This and That

I have had a generally bad week. What I thought would be a lovely few days off has turned into days feeled with worry. I have spent way too much time and energy on way too many stupid things. I am trying to be a calmer person and focus on the positive, but many things and people are making that very difficult. Yes, I overreact to things. I am overly sensitive, but when other people are confirming what I am thinking I feel a little less crazy.
In the midst of this craziness cool breezes are coming. With those breezes, maybe I can breath a breathe of fresh air. Perhaps some changes can take place in me and around me that can bring on a new meaning to fall this year. Some changes we want, others we didn't ask for, but all are an opportunity for somthing.

Priceless or stupid?

Anyone who knows me knows of my love for Fall and Halloween. My house will be all aglow in pumpkins and orange lights soon. It excites me to think of it. I always have a big party for the kiddos. I have been resisting the urge to decorate already. My friend has convinced me to wait til at least Sept. first. I even have a black Halloween tree and have amassed quite a collection of ornaments.

Well, my husband knows of my love and indulges me a bit. He says nothing when he pulls out all the totes for my decorating as some would do for Christmas. I also decorate a lot for Christmas. I have always loved those old ceramic Christmas trees with the little bulbs you stick in them. They are handmade and hard to come by. One Christmas Coleman's parents gave me one and it made me cry. I had been looking for one for years. Yesterday I spotted a Halloween one on an auction It took my breath. The detailing was impeccable and could be used for fall and Halloween. The bid started out at $25 and was quickly rising. Last night my husband says put this amount in. I cannot type it or speak it. He said if you win it for that I will help you get it. Help me get it. Does that give you an idea of the kinda dough we are talking. I put the bid in and then wanted to throw up. Coleman assured me that I would be outbid in the last few minutes. Fast forward to tonight. I was outbid and I thought that punk(the other person bidding). I will bid one more time. Never say one more time. not for bidding, not for gambling, nothing. So, I won and will soon be the proud owner of the prettiest fall/ Halloween tree I have ever seen and I am going to throw up. So should you happen yo my house this season, LOOK BUT DON'T TOUCH. It will be in the glass case for display purposes only.

Can you share too much?

I talk a lot. I prefer to talk to people. Not a computer, not facebook, not voicemail, not texting. I like to hear a voice and emotion. Shocking as this sounds, I even like to see people when I talk to them, I mean like look at them and engage. I have begun blogging because I have come to the conclusion that most people don't want to hear what I say, save a few. I have a neighbor that listens and I mean really listens like she cares. We share and I hope I listen to her. Sometimes she just shows up at my house and I at hers. I love it. I have another childhood friend that I share everything with. I feel I may bother her too much with all of my crap. My brother and sister-in law get random calls for advise and nonsensical panic stricken calls all too often. They never make me feel bad, but I do. See I don't have a mother to call and get advise and say it will all be okay or I am proud of you. I know I am wrapped up in myself and maybe I should focus more on other people and it will be less of a problem. So, I am going to stop talking so much, stop sharing because really how does my daily happenings affect anyone. I am having a crappy moment and haven't slept since Friday night so maybe I will feel better tomorrow.

KIngergarten and Quiet time with Pitbull

Well, today my little girl got on the bus at 7:15 hand in hand with her best buddy Jazmin. She awoke at 6:00 am and her usual procrastination was replaced with excitement and anticipation. She was dressed and ready by 6:02. She ate 3 pancakes. Told me they were the best pancakes ever. She gave me $2 for my good attitude this morning and not yelling. I quickly explained that parents need not be paid to not yell, that their attitudes are often reflections of their children's attitudes. She still insisted I had earned the $2 and I assured her I would spend it wisely.

So, like I said hand in hand they got on the bus. Then I went to the school to take a few extra supplies. I asked if I could wait and take a few pics when she got off. The nice lady said they preferred not as there was much crying and such they day before. Her school does a staggered entrance. The other nice lady said I could hid and take pictures. Ha! I don't think there was a bush big enough to hide my fat ass. I told them the crazy lady would just head home.

Well waiting at the bus stop were me, her Dad, her Grandma and her Papa. When she got off she was almost in tears. She thought she was suppose to get off with our neighbor and she got off at the babysitters. She said she was sad cause she thought I had forgot. Poor baby. She was also very concerned about the public transit of our children. She informed me there are no seat belts and she is not comfortable with that. My words of wisdom, "Your Dad and I rode the bus and it was safe for us."

All in all a good day. The carpets in all my rooms are shampooed. I have steamed all the tile floors. My quiet time today was filled with the smooth sty lings of Pit Bull. I quit liked it.

There's Nothing to Be Scared of Here

There is nothing to be scared of here. That is the mantra of the song that all the animated woodland creatures sing at The Great Wolf Lodge. Well, that may be true until you get your credit card bill at the end.

I have longed to take a trip to this magical place, made ever more enticing by it's promise of fun for the whole family. The kids could have their little den in the room. They didn't tell you the sleeper sofa would be unsuitable and the air mattress would leave my fat butt deflated and on the floor. The kids could play a game of clue as they go on the Magi quest adventure. They didn't tell you there is a fee for the wand and an activation fee and a fee if you want the unicorn on top and a fee for the carrier and you will be taken on a 20 mile hike up and down and up and down the stairs. They left that part out .. oops. Would you like a 2 liter coke with that? Just $5.99.

I could never afford this trip on my own so I went with one if my best buds and her two boys who we have traveled with before. All kids have their days and both of ours took their turns with their meltdowns. These meltdowns were usually brought on by someone not getting their way or some parent, meaning me or Jill, not shelling out endless amounts of money for whatever they desired. I was a sourpuss I have to admit. I am ashamed of my behavior. I actually honked the horn and screamed as loud as I could in the room, all in hopes of making a point. What was that point? I have no idea.

I am not proud of this behavior, but the Great Wolf Lodge brought out the magic in us all. Maybe it was the pixie dust in the boys magical wand price $27.99 or the sparkle in the star that Em stuffed, price $32.00. It affected us all in different ways. It made me sleep through the fire alarm that otherwise evoked action in Jill and other concerned parents. Not me. I was in a deep slumber. Not even the sound of the fire truck or the siren to sound all clear could awake me.

You may think I did not enjoy my trip and if you were there with me you would say that I really didn't, but that is not true. I did enjoy the rides that I got to go down with my friends son and that feeling in the pit of my stomach. That feeling right before the bottom dropped out from underneath the ride that reminded me of what it was like for just a second. Oh what it is like to be a child. The anticipation and excitement. When we walked in and put our bags down we turned around and their suits were on, ready for the water park. The pixie magic that is childhood. They don't have aches and pains and worries. They have the here and the now. They don't get stuck in the water slide, screaming for the attendant to please push them cause there is a kid waiting at the bottom for them. I did enjoy looking at the children as they looked up and saw trees singing and animals dancing, even if the song was annoying me.

I would also like to say what a trustworthy bunch of people live in Concord, N.C. I left my car unlocked with GPS, DVD, camera and other things free for the taking and they were left unharmed. Apparently I didn't think that was enough of a test so, I left the door wide open and added some cash and credit cards to entice you more. I left it open for more than an hour and still no one took the bait. Thank you all for being kind in my time of complete and utter lack of brain function.