And now for the rest of the story...My coworker lives in the neighboring town out in the middle of nowhere, had mentioned they never get TP'd and her kids would love it. So we set up a little 'signal' whereby I would call and let it ring twice and hang up. She would give us 10 or 15 minutes and then come out for the bust. This was way funny because they have a long driveway, and after we dropped the kids off at the end with their arms full, we backed halfway up the driveway and parked. Our lights were off, but we were so visible. The kids never even questioned it. We knew we were going to be 'caught' but they didn't.
After about ten minutes, Madolyn came to the van and said she needed to potty. We told her to squat in front of the van in the shadow...and about that time, "Kathy" comes out with guns blazin'...well, maybe not guns, but we could hear her yelling. Too bad for Madolyn!! Ha. Funny thing, the boys kept doing their business with the TP for a couple minutes before returning to the van. As we were chatting with "Kathy" her girls finally made their way outside to scare us...ha. Little late ;)
Our last and final stop, much to the dismay of our posse, was perhaps the funniest. We literally pull up into this driveway and park right up by the house, which made us laugh...we're so sneaky. Again, with the light fiasco, which had been causing us fits all night, continued. More laughing. I was thinking it was the operator, but was told by another van owner, there is just no good way to turn off the lights without first turning them on or something. I'll give "Beth" a break on that one.
The clan retreats to do their business. (Oh yeah, our smallest warrior fell asleep a few houses back and was sawing logs in her car seat at this point.) The kids decorate the trees, run around crazy-like, come back for more TP, etc. The kids kept coming over to the van to tell us stuff, which we can't even remember except that the comments made us laugh. Near the end, the oldest of the boys comes to us and asks if we can turn the van around to shine the lights on another part of the yard. TOO FUNNY. That made Beth and I giggle even more because these kids were cracking us up, they were such chickens and didn't realize we shouldn't actually be shining lights anywhere!
One of our mighty soldiers came right from football practice, and while the others were decked out in dark clothing, this poor guy was white, head-to-toe. I called him the "white knight" and it was funny to see him streak across a yard as bright white as the TP he carried. As we loaded up to head out, there was something unidentified on a football cleat that we had to bag up with the plastic toilet paper wrapper. I am told it had to be removed with a wire brush. That is just one of the risks you take when you venture out to TP.
It was a fun night. We were exhausted. When we got home, both our houses had been TP'd by our first victims and my kids were thrilled. And I got home just in time to watch the amazing win by the St. Louis Cardinals...which made it an even better night. Some may think TP'ing is wrong, but I feel like it's pretty harmless. As long as we're not tearing up anything or damaging something, it's all in good fun. (Maybe I'm just justifying it for myself because I love it so much...what am I going to do when my kids are too old for mom and dad to take them?)
My mom came over the next morning and taught my kids how to burn the TP out of the trees for an easy clean-up. See it's harmless, all you need are matches, a blow-torch or a lighter, some TP and some green landscape and it's gone. Oh yes, now that is some good family fun.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
Good family fun
'Tis the season and we love it. It is so short, we have to squeeze in as many outings as possible. I'm talking about the fall tradition of TP'ing (a/k/a toilet papering)! Wahoo!! I loved it when I was young and I love it now. Is that pitiful? As soon as our kids were old enough to go (to make us not look so bad, you know) we started in teaching them the trade. Now they are hooked. Every Wal-Mart list includes extra cheap toilet paper. We must not be caught empty-handed on a perfect fall night...because we live so far from a store!
This past weekend, my friend "Beth" and I took our kiddos out for supper and then started our mission. Our first stop was an epic failure. As we approached the first victim, we tried lights off, too dark; lights on, too bright; parking lights only, not bad...so we creep past house. I look to the right and see "Becky" standing in the window, I'm not sure if she notices a vehicle moving ever so slowly past her house with only parking lights on, but I say to my partner in crime, "There's Becky!" And my partner's response was to flip the lights on and take off...Apparently she took my comment to mean that "Becky" was out in the yard and had busted us.
