What do you do when it's way too hot outside....go to the library of course! Actually, the kids and I practically live in the library.....and we're always playing revolving door.....take 10 back, check 20 out. It makes my stomach lurch sometimes when I notice that we have 90 or so books checked out.
Today we decided to take some back. Everyone gets out of the car carrying a pile of books. My 4 year-old jumps out of the car and hands me 2 books that her older sister, Maddie, should have been carrying, but I add them to my pile.
Just as I am about to drop these 2 particular books in the slot, Cayla...the 4 year-old, dances by and tells me that I
shouldn't put those in the slot. Now you have to understand that this daughter is ALWAYS telling me something...like her stuffed cats just had to play with the Play Doh and COULDN'T put it away......or her current invisible friend NEEDS to paint....or, the geckos on the back window just HAVE to come in.......etc., ect......so you might understand why I just smiled at her and rolled my eyes as I dropped the books in.
Cut to 30 minutes later......we are carrying out more books than we took in.....my stomach lurches (I have nightmares of forgetting which house on the street is mine.....thereby making it impossible to return any of the books we have checked out!) We get in the car and Maddie wants to know where her two books are that she left on her seat.
Uh oh!
I tell her that I returned them. Maddie at this point looks stricken. My husband tells her she can just re-check them out later.....he's already pulled out of the parking lot.....and it IS hot....no WAY we're getting out of the car, swimming through the humidity and going back in. I apologize to her and tell her that "Monday we'll come back!"
My husband and I start talking about how weird it is to see armadillos....we had just passed one. Not like the squirrels and hundreds, no thousands...... of rabbits you see in Missouri. However, my "mommy" radar is buzzing like a bad headache.....I look toward the back to see that Maddie has her face turned toward the window.....and from the bit of her face that I can see I can tell she is crying.
Maddie is one of those children that cries without sound. Her private griefs and momentary miseries that break her little 6 year-old heart are always without show. Now Cayla, when she cries, the neighbors know about it. But not Maddie. Her eyes, which are huge and beautiful, just leak a sea of silent tears. Whenever I see her cry I want to do anything in the world that would help her stop. (Heaven help her future husband!!!) Of course I have to console her......."Maddie, we can go back and get that book Monday." She looks at me with those incredible eyes. "It's not the book mom....I had Rita's ATC in it as a bookmark." Now my stomach really lurches.
Rita is our best friend, surrogate-mom-grandma, best hugger in the world....and she is back in Kansas City. She and her husband Bob, are the biggest reasons we have found it so hard to "deal" with moving to Houston. Every holiday and sometimes for no reason at all, they will make the kids cards and ATC's (artist trading cards.) This past Easter was no different. It was ATC's with rabbits, eggs and glitter. I still remember that when Maddie saw her card from Rita, her eyes got big and she sighed, "beautiful!"
And it had never really registered before, but whenever I would see Maddie with a book, that ATC would be somewhere close by. I never connected that that was her bookmark. (I did ask her one time why she carried it around instead of putting it in her folder where she keeps other cards.....she told me that she keeps it with her to remind her that Rita loves her.)
Well, I dumped everyone else at the house and Maddie and I went back to the library toot sweet! The librarian found the book in the back.....and the card was still in it! When she handed it to Maddie, she told her that she
wouldn't have wanted to lose something so beautiful either! Maddie smiled and told her, "Rita made it!"
So Rita, if you read this, know that you are a "thing of beauty" to us....and that there's some poor librarian in Texas going, "Who's Rita?"
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Why engineers don't use apoxie sculpt on chairs....
My office chair died yesterday.
I had been sitting in said chair thinking to myself what a lovely find the chair had been. Only $40! And it had lasted a whole year!!! Where in the world do you find "deals" like that? I was sculpting at the time that these soothing thoughts were going through my head. Suddenly I dropped one of my tools on the floor.....no surprise there.....I'm somewhat clumsy. A spaz, some might be so brazen to say.
Anyway....I dropped something. So I lean over in my miraculous chair and the next thing I know I'm looking up at the ceiling. One of the legs had fallen off! Stupid chair!
My husband laughed when I told him this.
He told me to get rid of the chair.
Pfffft! I don't think so!
Silly man.....doesn't he know that in my possession, I have a substance stronger than the will of a 4 year-old? I have Apoxie Sculpt. I love the stuff. I use it on everything.....cause I'm clumsy....I break stuff. Well, not only does Apoxie Sculpt make an outstanding armature, it repairs stuff! So cool.
