WEDNESDAYS

Why?

I have many unanswered questions and I guess it is my misfortune to have a brain that even thinks them up.  However, why does my computer now ask me for my typepad password every time I log on when it remembered it for the last year and a half?

and why do I have the pet cemetary cat for a pet? Jack Jack, aka hack hack is just a giant ball of scratching, pooping, barfing, counter jumping fur.  I finally got a second litter box so his highness has a more private spot to go to the bathroom in and thankfully he has started covering his duty.

and how did I end up being the storage unit for everyone in my family?  I need to take a few lessons in how to say 'no' apparently.  I can barely manage my own stuff let alone try to organize and store the stuff from lifetimes of my ancestors.  I have items dating back to the Spanish American War for goodness sakes.   I struggle with what to keep, what to trash, what to sell? 

and this one really gets me:  How is Amy getting such high scores on Pathwords?

I guess you can tell that my mental state is a little off today.  I think we are all at a crossroads this week.  Must be the turn of the moon or some other celestial body.

Lisa asked me if I was going to make a new year's resolution and usually I don't.  But I think I am going to go for some resolve in the area of simplifying, purging and swearing off accepting any more crap (either physically or emotionally or mentally).  Enough already.  yeah me.

What a week

  We started last Saturday trying to get ready for a trip to Eureka to see Dan's parents.  But to even get in the car required a long list of to do's.  I had to get the oil changed in the car, work on laundry, force the children to clean the house (well they helped willingly rotten do-gooders), attempt to finish Christmas shopping, make reservations, call people, do some paperwork.  It was a bit nutty on Friday.  However, the biggest obstacle was taking the time I needed and staying off Facebook which is my new most favorite toy. 

  The trip going was mostly ok.  We hit some rain and some traffic in the Bay Area.  The kids started their long winter's nap and caught up on some much needed sleep.  In fact I haven't seen any of them sleep as much as they did on this trip.  I finished a couple of books, Pandora by Anne Rice.  I know, more vampires.

  One of the reasons we went up to Eureka was to see Dan's mom who has lost a lot of her memory in the past two years.  She is a sweet lady and the kids love her.  We did get to spend some time with them, went out to lunch a couple of times and tried to get her cat to come out from under the bed.  It is hard for us that we live so far apart.  A visit is a major deal.  And since my mom died, the kids don't have a grandmother around all the time.  They miss that part of our life. 

  Dan took us to see the snow on a nearby mountain.  Alyssa had never seen snow and since she is never really dressed for anything but the beach we didn't stay out in it too long.  Still they had fun.

  As for the rest of the trip and the dicey drive home through snow and rain, rain, rain, let's just say I am very happy to be back home.  There was a funny moment while we were driving through LA.  We were listening to 95.5 and they had just started Uncle Joe's Christmas Carols which was a mix of traditional songs and newer stuff done by rock artists.  The one they only played a part of went something like, "Here comes the fat guy and his bag of sh*t."  Now that is funny. 

the weather outside is frightful

 Tis the season to be rushing about and throwing money in all directions.  I can do this with the best of the shoppers out there. However, today it was raining cats AND dogs.  It was windy and cold.  These are unacceptable conditions for a weather wuss like myself.  A little rain is fine and yes I realize we need the water.  Just rain at night or some other time than when I have to be getting three kids out the door to school. 

  It isn't as though I mind getting my hair or my clothes wet because I don't.  I used to go for walks in the rain when I was younger and I loved it.  Just, today it felt like one more hurdle to overcome to get through the day.  Especially since we are rushing towards Christmas and the end of 2008.  I told my friend Kim that I feel like Dorothy running from the flying monkeys.  And when I am with my children I feel like I am Dorothy running WITH the flying monkeys.

  In other news, Alyssa and I watched The Grinch again.  I LOVE that movie and I know many of the lines.  The Grinch is just hysterical.  One of my favorite parts is when he puts on a basebal cap and pretends to be Ron Howard directing Max as Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and when the dog pops off the nose he screams, "Brilliant. You reject your own nose because it represents the glitter of commercialism."

I think the look says it all.

soonami of stuff

plus math trauma.  give me a minute.  We just had a math meltdown of epic proportions...over percents and crazy ass division techniques.  Why can't they just teach division OLD SCHOOL.  It has worked for many a moon and now they want them to do what?  feel their way through the problems?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO, do it the old way and be all done.  Who decided that we could even do division some alternate way? 

I mentioned all the clutter drama on facebook and that started an avalanche of hilarious comments on that end.  I have managed to manage some of the house clutter in the last few days but it is a battle.   My children have so many miscellaneous items and school stuff.  My family has deposited a grip of items aka shit in my house and garage.  My husband and I have accumulated a mountain of really good items.  But something has to go and I am tired of babysitting all these things and moving them and dusting them and whatever else they require. 

  enough complaining for now.  There is work to be done.  Plus projects, more cheer = good grief, piano recitals and orchestra concerts, end of year banquets and Christmas parties and Christmas itself bringing even more crap in its wake. 

On the other hand Twilight is still in theatres and I dream of the day the dvd is released.  I might have to reread Twilight for fun.

Facebook is so much fun

  Toni calls it Crackbook.  Lisa is completely addicted to it.  Amber has her facebook up at all times just in case.  And I have fallen in love with it.  The whole thing is hilarious and fun.  Plus there are so many things going on at once from multiple conversations, friend requests, sending and receiving all manner of flair and cocktails and who knows what else.  I have to say I tried the myspace thing and my space always looked a little undone and crappy and I tried to connect with people but my mojo wasn't working over there.  On facebook I feel like a kid on Christmas.

  I think everyone should be on this bus. 

  I am currently obsessed with the Twilight soundtrack that I stole from Lisa Lisa.  Thanks lady.  And thanks for the photos.  You made us look quite good.  If you go to Lisa's blog you can click on a link and see her work with my family.  I love that she captured some of the relationships between us.  

  Well, off to the weekend which promises to be different than the last seven.  Avery was asked to perform in an octet at the local mall.  He will be playing violin and performing some Christmas songs.  What else?  Tis the season.  

What...

can I say about how I feel today.  Not quite screaming on the inside and feeling like I have a chance to get something accomplished...although what I am not sure.  I have finally made a dent in the cleaning up and out of our downstairs area.  Lots of cabinets and lots of crap later, I have moved a bit out and away and a ton of it upstairs to be dealt with later.  I don't generally have a museum like house where rooms are always clean and free of personal clutter.  I like the idea of it but it never stays clear of our crap for long.  We all like to spread out and we all have just one too many things going on that we don't always clean up after ourselves.  So piles occur and stuff gets saved or shoved in to a drawer. 

Maybe I have to read up on the Feng Shui and see why the piles occur.

oh and Lisa and I went to see English Beat on a whim.  They were SO good and played so many of their hits.  Aside from the whiplash we almost got from the gorilla like step class dancing woman who stood in front of us, oh and the guy who had unbuttoned his hawaiian shirt and kept trying to shake Lisa's hand (ewwwwwwwwwwwww), we had a great time.  Nothing like traveling back in time and hearing the songs from the day.  Plus neither one of us had seen them before.  And there are so many bands that haven't been seen live by either one of us.  I can't wait to see who the next year will bring around for us to go see.  Happy Tuesday.