Update

First of all, thank you for being so patient on my clear lack of posting as of late. I started a new, part-time job as a marketing coordinator for a nursing home/assisted living center and that keeps me busy three days a week. The other days, I'm trying to run the household and that can wear a person out! Plus there are Boy Scouts (Wanna buy some popcorn? Let me know.), piano lessons, book club, bowling, church ladies, music boosters, etc, etc, etc. I'm tired just thinking about it.

If it makes you feel any better, I've been neglecting my treadmill as well. I got on it this morning, the first time in about a month, and at minute 55, my left knee told me it was done. I made it keep going another five minutes and it feels fine now. I guess it was just out of shape! :)

Last week, I weighed in and had lost 30 pounds! The Commander told me he would take me back to New York City if I lost 30 pounds and I did! Now we will see if he holds up his end of the bargain.

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This is the newest and exciting-est thing going on here.

We bought this land behind our house and are filling it up. We've planted 50+ trees and have built The Boy a huge "Fort" in one corner. Now, we are getting a storage barn.

This is the area it will be erected (heheheheh).



And this is what thousands of dollars will get you.



Doesn't look like much, does it? I'll post photos as we go along so you can see my new skating rink in progress.

Time, time, time

This summer has flown past!

It started out a little slow, but then it gained huge momentum.

The Boy is now officially a Boy Scout and, boy, are those guys busy. Meetings every week, camping, food. A bunch of them just got back from hiking in the Black Hills and on Sunday, a different set of them (The Boy included) are heading up north for a week-long camp. This will be his first parentless Scout camp. We bought a nifty new Coleman cot and I now get to pack and pack and pack everything up for the trip.

Last week, he was at church camp and Shorty was away at Army camp for the past month. They are now both home and we are still trying to get caught up on the laundry!

Yesterday, I chaperoned the school band to the amusement park. It was fun, but it is hard because I like the roller coasters and big thrill rides and The Boy likes the smaller, less thrilling rides that go round and round. I can't do round and round. I ended up not riding much just so we could spend more time letting him ride the things he wanted. Oh well, I guess that is what parents do for their chirrun.

I have to finish writing a grant, work on a video presentation for a memorial service and get a package in the mail today. Boring, but needs to be done. That will free me up next week to party like a rock star!

Woot!

Conversation with my son

Kissing him goodnight after he had a fun-filled day at the pool.

Me - You smell like the pool.

Him - You smell like a mom.

Me - What does a mom smell like?

Him - Weird perfume and sweat.

???????

Product Review

If you know me at all, you know I'm an advid reader. I read a lot. A whole lot. I joined Good Reads two years ago and have 161 books listed so far! So when Mom Central asked if I would be interested in reading and reviewing a book, I jumped on it.

The book I was sent is titled Beside Still Waters by Patricia Goyer.

(From her website - Marianna Sommer believes she knows where her life is headed. Nineteen years old and Amish, her plan is to get baptized into the church, marry Aaron Zook, and live in the only community she's ever known.

When Marianna's family moves from Indiana to Montana she discovers life and faith will never be the same. As she builds an easy friendship with local guy, Ben Stone, Ben not only draws her heart, he also gets her thinking about what loving God and living in community is all about.

As Marianna struggles to find "home", she also encounters God in intimate ways.)

Marianna's older brother has left the community for an English life and her younger siblings are becoming more and more drawn to the English ways as well. Hoping to get them away from those influences, her Mem and Dat pack up the family and move to Montana. While Marianna doesn't have to go with them, she feels an obligation to her family. She packs up and moves away from everything she has known. Including Aaron. The man she thought she would someday marry.

I have always enjoyed reading books about the Amish and their ways. This book was not the "typical" Amish book to me. I guess I have never thought about the Amish moving away from their hometowns and being more integrated with the English.

Ms. Goyer's descriptions of Montana as seen through Marianna's eyes was spot on. I could imagine her coming from the relatively flat plains of Indiana to suddenly coming upon newness of all of the streams and mountains.

It made me sad to see Marianna struggling against everything she was raised to believe now being just a bit different. She also struggles with herself and her inner turmoil of starting to question her parents and their decisions.

I very much enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next installment of the Big Sky Series!

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I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the Beside Still Waters Campaign and received a copy of the book and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

I've been ignoring my blog.

Patches shows her disapproval.



Time sure flies when blah, blah, blah.

So this happened...

The Boy's car is in the #6 spot.



It won Scouts' Choice!



My car. It didn't win anything.



And we went here.



And here.



And then I did this because I'm a twelve year old boy.

Winter won't leave

Sometimes, winter is nice.

Where there is snow you can go out and play in until Scotch wears out!



Where twenty year old young men love to pelt anyone in sight with snowballs!



Where eleven year old boys play until they are soaking wet!



Then? This happens...



Winter thumbs its nose at you.



