Driving 20

Sleep deprivation: I don't operate well with it. I start hitting the snooze button more and more. I have less and less time in the morning, diminished motivation and those two, pretty well, just contribute to an over all bad attitude on my part. When it gets really bad, I become a sarcastic bitch. I'm sorry to everyone who must come in contact with me today. I promise that tonight I will be going to bed early. No really, I will.

Has anyone else ever noticed that there is never any major traffic in 20 mph school zones? Even people making awkward left turns can feel better about it knowing that they can take the turn at almost the same speed that everyone else is going anyway, making it virtually impossible to collide. The cars, although crawling along, are all moving very fluently and calmly. It's kinda nice. This isn't the first time I've wished my species wasn't in such a hurry.

Across the living room there is a stuffed monkey sitting oddly erect and facing my exact direction. He's not slouching or leaning in the usual stuffed animal way and it's rather creepy. He has a little grin on his face, like he's saying, "yes, go on," only I wasn't talking to him.

Now, I have work to do, world(and a monkey to knock over). I know you'll miss me dearly... I'm so in demand... hopefully you can make it through your day with out my amazing observations and enlightening wit...

Enjoy this VIDEO. I know I did.

Recipe!

Ok, so I'm massively busy today and as a nice little cop out, I'm sharing a recipe that I used this weekend. This recipe is for ham and cheese turnovers and uses Bisquick, however, because I'm trying to cut meat out the kid's afternoon meals, I made a different filling for my Bisquick Turnovers. I made half of them with scrambled eggs and the other half with broccoli and cheddar. My alternate recipes are under the original.

2 cups Original Bisquick® mix

1/2 cup boiling water

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

8oz deli shaved cooked ham

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese (4 oz)

1 egg

1 tablespoon water

Heat oven to 375°F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix and boiling water with spoon until dough forms. Divide dough into fourths. On surface sprinkled with Bisquick mix, roll dough in Bisquick mix to coat. Press each piece into 6-inch square, 1/4 inch thick.

Spread 1/2 teaspoon of the mustard on each dough square to within 1/2 inch of edges. Top with ham and cheese to within 1/2 inch of edges. Fold each square diagonally in half. Press edges with fork to seal. Place on cookie sheet.

In small bowl, beat egg and water. Brush over sandwiches. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until crust is golden brown. (You can also sprinkle the tops of the turnovers with extra cheese)

To Freeze and Bake: Place unbaked sandwiches without egg wash on ungreased cookie sheet. Freeze uncovered 2 to 3 hours or until solid. Arrange in single layer in container to prevent breaking; seal well. Freeze up to 2 months. To bake, place on greased cookie sheet and brush with egg-water mixture. Bake at 350°F 25 to 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Broccoli and Cheese filling:

1 broccoli bunch (sm to med.)

1/2 onion quartered

1 cup shredded cheddar

Steam the broccoli and onion together, sprinkled with salt and pepper. Once soft, chop finely. Set in bowl to cool (this in an excellent time to make the dough) mix with cheddar. Wrap with dough and bake according to instructions above.

Eggs and Pepper Filling:

2 eggs

1/2 onion

1 green bell pepper (or 1/2 of a red and 1/2 of a green)

1/2 cup of shredded cheddar (optional) (mozzarella would be good too)

Finely chop onions and peppers. Sautee' onions and peppers with salt and pepper to taste. When soft, add egg and stir until firm. Set in bowl to cool (this is a good time to make the dough). Add Cheese to mixture (if wanted) and wrap with dough. Bake according to instructions above.

Read, Recite, Review, QUESTION!

I spent the weekend making flash cards for the kids to help them out with a little speed reading. I know it sounds silly, but I'm convinced that "sight" words just don't work. I think kids need to memorize, up to a certain point, and then let the confusing English language take over when their curiosity finally makes them wonder what those words are between the "but" "and" "if" "is" and "so." Also, nothing can be said against building their confidence along the way. I'm moving them up slowly from two-letter words to three-letter words to four, five etc. and I'm using candy rewards. ha ha

At the end of a few weeks of flash cards I'm going to do a treasure hunt with them, only I'm not going to read the clues. They will have to do that.