We go down the road and turn around. We sneak back up to the house from the opposite side and turn headlights off. Open van door, interior lights blaze. Shut lights off. Ahh. Kids are on the prowl. Here comes "Becky" creeping around their shed to attack. BUSTED. So we pulled up in the drive. It seems she did notice the SMV. Ha. Now onto victim number two.
We move onto the next house. We park the bat-mobile nearby in an empty lot and the kids are released. Kids come back for more paper. Next, half of the children come back because the residents are vacating the premises. Nothing happens, same half of the children return back for the finale. Success. We head out.
The next stop only the little fellas got out and watching them do their stuff was comical. We still aren't sure exactly what they were doing, but this was our view: Unload with weaponry, run up to house, drop, creep along front of house, run around back out of sight, come back out front, drop, run over to other side of house out of sight, reappear, drop, creep along front and stop at front step, leave a sliver of TP on step. We didn't see them touch the only tree in the front yard or the bush. We were told they actually did use some of their TP, but we're not exactly sure where. They were thrilled though because "they got 'em good." Okay, whatever, they had fun. Moving on...
We stop along the street near our next victim and see a familiar car drive by...hhm, they are out TP'ing too which means they aren't at home. Off we go to their house. We drive by, they're obviously not home. We let the kids work their magic. We literally park right in front of their driveway off the side of the road. Kids go do their thing, come back for more repeatedly. The yard is looking pretty good. I make a comment about the fact that no one has driven by yet. Shame on me. Here come headlights. They are slowing down....they are facing us with their lights beaming...they are turning into their driveway. RUN!
Three kids hop into the car, two still remain. Car pulls up to garage honking, dad comes out screaming and waving his hands. We then hear our two little guys screaming like girls (mine especially) making a dash for the bat-mobile. We speed off. That was fun. Our two slow-pokes thought we were honking that it was time to go...until they saw the dad. Ha. We go out to a house along the highway and run through the whole light disaster again. Kids TP until a dog barks...we take off.
The night is not over...stay tuned tomorrow for Part II of Good Family Fun.
This past weekend, my friend "Beth" and I took our kiddos out for supper and then started our mission. Our first stop was an epic failure. As we approached the first victim, we tried lights off, too dark; lights on, too bright; parking lights only, not bad...so we creep past house. I look to the right and see "Becky" standing in the window, I'm not sure if she notices a vehicle moving ever so slowly past her house with only parking lights on, but I say to my partner in crime, "There's Becky!" And my partner's response was to flip the lights on and take off...Apparently she took my comment to mean that "Becky" was out in the yard and had busted us.
We go down the road and turn around. We sneak back up to the house from the opposite side and turn headlights off. Open van door, interior lights blaze. Shut lights off. Ahh. Kids are on the prowl. Here comes "Becky" creeping around their shed to attack. BUSTED. So we pulled up in the drive. It seems she did notice the SMV. Ha. Now onto victim number two.
We move onto the next house. We park the bat-mobile nearby in an empty lot and the kids are released. Kids come back for more paper. Next, half of the children come back because the residents are vacating the premises. Nothing happens, same half of the children return back for the finale. Success. We head out.
The next stop only the little fellas got out and watching them do their stuff was comical. We still aren't sure exactly what they were doing, but this was our view: Unload with weaponry, run up to house, drop, creep along front of house, run around back out of sight, come back out front, drop, run over to other side of house out of sight, reappear, drop, creep along front and stop at front step, leave a sliver of TP on step. We didn't see them touch the only tree in the front yard or the bush. We were told they actually did use some of their TP, but we're not exactly sure where. They were thrilled though because "they got 'em good." Okay, whatever, they had fun. Moving on...
