Memorial Day

 

It has been a big weekend here in the Nations Capital.  Rolling Thunder.   Wreath Laying at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier.  TAPS.  Veterans and their families coming in to visit monuments.   I took the afternoon and went out of town and had a spinning session with some friends.    I got the roving in a Ravelry Swap and it's hand dyed.   I don't know what the content is, but it definately has some mohair, and it seemed to have felted just a tad in the dying process so we had to have a discussion the fiber and I, about how I was bound and determined to spin it.   I wasn't sure I'd like it, because while the colors are strong and bold the way I like them in the roving, I just wasn't sure how they'd spin up.   This is why I'm not a dyer.  Simply beautiful and as soon as I get the rest done will have to make something with it.   Not sure what yet, haven't gotten that far, but rest assured it will be fab.

Happy Birthday to My Boys

Today is the boys' birthday.  Identical twins.  Gemini.   23 years.  Seems like such a grown up age, but alas not for my crew. 

Two nights ago, they reverted to something they did when they were younger, thumb wrestling, in the hall making this strange bird-like noise.   I'd happily rather forgotten about it, because when they were younger (and shorter) it was kinda funny -  in a  if you put a hole in the wall, I'll kick your ass kind of way.   Imagine now, 6 feet tall men (so they keep telling me), thumb wrestling in the hall.   They started in their old bedroom which is now the guest room - the one who still lives at home moved into his sister's room years ago when she moved out. 

Finally after a few minutes, I had to break it up and try to remember all my mommy skills for dealing with unruly 10 year old boys.   First I got between them, because eventhough they are waaaay taller than me, and could hoist me over a shoulder with ease, they are still afraid of me.   No, I didn't raise any dummys.   So first it was "don't hurt mom" from one of them.   Sweet.    I handed one some clean folded clothes and said go put these in your room.  Stay in your room and don't touch your brother when he walks by your door.   I said to the other one, as soon as your brother goes to his room, take that nasty thing in your hand (a sheet back from Iraq and so full of sand it was destined for the trash)  to the trash.   Do not stop in your brother's room on your way down the hall, do not taunt him.  Go straight to the kitchen. 

Like a dummy I went into my room for a minute.   Oh the noise.   I looked down the hall.   The one in his room, is standing mostly in the hall, his brother is past the door, but right there.   They are fighting over that nasty sheet which is apparently big enough for each to hold on to while whipping the ends at each other. 

I cleared my throat.   They both stopped and turned to look at me.   The one who was sent to his room said "what?   I haven't left my room"    And in fact, he had one foot still inside the door.   Technically he was right, I forgot the instruction about no body parts crossing the threshold.   The other said, "what?  I'm not touching him."  At that point I gave up and went back to, if you put a hole in the walls or break anything you're dead meat.

I'm so glad they get along. 

Random Friday

Okay, so everyone does eyecandy friday, and I've thought about it but I don't have any eyecandy pictures for today . . . maybe tomorrow.

So, big storm last night.  I was happily asleep until thunder cracked right over my head.   Then the lights went out.  s'okay since it was about 11 and I'd been happily asleep, rolled over, was almost asleep again when the boys had to come tell me there was no power.  REALLY.  You're all adults well over the drinking age.  Is there some reason I need to know this?   Well, yes.   Apparently they took all the flashlights during the week when they were working on various vehicles (because you know vehciles need to be worked on at night, i nthe dark) and had neglected to return them to their rightful place.  So, did I have any more?  Why yes, as a matter of fact, I do have more.   And no.  You can't have any of them.  Go to bed.   Power came back on at 2 am.   How do I know?   Apparently the first thing they did when the lights went out was to turn the volume on the tv way up,.  Is the sound on the television somehow connected to the electric company and their circuits and the like?    I guess so they would know when the power was back on.   Not much sleep after that.

I volunteered inthe Knit and Crochet booth at TAPS today.   Wonderful organization and I freely admited that if my son had not already returned from Iraq I didn't think I'd be able to do it.   Check them out, make a donation.   If you live in the DC area, think about volunteering your time next year. 

National Grape Popcicle Day

                                                      Do you know how hot it is mom?

I want a grape popcicle!