Well, to show my husband, I repaired that chair today with my miracle glob (if you have used it, you know why I call it glob). I mixed a dollop of the "stuff" from container 1 with the same size dollop of "stuff" in container 2. So easy! I wonder if the people at NASA know about it.
After 3 hours, I had my chair back, as good as new!
My husband was sufficiently complimentary....if somewhat skeptical....but what can he say, here I am working away at my desk with my newly repaired chair. Well, things went well for about an hour......my husband had wandered off to the kitchen, the kids were in bed, I was in the sculpting "zone", feeling goooood, congratulating myself on overcoming simple chair breaks, thereby assuring myself years more use of my wonder chair, when all of a sudden I fell forward.
The next thing I remember is seeing my husband's feet at eye level. My husband said I had screamed and then there was a crash. The leg of the chair had broken AGAIN, but this time I had hit my head on the desk on the way down.
My husband was gracious enough to make sure I was ok, before launching into the "I told you so's".......what he
actually said was, "This is why engineers don't use apoxie sculpt on chairs"............I just thought they didn't cause they weren't in the know.
Oh well.....here's a picture of what I was working on.....I'm glad I didn't pull her off the table with me!
Did I mention that I'm clumsy?
I had been sitting in said chair thinking to myself what a lovely find the chair had been. Only $40! And it had lasted a whole year!!! Where in the world do you find "deals" like that? I was sculpting at the time that these soothing thoughts were going through my head. Suddenly I dropped one of my tools on the floor.....no surprise there.....I'm somewhat clumsy. A spaz, some might be so brazen to say.
Anyway....I dropped something. So I lean over in my miraculous chair and the next thing I know I'm looking up at the ceiling. One of the legs had fallen off! Stupid chair!
My husband laughed when I told him this.
He told me to get rid of the chair.
Pfffft! I don't think so!
Silly man.....doesn't he know that in my possession, I have a substance stronger than the will of a 4 year-old? I have Apoxie Sculpt. I love the stuff. I use it on everything.....cause I'm clumsy....I break stuff. Well, not only does Apoxie Sculpt make an outstanding armature, it repairs stuff! So cool.
Well, to show my husband, I repaired that chair today with my miracle glob (if you have used it, you know why I call it glob). I mixed a dollop of the "stuff" from container 1 with the same size dollop of "stuff" in container 2. So easy! I wonder if the people at NASA know about it.
After 3 hours, I had my chair back, as good as new!
My husband was sufficiently complimentary....if somewhat skeptical....but what can he say, here I am working away at my desk with my newly repaired chair. Well, things went well for about an hour......my husband had wandered off to the kitchen, the kids were in bed, I was in the sculpting "zone", feeling goooood, congratulating myself on overcoming simple chair breaks, thereby assuring myself years more use of my wonder chair, when all of a sudden I fell forward.
The next thing I remember is seeing my husband's feet at eye level. My husband said I had screamed and then there was a crash. The leg of the chair had broken AGAIN, but this time I had hit my head on the desk on the way down.
My husband was gracious enough to make sure I was ok, before launching into the "I told you so's".......what he
actually said was, "This is why engineers don't use apoxie sculpt on chairs"............I just thought they didn't cause they weren't in the know.
Oh well.....here's a picture of what I was working on.....I'm glad I didn't pull her off the table with me!
Did I mention that I'm clumsy?
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Magda
I've been working in Polymer Clay again....I can't decide if I love it or hate it!!!
This is my latest doll. Her name is Magda. She is approximately 11" and is removable from her base.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Waiting for THE book.....
This is Celia. She is a 4.5" bear. She's very proud of herself....she can get in a chair all by herself.
She told me she is sitting here waiting for some book to arrive. Something about a kid named "Harry" or
something......
She told me she is sitting here waiting for some book to arrive. Something about a kid named "Harry" or
something......
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Why you should not eat nachos under the backboard and other peculiarities......
This little dog has absolutely nothing to do with the nachos....more the peculiarities part. Her name is Chou-Chou and she is supposed to be a Dalmation, but if you ask her, she will insist that she is a Lhasa apso. I don't see the resemblance.....I think she just likes saying Lhasa apso.
She now lives with my good friend Gayle, who is a kind and patient soul....so maybe she won't mind her peculiarities......not Gayle's peculiarities, Chou-Chou's. Gayle has no peculiarities that I know of....other than having a Dalmation that thinks it's a Lhaso apso.....but hey, we can't all be normal.
And speaking of normal.......on to "Why you should not eat nachos under the backboard"...
