Southern girl plowing her way through life making the rules up as she goes. Warning: likes to bake, curse, quote movies/literature, is tattooed, married to The Man and mother of two girls. We bring new meaning to the "griswald way of life". Come along for the ride!



Life is My Highway

Montana and North Dakota have become home.... dang it lol.

These Girls

Lord help me but these babies wear me out.... they are just perfect!

Superheroes

Yes, it's from last winter but I adore this shot...so us....

Duchess

This kid glows from the inside out... my almost 11 year old!

We are so smexy!

Favorite sport: embarrassing our kids in public

Princess

My mini-me is finding her own way in life

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Everyone Has One

I adore my family. I have a very large extended family that just rocks. We're a little crazy, a little strange and a whole lotta country but I wouldn't trade my family for nothing! Very few of us live outside of our hometown area but we try hard to get together sometimes and it's like a big ole carnival whenever we come into town. And make no mistake we make some big sized trouble together.

So I thought I'd put my guard down a little and introduce some of my family to you. I had very little room on my memory card so I didn't get the amount of pics I wanted but here we go.


My uncle and his grandson. My uncle is a man of few words but is always there if you need him.

So let me introduce you to this strange pic. See my momma and daddy sent me a Wonder Woman shirt cause I guess I'm not hiding my superpowers very well. And that foot belongs to my daughter as she is carrying on an age old tradition of trying on and wearing my grandmothers' shoes (seriously she came home with a pair) and this guy. Well he's my youngest uncle and he was my college roommate and there when Dave and I were doing our falling in love dance to offer wit and encouragement. I adore him. But this picture was us trying to find a way to get rid of our wrinkles for pictures. It was a diaster. snort.

So we dance. With each other. With no music. At any given time.
This little dinner was hosted by my pearl wearing, proper Southern grandmother, Nanny, and her husband, Noel, who is known as Big Daddy cause he can get anything done. They bought a house in my hometown to be near the family and are in the process of majorily redoing this house, God Bless'em.


We had a HUGE family reunion while I was there. All the family and families of my grandfather and his siblings, none of who are still with us. And cause we b the smart side of the family, we have a waterslide and bouncy house for the kids and a tent and huge industrial fans for the adults. And no beer, cause it was the smart side of the family.
So Hi girl, this is my cousin's wife and oldest son.

And again with my girl, Duchess. Who'd changed into her "real" clothes so she could get in line early for lunch. That is totally my child. We think at least 5 steps ahead of most people.

I love these peeps. I went to high school with this chick, who looks way to young to have been in my class all though school. And this is the oldest of us cousins (I'm the next in line) who is not only a vet but a cop. Cause we raise'em up good in our fam.

This is the long time beau and husband of my nurse practioner cuz. He is really the sweetest guy on the planet and so fun. My girls just flock to him.

Nanny and Big Daddy chilling in the shade at the reunion. I'm getting a thumbs up cause I was showing her my pearls. Notice the extremely hawt shoes she's wearing.

The cousin who ranks under me in the age list, he works in the oil fields similar to what Dave does and he can tell a story like you wouldn't believe.........actually we know better to believe. See his sister-in-law's face? She knows better.

Sweet baby girl and my Princess. These two were partners the whole weekend. So much fun. I swear she looks just like my cuz the cop with earrings. You can totally tell she is his little girl.

Hamming it up for the camera.

Now we are a family divided. Half of us are serious rummy players. Like kick your ass around the block rummy players (seriously, don't ever play for money with us) and the other half are domino people. It actually causes quit the friction between tables. ;) But I'm sure every family spends alot of their evening talking major shit.

At some point, I partnered up for rummy and Duchess took over as the photographer. Everything was blurry and too close up to show. Dang it.

Now Nanny is doing something extremely important here, she is showing Duchess how to properly close the bag of chips. These are life lessons people, and gives you a good idea of where I got my OCD from.

Big Daddy in his superman pose. I got a Big Daddy story for tomorrow that just kills me.

We cook from scratch, alot. We had spaghetti, purple hull peas, potato salad, cakes, cookies and pies. They are so awesome and always make sure that there is something I can eat too.