We stop along the street near our next victim and see a familiar car drive by...hhm, they are out TP'ing too which means they aren't at home. Off we go to their house. We drive by, they're obviously not home. We let the kids work their magic. We literally park right in front of their driveway off the side of the road. Kids go do their thing, come back for more repeatedly. The yard is looking pretty good. I make a comment about the fact that no one has driven by yet. Shame on me. Here come headlights. They are slowing down....they are facing us with their lights beaming...they are turning into their driveway. RUN!
Three kids hop into the car, two still remain. Car pulls up to garage honking, dad comes out screaming and waving his hands. We then hear our two little guys screaming like girls (mine especially) making a dash for the bat-mobile. We speed off. That was fun. Our two slow-pokes thought we were honking that it was time to go...until they saw the dad. Ha. We go out to a house along the highway and run through the whole light disaster again. Kids TP until a dog barks...we take off.
The night is not over...stay tuned tomorrow for Part II of Good Family Fun.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Precious Pumpkins
I love it when fall comes around. I love pumpkins and like to have a few of them sitting around. A couple weeks ago, Jay and I visited our local apple orchard for some apples, apple cider and pumpkins. We picked out two big pumpkins for the kids to carve. When we got home, we unloaded them and put them in the garage on top of the deep freeze for safekeeping.
Last weekend, when Jay was sprucing up the yard, he decided to sit those nice, plump pumpkins out at the end of our front sidewalk until the kids got around to carving them. They looked cute out front, but I was somewhat skeptical about their safety. Then decided I was overreacting. What could happen?
I always get after Jay and the kids to not pick up the pumpkins by the stem because they break easily. And, to me at least, a pumpkin without a stem is just not right. When I got home from work earlier this week, it was obvious that someone or something had carved on the pumpkins. I immediately noted that the nice sturdy stems were missing.
Upon closer observation, I discovered that the pumpkins had, in fact, been carved so-to-speak by none other than...the Precious. As I look at the picture now, it sort of looks neat. Can you see the symmetry there? I'm not sure that could ever be recreated. The stem has been carefully removed, leaving only the base. Amazing.
Lane thought Hank's 'smart bump' was getting bigger...and maybe, just maybe it is!
On this one, it appears he must have gotten tired, poor thing. Or he got bored (yep, that's my guess). It isn't nearly as impressive.
Oh, how I wish I had a video camera on Hank during these creative moments. His mouth is only so big. The pumpkins were not in their original spot. Did he use the handles to move the pumpkins? Was he rolling them around the driveway? Do I have it all wrong and it was really the six-year-old black Lab, Abby?
You know how people save their child's first "art" project...we won't be saving the pumpkins, but we will treasure the pictures of Hank the Tank II's first pumpkin carving. Isn't he so precious?
Last weekend, when Jay was sprucing up the yard, he decided to sit those nice, plump pumpkins out at the end of our front sidewalk until the kids got around to carving them. They looked cute out front, but I was somewhat skeptical about their safety. Then decided I was overreacting. What could happen?
I always get after Jay and the kids to not pick up the pumpkins by the stem because they break easily. And, to me at least, a pumpkin without a stem is just not right. When I got home from work earlier this week, it was obvious that someone or something had carved on the pumpkins. I immediately noted that the nice sturdy stems were missing.
Lane thought Hank's 'smart bump' was getting bigger...and maybe, just maybe it is!
Oh, how I wish I had a video camera on Hank during these creative moments. His mouth is only so big. The pumpkins were not in their original spot. Did he use the handles to move the pumpkins? Was he rolling them around the driveway? Do I have it all wrong and it was really the six-year-old black Lab, Abby?
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Going on Strike
Oh, I love it. This morning on the Today Show they had a story about a mom and dad with three daughters who went on strike one day. Mom decided she was tired of running the kids everywhere and then picking up after them, keeping the house, doing the laundry, making supper, etc. Mom and dad secretly quit doing anything around the house and just watched the mayhem unfold.
