Friday Whining

There’s some things I need to whine about.  Will you indulge me?

I don’t like:

dieting
exercising
politics
white rice
littering
con artists
scammers
being far from my chil’ren
bananas
corn tortillas
floppy french fries
the stupid comments that people write/make to online newspaper articles
sticking my fork in my dressing before eating the salad
weighing myself and seeing no weight loss after being so good
scales
people who are chintzy with the shredded cheese
oregano


Okay.  Enough whining.  If this is all I have to whine about, I'm pretty darn lucky. 

I also am thinking of Robin Roberts as she grieves the loss of her mother and faces her bone marrow transplant.  She sure is a brave lady. 

I should have listened to the cat

Charlie was trying to tell me something last night.

Well, it was actually about 3:00 this morning.

What does your nightstand look like?  Mine has very little wood showing through all the clutter.  On any given night, you can find the lamp, books, a picture of me and Sir from 2000, my pills, my phone, my charging Kindle and my glass of water. 

Charlie must have ESP; he must have known something was going to happen.    Last night, he woke me up by knocking over the water glass on to all things electrical and expensive.  I bolted from my slumber to rescue the goods and dry off everything the water had touched.  In the process I had a few choice words for Charlie and his late night shenanigans.  It took me forever to fall back asleep. 

I think he was trying to tell me just to stay in bed today.  He was giving me a warning.  He must have known.

Today was my day to work in our Columbia office.  As it became time for me to leave, the rain started pouring.  There's nothing worse than riding in an air conditioned car while wet, don't you think?  So, in attempt to avoid this, I chose to run to my car.  Well, run might be a bit strong, how about jog? 

I was three or four steps into my jog, in my very high heels, when I put my left foot into a pothole and DOWN went my fluffy body.  Down onto the wet pavement.  Down on my hands and knees.  Down in the wet graveled parking lot feeling like a total idiot.  Down.  Down.  Down.  I took my wet clothes, wet knees and very injured pride into the cold car and headed home.  All that trying to avoid and I had just run (jogged) right into the face of it.  And then fell into it. 

Idiot.

Charlie, I shoulda listened to ya buddy.

Heh Heh Heh

People.  If you want to cry, want to laugh, want to roll on the floor, please go here.

There is nothing I could think of today that could top this.  ;-)

Thursday Night Fun With The Ju

I like my men like I like my Publix Frozen Blueberries:

AND my strawberries...

 

I couldn't resist!

A very wise woman  suggested to me to do some coloring.  I have been whining about back to school, missing my kids, and all that jazz, and she thought some coloring would cure what ails me.  

So, yesterday after work, I stopped by Walgreens and bought some NEW crayons.  When I got home, Steven showed me what he had found earlier in the day:

Uh, NO Sir Steven.  These are not crayons.  They may SAY they are crayons, and obviously, they are multi-color, and there are 64 of them, but they are NOT crayons.

THESE are crayons:

 

While at Walgreens, I searched for a coloring book.  The only things they have out there these days are Disney Princesses, CARS, Dora the Explorer and Sponge Bog; none of which inspired me.  Luckily, my rat packedness had never thrown out this cute little puppy dog coloring book.

 Speaking of cute puppy dogs...

 Awww.  Rockett and her platypus.

I digress. 

I enjoyed my crayons any my coloring.  I felt very accomplished as I stayed within the lines.  I relished the feel of the brand new crayon touching that weird paper that's always in coloring books.  I loved finding my old friends Sepia, Cornflower Blue, Red Violet and Blue Violet. And, then I discovered this little gem:

 

And I felt just that way!

I highly recommend crayon therapy to everyone.  Let out that third grade artist who lives inside you!

 

Mid Week Mute

Because I know you're dying to know

I will answer all your pressing questions so that you can sleep tonight.  Here are my opinions on all things "important."

I like Miley Cyrus' new haircut.

I don't like Joe Giudice at all.

I won't watch American Idol if Mariah Carey is a judge.

Or Nicki Minaj.

I think that guy from Missouri with the big mouth and little brain makes me wish he wasn't from Missouri.

I think Jesus might have giggled at the dude who skinny dipped in the Sea of Galilee.

But, I also think he probably wouldn't have voted for him.

I think Rosie O'Donnell is really lucky to have survived her heart attack. 

I don't like Donald Trump.

I do like Donald Duck.  And anyone who can do the impression.

I like Will Smith, but I can do without Willow.

I'm tired of seeing Kim Kardashian's behind.

I really like Robin Roberts.

Taylor Swift is really tall. 

Is it just me, or does she never look happy?

Who the heck is Honey Boo Boo?