We're also working on math. There are TONS of sites out there that offer free printable math drills. Here are a couple that I found useful:

http://www.math-drills.com/subtraction.shtml This is subtraction but at the top of the screen you can change it to any problems you like.

http://www.softschools.com/math/worksheets/subtraction_worksheets.jsp This one allows you to generate your own. LOVELY!

Ok... well, we have school, my temp job starts today, I have class tomorrow, plenty of reading that needs to be done before then and on Wednesday I'm volunteering for the first time at the kids' school. It's going to be a fun week!!

The Most Important Use for Post-its

I feel like I was catapulted into this school year. The few weeks before school started we were going shopping for supplies and new shoes, watching movies, coloring, reading, all the while slowly pulling back, back a little further until thwap! My classes, kids school, volunteer hours, parent meetings, teacher conferences, lunch packing, dance and tennis lessons, open house, evening classes, inflexible dinner times and REQUIRED READING!!!

I have literally forgotten to breathe on occasion. I'm working on that.

I don't want to say TGIF because I try hard to "Thank Goodness" for all the days of my life, but today... well, I'm breathing a little easier. Let's just say that.

I have started every new section of this blog post with the word,

"I."

I am having lunch with the hubby today. Very happy about that, just thought you'd like to know.

The children went to school with little "I love you," notes in their lunch boxes. Two days ago, I was relieved to find various colors of tiny post-its in my desk drawer. It is impossible to play a critical role in class being unable to find the places in a reading that support a point of view. Therefore tiny post-its are of the utmost value to me. However, when they are not serving to mark my literary fuel-for-discourse, they make bright, easy to find lunchbox "I love you" notes. And that is the most important role to play, place to mark, idea to communicate, of all.

I Quit

We have these smooth stones. We found them in a river or at the lake.... not sure where. I'm fairly certain we didn't steal them from a landscape because although I don't consider that to be beneath me, it is not something I am likely to teach my children. Anyway, we have these beautiful multi-colored stones and we keep them in the freezer. Why you ask? To make them cold, of course. I think it was one of the kids' ideas. You put the stones in the freezer and then if you bump your head or burn your hand, you use them instead of ice. They stay dry and are just as cold.

This morning I burnt my finger on toast. I know, stupid thing to burn my finger on. Who doesn't know it's hot?! To my defense the end pieces get much hotter than the middle pieces, hence the spreading of jam with one hand while holding a smooth stone in the other. Now, two hours later, I don't have so much as a mark on my finger. I love those river stones.

I'm stressed the HELL OUT world. I'm just not trying today. From now on, Thursdays are my official days off. I have been trying for the past two weeks to juggle jogging, school, parenting, sleep, blogging, housework and finances and I'm DONE. I'm not so much tired as I am just emotionally depleted. I hate being negative about my life. I love my life, but when your eye is twitching and your back muscles are spasming, it's time to take a break. I can't imagine who would disagree.

Talk to you all tomorrow.

Next Step

Well! Yesterday was my first Graduate class and all afternoon I was on an intellectual high! I went to class and was pleasantly surprised by the engaging interactions between students. I loved it. It seemed like before when I was an undergraduate there were 20+ people in the class and the same 6-8 of us would carry the class discussion. Well, apparently those 6-8 people then choose to go on to graduate school and the level of discussion definitely benefits. I was smiling like a fool all day after class. I'm sick. I love how higher education makes me feel like a fool.

I must admit, when I found out that I must finish the semester with a 15-20 page paper, my cheeks flushed a little. Since then, however, I have realized that I am completely up to the task, as daunting as it may seem today. This is my next step. I will take it with pride and humility, fool that I am.