Then there's the photo ops. This is my sweet momma who is seriously the best thing ever. We're sunburnt and makeup less with bedhead but here we are. Me and my momma...who wouldn't straighten up and quit making silly faces so I pinched her. Opps. Notice my gritted teeth, I put some ompt in that pinch.

And this is my sweet uncle, my old roomie. And wow can I just say that I'm not normally so trashy as to wear a black bra with a white shirt. But it was a new present and I had to throw it on to model it. Judge not.

A better pic of us playing nice. He may be a deacon now but when I look at this man I see two things: 1. sitting in the dark outside smoking and drinking wine coolers on our back porch while signing ABBA loudly and badly and 2. a very very good friend who truly knows me.

Oh look, we look serious here! Yeah!
Hopefully I'll have more pics soon from my 48 hour trip. Cause oh boy did we have fun.
And I do have to find a pic of my sweet cousin who ripped a heavy old oak bathroom door off the hinges in the bathroom at an upscale decorative store when she got locked in. I seriously about wet my pants thinking she was hurt but turns out the lock was stuck and poor baby is worse than me about small spaces. Apparently they heard me scream in the back of the store. It really says something when I scream loudly and all the sales people in the store come running in to check on us but we had to go find our moms and aunts who were shopping and just look up and go "what'd you do now?".....sigh.......
More later.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Imprompt

So what do you do when you have a Saturday afternoon to yourself back home? You made hay with the old buildings down on what was once a beautiful long street of antique stores and take some pics of your girls being hams. They were a little upset that we didn't bring dress up clothes but hey, you make do.


















You drag out all the accessories that you have in your trunk and doll it all up. Then you turn them loose. We had such fun....

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Home....

We made it home.

I have lunches packed, outfits laid out and ready, bags prepped and the alarm set. Kids are in bed and our new school year starts in the morning. Fun times I tell you.

This weekend was amazing fun with my family.

Highlights for now, pics and stories to come later in the week:
  • Someone got stabbed in the head with a fork during a push rummy tournament
  • Geese attached the golf cart
  • Duchess got over her fear of cemetaries
  • I stole some decor from my uncle twice (I stole, he stole back, I stole again)
  • I got the recipe for field snap peas, yum
  • I took the girls for a photo shoot out and around, dragging my mother along for their yearly August pics
  • Got to see my momma again
  • Found a back way to cut time off my trip
  • Found a back road that is twisting, winding lanes in the sticks and SO FUN to drive at 80 mph
  • Drove 80 the entire time in Louisiana forgetting that speed limit is 55 there, opps
  • Got recognized only once in hometown which is a new record
  • Didn't win the Powerball
  • Realized just how lucky I am to have such a family

Thursday, August 19, 2010

And here we go....

Crazy ass weekend...commencing....already.

We have a million things going this weekend. Today we started early (all of us plus dog piled in my bed) and got the house cleaned up and ready to rock.

Then we had the neighbors over for girl time, hair time for the freshman to get her yearbook pic taken, big ole lunch made with everyone's help. Then we got all the school clothes ready to rock and Monday's outfit picked out and laid out.

I made the lunch menu for the next two weeks (my babies take their lunches) and went grocery shopping for everything I needed.

I got an email from my judicial procedure's professor complementing me on my paper this week. (the nerd in me LOVED that)

I've packed for the family reunion, checked my mom in online for her flight, and printed out my directions since Dave took the dumdum, I mean tomtom with him.

And I've missed my guy.

Next stop: first family reunion in YEARS.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

OCD? Check...

So I just put Dave on a plane to his next assignment.

I think I'm already lost.

I get so used to him being here. He's really one of the very few people who make me constantly laugh and it seems my laughter goes with him when he's working. Pity party for one? check.

So I've been home all of 1 hot hour and I can't stand it. The house is pretty clean but I kinda got ocd and started cleaning while the kids' play.

It spiralled down from there.

I got out a new book.

