I Should Be Folding Laundry

So many suitcases, so little time

Brian left for his second business trip in 11 days, this one is one night longer, which also means a whole day longer which also means by Friday I am going to be very, very tired.  But that's okay, because after Friday, he'll be home and I'll be able to breathe a sigh of relief that I can now go to Target alone, er, rather feel safe with my husband by my side.

He was home for a total of five nights.  Four of the nights I had planned events to attend, meetings, a conference call, bowling and the ever important Bunco night.  The fifth night, he and I actually went out of town without the children for a planned surprise party for a dear friend in Illinois.  On Friday afternoon, we joked, in a sad kind of way, that we were living like a divorced couple, sharing custody of the kids.  It was sad really, realizing that we hadn't sat down for a family meal in nearly 8 days and it would be another six days before we could again.  Our family sitting down for a meal together is so important to us and it's something we really miss. 

We did stay in a hotel last night that was actually very nice and extremely clean and would you believe the bed was soft?  Almost billowy, which is something you just don't see very often.  We (myself, my husband and the chickens) are taking a VERY LONG DRIVE in June that will require stopping in the middle of the drive to sleep at a hotel, we typically stay at one particular type of hotel, but the beds are just not very comfortable, we just liked the hotel because of the warm Cinnabons they serve, okay?  So, we tried this new one and we are so pleased to have found the soft beds.  When we walked into our room we realized they had booked us into a handicap hotel room.  The doorways were so wide I'm pretty sure we could have pulled our car into the room to unpack. (which would have been nice considering I packed four pairs of shoes for a one night trip.)  We even had a lovely seat in the tub, wall bars everywhere and an adjustable shower head that I really did not know how to work at first, accidentally spraying myself in the face.  It was the best.  The most amazing thing was how large our THREE fire alarms were in the one room.  One had a strobe light so big that if it were to go off in the middle of the night, I'm not sure if I would run or dance.

Another benefit to being in a handicap room is that it is situated very close to the lobby, which is great when you are stumbling in late at night with blisters on your toes the size of dimes caused by the very cute shoes you had purchased that same day.  However, being close to the lobby also means you are close to the breakfast area which is very busy at seven in the morning.  Not to mention the outdoor area just outside the lobby for visitors to sit and relax in the summer warmth, or to get drunk and laugh and yell, like you're in a beer garden all night long.  Right outside our window.   So, although we had the nice wide doorways, the fancy hand held showers, and the enormous fire alarms and strobe lights, (did I mention we were also directly across from the indoor pool??), we think given the choice, we would have chosen a room three floors up, or you know, in a shed somewhere.

Either way, we did have a great time away and needless to say, I'm feeling a little down that my husband is in another part of the country.   I think I'll just sit here and stuff my face with nachos and queso and maybe some ice cream.   Okay, not the ice cream, I really have to watch this growing figure of mine, speaking of which, be sure to check back on Tuesday.  Remember almost two weeks ago I mentioned working on a little project for weight loss?  Well, I'm so excited to tell you that the unveiling will be on May 1, 2007.  So, check back, bring your friends and your scales, because y'all, I'm tired of feeling fat, are you?  If so, maybe I can help...
see you then.

Pancake Warnings

Finally, after being sick for a week and missing Sunday school, dance class, one day of preschool and a her first bowling birthday party, Ariel was able to go to school yesterday for two and half hours.

It was divine. 

For both us.  Her preschool class made breakfast, pancakes and sausage.  What I should have warned her teacher beforehand is that Ariel is a PANCAKE EATING MACHINE and stops at nothing to eat every pancake in sight.  And I tried to give her the same amount of breakfast before class as usual, but she knew she was having breakfast at school and couldn't quite figure out why she was having breakfast before breakfast.  I wanted to say "well, I'm just concerned that the other fourteen students may not get a single pancake."  But I told her just in case she got hungry before breakfast, this was a little appetizer.  (which was actually little bit true.)