Ben was injured on the playground today. His teacher called me and told me how he banged up his shins pretty good. I wasn't extremely busy at the time, so I drove to his school and checked on him. I'm very glad I did. I know that as the semester continues I won't always have time to massage the ego of my little ones at a moments notice. Today I did what, I believe, parents are best for. I found him alone and solemn on the playground. I asked him about his injuries, he showed me his shins and where he fell. I gave him a hug and stood by him until he walked away from me. I talked with his teacher until I saw him get back on the very piece of equipment that caused him pain. Then I left him in his world and went back to mine. I love those little shits! When I dream, I dream of more opportunities to be there in those important ways, because sometimes I just can't. When I can though.... I will. That is certain.

Happy 91st Post!!

I didn't realize that yesterday was my ninetieth post until today. I really would have liked to celebrate.

I didn't finish my book yesterday. I did make up some menus for the kids, fix tacos for dinner, take Juliet to Ballet and Tap, read four books to the kids before bedtime and go to bed much later than I should have. I'm completely dragging ass today and I'm nervous about my class which I know I shouldn't be, but knowing I shouldn't be doesn't make it less so.

When I was in line at the school bookstore yesterday I heard someone say, "that's so gay," and I cringed. I can't stand that people use the word "gay" as a negative adjective. Unless they are saying that something is grotesquely happy, the word "gay" just shouldn't be used. I wanted to ask her, "You know there are people in the world who are actually gay, don't you?" It's like saying something is bad because it is like those people. That's really mean. That's like someone being christian and me saying that I would rather pluck my butt hairs than listen to Professor What's-his-nuts lecture because "his class is SO christian!" That wouldn't be fair would it? Fortunately we don't have christ-a-phobes who have to bash christians because deep down they fear that they might actually be one.

I want to print a bumper sticker that says, "I'M SO GAY!" Just to make people wonder if I'm putting myself down, coming out or just grotesquely happy.

Slackin'!

Holy Hell! I'm a complete slacker. I forgot about my own blog today. I may have had a few glasses of wine last night and stayed up too late talking to my hubba bubba, but that is really no excuse. What is a really good excuse is that the school year has officially started! I spend my Mondays just catching up after the weekend and doing all the things we should have been doing then, but were too busy watching movies and going to the zoo and having fun. Still, I feel like a slacker.

Today, I went to the gym, bought a text book for Bryson, got a leotard and wrap skirt for Juliet, contacted the schools parent group about volunteering and now I am creating a menu for the kids breakfasts and lunches. I'm trying to cut meat out of our first two meals of the day. It isn't actually that hard to do, but I want to make sure that the meals are well rounded and varied enough not to get too old. So far, so good. The kids skipped off to school this morning with eggs, toast and orange juice in their bellies and grilled cheese, mandarin oranges, yogurt covered raisins and apple juice in their lunch boxes. I'm jealous of the way they eat! All I've had today is a salad, a banana and a granola bar. Come to think of it, I'm rather hungry. Menus be damned! I need a snack!

I had all sorts of blog related things I was going to do this week, but now that I'm faced with class starting tomorrow and a temporary job coming my way, I honestly don't know what to expect of this week. All I really want to do is finish a book I've been reading. I'm going to be reading non-stop for my class and I don't want to lose track of the story I'm reading now. Plus if I finish it, I can send it back to my mom, who so graciously let me borrow it. So, I think that is what I'm going to do now... sorry for such a boring blog. Maybe tomorrow I'll get fired up about something. Today? I'm a SLACKER! Get over it.

Mind if I Make an Observation?

At 2am, 2pm coffee was decidedly a bad idea.

After the Jehovah's Witness laughed at my idea that nobody "made" the stars I laughed at her for driving a car around to do Jesus's work.

Pledging allegiance before you know what a "pledge" is or what "allegiance" means, doesn't really serve a purpose. Does it?