See, I have these awesome planners that I buy several everytime I see them on clearance (heart me some Walmart). I cracked a fresh book and started making lists upon lists upon lists.

Cause frankly, the kids start school next week and with Dave gone I need to stay busy. I might just wind up back at working outside my house.

I made the following lists:

1. lunches for the first two weeks of school....my kids prefer to take their lunches
2. Office organization, I have to make new files and get organized in the new house
3. home projects to finish
4. Meals for the next two weeks
5. Grocery lists for the next two weeks.
6. School to-do's for the next two weeks.
7. Chores to do about the house weekly by time slot

My OCD just cranks right up and takes over. Now I'm charting everything in my handy little book to make sure that I don't get all mopey and unproductive.

Good news is that this assignment should only last for three weeks. Also, Dave and I stay in constant contact so that makes me better. Also, after a day or so, I'll jump right back into what I call my "military-wife" mode of running our life. But until then, I'm taking my "book" and some chocolate to the bathtub.

Sigh.........I'm such a freaking annoying drama queen.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

oh Lord, sweet baby Jesus

I have lost 4 lbs since Dave bought my new mower.

Now this is huge especially when you consider that I have been cooking up a storm and eating up a storm. Hello!

Turns out that mowing an acre yard, twice a week with a self-propelled mower at noon time in black clothing will make you sweat more than you ever thought possible. Between that and my free weights I'm doing better than I did when I was in the gym. And it's cheaper. And my yard looks better than my neighbors which really is the important part right? right?.....right? I have this thing about my yard being nicer than the yards around me, it's a Southern thing. The same reason why my kids are accessory people, it's all about the little extras. Yet another reason I wear pearls to Walmart..... I have no excuse really, it's just my thing. And now you know my horrible secret. Moving on.

I do so love the look and smell of a freshly mowed yard. We did it just in time for the winds and storm to blow in. So far I have escaped pictures too because my oldest in now threatening to take a picture of me in my mow wear...which includes a black tank, black nylon shorts and knee high rubber boots. I have this horrible reaction to fire ant bites hence the boots. But I am one hot mess when I mow. But I sweat BUCKETS. Sexy is back!

But in addition to getting my yard straightened out today, I pulled my car up on a crest in the front yard and Dave figured out where the squek was coming from. Now to make a mechanic appointment to have my tie rod screws replaced. We finally got off our tushes and picked the tile to replace on the top of our coffee table....really this is a finish to a story that started awhile ago when I purchased the table in one of my uber dober shopper moments. I actually posted the original picture when I purchased back in April of 2007. The cracked and broken tiles on top made this coffee table a steal at an outlet....but the plan to retile just never happened, I kept stuff on top to hide the crack, lol. Ghetto much? But I hope to have new pics soon as we are waiting on the grout to set. It's purty and very unique I think. The tramp is up, on a level place in the yard and finally has all the newly purchased bolts to make sure it stays together no matter what. Dave has managed to get every honey-do thing on his list done.

Which is good cause he leaves tomorrow.....sniff sniff

Monday, August 16, 2010

Success! Apple Fritters!

So last night I tried to make some cheesy, bacon biscuits. They stunk! Sometimes GF cooking is def hit/miss. That one was a MISS, and wow what a miss.

But it's raining hurricane conditions here today so what to do.....attempt GF apple fritters. Now Dave was into yet another experiment cause he's into apples, so much so that he ran to the store for all the ingredients I lacked. Cause he's cool like that.

And I made them..... Oh GAWD did I make them.....

So anyone with a GF peep in their life, comment and I'll send the recipe over.

SUCCESS!







Sunday, August 15, 2010

The Countdown in On

My girls start school a week from tomorrow. Regular school. While homeschooling was awesome and we loved it, my little ones missed the social aspect of school so much more than we had anticipated. Like me and their mimi, they love to talk and have people around them.

I however am controlling the process with a firm hand. I picked the schools, I picked Princess' classes (turns out in 6th grade you do that now, huh!) and I have set about getting them organized. The only way to have organized kids who study is to teach them to be organized kids who study.