While she was at school, I got to work at home.  Drinking coffee and cleaning my bedroom while Racecar played with 1,362 race cars.  My bedroom is the Official Dumping Location For All Crap in the Folding Laundry household, it was so bad that the night before I had a dream that I was cleaning my bedroom.  Your bedroom, according to Oprah, is supposed to be your sanctuary, filled with clean sheets and lavender, a place for your soul to be put at ease and well....my bedroom was not my sanctuary and it was filled with dirty socks and so.much.dust.  So, I cleaned it.  Really cleaned it.  While I was cleaning, I noticed my NOAA weather radio was unplugged, I plugged it in.  (p.s.  do you have a weather radio?  I added one to my Christmas wish list two years ago and I'm very happy with it and feel much safer at night.  Consider buying one, okay?  It's like having a fire alarm.  End Info-mercial.)

By the time we needed to pick Ariel up from school, my bedroom was pristine and I felt so much better.  I actually put my laptop on the desk and did work, rather than my coffee table or my lap or the kitchen counter, it felt good and productive!  When I picked Ariel up, her teacher reported to me that "Ariel sure can pack away some pancakes!!!!!!!!!!" she exclaimed.  I replied with something about her taking after her mother, which is totally the truth.

It was while working on my desk that my NOAA weather radio went off with a TORNADO WARNING.  Do you hear this?  The day I turned it on, we had a tornado warning.  Well, not so much we, but the next county over, which I'm glad to know about because our parents live there.  So, I made the appropriate phone calls and while on the phone with my mother in law, the sirens outside my house started going off and the NOAA weather radio went off with a tornado warning for us, which wasn't a good thing...because the kids were sleeping peacefully.  And quietly.  And I've always been instructed to never wake a sleeping child.  Shouldn't that rule be followed in the midst of a tornado warning??  Because what if a tornado does not hit, then I'd just woken them up for no reason...but what if a tornado did hit.  I woke them up, put their sandals on to go downstairs and the sirens stopped.  So, there we were, all staring at each other, the kids looking at me like I'm a lunatic and me looking at the weather radio like it's a lunatic.  Either way, it was peaceful and fine and good.  and safe.

And I'm really glad a tornado did not hit.  I had just cleaned my room, you know.

Gutter Balls

Yesterday I had a glorious day of not being a single parent and stay at home mom.  Brian fed the kids all of their meals and took them for bike rides.  I had lunch with my Mom, went shopping for an event Brian and I are attending this weekend, I purchased a beautiful pair of high heeled sandals, I went to Panera Bread and I went bowling.   Bowling as in Kingpin.  or as in gutter ball or as in I'm sore.  Because I went bowling.  I'm sore because I went bowling.  I can't think of any statement that could be sadder except I'm sore from checking the mail.  Which is not true, the truth is, my back hurts, my arms hurt and my neck hurts.  What's even stranger, and I hesitate to tell you this, for fear that you may not return, is that I still do not know which hand I bowl with.  My right?  or my left?

I am left handed when it comes to writing and eating, but essentially everything else I use my right hand.  Friends, this is not ambidextrous, this is deranged and quite frankly, it's confusing.  When I told my mom that I was bowling with my Mommy's Group, she looked at me, face filled with concern and said "but what hand will you bowl with?"  Like if I picked the wrong hand my nose might fall off.  And truth be told, no matter which hand I bowl with, I'm still a terrible bowler, my dreams of being a professional bowler have been shattered.   All thanks to hand confusion.

I can remember watching bowling on TV when I was little.  My parents were both in leagues, so they were a little interested in the sport.  I can remember thinking that it's not really a sport because rolling balls?  Not hard.  No sweat + No dirt = No sport.  But after last night, and how I'm feeling right now??  It's a sport, a very difficult sport that should be taken very, very seriously.   You know, come to think of it, I probably should have worn a thingy on my hand or a bowling shirt, I bet that would have increased my score to like NINETY or something.  The league-ers that were there took bowling very seriously because the group of Moms I was with were snapping random pictures at the "sight to be seen" event, but then an employee took our joy away and said the "league-ers" want the flashes to stop.  So, no pictures for you.  Hey, I'm mad, too.  I wanted to share some great pictures of my form, but I can't, so get over it.  And yes, you are missing out.