The only differences between Private Education and Public Education is class size and positive attitudes. The way they achieve those? Money. Astonishing, isn't it?

My shins stopped hurting every time I increased my speed on the treadmill. They just wanted a challenge.

I bet if a CEO and the mailroom clerk made the same amount, the clerk would have more job satisfaction than the CEO.

I think that all politicians are corrupt, but I don't think they intended to be so, when they started. So, I'm left wondering what happens during the process?

I have friends that wake up and say, "Ok God, let's do this." I have other friends that wake up and say, "Ok Buddha, let's do this." I have one friend that wakes up and says, "Ok Poe(her black cat) let's do this," but I prefer to just use my first name.

What day is it?

I couldn't wait for the first day of school and now I am lonely. It was inevitable and to counteract the loneliness, I'll probably get massive amounts of stuff done. I've had a to do list waiting for school to start. If I finish it early, maybe I can do something I want to do, like read.

I believe my blog will be back in full swing now. I'm enrolled in one class this fall and I do have a temp job that will need my attention for two days next week, but unless I get called to sub at a school this early in the semester, I should be able to finish some major projects and share them with the world. I will call the insurance company FINALLY and make the comparison between the cost of keeping them and the cost of canceling them. Then I will make a reusable shopping bag out of saved plastic bags. I'll take a video of the bag-making-process and publish it here. It should be fun. After that I'll start working on a rag-rug and hopefully record that process in some way.

Today was my second day back to the gym after two long weeks of being sick. I probably could have gone before the two weeks were up, but rest was of the utmost importance, so I lounged around and watched movies with the kids. And it was fun! Now of course, I'm not where I was, running wise, so I'm slowly building my stamina back up. It's so interesting when you start at the beginning again with out having to. I mean, I went way back to running and walking intermittently. It feels great and is so easy that I have to increase my speed to feel challenged. Before now, I couldn't figure out how I was going to increase my speed once I had achieved my goal of running for 20 minutes. Now, I know. Start at the beginning and increase the speed from there. Isn't it crazy how things that seem bad can actually end up being good after all? Once again, I feel fantastic.

I can't take credit for the drawing. I found it in Google Images. Pretty awesome though, don't you think?

Hurdle

I am dressed and ready to go. Sitting in my winged back chair I delicately balance the sleep of my children with being late for school. They will probably wake up on there own, any minute now, because it is the first day of school. But if they do not, how do I measure the time needed to prepare those young people for all the firsts the day has to offer? All those new faces? All those new names? The new daily routine? The new outcomes to similar situations? How do we, every year, jump the hurdle between, "I'll be right here" and "See you at the end of the day," without falling face first into lifes gravel? How do we decide to do this again and again throughout the year?

Pack a Plunger

People who say that illegal immigrants are needed to do the jobs that we don't want to do, need to leave the country. Seriously. GET OUT! A statement like that oozes ignorance that can only be cured with a trip to some foreign land. ... and yes. I'm going to explain why.

First of all, let's separate two terms: legal and illegal. I'm assuming everyone knows what they both mean. If you are an illegal immigrant, you came here without permission. You may have come here on vacation or for education and then simply chose to stay. Either way you would not have a Social Security Number and therefore could not, legally, work in the United States.

So, to the instructor, at the community college, that once uttered these ridiculously insulting assumptions about toilet cleaning... NO! People who are here without permission and trying to work are doing so illegally and their employer knows this. Not to mention that there was a 50-ish year old woman, who seemingly loved her job as a college janitor at that school. I don't think that we should condone the loss of that position to an immigrant getting paid illegally.

Also, this sets up some bad situations because a boss can hold the illegal status of their employees, over their heads and pay them much less then minimum wage making it impossible for the workers to live better lives than what they did in the country they ran from. AND it's ILLEGAL! The Employer and Employee are not paying taxes.... those things that pay for programs to help those not making enough to survive in our country... taxes, those things that help legal immigrants file their paperwork and become citizens... taxes, that stuff that, when paid, gives you the right to make, at least, a miserable minimum wage.