National Cherry Dessert Day - and Nature

Cherry pie!   Love it, warm with ice cream. 

Yesterday evening on my daily torture walk with DD, well usually it isn't a torture walk, but we do 5 miles to the lake and back almost every day, and I expect to have kick ass legs and a butt by the end of June at this rate.   Anyway, we walk  past a community pool on our way to the trail becuase walking to the trail leading to the woods is worth close to 2 miles, we've been watching the pool company set up the pool.  Early May they drained the icky water out, scrubbed, filled,  brought the chairs out and cleaned them off, chlorined the crap out of the water one day, a couple of days ago they put the little floating divider things in.  Crystal clear, water waiting for families this Saturday when they open up.

Last night . . . ducks swimming in the pool.   Cutest thing I've seen in a long time and I don't think I've ever seen ducks swimming in the public pool.  Of course I didn't have my camera.

Technology

I'm being drug into this century inch by inch and just agreed to upgrade my cell phone.   I am the person who didn't have an answering machine on my home phone until 2 years ago  and only did it then because it was  part of some package deal.   And all my land line phones are still attached to the walls because I'm too cheap to buy hand held ones - mostly becuase everyone I know who has them either forgets to charge them or they get lost.

I did not get a blackberry like both my boys did (and they both looked at me while they were getting a lesson and said "you'll never be able to figure this out")  But I did get a touch one with a slide out keyboard.   The keyboard is bigger than my old phone which I like and the screen is bigger too so I don't need my glasses (yet).   One son said it's similar to your ipod mom.   My response was huh, you're assuming I know how to use that aren't you?   Did you know that ipods don't come with directions?   They tell you to look your questions up on line.   WTF?  and right now my computer and ipod won't communicate so I can't even put all the new songs I bought onto it.   But that's for another day.

Happy weekend.

Three Good Things

My poor wrecked truck is slowly getting fixed.

I walked 6 miles in less than an hour and a half today.

I quit a crappy job yesterday and don't have to ever think about it again.

Eye Candy Friday

My college graduate - but don't show my face mom . . . .

Being Bullied is a Backhanded Compliment - Feel Strengthened

Today is a day of liberation.  Mine.  Last day with a horrid co-worker.  Hence the bully note above and we shall speak no more of her.  When I walk out the door today, that will be the end of the conversation and thought.

And why exactly is it that people feel the need to be nasty all the time?   I know, it's typically because they are basically very unhappy people to begin with, and I did find out today that this particular person was dumped last year from a long-term relationship that appaently she thought was going somewhere.  Hmmm, if her 'tude was the same as it is now, I think not.   Everytime she mentions having children I cringe.   They will be the most pathetic, beaten down children in the county.  So we're off to the happy place.   New job will start in a few weeks, life is good.


la la la la la

Pick Strawberries Day

So go find a field.  I was at the farmers market last weekend hoping to score some fresh strawberries.   Love them in my smoothie every morning.   However, while I always support the local farmers first, $5 for a little plastic thingy of strawberries was way more than my budget could afford.   So back to the market for me, those store bought strawberries may have been imported from somewhere else, but are less than half the cost.

Speaking of smoothies, my sister said to me yesterday that she tried a new flavor smoothie, and used steva instead of sugar and the taste wasn't too bad.   My first question was why would you put either in a smoothie?   It's suppose to be a nutritious, healthy, non-fatening way to have a decent breakfast and get your fruit serving for the day.   So she called me this morning and said she ordered another smoothie today.  Told them to hold all the sweetener - they said okay, but that is what makes it thick - HUH??????   lo and behold the smoothie was just great!

And, I was talking to a woman the other day about juciers.   She said she had gotten one after trying several juices at a store demo.  She said they were all good and had things like spinach, cabbage, etc in them.   Anyone out there have a juicer?   Do you like it?   I've been thinking about one but want to be really sure it's a good idea before spending all tha money.

National Devils Food Cake Day

Hmm, well this will be a great day!  I'll have to finally break down and go to the cupcake shop a few blocks from my office.   Maybe.   I've heard that they charge about $3 for one cupcake.   I've seen them, maybe worth 50 cents.  So I really should make some this afternoon when I get home. 