Mom has a blog and she said that is the only thing that kept her going. She couldn't say anything around the house because she didn't want the girls to catch on, so she used her blog to spill her frustrations. Mom and dad let this go on for six days. Mom said she treated it like it was a real strike, took it seriously, refused to give in and stood her ground. I can't remember if they said on what day one of the girls finally got it, but here are some funnies from the piece:
Daughter thought cereal bowl with leftover milk was oatmeal. Daughter pushed aside dirty dishes on counter to sit down and eat. Dog was licking the dishes in the open dishwasher. Since mom quit cleaning out girls' lunch bags as soon as they came home from school, they were disgusting and lunch was sent in plastic grocery bags...until they didn't have anymore...so dad used the doggie doodoo pickup sacks. No clean clothes. You get the picture.
I loved the interview with mom. I echo many of the points she made. She said if she didn't teach her kids how to do these things, then she is setting them up for failure. Amen. If we (yes, I am guilty) continue to do everything for our children, how will they know how to load the dishwasher, unload the dishwasher, do laundry, fix a simple meal, clean a bathroom, take out the trash...and you get my drift.
I take many things for granted. There are lots of things I do not how to do, but the things I do know how to do, I expect everyone else to know also...minus the machine shorthand maybe...ha. I'm beginning to realize that just because I know how to do something, others may not. For example: Using a weed-eater, yes, I know that when you tap the end on the ground, string pops out. (Jay learned this summer that not everyone knows that.) Run a log-splitter, check. Drive a tractor or grain truck, check. Saddle a horse, check. Operate a stick shift, check. Hitch up a trailer to the truck and set up camper, check (six months ago, I had no clue). Paint without making a huge mess (thanks to lots of 'advice' and experience), check. Whip up a batch of homemade laundry soap, check.
But don't ask me to can tomatoes or make salsa from garden veggies. Save-A-Lot canned tomatoes are pretty cheap and there's no mess. I can sew on a button if necessary, but hemming pants with needle and thread, no way. I use hem tape...oh yeah, all you need is a hot iron...or send them to the local seamstress uptown for a small fee. Bake a pie? With a ready-made-crust, you betcha. Why bother making it from scratch...Pilsbury does it for you.
My point is that I don't know how to do the things above for two reasons: I don't want to learn or I never had to. If there are things I think are important for my children to do, then I/we must teach them and let them figure things out every now and then on their own.
I am thinking that Jay and I need to try this strike thing out. Take a little va-cay from the household chores. Force the kiddos to pick up and do stuff on their own. We can sit back and relax. Ahh, who am I kidding? Have you seen my house? I'm guessing no one will even notice...
Mom has a blog and she said that is the only thing that kept her going. She couldn't say anything around the house because she didn't want the girls to catch on, so she used her blog to spill her frustrations. Mom and dad let this go on for six days. Mom said she treated it like it was a real strike, took it seriously, refused to give in and stood her ground. I can't remember if they said on what day one of the girls finally got it, but here are some funnies from the piece:
Daughter thought cereal bowl with leftover milk was oatmeal. Daughter pushed aside dirty dishes on counter to sit down and eat. Dog was licking the dishes in the open dishwasher. Since mom quit cleaning out girls' lunch bags as soon as they came home from school, they were disgusting and lunch was sent in plastic grocery bags...until they didn't have anymore...so dad used the doggie doodoo pickup sacks. No clean clothes. You get the picture.
I loved the interview with mom. I echo many of the points she made. She said if she didn't teach her kids how to do these things, then she is setting them up for failure. Amen. If we (yes, I am guilty) continue to do everything for our children, how will they know how to load the dishwasher, unload the dishwasher, do laundry, fix a simple meal, clean a bathroom, take out the trash...and you get my drift.