Now, let's say that said instructor was confused (which should disqualify her immediately from teaching her ignorance to others) and she meant that LEGAL immigrants are needed to do the jobs that we don't want. What kind of backwards, arrogant, prejudice, bull-crap is that? So, we are supposed to give them the toilets to clean simply because they are from another country? I met a german guy once. He was definitely born in Germany. He had the thick accent, visited family in Europe regularly... the whole thing... but I'm pretty sure he would have been insulted, beyond belief, if we had handed him a scrub brush and pointed him to the toilets, especially since his schooling qualified him to be a Urologist, not a urinal-ologist. Or perhaps us making such a mistake would have confirmed what he thought about the intelligence of our nation. He may have even laughed it off, before calling in his next patient to talk about the "american" in his pants.

What enrages me more, though, is that the woman who, so ignorantly voiced her despicable opinion, was college educated. She obviously prefers work that doesn't involve cleaning toilets. So, I must beg the question, "Does she expect other countries to feel the same way she does?" Because if she does and our country continues to go down hill, then she better pack her plunger before she ever decides to leave. If I, myself, ever apply for a position in Amsterdam or Canada, I will apply to be a teacher or a professor, not a janitor, though I would feel privileged to clean any toilet that allows my children to eat, legally.

ANXCITED(it's a mix between anxious and excited)

Happy Monday!

Well, our air ducts are refreshingly clean and the strangest part is that now when we light a candle or turn on a scent burner we can smell it through half of the house, when before you had to be in the vicinity to get a whiff. I'm happy with the service.

This Wednesday is the kids first day of school. It's a half day, but it will be followed by two full days. Then, let the daily race begin!

I've signed up to be a guest reader for the kindergarden class once a month. This was a purely selfish sign up. I have so many favorite books and the kids are getting so big so fast, that, in a way, this is my last ditch effort to hang on to some of these great stories before they are rejected by the kids who loved them the most.

This Wednesday is a first day of school for the kids but next week hosts three more firsts... Bryson begins his third year of night classes, Juliet will begin Ballet and Tap and I will attend my fist Literature Class as a Graduate student. I'm ANXCITED(it's a mix between anxious and excited) for all involved, even Ben.

Today we are going to a park and enjoying the weather. We may even take the dogs up to their favorite pond and have a walk around. I just want to enjoy my kids before this year flies by us.

Four Years ago....

Today we are having our air ducts cleaned. This, depending on what company you talk to, should be done every 3 to 10 years. So, that probably means that, doing it every 15 years would be sufficient. We believe that it has never been done in the 60-ish years this house has been around, or more accurately, the 30-ish years that it has had air ducts. Either way, we are in desperate need of some fresh air.

The other day the kids and I went to a park we hadn't been to in four years. The last time we went, the walk from our car seemed to last forever with a two year old and a baby in a stroller. The other day, I walked briskly and the children ran. They were already playing by the time I plopped down at a picnic table and opened my book.

This playground was ideal when they were young because it has three separate sections; infant, toddler and big kid, each surrounded by soft rubbery sidewalks and a really big sand pit in the corner. Four years ago we barely left the infant playground and I couldn't dream of going near the big kid one. This time, the kids didn't even know the infant and toddler playgrounds existed until we took a walk around the park together.

Needless to say, we had a blast. We meant to only stay an hour but we kept finding reasons to stay longer. There is a nature walk, a huge mound with a zig-zag path leading to the top, a pyramid of grass for climbing and a HUGE section of picnic tables and trees on gravel with an underwater irrigation system and lots of shade! I took pictures.

Late Night with CyniSister

Sorry about the late post. We had physicals and immunizations today. Then the kids decided to have a lying contest which led us to four hours worth of housework. Sorry world.