Let me ask you a question...what is this crap on my shirt?  It was clean and folded and I went to put it on, something was all over the front.  It does not have a smell.  And when I washed it, it came out looking the same way.  To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement, because it was one of a kind (purchased at Old Navy), and very expensive (six dollars) and it can never be replaced (except at Target, Wal-Mart and T.J. Maxx.)  So, if you know what it is and how I can get rid of it, please let me know.  I'm simply devastated about my loss.  oh and if you have an answer, let me know so I can dig it out of the trash.

For the love of God, stop looking at my messy hair.  I was in a hurry to take a picture.

geeze.

Updated:  And here is a picture of the shoes that so many of you nosey bossy people asked me to show you:

so.pretty.

American Idol--Compassion and hope

For the first time this season, I can watch this show without throwing things at the TV whenever Sanjaya shows up on the screen.  What a relief.

Let's just hope he doesn't appear in the audience.  I am armed, if necessary.

What could possibly take one hour, there's only six people left??   oh.  Idol gives back.  Right.

Unfortunately, I am watching this after the voting ended, usually I would be upset, but since Sanjaya is gone, I'm none too stressed.  But if Blake gets voted off, watch out, sistuh.

Chris Richardson--Last week he said "nasally" was a form of singng and well, that really irritated me, so Mr. Richardson is on my list, but he sounds pretty good, do you think he sounded good?  Do you?  I said, DO YOU?!?!?!  ANSWER ME!!!  Why you gotta act all rude and not answer me?  Okay, he just stood up and started breaking it down a bit and he sounds better, not too bad, Chris. How shocking, Paula is proud.

Oh, good news!  I can vote, they're doubling the time!  HOORAY!! (dog-gone-it) Where's my phone?   I can't wait to start dialing numbers!! (I can't believe I have to get up.) Time to vote!!  (time to vote for Blakey and Melinda.)

Melinda Dolittle--I LOVE her hair.  What a lovely wrap dress.  As usual, she just sounds so good.  I love it.  She's saucy and with all of the blingity bling bling goodness all over her neck, I barely notice how teeny tiny her neck is.  I'm so glad Simon asked her to stop being surprised, what a difference! 

Blakey Lewis--A jacket?  You've got to be kidding me?  I like his hair.  And I love John Lennon.  "Imagine Blake with out a shirt on.  It's easy if you try." Sing it with me now.  oh wait.  Blake's turn.  I think he sounds really nice.  You know what?  His voice is really, really unique.  I enjoyed this performance, although it was little safe.

LaKisha Jones--This girl is due for a nice, strong performance, in my opinion.  Now, I KNOW she is a good singer, and I love how she looks, but why do I feel like she is yelling at me??  I LOVE LOVE LOVE it when Simon tells the audience to shut up.  It's my fave.  Not such a hot performance.

Phil Stacey--Awww...the next sad person to be voted off.  Poor guy.  Thankfully he is not wearing a hat.  Score one point for Philly.  I KNEW he was going to sing a country song.  Smart move, Stacey.  He really sounds like a good singer, you know, like someone with talent.   I actually thought it was good!  Even though he still looks dead.

Jordin Sparks--Shoot.  I forgot about Jordin.  She's good, too.  I better vote for her now.  I guess I should listen to her perform first.  She looks SUPER DUPER FABULOUS.  WOW!  She had a few rough moments in the beginning, she was a bit flat or something, but man, she has a great voice!  I can't get over how great that dress it.  I wonder if I can borrow it.  Do you think she'll let me borrow it?  I could wear it to Target or to take Ariel to preschool.  My life is so glamorous.   Brian HATED this performance.  HATED. He thinks she going to get voted off tonight.  WHA????  SAY WHO????  What is he talking about?  I don't think it was her best, but it was really good!   