Watch us as we learn the hard way, lol. Then self-correct as you go forward.

This upcoming week is gonna be packed. Dave leaves on Wednesday for an assignment in Nebraska. I leave on Friday for a family reunion in Louisiana over the weekend and I have to get back here to start school Monday morning.

We're gonna be all over the dang place. Sigh...........really I'm tired just thinking about it.

But the good news is that it'll mean a whole lot of funny updates and pics...

So in a flash: our weekend

family night, scene-it (Dave won), Princess baked a cake and promptly got voted the family baker, movie night, and we managed to NOT start the kids on their new bedtime routine for school....cause we suck.

Tomorrow I have to find Murphy a pet sitter for this weekend, dig out my bathing suit for our trip, and mow the yard. It's gonna be fun. Oh and I'm gonna try to make apple fritters, GF of course.

Back soon, trying to enjoy my man while I have him in the same city as me.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

We've been a little busy....

So for once my 11 year old requested that I 'do' her hair. Today we go to her new school, get her schedule and then she takes her yearbook pic. They are some serious organized here peeps. So she has 5 different teachers, her elective is computers/art which surprises me since I just knew she'd pick band but nope. So okay. Then I got to do her hair, again which was a treat for me as she is my no frills ponytail girl.

I think I did okay.

But instead of wearing the corvette shirt, I talked her into a cute purple and black outfit with a black flower headband tucked into that huge thick do of hers. She looked adorable.

Then Dave and I went our for our cough*14th*cough anniversary, saw the Other Guys and laughed ourselves sick. Hysterical!

My girls had to get in on the picture taking too. Princess has started Dave's habit of collecting amusing t-shirts. She has an AC/DC shirt, a Corvette shirt, and a few others that she grabs everytime we go to the WalMart. Hysterical. Dave just bought one the other day for "Callahan Auto Parts" ...name that movie.


Dave has also started dragging Princess jogging with him every morning. She made the mistake of taking smack about him being out of shape so he drug her out on his usual 1.5 mile run. Hysterical, especially since he left her 1 mile behind. So that sweet baby had to walk back to the house. Oh to fun, especially since he now takes her everyday. Something I always look forward to.



But to make it up to her, he's giving her driving lessons still. She now wants us to put down cones so she work on her parking skills. Geez.
So Duchess is doing great, however her activities are revolving around her pet shop animals and the tv, so hopefully I'll have some new pics of her on the trampoline or helping mommy with the laundry soon. Cause laundry is her new chore, lol. It's interesting to say the least.
Dave leaves next Wednesday heading to his next jobsite in Nebraska. Travel mercies!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Lazy = Me

I'm having some quite lazy days. If you don't include putting together (without tools or instructions) the trampoline, date nights, and house arranging.

I'm quite enjoying myself.

Today school starts back for me, I'm getting knee deep in two of my last six classes.

Graduation is in sight peeps. Woohoo.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

More Carrot, Less Stick

So Dave has figured out what to do with our third vehicle. The issue of the third vehicle has been killing me. I have my car, he has his truck but we couldn't part with the 4x4 jeep. I used it in Ooootah cause of the ice and snow. And frankly it's a kick arse go anywhere jeep so I just can't sell it.

So last night, while dealing with pre-teen angst Dave reminded me we needed more carrot than stick. And this morning, he figured out his carrot. Our blue 4x4 rough and ready carrot.

So we're gonna give the jeep to Princess whenever she gets her license. Honestly it's a great first vehicle for a teen however we do have 4 years before she'll be legally able to drive it.

But we live in the country and country is as country does...

So we figure if we start her now, by the time she has a license she'll be as qualified as a NASCAR driver.

I love my life.

And my kid already drives better than 60% of the people I know. The odds will only increase.

Oh Boy here we go...

Pei-Wei tried to kill me. Thank you wheat contamination. Sick as urgh.....

Now I get to watch Dave and Maddy use the new lawnmower and weedeater so we can clean up this funky yard. Hello.

Tomorrow they get to put the trampoline. Oh I'm so freaking excited.

While I sicker than shite.