Days like this make me nervous. We are entering a new phase of family life. I welcome most of the changes but where I get anxious is with the money. I have suddenly noticed an increase in food consumption by the kids. Our grocery bill is climbing slowly. The little rug rats also really like Tennis. This could mean a need for rackets and I am already in need of some ballet slippers and tap shoes, tights and leotard... not to mention an elegant tule skirt because what type of mom would I be if I didn't at least let her dance in elegance?

I'm not complaining. Don't misunderstand. I love these changes; the excitement they show for learning a new sport, the enthusiasm at getting dolled up and hanging out with other tiny dancers, buying shoes, having hobbies, staying busy, building personality on top of personality, developing likes and dislikes. I just worry about affording it all. But... worrying doesn't help, so I suppose I'll stop.

Quotes and Other Updates

Of course, when I am the busiest, I have a ton to write about and not enough time to write it in. But, at least, I have a cathartic outlet, so I'll try not to bitch too much.

I WAS ACCEPTED!! I received my letter yesterday that I may begin my graduate studies anytime in the next year. I admit that while I fully expected to be accepted, it still feels pretty good to get that letter.

Yesterday was the kids' first tennis lesson and they LOVED it. It's only a four week session but I'll sign them up for the next session if they continue to enjoy it. Apparently the instructor was amazing... I wouldn't know. Bryson took them to tennis while I enjoyed an Ice Cream Social at the kids new school. It was a Parent Orientation and I really expected the worst, but to my delight the parents, teachers, administrators were all fantastic and there was no hazing. Whew!

I've decided I don't like doing teams and classes in the Summer, for the kids. When we're not out of town, we're too busy relaxing to care about competition, but in the Fall and Winter we have to be here anyway, so we might as well enjoy some extra curricular activities. Benjamin is signed up for Tae Kwon Do twice a week and Juliet is signed up for Ballet and Tap. They take tennis together. It is going to be an exciting Fall!

* * * * * * * * * * Latest Quotes * * * * * * * * * *

Juliet(5) to me as I serve lunch: "Yay! Applesauce! Why are you giving us applesauce?"

Me: "Because I love you"

Juliet: "Yeah, but you loving us is so much better than applesauce."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ben(6): "You know. You can't point at nothing. Even if you go like this, and point at the sky, somewhere there is a space rock or a star or something."

Park it, Cancel it, Incorporate! -Another RANT

I AM SO PISSED about how this debt crap has panned out! With Democrats like this in the White House, who needs Republicans?? WHY AREN'T WE RAISING TAXES ON THE RICH??!! WHY BOEHNER? WHY POMPEO?? WHY??? And why haven't I heard reports of this question being asked?

Are they in favor of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer? This is something Republicans need to know. If you are a conscientious voter who makes LESS than $200,000 a year and give any amount of SHIT about those who make less than you, then you need to know WHY! WHY WON'T THEY RAISE THE TAXES ON THE RICH??? WTF?!

Can you tell I'm upset? Moveon.org and other groups want to march on capitals with signs and chants. And I'm not saying we shouldn't, but how exactly is it going to help to to walk into a corporate Michaels or Hobby Lobby to buy poster board and markers only to go to the Grocery Store and buy some bottled water and sun visors and stand outside yelling and screaming for the tenth year in a row??? This is NOT a socialist government, so society CANNOT change it. It is however a CAPITALIST one and ONLY our money speaks! STOP buying gas, stop using cell phones and credit cards, default on loans, and tell them your rich counterpart can pick up the tab like we have been picking up theirs!

These are a few realistic ways to continue life as you know it, but STOP FEEDING THE RICH:

1. CANCEL YOUR CREDIT CARDS. You can pay them off slowly if you care more about your credit than our country does about theirs, but call them and tell them you want the account inactive. You don't want to beable to use it anymore, you are cutting it up. Then pay it off and put the amount you were paying to it in your sock drawer!

