Summer Colds *Sniff*

*Cough, Hack, Snort*

I am sick, not sure how I got sick. The only person I know who is feeling very under the weather is my best friend Amber. She lives 3000 miles away. Can you catch a cold over the telephone? I didn't think so.

Lucky for me, for once in my life I am ahead of the laundry, dishes, and house cleaning. And I have no where to go, no chores to run out and do, I don't have to take the kids to any activities. Somebody must be looking out for me, because even when I'm 100% healthy I don't get so lucky.

So my schedule for the next few days is to stay in my Pajama pants all day long, sip warm tea, and DO NOTHING!

I hope you are all doing well and don't get this yucky summer time cold that never goes away.

Ta Ta for now

Sunday Signspotting: week seven

Well, Tropical Storm Hanna came by to visit... No big deal, or as my favorite funny news website Fark.com put it "Tips for New Yorkers to help them get through Tropical Storm Hanna or as Floridians (and South Carolinian's) call it, a thunderstorm."

If the weather man hadn't spent all day worrying people about this storm system I honestly don't know if I would have noticed it as a day different then any other. But, our eyes are watching Hurricane Ike. He is going to be scary. Depending on where he decides to go, next weeks "Sunday Signspotting" might be postponed. Ok, here you go for this weeks, enjoy!

(Please be aware that I did not take these pictures, i am simply surfing the net on various funny sign websites and putting them here for your viewing pleasure)

I like how the Germans think!

Here's what happens when you don't follow what the sign says

Hey Rover, Fetch!

Let's hope Australian guide dogs can read.

Now here's a challenge for even the most experienced traveler: hit the toilet all the way from your car. With wild animals roaming this Namibian game park, you may not have much choice.

Who said all roads lead to Rome? Welcome to Windjammer (neighborhood motto: Windjammer!) Now, just try to find your way out.

Forget cloning and high-tech laboratories. In Mozambique they've figured out how to do it with a team of contractors.

Ta Ta for now

Down the Isle again, and again, and again, and again...

Why is it that going to the grocery store is such a big deal? When ever we are running low on food and goods Joe and I wait till the last minute to see if the other one is going to go. Before we had children, this was not the case. I loved going, seeing all the wonderful food arranged so nice, wondering what concoction I could come up with. Now, not so much.

Now I have Munchkin and Mini-Munchkin in tow. Could someone please tell me why they don't make kids seats in shopping carts fit them till they are 10? Something about the grocery store bring out this evil side in both my children. They don't throw hissy-fits like those scenes in movies when a mom takes her toddler to the store. But, some how i still leave the store frazzled.

Currently we are good on food so let's just take a sigh of relief for a second. (Woo Hoo!) Here's a preview of a typical "grocery store event" from the top:

• Entering the store one child is always way behind, reluctantly walking in the parking lot. "Please hurry up, you're going to get run over! Stay close to me when we're in a parking lot, i mean it!"
• After getting a cart that actually roles I have to convince Audrey that she "wants" to ride in the cart. "But sweetie, won't your little legs get tired?" One child immobile is SO much easier.
• Then we're off: zig zagging up and down each isle grabbing what looks good, never mind that we have a grocery list. Have you ever tried to hold one of those with two kids around? "Mommy I wanna hold it!" "NO, I want to! Not fair! Gimme!" Hence the list is usually ripped in half and I am flying blind.
• As we shop there are occasional spontaneous Olympic races that take place. Zane always wins. "Get back over here? Do you need to have a time out?"
  
• Towards the end Audrey gets out, tired of being trapped and I can't convince her to stay in the shopping cart any longer. Then the craziness begins!! "Stay near mommy please"
  
• Both kids are now bored, and want to go home. So they misbehave, only minor infractions at first, but it gets worse...
• Come checkout time, people around me must wonder what is wrong with my kids. Arms raised in the air like a chimp ready to attack (they sound like it too) they start running around the movie kiosk. "Zane and Audrey, right here, right now!"
• Could the check out lady go ANY slower? I seem to always be stuck in the wrong lane. "Children! I mean it, get over hear!" giggles coming from behind the magazine rack fill the store.
• Still waiting, come on lady, pick up, scan, repeat. How hard could that be?
  Now the kids have found the handicap check writing tales that pop out of the counter. "Stop opening that to see if it will smack your sister!" Smoke is now coming out of my ears.
• Shaking and irritated, not quite sure where I am anymore, i finally get to leave. "Come on guys, time to go home."
  
• Parking lot to the car is a breeze, not sure why. Wonder what the two of them are plotting on our way to the car. "Stay with mommy."
• In the car, we made it! Success! Thank You Lord for helping me get out of their alive!

Crap... I forgot milk. NOOOOOOO!!! "Everyone out of the car again."


Ta Ta for now

Girl Power In The Yard

"She works hard for the money
so hard for it honey
she works hard for the money
so you better treat her right"
~Donna Summer

OK, so maybe I don't make money, but I should! I am a pooped puppy, our yard was starting to look like the Adams family had moved in. So it was mommy to the rescue!

As I was mowing the front lawn this morning I noticed our neighbors were getting a new roof put on. There was a woman roofer, so cool. She didn't speak any English as we said our Hello's (I mean our Hola's.) It was so humid, I felt for her standing up in the hot sun on a dark roof. At one point the men took a break, but she diligently kept right on, as did I. Every time I would make that turn to come back near the neighbors house, there she was waving with a smile on her face.

Two women busting their booty's, while the men sat... Even with the language barrier, we had a clear understanding how the other one felt. GIRL POWER!

So now all the lawns (side, front, back) are mowed, the edges have all been weed whacked, weeds pulled from the flower beds, kids yard toys put away, and dog bowls refilled with fresh water.

*sigh* It looks so pretty, I'm so proud. Now it's time to go get the kids from preschool so they can run through the freshly mowed grass and wave in excitement at my new friend next door putting on a roof.

Ta Ta for now

Lizards on My Arm

Zane was so proud of himself for catching a baby lizard in our backyard.

I love seeing my children explore this beautiful planet. Our weather is wonderful now, but I am afraid it might be the "calm before the storm." Hurricane Hannah is headed our way, I'm not too worried because we are about 75 miles inland. But just in case Mother Nature rears her ugly head, we have been trying to savor the sunshine and fresh air as much as possible today. I hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing Labor Day!

Ta Ta for now