Friday, August 6, 2010

He's Home

And strangely enough, there are rainbows everywhere. Maybe it's just me, cause I'm so freaking happy to see him walk in that door.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Upkeep...

Dave is coming home tomorrow for a two week off period between jobs. So excited. Can't believe he's back traveling but you never know what the Lord will bring. So, I started getting ready.

I shaved my legs.

I plucked my eyebrows.

I cleaned the house spotless.

I did all the laundry.

I put zit cream on my pimple.....wait, yep the only 33 year old woman I know how has the complexion of a high schooler during that special time of the month. Dang.

Now I can get up and follow my children and dog around the house tomorrow immediately putting back what they leave on the floor, couch, etc.

So we'll see if he can manage to be home before the kids go to sleep tomorrow night.

Cause I can make that drive in 9.5 hours.

Let's see if he beats my time.

Competition is healthy in a marriage!

So I Repaid A Favor Today....

So in my new house, mercy me did I luck out. I have a great neighbor whose husband works on the railroad so he's often away from home (sound like someone you know?). This neighbor has three girls still at home (two more out of the house and into college). These girls have made tight friends with my girls.

They helped us unpack. They pull in my trash can when I'm out of town. I must tell you that they have made settling into my new house just lovely.

And she mentioned last week that they haven't had "girl" pictures in a really long time.

So I did what I could....I drug them out to a local state park, that was after I spent two hours helping with hair and makeup. Fun!

Meet my neighbors.
This is Princess' new bff...the Texan version.

Momma.

Again, the bff...she is too funny.

The high school freshman....who fell in love with the way I did her hair, my shirt, and the eyemakeup...looks like I'm doing it again for school pics.

I love this laugh.....

The adorable new bff of Duchess. I had to be careful with her pics so her leg cast wouldn't show up. Poor thing, fractured heel from jumping into a pool at camp.

The family....

All in all, I seriously took over 200 pics. So I just threw a few of them up here. But can I just say, I had a blast even though I'm so not a professional.

What a fun time we had today.

And since Dave is coming home tomorrow, gotta get my butt cleaning!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Great, another addiction for me

I've discovered a tv show I am in love with to replace my beloved FlashForward..... and am swifly running out of seasons to watch. Dang. TV today really sucks.

Dave is dropping his rv off at his next job site and heading home tomorrow for two weeks off.

I'm stoked!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Top 5

Got tagged again and since I'm lazy, I didn't actually dig through 3 (?) years of blog posts for my all time top 5, cause I'm pretty sure they haven't changed.....


http://hope4grace.blogspot.com/2009/06/changing-utah-one-kid-at-time.html

http://hope4grace.blogspot.com/2006/12/dreaming-of-taser.html

http://hope4grace.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-am-i-am-i-amreally-i-am.html

http://hope4grace.blogspot.com/2006/11/do-as-i-say.html

http://hope4grace.blogspot.com/2007/03/delicately-put.html


Let's vote shall we....which H4G moment would you have put in the top 5?

(basically, which moment would you have defriended me for? lol)

Revisit: Lastest Roadtrip

























































































































Another Reason To Dislike :( Utah

So I'm trying yet again to get the kids' grades from their former elementary school in Utah. The school board doesn't have them and apparently the school employees are chilling and not answering the phone. Cause they packet they sent me was filled with useless information. Fun! Not.

So it's cool for a SCHOOL to handwrite grades into files if they don't understand the grading system the district has in place.

And I thought I was now living in redneckville....turns out I moved from there too.

Urgh

Sunday, August 1, 2010

We B Home, Again

So last night we rolled back into home. I tell you, 12 plus hours on the road this time cause of my potty break happy kids. But we are finally home. I loved walking into this place, spacious and no clutter at all. Still doesn't feel quite like home home yet but that will come once I am here more and have really settled in. The past month has been in and out. That said, I came home to a yard that needs mowing again, dang East Texas rain.

Today is finishing up papers on that decisions class for the last time. So ready to be done with it and send in a scathing class review, I have truly hated this class.

That plus laundry equals busy me.