Who's going to get voted off??  Phil or Kee Kee (or is it spelled Key Key??)

Works for Me Wednesday

Stop buying the expensive kid's foaming soap refills.  (and please stop buying more bottles of soap when you run out, it's all about re-using!)  Instead, just buy regular, good old-fashioned, off brand, anti-bacterial hand soap, add the soap to the "Kan-doo" style soap dispensers, fill about a quarter of the way up and then fill with water.  Push the pump and out comes the foaming soap!

It's not the soap that creates the foam, it's the type of pump you have, an easy way to save money!!

WORKS FOR ME!

For me WFMW, go here!

Wordless Wednesday

For more Wordless Wednesdays, go here and 5 Minutes for Mom!

For Earth Day! And for soldiers! Could it get any better?

 

My friend Milly collects cell phones.  She also has a husband who spent way to much time in Iraq while she experienced the first year of her son's life.  Milly has discovered an incredible recycling program called "Cell Phones for Soldiers" that collects cell phones, they then use the funds from recycled cell phones to purchase calling cards for soldiers serving our country.  "Cell Phones for Soldiers" hopes to turn recycled cell phones into 12 million minutes of pre-paid calling cards in 2007, they need your support to make sure this happens.

Another great thing about this program?  It was started by two siblings when they were just thirteen and fourteen.

So, if you have a cell phone that you no longer use, please e-mail me at foldinglaundry(at)gmaildotcom and I will give you the information for shipping your phone.

One other important piece of information...if you have a loved one overseas and would like them to benefit from this program, please e-mail me their unit information and I will forward their information to Milly.  They are always looking for soldiers to benefit from this incredible gift.

Oh and another thing, if you have time to spare...could you spread the word on your blog about this program?  I'm sure the soldiers would appreciate it...and so would I!

Disgraceful

Tonight I announced to Ariel, with nauseating enthusiasm, that I was going to clean her room.  "Ariel!!!!  I'M GOING CLEAN YOUR ROOM NOW!!!!!!"  She replied back excitedly, "oh, great!!  I'LL WATCH YOU!!"

I replied with the same sense of excitement "I have an idea!!  How about you HELP ME!!  AND NOT WATCH!  IT WOULD BE SO FUN!!"

Her response?

"No, thanks!  I'll watch you!"

smart girl.

Yesterday, Racecar cracked his forehead on the corner of our coffee table.  He immediately came towards me while crying (I was 14 inches away.)  I asked him if he was okay and he replied with "Mom, I hurt my father."  He said this while holding his hand to his forehead like he does when he does the sign of the cross.  He called his forehead his father because that's what he calls it when he does the sign of the cross.  Which means the son is his chest, one shoulder is his holy and the other shoulder is his spirit.  Good to know the sign of the cross is currently just anatomy to him.

On to today.
Brian comes home tonight.  Not Surprisingly, his flight left three hours late, in fact, he had to take another fight entirely.  I'd like to pretend like I handled the five day four night, stay at home, single parent venture with grace, but I didn't.  All grace flew out the window while I was sleeping last night, apparently.   

Today has not been a good day, to put it mildly, and I am ready to start fresh tomorrow.  A new day where we can spend the day with Daddy, I can get out of my house ALONE for five hours thirty minutes and hopefully a day where Ariel is feeling much, much better.  And Mommy, too. 

I am stunned at how much food one can consume when one is feeling stressed.  Whether it be chocolate or oreos or chips.  I do not discriminate, I'm good like that. Equal Opportunity Eater. 

I gotta get out of these restricting jeans and put on some yoga pants.  Do you hear the caramel ice cream calling my name?  What about the nachos? 