......that's what my 11 year-old daughter found out today with 2 of her friends at choir. After they had practiced, they were sent to the gym for snacks.
Nachos and lemonade. Good eats!
I was across the gym from them with my youngest daughter....she opted for just the lemonade. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the 3 girls plunk down right underneath the backboard of the basketball hoop. I sat there in disbelief. Most of the other kids had chosen the sidelines or TABLES. Why right under the basketball hoop?
Did I mention that some boys were playing basketball? Boys with not very good aim?
Well, you know where I'm going with this.......in the blink of an eye, one of the boys goes in for the winning basket (in his mind) and shoots......and misses by a mile. Not quite misses. His ball landed with an amazing bit of speed and precision right smack dab in the middle of the nachos.....and lemonade.
Man, I wish I had had a camera!
Chips went flying, lemonade became airborne in only the way lemonade can when a projectile weapon has been thrown at it. It was amazing! Actually, a camera would not have done the scene justice. The "moment" definitely needed to be caught with a camera capable of capturing the sound of 3 eleven year-old girls "squeeeeeeing" and giggling as they were covered in chips, cheese and lemonade.
The young man at fault, being a gentleman, came over to assure them that he hadn't aimed at them.....but he did look mighty pleased with himself.....which considering the cinematic effect he caused by his lack of aim and problems with manual dexterity.....isn't at all peculiar.
She now lives with my good friend Gayle, who is a kind and patient soul....so maybe she won't mind her peculiarities......not Gayle's peculiarities, Chou-Chou's. Gayle has no peculiarities that I know of....other than having a Dalmation that thinks it's a Lhaso apso.....but hey, we can't all be normal.
And speaking of normal.......on to "Why you should not eat nachos under the backboard"...
......that's what my 11 year-old daughter found out today with 2 of her friends at choir. After they had practiced, they were sent to the gym for snacks.
Nachos and lemonade. Good eats!
I was across the gym from them with my youngest daughter....she opted for just the lemonade. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the 3 girls plunk down right underneath the backboard of the basketball hoop. I sat there in disbelief. Most of the other kids had chosen the sidelines or TABLES. Why right under the basketball hoop?
Did I mention that some boys were playing basketball? Boys with not very good aim?
Well, you know where I'm going with this.......in the blink of an eye, one of the boys goes in for the winning basket (in his mind) and shoots......and misses by a mile. Not quite misses. His ball landed with an amazing bit of speed and precision right smack dab in the middle of the nachos.....and lemonade.
Man, I wish I had had a camera!
Chips went flying, lemonade became airborne in only the way lemonade can when a projectile weapon has been thrown at it. It was amazing! Actually, a camera would not have done the scene justice. The "moment" definitely needed to be caught with a camera capable of capturing the sound of 3 eleven year-old girls "squeeeeeeing" and giggling as they were covered in chips, cheese and lemonade.
The young man at fault, being a gentleman, came over to assure them that he hadn't aimed at them.....but he did look mighty pleased with himself.....which considering the cinematic effect he caused by his lack of aim and problems with manual dexterity.....isn't at all peculiar.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
I've been tagged!!!! Twice no less!!!
LOL! Scarlatti and Ute....two of you.....bad girls! LOL!
Here are the rules:
Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.
7 Random Facts about me:
1. I have a overactive imagination. Some might call it neurosis....I prefer to think of it as "a colorful way of seeing the world!"
2. I played with Barbies till I was 16. I always then add that I actually just made clothes for my dolls till I was 16 and went away to college. You say "potato", I say "pahtahto".
3. I thought the Backstreet Boys were kinda cool. (see Random Fact 1.)
4. I thought (and still sort of do) that Girl Scout THIN MINT cookies tasted heavenly with a bit of Grey Poupon mustard.
5. In 7th grade for a speech contest, I chose ANNABEL LEE by Edgar Allen Poe. My brother, who was in 3rd grade also was going to deliver a poem. He was so nervous that no matter what he did, he simply could not remember it. I tried to help him, by saying it with him to help him practice. When the fateful day of the contest came instead of reciting ANNABEL LEE as I was supposed to....I got in front of the entire school and gave his poem! I don't think I have ever had soooooo many people laugh at me....and not realize why!
6. I love Japanese anime.
7. I love Science fiction.....(again Random thought 1!) STARGATE SG-1 is my favorite.....Micheal Shanks, who plays Daniel Jackson, is cute enough to have been a Backstreet Boy!!!LOL
Here are the rules:
Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.
7 Random Facts about me:
1. I have a overactive imagination. Some might call it neurosis....I prefer to think of it as "a colorful way of seeing the world!"