But I did take time this morning to help my eleven year old Princess shave her legs for the first time. Oh my gosh, I was totally against it but Dave was right. It was time. Dang it. Now I'm feeling way old.

Greeeeeeeat. As payment she is making me cookies today, lol. I always win in the end.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Road Trip 3003

So last night we bowled....today we're bouncing at a jumper place and hanging at the park. Tomorrow it's another day on the road, sigh....my goal is to make it home in time to soak in the tub and crash before dark.

So I'm working on travel options here, we could go one way and it's 13 plus hours (according to google) or another way is 11 hours but I know I can shave a little time around Dallas cause I figured out a short cut.

But the best part.....Princess' best friend from Oootah is in Texas visiting her daddy and I really thought I'd have stop in Dallas for a couple hours so these girls could meet up. Honestly, this is a great kid and one I was very pleased to let my kid hang out with. But turns out they actually live an hour/half from us so I'm just gonna wait till Tuesday and go pick her up for a playdate with us. Less travel drama for me and Princess will get her playtime. Gotta remember to get lots of pics!!!!

But otherwise, we're cleaning his rv and packing up so we can head out when the rooster crows in the morning. I'm ready for my tub and my bed. Cause it's freaking hot up here in the panhandle of Texas, I miss the coastal breezes. And Murphy misses his king sized bed.

On the road all day tomorrow, travel mercies for us please.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

I Miss My Bed

My back is killing me but I'm ignoring it cause I do so love to snuggle up next to my guy at night. Even though Murphy and me took all the blanket and left him freezing under the "H4G fixed ac". While I don't miss living in this rv, it's so nice to be with him. Now I can't wait for him to be home for awhile. He hasn't actually been in the house since I finished putting everything away. It's going to be a treat for him, for sure. Plus there is the matter of a "honey-do" list I have put together since he refuses to let me get some tools out of his toolbox to take home. Dang, thought I'd slip that by him but no such luck.

Wish me luck, we're bowling tonight and then old fashioned skating at a local link. I'm a little paranoid that I'm gonna break something. Pray for me please.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

BFE

So we took off for a few days to see my dearest hubby who is currently working in BFE northern Texas. When I say BFE I do mean it, I drove for like an hour past a town into what appears to be the middle of nowhere in a shanty town kind of place. If this were the wild west this place would have tumbleweeds blowing through it and a few dead looking guys asleep up against a saloon. Mr. GPS and I didn't agree on the drive so I managed to cut 3 hours off the trip going my way via an atlas. Really, the use of an atlas is a lost art. I love an atlas. And when I forget any of the 3 I own????? I love my mom sitting in front of hers, guiding me through, as she totally speaks my travel language... which includes sentences like: look past "town" and find this tiny little farm road, yeah no not that one, another one....starts with a 5 I think...yeah that one, it'll route me around traffic.

So we make it here and we got to see him for 30 minutes last night before I fell into a coma. Poor guy is a little flustered having us and Murphy with him though because between digging through all this crap we travel with trying to get ready for work and taking Murphy outside before he leaves, he managed to leave his sandwich in the fridge, he'll be starving tonight.

So we're resting today and then tomorrow we're driving a ways into a real town to watch a movie and do some tourist stuff. Fun!

However, it's worth it cause we get to hang with our guy. Who hopefully in a few weeks will have a couple weeks off before traveling to the next jobsite. Luckily these are quick turn around jobs so he'll have some time down. What a blessing.

I got to sleep a little and then it happened... we woke up in this little town with an average temperature of 100 and Satan and the rv ac seized up. I suffered for about an hour before I used a fork to disassemble the ac unit and got a hairdryer out. I can't deal with sweating to death inside, it's different out of doors.

So I'm gonna go work on my explanation to Dave about why there are metal boxes and cords hanging from hole in the ceiling. Opps....

