don't get excited - this is not a real post

It's just a random dump of things floating around my brain this morning.

• I LOVE the the mornings before work when everyone has left the house
• I hate forgetting what I want to write about
• I know uploading photos is 't hard, but it's time-consuming
• I'm not a professional blogger, I'm not branded, I don't do ads or make any money. But I love the blogging community and the new friends it brings.
• I might love Twitter more.
  
• I also love the contests and give-aways. I've been blessed to win a few. Nothing big, but small things that make me smile. And introduce me to new small businesses and cool stuff.
• The DVR is a wonderful thing.
• Teenagers will be the death of me. Not all of them. Just mine.
• The reason? Exposure to pot and alcohol, bad grades, disrespectful attitude, and school troubles.
• Yeah, it's been like that.
• Yes, working out is a great idea, but damn, I'm sore. And it seriously cramps my couch-potato style
• The YMCA has great exercise schedules for business execs who can work out at 5 AM and then go to work, or for moms and retirees who can work out at 10 AM, but NOTHING for a mom who has to wait until the kids are on the school bus at 7 AM and still get to work by 9.
• My obsession with gourmet, cream-filled cupcakes and has led to new friends and wonderful taste experiences. but has been hell on my waistline.
• This cupcake place is heaven on earth in Rochester and everyone is so friendly there you feel like you've walked in to Cheers.
• My daughter is seriously fun to hang out with.
• I would seriously like my cats' lives. Except I don't like fish and the pooping in a litter box thing isn't so great. And they don't get to eat cupcakes.
• I met Miss Thystle in February! And I haven't posted pics yet.
• Both of my children are in danger of appearing on Hoarders sometime in the future.
  
• I need about 3 more hours in every day.
• MOre sometime soon - Happy St. Patrick's Day! Be safe and have fun!
• Yes, St. Patrick's Day is the Last. Unspoiled. Holiday. Remember this post from last year? On Holidays that are Ruined by Hallmark
  
• Unless, of course, you've gotten caught up in the whole let's-set-a-leprechaun-trap. Then? I'm sorry.
  

I. Can't. Wait.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Miss Thystle over February break and Lorrie this summer! Who else?!

Ummm...

Hello?

This posting every other month thing isn't working out so well.

I'm sorry.

But follow me on Twitter if you want to see what's going on. I'm here.

Since I've been here last, I've:

• had the in-laws visit :-)
• got a black-eye :-(
• gone to some fun holiday parties :-)
• had some trials and tribulations with the RTAS (Rude Teen Age Son) :-(
• Bought myself an itouch :-)
• cleaned out the basement after a leaky pipe :-(
• found some great old photos :-)
  
• Bought myself a Wii Fit :-)
• Gone to Florida after Christmas :-)
• Battled the stomach bug - every. one. of. us. starting in Florida :-(
• written some very entertaining blog posts In. My. Mind. :-X
• been planning a trip to Phoenix in February with the fam. Grand Canyoj here we come! :-) Thystle watch out! I'll be in your neighborhood.

This would be easier if loading pics were easier.


HaPpY NeW YeAr!!!!!

a nonsequitor

Okay, so I know I have 2 months worth of stuff to rant ramble and rave about...
but I'm stopping in to get this off my chest.

You know those check out lines in the take-out section of the grocery store (Wegman's)? The ones where you can avoid the long lines and just pay for your sandwich or salad bar?

Well, I was there yesterday and in utter amazement at the woman (who cut in front of me, otherwise I honestly wouldn't have paid attention) with a little cart (the cute ones you use when you only have a dozen things to pick up, except I like them and use them all. the. time. and then need a second cart when they're all bagged. But this rant isn't about my transgressions, is it?)

Anyway.
This woman had one of those little carts at the takeout register and it was so full that she had to tuck her mega size package of paper towels under her chin.

No kidding. She had a week's worth of groceries (or just a really bountiful Thannksgiving meal) piled into that sucker. At lunchtime, When other people just really wanted to pay for their sandwich or salad and get out of the pre-holiday shopping frenzy.

I'll be back someday.

Have a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving.

Eat until you have to unbutton your pants (or skip the pants all together), laugh until you (almost) pee on yourself, and savor everything.

GoOd MoRnInG!

Or should I say,

Good Morning, CHICKENS!

This is what I saw when I dropped my son off at school this morning at Friggin' Early O' Clock.