Back To School

I have really enjoyed all the back to school photos on Facebook today and over the past week.  There is just something so sweet about that brand new backpack and the new clothes.   These little kids will grow so much this year.  They will lose teeth and new teeth will grow back in their place.  They will acquire new skills thanks to a caring teacher.

And yet, I feel melancholy.

My back to schools are all over.  My kids are grown ups.  While they are still in school, there's no more "new backpacks."  School supplies are just over priced textbooks.  They have all their teeth, and hopefully, don't lose any during the year.

There will be no teacher conferences, music programs or field trips this year.  

I don't have to struggle trying to come up with creative lunch ideas, or to find ways to keep them motivated to do homework or study.

With Taylor having moved to Columbia, my communication with my children is now limited to short texts and an occasional phone call.  Oh, and I do get to have lunch with her weekly. 

I know this is what school is for, this is our aim, for our children to live their own lives.  I know that I'm lucky to have great kids who are moving up, out and gaining that independence.  

But today, I'm missing that back to school thing with my little ones.

Friday Night Ramblings

TGIF!

This is the first week, in awhile, that I've worked all five days. So, tonight is an extra great Friday night!  Let's dive in, shall we?

My favorite breakfast treat is the Sonic Toaster Sandwich.  I get mine with no egg, as I do not care for that egg thing that fast food restaurants serve.  (what IS that???!)  I treat myself with this on the weekends, and oh, is it yummy.  Toast, cheese and bacon.  My three faves.

Toast.  Cheese.  Bacon.  Three things I'm going to have to avoid come Monday.  Yep, I'm hitting the diet trail.  Expect ranting blog posts. 

Taylor is living in Columbia full time now.  I am in denial.  If I think I about it, I might get sad, so I'm not thinking about it.  Empty Nest.

I would like a new cat to come adopt me to make up for the above named empty nest.

English Premier Soccer begins a new season tomorrow, and the folks on Bronwen Court are thrilled. (well, our house is.  Not so sure about the others...)

I never thought Bronson Pinchot was that funny.  Check that, I never thought he was funny.  Period.

On the other hand---Jim Gaffigan makes me giggle like a schoolgirl.

Robert Pattinson gets some supreme height on his hair.  I'm impressed.

I don't care for cinnamon rolls for breakfast, but I do love them for a late night snack.

Another thing I won't be eating come Monday.  Sigh.

I just thought of something yummy I can continue eating:  Balsamic Vinegar.  That's some good stuff.

I like to sit on my couch on Friday nights. What do other people do?

I'm already tired of hearing/reading about the election.  Only three more months to go.  Whoopty Doo!

As  much as I enjoy vacationing, I'm tickled pink to have life back to normal.  Boring is good!!

Happy Weekend to all!

Mid Week Mute (late AGAIN, boy I'm really sucking at this lately)

Anticipation

I never used to be able to sleep that last night before the new school year began.  I would lie down with every intention of sleeping, but would lie awake all night wondering what the next day would hold.

I used to love the first day of school. 

I loved the new school supplies.  (Brand new crayons were, and still are the best!)  Even though, in my day, spiral notebooks weren’t as exciting as they are nowadays, it was still exciting to get all those sheets of clean paper.  I remember feeling so grown up when I finally switched from wide rule to college rule.

And, how about the lunch boxes?  I honestly don’t remember having one, but I’m sure I did.  I can guarantee I never took soup in my thermos, but the thermos was the coolest part of the box.  If I could have picked out my own, I would have gone for a Partridge Family one, I’m sure of it.  As it turned out, all I can remember is taking a brown lunch bag for my lunch.  (Bologna and mayo sandwich, chips and Suzy Q please!)

As I headed to junior high and high school, I became excited about the possibility of which boys would be in my classes.  I greatly anticipated the cute ones.  Well, I was in band and choir, which meant normally, not the cute boys.  By the end of the first day of school, after all seven periods, I was greatly disappointed by the semester’s boys from which I had to choose.  Sigh. 

It’s been an awful long time since my first day of school.  I’d like some new school clothes, some neat supplies and a nifty lunch box.  But, I’ve got a cute boy now, and I don’t honestly think I could pay attention to anything for seven periods.  My brain is full.

Happy New School Year to all who are attending!  Have a great year! 

Such a Part of My Life

As the Olympics prepare to close tonight, I'm reminded of all the wonderful stories I've seen, not only this year, but all my life.

I think I was nine years old when I first remember watching the Olympics.  That would have been the 1972 Munich Olympics, and all the sadness that surrounded it.  But, one little girl was so much fun to watch.  I loved Olga Korbut.  I love looking at pictures of her with those off kiltered pigtails.  When I see those, I'm reminded how I would sit at the TV and watch all events.  Even though I was raised in a sporting household, this was something completely new to me.  These sports, these athletes and all the love of country was just so NEAT.