I take many things for granted. There are lots of things I do not how to do, but the things I do know how to do, I expect everyone else to know also...minus the machine shorthand maybe...ha. I'm beginning to realize that just because I know how to do something, others may not. For example: Using a weed-eater, yes, I know that when you tap the end on the ground, string pops out. (Jay learned this summer that not everyone knows that.) Run a log-splitter, check. Drive a tractor or grain truck, check. Saddle a horse, check. Operate a stick shift, check. Hitch up a trailer to the truck and set up camper, check (six months ago, I had no clue). Paint without making a huge mess (thanks to lots of 'advice' and experience), check. Whip up a batch of homemade laundry soap, check.
But don't ask me to can tomatoes or make salsa from garden veggies. Save-A-Lot canned tomatoes are pretty cheap and there's no mess. I can sew on a button if necessary, but hemming pants with needle and thread, no way. I use hem tape...oh yeah, all you need is a hot iron...or send them to the local seamstress uptown for a small fee. Bake a pie? With a ready-made-crust, you betcha. Why bother making it from scratch...Pilsbury does it for you.
My point is that I don't know how to do the things above for two reasons: I don't want to learn or I never had to. If there are things I think are important for my children to do, then I/we must teach them and let them figure things out every now and then on their own.
I am thinking that Jay and I need to try this strike thing out. Take a little va-cay from the household chores. Force the kiddos to pick up and do stuff on their own. We can sit back and relax. Ahh, who am I kidding? Have you seen my house? I'm guessing no one will even notice...
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Ahhh...internet
I am having computer/internet issues that are frustrating the daylights out of me. And it's crazy because when the internet is down, I feel completely lost and think the day will be a waste. However, I have found plenty to do today with very little internet access. I actually did some of those not-fun tasks that needed done, but I had put off for another day.
Isn't is amazing how the internet has such a hold on us/me? When it shuts off at work, everyone is in a frenzy. We are so dependent upon that access. I think, what if so and so is trying to e-mail me? I forget that I do have a phone and a cell phone so it's not as if I'm completely shut out from the world, right? How about, I didn't pay that bill via snail-mail because I knew that I could use online bill pay and get the payment there quicker...but the internet is down so now...I will owe a late charge if it doesn't come back on. Ahhh.
My coworker and I use a program at work called AIM to instant message throughout the day. It is a fabulous tool because 'buzzing' each other on the phone is so, I don't know, difficult? It is crazy to think that that little inconvenience of AIM being down sets my day in motion because now I have to pick up the phone and 'buzz' her. Too funny. When you stop and think about it, the fact that I can 'buzz' her is fantastic compared to having to get up and actually walk all the way to her office. Oh my goodness, that would be exercise.
My day feels freak-ish, wasted and unproductive because I didn't have my toys at my fingertips. I would try to do a few things here and there and then think, "Oh I need to check that first," only to be reminded of the fact I can't check it first because my 'checker' has checked out. Although I did manage to shred about 400 papers, get our 2013 calendars here ready, type an Order, return phone calls, do claims, etc., and all without the internet! But as you can see now, somehow I am blogging...thanks to a back-up internet connection and my little-bitty laptop. Yes, backup internet. Again, oh my goodness.
There are many times I wish for a simpler life, but realize I am no where near ready to give up my internet, my instant messenger, my cell phone, my landline phone, my computer, my DVR, microwave, Nook...I could go on and on. And we wonder why our kids never sit still...
Isn't is amazing how the internet has such a hold on us/me? When it shuts off at work, everyone is in a frenzy. We are so dependent upon that access. I think, what if so and so is trying to e-mail me? I forget that I do have a phone and a cell phone so it's not as if I'm completely shut out from the world, right? How about, I didn't pay that bill via snail-mail because I knew that I could use online bill pay and get the payment there quicker...but the internet is down so now...I will owe a late charge if it doesn't come back on. Ahhh.
My coworker and I use a program at work called AIM to instant message throughout the day. It is a fabulous tool because 'buzzing' each other on the phone is so, I don't know, difficult? It is crazy to think that that little inconvenience of AIM being down sets my day in motion because now I have to pick up the phone and 'buzz' her. Too funny. When you stop and think about it, the fact that I can 'buzz' her is fantastic compared to having to get up and actually walk all the way to her office. Oh my goodness, that would be exercise.