2. I played with Barbies till I was 16. I always then add that I actually just made clothes for my dolls till I was 16 and went away to college. You say "potato", I say "pahtahto".
3. I thought the Backstreet Boys were kinda cool. (see Random Fact 1.)
4. I thought (and still sort of do) that Girl Scout THIN MINT cookies tasted heavenly with a bit of Grey Poupon mustard.
5. In 7th grade for a speech contest, I chose ANNABEL LEE by Edgar Allen Poe. My brother, who was in 3rd grade also was going to deliver a poem. He was so nervous that no matter what he did, he simply could not remember it. I tried to help him, by saying it with him to help him practice. When the fateful day of the contest came instead of reciting ANNABEL LEE as I was supposed to....I got in front of the entire school and gave his poem! I don't think I have ever had soooooo many people laugh at me....and not realize why!
6. I love Japanese anime.
7. I love Science fiction.....(again Random thought 1!) STARGATE SG-1 is my favorite.....Micheal Shanks, who plays Daniel Jackson, is cute enough to have been a Backstreet Boy!!!LOL
Monday, May 21, 2007
I hate to do this......
If you know me personally, you know that I am just about one of the nicest people on the planet! (Those of you out there snickering......I know where you live!)
Anyway.....where was I?....oh, yes!....I'm a regular sweetheart.
I hate to brag, but I'm just an all around nice chick! And because of that, I hate to make waves. But when a gross injustice has been portioned out, well I just have to speak out!
Below you will see a WANTED poster for a CROC thief!
Sure, she looks nice and all, but let me tell you she is a bundle of danger! If I had all day, oh, the stories I could tell you! But, I'm not like that! Suffice it to say, this woman is in possession of PURPLE CROCS that are rightfully mine.....I did not buy them, but I am talking about on a cosmic level here people.
So if you see her, take the shoes, return them to me and there will be a reward involved.
If you need proof of her guilt:
Click here
Like I said, I hate to do this, but we all have to suffer for fashion every now and then.....
Anyway.....where was I?....oh, yes!....I'm a regular sweetheart.
I hate to brag, but I'm just an all around nice chick! And because of that, I hate to make waves. But when a gross injustice has been portioned out, well I just have to speak out!
Below you will see a WANTED poster for a CROC thief!
Sure, she looks nice and all, but let me tell you she is a bundle of danger! If I had all day, oh, the stories I could tell you! But, I'm not like that! Suffice it to say, this woman is in possession of PURPLE CROCS that are rightfully mine.....I did not buy them, but I am talking about on a cosmic level here people.
So if you see her, take the shoes, return them to me and there will be a reward involved.
If you need proof of her guilt:
Click here
Like I said, I hate to do this, but we all have to suffer for fashion every now and then.....
Friday, May 4, 2007
Since my camera died......
I have been working on bears all week....and just as I was about to take some pictures of them I discovered that my camera died.
"If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all....Gloom, despair and agony on me!"
LOL!
Okay, things aren't THAT bad....I just like that song from HEE HAW! (If you are saying,"WHAT?".....you're probably
too young to remember that show or spent your formative years in more productive ventures than in front of the
television!)
Anyhoo....since I have no pictures!!!!....here is a cool site that will, tantalize, inform and give you insight into one of the greater mysteries of this computer age.
Have you ever wondered how the small arrow in the screen of the computer work when we move the mouse?
Now, through the miracle of the high technology, we can see how it is done.
With the aid of a screen magnifying lens the mechanism becomes apparent.
Click on the link below-it will take a few seconds to load. Then run your mouse over the circle. If you stop, watch what happens. Also look what happens when you click on the circle.....
http://tinyurl.com/ytxcr3
"If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all....Gloom, despair and agony on me!"
LOL!
Okay, things aren't THAT bad....I just like that song from HEE HAW! (If you are saying,"WHAT?".....you're probably
too young to remember that show or spent your formative years in more productive ventures than in front of the
television!)
Anyhoo....since I have no pictures!!!!....here is a cool site that will, tantalize, inform and give you insight into one of the greater mysteries of this computer age.
Have you ever wondered how the small arrow in the screen of the computer work when we move the mouse?
Now, through the miracle of the high technology, we can see how it is done.
With the aid of a screen magnifying lens the mechanism becomes apparent.
Click on the link below-it will take a few seconds to load. Then run your mouse over the circle. If you stop, watch what happens. Also look what happens when you click on the circle.....
http://tinyurl.com/ytxcr3
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