Shopping

I use to live for shopping.   I'd shop every day when I could.   I worked in town and there were three major department stores within walking distance of my office.   The shoe stores were unbelievible.   One right across my office was the $13.88 store.  Every pair of shoes.   And they were cute ones too.   Even if you only needed a special pair for one or two times, who cared at that price?  Now days, I'm trying to get rid of the itemages in my house, so I don't shop so much.  Except for yarn, but that doesn't count. 

Last Wednesday I stopped at a mattress store on my way home from work.   I just needed a twin size mattress for my son's room.    He was going to be home Saturday and nothing like putting these things off until the last minute huh?   But I knew if I waited until Friday night they wouldn't have what I wanted in stock and then I'd have to explain to him why he was sleeping on the floor or the couch for a few nights.   I'm a mean mom sometimes, but not that mean.

It was cloudy, I was in a hurry and when I walked into the door the kid leaped out of his chair, started across the store introducing himself and saying the whole spiel.   I stopped him right after he told me his name - which I didn't pay attention to.  (Note:  first shot into my own foot)    I said, I needed a twin size mattress for a guest room.  So he took me to a very nice one, said I could have it for the wonderful price of $600 and when did I want it delivered?   I said I didn't.  And I really didn't want to spend that much money, what else did he have.  On sale?  So he showed me another one for $199.  That was better, did they have any other choices, yes, but what he showed me, I wouldn't even try, they looked so crappy.  So I said fine, I'll take this one.  Is it in stock?   Why yes, it is.   Great.   Here's my check, it's starting to rain, I'll be back in the next evening or two to pick it up, whenever it isn't raining.  He said great, he'd put a sold ticket on it with my name. 

Of course it rained for the next two days.   Saturday afternoon on our way home from the airport, I 'splained to my son that we needed to stop and pick up his mattress.    But it was already paid for, and they would load it into the truck, all he had to do was help me get it into the house.   And yes, I understand he'd been awake for almost 40 hours, but I promised it was on the way home and it would be painless.   (I just keep shooting myself in the foot don't I? )  So we got to the store, he opened the back of the truck up while I went in confidently with my ticket.  They looked and looked and looked.   Golly, it looks like we've sold it.

Huh?  

But hold on, let me check.    10 minutes later, yep, we don't have it anymore, and gee, I'm sorry I don't know what happened, but you can go to our other store just 3 miles down the road they have several in stock and they'll give you one.    I should have made them give me something better from that store.   But instead I just said in my bestest mom voice, you'd best call and tell them I'll be there in less than 30 minutes and to have it ready.   Oh yes ma'am, of course, and we're terribly sorry.   Lier.

So I took poor boy home first since he was beat, then fought my way back through traffic to the other store.   Right next to a Home Depot.   With tons of "flower" shoppers, who were rude and tired and walking in the middle of the parking lot with their baskets full of flowers and dirt.   argggg.    I parked directly behind the mattress store, their back door was open since it was such a beautiul day, so I walked in with my receipt, and said to the first guy who saw me, "I'm here to pick up a mattress, the other store said you would have one available".   They looked at me like I was from outer space.  So I explained how I had paid for a mattress three days ago, had just gone to pick it up since it finally wasn't raining and they apparently sold it to someone else, but they assured me that THIS store had several and would give me one.    They asked which store I had gone to and I told them.   They then didn't seemed shocked to see me or hear my story, so I guess that store has done this before.    I tried to be nice to them, it wasn't their fault, but I was tired, cranky and now out over $200 and had a kid with no bed.   So, they loaded up what I needed, then were talking about the paperwork,  I guess my eyes crossed because one of them said, oh, don't worry about it, just give me your paperwork and we'll take care of it.  So away I went, driving back roads so as to not loose the mattress on the road, got it  home and we got it into his room, made his bed all nice and cozy.   That night when we came back from dinner, I was wondering through the house.   Stanley had warmed up the bed for my boy.   I told him he'd now have to fight the cat for prime sleeping space, since stanley was curled up at the head of the bed and was using the pillow. 

Good thing he likes the cat.

Three Good Things

Today are . . .

My boy is home for 30 days.

My other boy graduates from college tomorrow.

My world, for the moment, is spinning on it's axis just the way it should be.

Eye Candy Friday

Home from Iraq