After Olga was Nadia and Mary Lou Retton, and their quest for perfection.  Bruce Jenner, BEFORE all the face lifts, made my heart go pitter pat.  I had never heard the word, "decathlon" before I watched him compete. I was able to watch ten different events,and yet they were all part of one event.  I wanted to be these athletes. (I just didn't want to do all the work.)

Sugar Ray Leonard, and all the Olympic boxers of 1976 introduced me to boxing.  I remember watching the boxing matches while on vacation at the Lake of the Ozarks.  It's one of the few TV programs that I can remember watching with my family.  There was Miracle on Ice and all those skaters.  The Olympics never failed to impress.


And now another Olympics has come and is getting ready to go.  I watch it with a different eye now.  I admire the athlete's commitment and dedication.  I feel for the parents as they watch their children compete.  I rejoice in the underdog and also find myself shaking my head in wonder at the favorites who don't fail.

We see all these people and countries come together for two weeks and it makes me hopeful that maybe one day we can all live together in peace and harmony. 

Mo Farah for world leader, anyone?

JuJu's Thoughts While At the Beach

Some of the things that went through my mind while relaxing at Folly Beach the last two days:

I love designs on swimsuits.  There are polka dots, stripes, swirls, flowers, peace signs, rainbows, bright colors, dark colors, skirts, shorts, skulls, and lady bugs.  Everything is happy in swimwear.

Dogs love the beach.  They also like to poop IN the water.  Why is that?

The beach is the only place I can sit outside, and be comfortable, in ninety degree heat. Yes, it's the breeze.

There is GREAT people watching at the beach.

Kids only know one pace on the beach:  running. 

Everyone loves to dig in the sand.

Beach towels are an artistic expression all their own.

I like seagulls and pelicans. 

Sir Steven likes to feed the seagulls.  He's not very popular when he does that.

My beach bag has a lot of useless crap in it. 

Reading at the beach is the BEST.

High tide can be a real pain in the keester.

Salt water up the nose burns.

Time goes by very slowly at the beach.

Storms are that much more exciting when they are over the ocean.

Even if I squint, I can't see England.  Hmph.

Mid Week Mute (late, yet again)

Mother Nature is Weird

(if I had misspelled the last word,  I would have written Mother Nature is Wired, and it would still make sense---)


I tried a new food last week.  This is what it looked like frozen:

 
Any ideas what this could be?  These little suckers have sat in my freezer for a couple months now.  I live in an area where people make a living fishing commercially.  One of my friends at work, her father (Daddy) fishes and caught these suckers.

It is the weirdest thing I've ever seen.  Hands down.

Ladies and Germs, I present to you the soft shell crab:

The Wikipedia definition of a soft shell crab is "a culinary term for crabs which have recently molted their old exoskeleton and are still soft."  (Blech!)  The key word for me is "MOLT."  I remember when Taylor babysat the class tarantula and it molted.  Again, BLECH.

Anyway, soft shell crab sandwiches are very popular down here, so we gave it a whirl. Well, Tracy and Taylor did the work.  I took the pictures and grossed out.

We fried up the poor little fellas in some hot oil and then ate them on a sandwich.  Legs and all.  You eat the whole thing.  (well, you DO have to remove the DEAD MANS FINGERS before cooking)

My thoughts?  Glad I tried it.  But won't be trying it again any time soon.  If ya know what I mean. 

Vacation Facts: Weird and Wonderful

I'm back home in my bed and reflecting on a lovely vacation.  There were some wild, witty and wonderful times and I'm so happy to be sharing them with you.

I planned to read a lot while on vacation.  I read NOTHING.  On the other hand, Taylor read three books.

I had only ONE nap the entire week.  I have more naps on a normal Saturday afternoon.

I slept in a Queen bed all week.  And survived.

The house had automatic shutters/room darkeners.  MUST get some for my house.

Young boys do not like their pictures taken with the Ju.

Unless it's their idea and they are photo bombing...

No matter how much sunscreen I apply, I always burn myself.

Watching the Olympics is great, no matter where I am.

Jake and Grace were brave enough to come join us for vacation.

The house next door to the house we were renting?  You can buy it for 3.8 million.

The house we rented had no indoor stairs to access the bottom level.  You had to go OUTSIDE on a spiral staircase, or use a rickety old elevator.  Interesting.

Boys are happiest when they're being silly.

Girls are happiest when they're wearing a duck on their forehead.

We enjoyed lots of good food, cold beer and giggles.

We saw some kind of UFO and a few folks saw shooting stars.

We spent the majority of our time in the hot tub and the pool.

I am happiest when around those that I love the most and I see them smiling.