2. CUT DOWN ON GAS anyway you can. Next time you take a trip, see if a train goes that way. Carpool to work or look up bus schedules. Buy a bike.

Here's a link to finding carpools!

Here's ANOTHER link to finding carpools!

Here's YET ANOTHER link to finding carpools!

And there's always Craigslist

Just imagine if 10 people in your neighborhood could save their $40 a week in fuel. That's a loss of $1,600 a month for the fuel company just in your neighborhood. Imagine what a city could do.... a country.

3. This is a hard one and you'll not like me for it but here goes.... TURN OFF THE LIE

MACHINE!!

Your television will talk you into spending double what you would if you didn't watch it at

all. Sure, you say, "but I don't watch the commercials" "I mute it." Well, keep on lying to

yourselves. I did, for 26 years. And now I see crystal clear the effect that television has on

a nation. It's sick. I can't even hold a decent conversation these days because the world is

full zombies doing and acting like something they see on television. It is a rare occasion

when I find someone who is actually awake and coherent... no really, we share a moment

and then I call my husband with the news that there is intelligent life on this planet!! (I'm not

kidding, but I wish I were.) Check out Whitedot.org for more information on how and, more

importantly, WHY.

But Hey! You know what? It all boils down to this. It doesn't effect me. You know why???

Because I am rich. I probably save the same percent of our income as the rich do theirs by

not eating out, buying excessively and paying for huge status symbols on wheels or cable

t.v. I save a good percentage of our income and invest it. I will get rid of my car and cancel

my insurance and add that to my income and while the country is crying because they can't

seem to get ahead while the rich get richer, I'll be independent of most of those problems.

I'm only trying to help and if all you do is read this and think, "eh, maybe tomorrow" then I

will be here tomorrow to remind you. But, if you can't imagine this world any different than

it is now, or you're too busy watching t.v. to try? Well, then your fucked.

Park it!

I haven't felt well enough to take on my health insurance(my throat hurts, so no phone calls)... oddly enough. So, I will begin to look at public transportation for ideas on how to use my car less.

Unfortunately, my city's bus route is useless at best. You can barely get anywhere on it, or so it seems. It looks like, unless you ride it in a straight line, down one road, you have to switch buses at the terminal. Do all bus systems run that way? I'm curious about this. Someday soon, I would like to take a field trip; pack some snacks, plenty of change, have a destination in mind and find out how hard it is to get from here to there. The bus stops one block from our house and THAT is fantastic!

Also, our city is using a federal grant to install bike lanes. I can't wait to see the results!

Is it 108 outside or in my head?

...and, I'm sick.

I spent a 108 degree, summer day on the papasan chair(the official sick bed of the CyniSister Family) with a quilt on top of me and an afghan on top of that, freezing! My throat had a rock in it yesterday and today it is just soar enough for me not to want to talk. I'm using body language and hand gestures with the kids partly because it hurts to talk, but also because I like to experiment with communication. They pay attention better when I don't talk. Isn't that funny?

It's officially August and everyone is tired of the heat. This is the time of year when I try to enjoy it the most. I think back to February and how I longed to feel the heat of the sun scorch my skin. I looked so forward to not bundling in a thousand layers to step outside my door. I will, of course, enjoy sledding again but remember the numbness in my fingers and toes.

Today will be a sun worshipping summer celebration if I have anything to do with it. I don't feel well enough to go to the gym, but I will hang clothes on the line and play in the sprinkler while it waters our front lawn, all while wearing a tank top and soaking up the rays because I know these days are numbered.

September is coming and with it Autumn, my favorite time of year. But I would be remiss not to pay a yearly tribute to our green grass, blue skies and warm sunny days of freedom.

"Nothing lasts forever" is both a statement of comfort and of warning.

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I love it when Sidd(our german shorthair) falls asleep in the dead-bug pose, or when our hound curls up as well as his lanky limbs allow and his front legs hug the back ones.

