coming up) and 4 yo. They are a joy and a source of all our gray hairs!

12. Does he have a hidden talent?

Mike has a talent that should stay hidden! He can sing just like the singers from the "hair" bands of the eighties. Oh, it is so irritating! But it also makes me laugh. Otherwise, he has a great singing voice. Another talent not everyone knows about him is that he can fix almost-I did say almost-anything. He is a self-taught fix-it man that will learn through trial, error and experience. He used to do most of the maintenance at the BK he worked at and does most of our vehicle repairs himself.

13. Who said "I love you" first?

I am pretty sure it was me. I'm 6 years younger than Mike and he was 24 when we started dating. I probably said "I love you" before I even knew I was in love!

14. What is his favorite type of music?

Mike likes rock, hard rock, rap, punk and some that I don't even know the genre of. His favorite is Pink Floyd. We don't share the same tastes in music.

15. What do you admire most about him?

The thing I admire most about Mike is his care for our family. He works hard to provide for us. I grew up in a home where my mom supported the family while going to college as my dad could not keep a steady job. So the stability that Mike supplies for our family is tremendous for me. I am able to stay at home with the kids. Now Mike is also going to school to get a nursing degree. He thinks ahead and is always trying to better himself and make sure we are ready for the future.

16. Do you think he will read this?

Mike only reads my posts if I ask him to. This is one he needs to read.

Chunkster Challenge

I did it again. I entered yet another challenge. See, I just know I can do it. If I'm gonna read books, and you know I am, I might as well challenge myself. So I joined the Chunkster Challenge. I already have my first chunky book too! I started Don Quixote back in October and just couldn't get into it so I guess I'll give Cervantes another go. As far as a second book, the title remains to be known. I'll have to do some scouting in my local library. Any way, here's the guidelines if you should want to get on board for this challenge.


*The Chubby Chunkster - this option is for the reader who has a large tome or two to read, but really doesn't want to commit to more than that. 2 books is all you need to finish this challenge.

*Don Quixote - Cervantes
* Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy