Thursday, May 30, 2013

Random Thoughts Thursday


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I love being able to borrow library books on my Kindle.  I don't love it when the loan expires before I've finished the book.  But at least there's no fear of overdue fees!

I wrote a poem today.

After next week I will have an 8th grader, a 6th grader, and a 2nd grader.  Only one left at elementary - how crazy is that?

Lexi & I started a Couch to 5K program last week.  So far I haven't died.

Tabs currently open on my browser: Gmail, Blogger (x2), Facebook, Recreation.gov (campground reservation website) (x3), Google Maps, Campsitephotos.com, Google search results (x3), local exterminators (x6).  Multi-tasking much?

I am in the slow process of updating my photo blog.  I'm devastated that I missed a day in April and didn't realize it until this weekend.

However, I did manage to take at least one picture every freaking day for over two years, so, really, that's kinda impressive.

The girls discovered this new game that's honestly kind of stupid, but also very addictive.  I don't understand why, but it is.  It's called Little Alchemy.  Check it out.  And if you get more than 200 elements, let me know what they are.

I didn't get into any of the nursing programs that I applied to, so Plan B is now taking shape.  I think I'm going to retake a couple of classes to try and turn B's into A's and then reapply with a shiny upgraded GPA.

We're planning a camping trip with some good friends.  It's going to be awesome.

I wish I could think of things to blog about anymore.

I will be trying these soon.  Possibly tonight.  Heaven help my waistline if they turn out.

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Your turn!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Random Thoughts Thursday (evening edition)


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It's a miracle!  I blogged!  (did you miss me?)

Did you know Wait Wait Don't Tell Me has a Tumblr?  I laughed.  I laughed so hard.

Then I discovered that Radiolab has one, too.  It's entirely possible that I spent WAY too much time on the internet that day.

An excerpt from a "happy birthday" exchange with my brother a few weeks ago (he's the one speaking): "Thanks! Sunshine received. Still waiting on puppies. Pop-Tarts arrived, were homicidal after all. Situation mostly under control; may have internal bleeding, odd rash."

My family is awesome.

Vicki is mad that we won't let her watch Dr. Who without us.  But if she watches it without us, we'll miss out!  We are raising a house full of nerds and it makes me so proud.

I have been made aware of the very best place to seek refuge in the event of a zombie apocalypse: Costco.  Think about it - there's food, clothes, cases upon cases of bottled water, TVs, no windows, heavy doors...what more could you need to stay safe from the walking dead?  Consider yourselves informed.

Lately I've been getting up about 45 minutes earlier than I used to.  It's amazing what a difference that makes in how our mornings go.

I finally sold my old desk!  Of course, I had to drop my price by $40 in order to do it, but it's finally out of my garage!

This seems like a very boring post.  But at least I posted!

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Your turn!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Teaching My Children to Lie, and Other Mother's Day Gifts

(I have four posts in my drafts folder right now.  Only one of them is not a Random Thoughts Thursday post.  I don't know what's wrong with me that I can't complete a single blog post these days.  It's been over a month.  I think I'm just burned out from too much sitting in front of the computer while I was taking classes.  Or, at least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  But, so help me, I am determined to actually hit the "publish" button before the day is done.  I don't even care any more what the post looks like.  So, you know, heads up :) )

Today is Mother's Day.  It's also my birthday.  I'm...old.  Okay, I'm not really that old.  In fact, I'm younger than most of my friends these days.  But I'm older than I've ever been, and while I think I'm handling it fairly well, it's still kind of a big number.  Chris and I have a kind of mutual agreement that we don't need to make a big deal of each other's birthdays.  Mostly we just don't have the energy, but when your birthdays fall a day apart, the celebrating just gets to be too much.  So we typically don't do a whole lot, and that's understood without needing to be said, and we're both okay with it.

Even with all that, though, I woke up this morning feeling a little bit bummed - knowing that it was two big days in one, and not much was going to be done to celebrate them.  And knowing that I couldn't complain, because that's just how we roll around here, and because Chris's birthday is tomorrow and I still have no idea what we're giving him (love you, honey!)

We do have one Mother's Day tradition, however, which is that Chris & the girls always make me breakfast in bed.  So even though I generally wake up when Chris gets up, I stay in bed and pretend to be asleep so they can "surprise" me.  I love it.  And that's what happened this morning.  They came in with a tray, two cards, and - what's this? - a great big box.  They made me read the cards first, then an extra card taped to the top of the box, and then I took a closer look at the plate my breakfast was on, and I slowly realized something.

Our plates don't have words on them...

And realization came stronger and stronger as they unpacked the box.  For Mother's Day, for my birthday, they made me a set of plates, each one depicting a different illustration from a children's book, hand-painted by the girls, Chris, and our good friend.  For weeks, my children and my husband, and, as it turns out, several of my friends, have been lying to me.  While I thought they were having playdates and providing free child labor for our friend, they were painting, glazing, and, in Vicki's case, driving all over the place getting these plates ready to surprise me today.

The backs all have something special on them, too, but I was in a
hurry and didn't get a picture

They're beautiful.  They're amazing.  They make me smile and cry and smile again.  They are, quite possibly, the best present I have ever received.  And I refuse to think about the number of lies I was told in order to make it happen.  They were definitely lies for a good cause, and I will cherish the knowledge of them just as much as I will cherish these plates.  They make me happy, and they're a reminder that my family knows what I love and are willing to work hard to surprise me with something they know I'll treasure.

Now I'm just sorry I don't have something equally as epic for Chris's birthday tomorrow.  I guess there's always Father's Day...
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