When I started this blog the kids were outside playing in the sprinkler while I watched a storm rumble in. Now we are in the middle of a downpour and the children are experiencing it from the trampoline. I'm watching cars speed down our street through the soaked and distorted picture window because now seems more a time for reflection than it does a time for chores.

What do I see?

I see heat tired dogs asleep at my feet, leaves catapulted from the tops of trees, waving branches, glistening concrete and airborne children.

What do I hear?

I hear reluctant thunder, leaves whispering the wind, tires sighing through puddles, and the rattling chatter of our ceiling fan.

Rain, rain, stay all day. Never ever go away......

Now it's done and although I am ready for a nap, I promised to practice my pecan pie prowess. And ah..... what a perfect day for pie.

Locker Room Fox

This woman at the gym apparently can't get dressed with out her 15 minute dose of Fox News. Unfortunately she takes all the same classes I take and is in the locker room at the same exact time that I am. At first I thought it was just a fluke, but yesterday after finishing some soul calming Yoga I walked in to find her switching to Fox News and (you'll never believe this) turning it UP! Why, again, do I live in Kansas? I've taken to wearing earbuds, but it's difficult to get dressed with wires coming from my ears. I wonder what would happen if I just told her that because Fox news obviously hates Liberals and Atheists, I consider it a personal insult to have them on anywhere in my vicinity. What then? What would I do if someone said that about one of my favorite shows?

Tea-bagger: "John Stewart obviously hates conservatives and tea-baggers so, I consider it a personal insult to have him on anywhere in my vicinity"

Me: "Really? Are you a conservative or a tea-bagger?"

(let's go for broke)

Tea-bagger: "Both"

Me: "Oh. I'm sorry." "So are you against gay marriage?" "How do you feel about taxing the rich?" "Do you believe that outlawing abortion is going to stop people from having them?" "What is your take on education?" "Are you Christian? How do you feel about Intelligent Design?" "What about your pay equalling that of your male counterparts? Do you think it should?"

Yep. I think it would be refreshing to talk about issues rather than use labels to make assumptions. I believe John Stewart would approve and I would turn him off in a heartbeat if someone asked me to.

Rusty Chains

Oh how I love to get calls from my husband at 5:15 every evening as he drives home from work. I feel fortunate to chat with him on the phone while I casually make dinner. We stop talking as he gets close to the house and then resume our conversation as I put the finishing touches on our evening meal and we all sit down to dinner at the table by 6pm.

Yes. Those days are so much better than when he calls at 5:10 from the side of the road where his truck has broken down. They are slightly more enjoyable than not fixing dinner in order to round up the kids and shove them into the car to drive a half an hour to rescue their Daddy. I prefer those predictable meals to the racing highway and my flashers telling traffic to prepare for my inevitable duck onto the shoulder. And OH READER, do I EVER prefer those meal time discussions, even when they turn to subjects less appetizing, over that heavy rusted metal chain, linking truck to car, the nerve racking pull down the highway and unsure stop on our street.

Oh how I dread the condescending looks and tones that are some how my birth right when I walk into that AutoZone and ask for the parts that we need with more confidence than they believe I should have. But I will do it, because tonight I will make dinner once more as the children set the table and their father drives home. We will discuss our days and discuss the disgusting, at our table, with our children, in the center of our humble abode. We will do everything as we did before except that I will wonder whether we are nourished by our food and comforted by our routine, or if it has always been the other way around.

Down With Upward Mobility!

I had to pay bills today.

I had to scrutinize our income and justify our spending.

I had to realize our dilemmas and battle them out with pen and calculator.

Today I had to dive into the depths of lower middle-class existence, fight the fear, find the light, grope for hope and tell myself repeatedly that things will get better. Who are these greedy bastards that make over $250,000 a year and can't stand to see their taxes increase? Do they feel the same anxiety that I do, every month when paying bills?