Monday, July 26, 2010

Really...Someone should step in

So today I was a productive little bugger. I got up early and took my baby boy off to the groomers cause he was a nasty little hairy thing. Seriously starting to look like the wolf boy! So since I was up, I went on down to the local courthouse to renew our tags and lo-behold turned out that half of the better citizens of the area was there too. After driving around and around for half an hour, I finally squeezed into a far parking spot and then after a very brisk walk with my kiddos and one stuffed bear (Mr. Teddy) we approached the security setup. Duchess was so impressed to go through a metal detector while Mr. Teddy road through the xray machine. Considering how utterly packed the parking lot was and with people coming and going with a bunch of papers, I thought it'd have a line at the security but nope....turns out it was arraignment day for all alleged criminal matters both small and large. The place was packed but strangely vehicle registration was empty for once. Yeah me.... the only good thing about not being able to take a licensed gun into a courthouse in this instance was the knowledge that all the other people couldn't possibly bring theirs in too....relief!

So before 10 am, I had accomplished so much of my daily goals that I treated myself to a yummy (Princess is mastering GF baking so I'm eatting like a queen around here). Except I ran into a little problem....

My dang big arse yard is growing too fast thanks to all the rain around here. Well crap. Since I don't have a shed to park a lawnmower in, I haven't bought a lawnmower (did you know that you have to put those things together?????? they come in a box....geez, lazy manufacturers). And since I couldn't get any lawn guys out to give me a quote, I finally got desperate and borrowed my sweet neighbor lady's mower. I was gonna do it myself.

So she pushed it over to me and I walked out the back door....and had to really put on my "good Sunday southern girl" face because oh my gawd, I'm pretty sure the mower in question was used by Moses on the deck of the Ark. The back wheels are three times the size of the front wheels, it apparently was of the "push" variety that must have been way before propelled mowers because all the rage and to turn it off I had to use my shoe to disconnect the spark plug (learned that the hard way after the bastard shocked me).

I have an acre of a yard people. I haven't sweated that much since giving birth to a kid who was determined to stay where it was warm and dark. Good grief. This is where I point out that I'm not afraid of hard work....I grew up mowing our yard, picking veggies in the garden, and generally helping my mother keep things standing (helluva woman, my mother)....but Dave has always taken care of the man stuff. This probably explains why he locked all the tools up in his toolbox and took them with him on the road. He left me a freaking RUBBER MALLET instead of an actual hammer and no drill. But I got this...... I can do anything I put my mind to, so here I went.

I mowed the damn yard and with help from Princess thankfully didn't kill myself but I really tried. Nope, not kidding. I started this with high hopes, my ipod and some comfy shoes. But the shoes started rubbing a blister, and this was after a rock popped back and cut the back of my heel. So I had Princess do a few laps while I switched into flip flops. That worked while I mowed the deep arse ditches but it went badly for me when I hit a huge patch of fireant hills. They ate my self up. And when I went running, screaming across the damn yard heading for the hose to wash my feet off....that dang mower kept running, cause you know...spark plug. So then I got smart and pulled on some knee high rubber boots. I started mowing again just to have three cars stop in the middle of the street in front of my house just to stare at how utterly ridiculous I looked out there....one old lady actually got her glasses out to get a better look. But I got a good stride and although I thought I was losing feeling in my legs at one point I managed to work through the pain. Princess and I got done and sat on the steps, dazed stupid and too tired to lift our arms to actually open the door.

And turns out it wasn't sweat pooling up in my right rubber boot, it was blood from my heel. Frankly it was gross and I thew up a little in my mouth. But all in all, I did good. I got the yard looking fabo amazing and Princess/I got our exercise.

And as soon as Dave called, we began the delicate process of demanding a riding freaking lawnmower.

Cause frankly, I'm too damn delicate for this kind of work.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Here I go......

So last night I saw 3 a.m. and still didn't get finished with all the schoolwork for this week. I'm finishing up today and I must say that I will never ever do 4 classes evah again...Amen.

It's to the point now where my butt has a hard chair indention from sitting at this dining room table. Good God, I must tell you how sick I am about sitting here working on this dang stuff.

I'm slowly going insane.

What fun, and I'm slowly but surely burning out on this stupid decisions class. I personally can't wait to get that end of course review!!!!!