That is all.

Enjoy the day!

It's not much, but

Check it out, that's our boat in the background. No, not the sailboat. the other one.




I should be getting ready for a youth group meeting, so since procrastination is my middle name, and I'm avoiding the sick people in my house, here are just a few pics from the last month.

We bought a little jet boat. It's used and 13 years old, but it's a lot of fun for waterskiiing.
(Umm, not ME - the kids)

We went to the Loggins and Messina concert at Bethel Woods.
(That's WOODSTOCK, in case you didn't know. Look it up if you're younger than 40)
Had a little tailgate party.

Sat in the Wavy Gravy Hog Farm bus
Saw things that no one should see.

We picked up our kids from camp in the Adirondacks. Yes, the deer are *that tame up there.

We had a great time reuniting with cousins.
Yeah, can you see that Emma is not in the photo above? She was in the bathroom. Family Picture FAIL.

We went to Toronto for Labor day and the lake (Great Lake Ontario) was as smooth as glass. For reals.
We went to a Yankees game (they won).
We went the Canadian National Exhibition (the Ex) and had fried fair food,
rode some "Oh, hell NO" rides,
Yeah, you're right...not me, the kids rode them.


saw some magic, watched this amazing guy balance big rocks on top of small ones,
rented rollerblades. (Yes, ME - don't you dare laugh)
First day of middle school
The passenger window won't go back up so I fixed it with contact paper and duct tape. Classy all the way.

Whoa, I should do this more often. But I gotta say, the uploading picture thing is a PITA.

My morning dilemma

Every morning when I pour my coffee, I have a difficult decision to make.


Which of these AWESOME coffee mugs, made by AWESOME women, do I choose to drink out of?

it's often determined by the kind of mood I'm in.

The mug on the left is by the fabulous Lorrie Veasey of Our Name is Mud.
And the mug on the right is from Sheree of Museware Pottery.


The reverse side of the one on the left says "Domestic Goddess". I use that one when I'm drowning in clutter and dirty laundry.

The "Bite Me" mug comes in handy when I'm fed up with those around me.

This morning I used the Domestic Goddess mug. But it could have just as easily been a Bite Me morning.

**** note: this is NOT a compensated post****

I was just lucky enough to receive these mugs in giveaways from these ladies' blogs last year and I want to bring their AWESOMENESS to your attention.

So, grab your cup of coffee or tea, and go visit their blogs and websites and see what you might add to your cupboards to express yourself when you have morning cuppa.

PS. I hope you appreicate how much work it took to get a photo of the mugs while hiding the debacle that is my kitchen.

I'm sorry

My header is now officially a LIE.

I promise I'll be back soon for reals.

Having a great summer though...

...summer birthdays

...family boat trip

...with fishing
...saw buskers in Kingston, ON

...kids at camp

...fun lunch with blogging buddies. Yes, we wrote on the restaurant walls. No, it was not vandalism

...won a blog giveaway yay for Fabulous Frosting FlipFlops and thank you McMommy!

FYI - this purple color? Called "Can you dig it?" by OPI.
Got it at a pedicure in Kingston, ON and
just found out it's a discontinued color from 2007.
Guess what? Found it on Ebay! :-)

...major car breakdown enroute to NYC area, Saved by a marine. No, really, it's true.

(Emma in the cab of the tow truck)

....stayed in a hotel with DD and saw this

(yes, it's a senior citizen in a speedo)

...great visit with my cousin

...great visit with bloggers in NYC {glaring at Lorrie}
...they were funny...LOVED the ferry
... great Jackson Browne concert at CMAC

...boating with friends

...[some] alone time with my husband, although not as much as I thought for being an empty-nester. It's true when they say time flies when you're having fun. Can I slow it down please? My kids will be home in a week and I NEED MORE TIME!

...yes, I do miss them.
... but this is nice, too
...ice cream for dinner, brownies for breakfast, less laundry, less dishes, no bickering. {hey, even DH and I haven't raised voices in more than a month. hmmm}
[OHMYGOSHWHENWILLMYKIDSBEHOME? IMISS THEM!] just not the bickering and laundry stuff.
...grown up evenings out on the town - wine, no kid's meals
...going to see Kenny Loggins at Bethel Woods next week! Should I wear tie-dye? DH wants to see the Woodstock Museum before the concert.