Honky Tonk Moon

Last week, while driving Ariel to school, somehow the music got switched over to the cassette player.  My initial thought was "what's this?  I have a cassette player?"  My second thought being "what is that familiar 'twang' emitting from my speakers?"  It was Randy Travis.  A Randy Travis cassette, that I put into the cassette player a long, long time ago.

I don't listen to country music, but I don't hate country music, it's just not what gets my booty shaking, and y'all, I like my booty shaking.  But when I was a pre-teen, I fell head over heels IN LOVE with Randy Travis.  The best part is that my family enjoyed his music, as well.  Well, mostly, quite honestly my Dad would go outside and smoke cigarettes during our Randy Travis rock-a-thons.  He did not like Randy Travis, my Dad is a rocker at heart and I'm pretty sure he was dismayed at my choice of music at that point in my life.  Nonetheless, we would wash dinner dishes to great lyrics like "operator, can you send me, to 1982, I need to make apologies, for what I didn't do."  or among my personal favorites:
"I need friends who don't pay their bills on home computers, and they buy their coffee beans already ground....you think it's disgraceful that they drink three dollar wine, but a better class of losers, suits me fine."  classic, just classic.

I even entered a contest to win his guitar.  My mother picked up enough postcards so I could send in one hundred entries, and I did send in one hundred entries.  I didn't win and I was not happy, I thought "how many people are really listening to this guy?"  I guess more than I thought.

Anyway, back to last week, while driving my car.  I can't get over how music can take you back to a certain place in your life.  I felt myself feel better, I felt my soul soothe, thanks to his deep melodic tones.  And then I heard the lyrics that changed my day, maybe even my week.  "my hearts on a roll, I'm easy in my soul, there's no hurry, no worry, things are going my way."  And well, I felt so much better after hearing that. 

That day I cleaned out my van.  I mean, CLEANED OUT MY VAN!  I found things that have been in there for too long, like my pregnancy belts that held the monitors in place when attending my non-stress test over THREE YEARS AGO.  And an Entertainment Book from 2005.  Broken sunglasses and strange toys.  I threw everything out.  But I most certainly did not throw out my Randy Travis music. 

Much to my husband's chagrin.

The straw that almost broke the camel's back

I have an announcement to make.  Who ever is responsible for my daughter getting a terrible cold and not being able to sleep at night because of her terrible, hacking cough and runny nose, would you please stand up?

You and I need to have a word.

The strangest thing, the same daughter I mention above also woke up with a very frightening nightmare.  It was truly one of the saddest things I have ever seen and it took her over one hour to finally shake the dream and stop crying.  That's right, one hour in the middle of the night, surrounded by incessant coughing, while in my bed, after she accidentally peed while sitting on top of my bed, soaking through my quilt, blanket, both sheets and mattress pad.  Poor me Ariel. 

So, now I try to forget the fact that I had very little sleep last night because I need to have a good day.  I need to be patient and kind and loving no matter how terrible last night was, because that is part of my role and I am okay with that. 

At seven this morning, I took Ariel to her bed because the sun shines in my room, it's so bright it's very similar to seven flashlights being turned on 4 inches from your face.  She slept peacefully for another hour.  I laid back down in bed, (listening to Racecar sing in his bed through the monitors) and remembered a quote that I love, I have no idea who it's by, but I knew I needed to read that quote and hold it with me all day.

"The greatest part of our happiness, depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances."

And that is so perfectly true, I need to remember that today.

I'm going to get into the shower, clean up the house and play outside.  all day long. 

Well, at least until naptime.

Curious about what I did yesterday during my four hour break?   I was not massaged in any way, nor did I eat chocolate or Burger King, for that matter. (I ate a grilled cheese sandwich from home)  I did get a cold coffee drink from Starbucks, I did read some blogs and clean up my house a little bit, I downloaded Napster and downloaded some new songs, and well, I just enjoyed the quiet time with myself.  And yes, I folded every piece of laundry.   It was amazing.