My day feels freak-ish, wasted and unproductive because I didn't have my toys at my fingertips. I would try to do a few things here and there and then think, "Oh I need to check that first," only to be reminded of the fact I can't check it first because my 'checker' has checked out. Although I did manage to shred about 400 papers, get our 2013 calendars here ready, type an Order, return phone calls, do claims, etc., and all without the internet! But as you can see now, somehow I am blogging...thanks to a back-up internet connection and my little-bitty laptop. Yes, backup internet. Again, oh my goodness.
There are many times I wish for a simpler life, but realize I am no where near ready to give up my internet, my instant messenger, my cell phone, my landline phone, my computer, my DVR, microwave, Nook...I could go on and on. And we wonder why our kids never sit still...
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Neon Dreams
It is that time of year again. It is Homecoming week at our high school, and this year's theme is Neon Dreams. Coronation kicked off the week of festivities last Saturday night. It was held, for the first time, in the new gym, utilizing the stage, and it was much like it used to be. I'm excited and hopeful that it will continue to be held in there, with decorations and such on the stage, a little more formal. With all the changes around our high school, coronation has been on the football field the last year or two and it just didn't seem to have the same amount of excitement to it.
After the king and queen were crowned and all photos were taken, the celebration continued to the football field where the cheerleaders held their pep rally, making the football team do various relays in front of the crowd. The finale was the bonfire. All the kids and onlookers crossed the field to the practice area where the firefighters were lying in wait and the fire was set to blaze. I think I even heard a few firecrackers once the dummy was lit (wonder who did that..hhhm?).
This week at the high school, there are dress-up days and other activities going on to keep the momentum going. Kids will be decorating their floats in the evenings, I'm sure. My class reunion is this weekend and we'll be working on our float too. I'm excited for that. The last reunion we had, we went in with the class above us so we would have more people, and it was a lot of fun. This year we will celebrate our 19th reunion! It seems crazy that we've been out that long.
Thursday afternoon, there will be an all-school assembly with fun stuff planned by the student council. Friday the kids are out of school, which is kind of a bummer, but that's the way it works. That afternoon at 3:00 the parade will set sail. That has to be one of my most favorite parts of the whole package. The Quackdaddy was chosen to be the grand marshall of the parade and we are honored. Madolyn is a 7th grade attendant so she'll be somewhere along the line in the parade too. Word on the street is the parade will revert to the 'old route' which begins behind the school and ends in the front.
The Booster Club will host their annual tailgate at the football game with Tenderloin sandwiches & hotdogs beginning at 5:30. The Booster Club will also have BRAND NEW, hot off the press, royal blue t-shirts and hoodie's for sale! Several classes will meet in the north end zone for their reunions (including mine, I can't wait). I saw a poster up in town that mentioned there would be a little Alumni gathering, open to all Alumni, at the Community Center following the parade as well. Because a game two weeks ago was forfeited, the Spirit Sparklers will be performing their routine during the game too. It is a busy, but fun-filled evening of events.
The Bluestreaks won their football game last week against East Central, so hopefully they're on a winning streak and will be ready to fight the Arcola Purple Riders. Following the game, my daughter will attend her first dance! Ahhhh. Which means we have to stay up until 11:30 to come to town to get her. Ahhhh.
Saturday morning there is an Alumni football game and an Alumni volleyball tournament. I have a team and we're called the Neon Nightingales. I know that is totally lame, but it was the best I could come up with...and speaking of lame, that's what I'll be by Saturday night. Good thing, Monday is Columbus Day and the courthouse is closed!
If you're a Bluestreak and you've got the spirit...join us for Homecoming this week!! Thank you to the Student Council for working so hard on all the festivities!
After the king and queen were crowned and all photos were taken, the celebration continued to the football field where the cheerleaders held their pep rally, making the football team do various relays in front of the crowd. The finale was the bonfire. All the kids and onlookers crossed the field to the practice area where the firefighters were lying in wait and the fire was set to blaze. I think I even heard a few firecrackers once the dummy was lit (wonder who did that..hhhm?).
This week at the high school, there are dress-up days and other activities going on to keep the momentum going. Kids will be decorating their floats in the evenings, I'm sure. My class reunion is this weekend and we'll be working on our float too. I'm excited for that. The last reunion we had, we went in with the class above us so we would have more people, and it was a lot of fun. This year we will celebrate our 19th reunion! It seems crazy that we've been out that long.
Thursday afternoon, there will be an all-school assembly with fun stuff planned by the student council. Friday the kids are out of school, which is kind of a bummer, but that's the way it works. That afternoon at 3:00 the parade will set sail. That has to be one of my most favorite parts of the whole package. The Quackdaddy was chosen to be the grand marshall of the parade and we are honored. Madolyn is a 7th grade attendant so she'll be somewhere along the line in the parade too. Word on the street is the parade will revert to the 'old route' which begins behind the school and ends in the front.
The Booster Club will host their annual tailgate at the football game with Tenderloin sandwiches & hotdogs beginning at 5:30. The Booster Club will also have BRAND NEW, hot off the press, royal blue t-shirts and hoodie's for sale! Several classes will meet in the north end zone for their reunions (including mine, I can't wait). I saw a poster up in town that mentioned there would be a little Alumni gathering, open to all Alumni, at the Community Center following the parade as well. Because a game two weeks ago was forfeited, the Spirit Sparklers will be performing their routine during the game too. It is a busy, but fun-filled evening of events.
The Bluestreaks won their football game last week against East Central, so hopefully they're on a winning streak and will be ready to fight the Arcola Purple Riders. Following the game, my daughter will attend her first dance! Ahhhh. Which means we have to stay up until 11:30 to come to town to get her. Ahhhh.
Saturday morning there is an Alumni football game and an Alumni volleyball tournament. I have a team and we're called the Neon Nightingales. I know that is totally lame, but it was the best I could come up with...and speaking of lame, that's what I'll be by Saturday night. Good thing, Monday is Columbus Day and the courthouse is closed!
If you're a Bluestreak and you've got the spirit...join us for Homecoming this week!! Thank you to the Student Council for working so hard on all the festivities!
Monday, October 1, 2012
My crisis par-tay attendees
Have you ever thought who you would want to be stranded on an island with or where you would want to be if a disaster struck? I was thinking about this a while back and here are just a few people I came up with that I would want with me in the event of a crisis:
First of all, I would definitely want to be at or near my friend's house (can you guess who) because she has a dozen of everything. Literally. I'm not joking. When I helped her move to the house she's in now, I spent most of the day cracking up. Unpacking her bathroom and laundry supplies was like stocking shelves at the local CVS or Wal-Mart. I remember distinctly that my kids had never seen so much toothpaste or that many bars of soap in one place before. (Heck, I'm not sure my kids had ever seen a bar of soap.)
I wish she lived closer to me because I live seven miles from town and she would be a handy neighbor to have. I could just stop by her house on the way home instead of the local grocery store because she is the same way with food supplies. I have heard her say if she doesn't have five jars of spaghetti sauce, as an example, she feels like she's out of it completely. (I can understand that a little...I have that problem with a few things in my cabinet too.) I am confident that in a crisis, we would find food in her cabinet.
My friend Beth and I have actually played our own little version of "What Not to Wear" with this gal and it was so fun. She had multiple pairs of the same clothes because she liked them. All her shoes are kept in their original boxes. The best part was that she had a great sense of humor about it so she didn't get offended when we attacked her for having five of something or for keeping a "PASTA" sweatshirt from high school (yeah, it's been a while). I am fairly sure that in a disaster, there would be enough clothing for everyone.
I love this gal like a sister, and seriously, I do want to be near her in the event of a catastrophe. She is a one-stop shop.
Also, I think that another friend's seven-year-old son, nicknamed "Bo" by his little sister, would be excellent to have along because of his MacGuyer-like thinking. Now, he is seven so some of his creations/inventions don't really work, but the thought process is good. He is a thinker. I'm certain if I were stranded somewhere, he would come up with something useful. I have said before in the event of a disaster, "I'm taking that kid with me."
I have this court reporter friend from down south, we'll call her B, that would be a great addition to my little crisis par-tay. She has been through some pretty crappy stuff and she has such a good spirit. I would love to hear her southern drawl as she told stories. She would keep the mood light, for the most part, and make me laugh. (Actually if I could have the "inner sanctum" from the south, that would be perfect.)
Of course, I would want my family members along. Jay would help keep me calm, he's pretty good at fixing stuff and he could kill something for us to eat (we are pretty good at that). Lane could suggest the safest ways to do things and then list all the things that could happen in the event someone didn't follow his safety plan. Madolyn, with her nail polish collection in tow, would keep our nails and toes looking creative and beautiful. Hank, he's warm and snugly so he's a no-brainer. The rest of the farm can stay back home.
I'm hoping I won't have to implement this crisis par-tay anytime soon, but you're all on notice. These folks are going with me.
First of all, I would definitely want to be at or near my friend's house (can you guess who) because she has a dozen of everything. Literally. I'm not joking. When I helped her move to the house she's in now, I spent most of the day cracking up. Unpacking her bathroom and laundry supplies was like stocking shelves at the local CVS or Wal-Mart. I remember distinctly that my kids had never seen so much toothpaste or that many bars of soap in one place before. (Heck, I'm not sure my kids had ever seen a bar of soap.)
I wish she lived closer to me because I live seven miles from town and she would be a handy neighbor to have. I could just stop by her house on the way home instead of the local grocery store because she is the same way with food supplies. I have heard her say if she doesn't have five jars of spaghetti sauce, as an example, she feels like she's out of it completely. (I can understand that a little...I have that problem with a few things in my cabinet too.) I am confident that in a crisis, we would find food in her cabinet.
My friend Beth and I have actually played our own little version of "What Not to Wear" with this gal and it was so fun. She had multiple pairs of the same clothes because she liked them. All her shoes are kept in their original boxes. The best part was that she had a great sense of humor about it so she didn't get offended when we attacked her for having five of something or for keeping a "PASTA" sweatshirt from high school (yeah, it's been a while). I am fairly sure that in a disaster, there would be enough clothing for everyone.
I love this gal like a sister, and seriously, I do want to be near her in the event of a catastrophe. She is a one-stop shop.
Also, I think that another friend's seven-year-old son, nicknamed "Bo" by his little sister, would be excellent to have along because of his MacGuyer-like thinking. Now, he is seven so some of his creations/inventions don't really work, but the thought process is good. He is a thinker. I'm certain if I were stranded somewhere, he would come up with something useful. I have said before in the event of a disaster, "I'm taking that kid with me."
I have this court reporter friend from down south, we'll call her B, that would be a great addition to my little crisis par-tay. She has been through some pretty crappy stuff and she has such a good spirit. I would love to hear her southern drawl as she told stories. She would keep the mood light, for the most part, and make me laugh. (Actually if I could have the "inner sanctum" from the south, that would be perfect.)
Of course, I would want my family members along. Jay would help keep me calm, he's pretty good at fixing stuff and he could kill something for us to eat (we are pretty good at that). Lane could suggest the safest ways to do things and then list all the things that could happen in the event someone didn't follow his safety plan. Madolyn, with her nail polish collection in tow, would keep our nails and toes looking creative and beautiful. Hank, he's warm and snugly so he's a no-brainer. The rest of the farm can stay back home.
I'm hoping I won't have to implement this crisis par-tay anytime soon, but you're all on notice. These folks are going with me.
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