And branches start plummeting out of trees.



Not nice, winter. Not nice.

Ha!

I used to shave on Mondays, but now we weigh in on Fridays and since I wear shorts....

Ten on Tuesday

Ten things that are on my nightstand:

1) Lamp with the beaded French Whorehouse shade. I admit I like to play with the beads.

2) Clock radio/cassette player. The Boy's old one. It has shiny stickers on it.

3) Lip balm. Four lip balms as a matter of fact.

4) A fan. I needs muh white noise.

5) My Nook. Named sNOOKie.

6) A suction cup. ?!?!?! No idea where that came from.

7) Scrabble Flash game I got for Christmas.

8) Flashlight. In case we lose electricity.

9) Wrist brace. Carpal Tunnel sucks.

10) iPod mini and headphones. Norah Jones relaxes me.

What's on your nightstand?

Are you a redneck?

I got this in an email and just had to pass it along. Enjoy.

You might be a redneck if: It never occurred to you to
Be offended by the phrase, 'One nation, under God..'

You might be a redneck if: You've never protested about seeing
The 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a redneck if: You still say 'Christmas'
Instead of 'Winter Festival.'

You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when
Someone prays.

You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your
Hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem

You might be a redneck if: You treat our armed forces
Veterans with great respect, and always have.

You might be a redneck if: You've never burned an
American flag, nor intend to.

You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe
And you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and
Raised your kids to do the same.

You might be a redneck if: You'd give your last dollar to
A friend.

Wow

Hey there. It's been a while. That darn Facebook is taking away all of our time together. I would say that I will try to do better by you, but we all know that's pretty funny right there.

We had a scare with one of the dogs. We pretty much thought he was dying. Seven different medicines later, he's better, but still not 100%. They think he has Erlichiosis. It is a tick disease our vet has never diagnosed in his 30 years up here. Imagine that. He talked to a vet in San Angelo, Texas, and got the diagnosis. Thankful for that.

Everything else is pretty much the same. Still bowling. The Boy is still in Scouts and taking piano lessons. He did join band at school and is learning the trombone. Doing pretty well, too. The Commander is still going to community college. Still cussing the computer out on a daily basis. Oldest Boy is still at Iowa State and hanging in there.

What about you?

Questions

I'm borrowing this from Andria. I may even borrow some of her anwers just to show that, even though we have never met, we think along the same lines!

1. What curse word do you use the most?
Andria says...
I have to pick a favorite? I work in profanity the way artists might work in oils or clay. It is my true medium.

I say...
This was me when I worked. Now I don't have much of an opportunity to let it fly. I did say, "sh*t" the other day. I was alone though so it was sort of a waste.

2. Do you own an iPod?
I have a mini and an iTouch. The iTouch is used to watch movies on the go and to check FB and email when the computer is occupied. Also? I can kick butt on Bejeweled with it. I use the mini when I remember it! I just charged it the other night so I could take it to Sleeping with the Dinosaurs. One of the Scout dads snores like crazy. (I heard him during a camp out last year.) I'm hoping I can drown him out with some Nora Jones.

3. Do you still remember the first person you kissed?
Yes. And the second!

4. Would you rather take the picture or be in the picture?
Andria says...
I would love to be in some pictures so my kids will remember what I looked like, but no one else in this house will ever use the camera.

I say...
Amen, Sister!!

5. Has anyone ever called you lazy?
*I* call me lazy.

6. Has anyone told you a secret this week?
Nope.

7. What is the first thing you notice about someone to whom are attracted?
Eyes, shoulders and butt.

8. To what are you looking forward?
To when people can end a sentence in a preposition without shame!

9. Do you own any band t-shirts?
Rolling Stones, Harry Connick, Jr. and Riders in The Sky. Can you tell my taste in music varies?

10. When is the last time you slept on the floor?
Last year at Sleeping with The Dinosaurs at the museum. (If by "sleep" you mean tossing and turning on the floor, curling up on a three foot long padded bench, and finally resigning myself that sleep wasn't going to happen.) This year, I've got my air mattress and battery operated pump ready to go!

11. What did you do last night?
Went to eat pizza at Jake's, tinkered with my new Nook, watched Modern Family and had a pretty good night's sleep.

12. Do you get along better with the same sex or the opposite sex?
I've always gotten along with guys. I was a big tomboy growing up and I still have a lot of that lingering. I worked closest with guys at my two real jobs. It was like having a butt load of brothers! That is one of the big things I miss living up here. No guy friends. I miss my boys!

13. Who was the last person to make you mad?
Hi Husband!

14. To whom would you want to be tied for 24 hours?
Andria says...
Does an extra soft king size bed with 1000 thread count sheets count?

I say...
Sweeeeeeeeeet. Can someone bring me food?

15. T or F: All’s fair in love and war?
Andria says...
No. Just because I want to say no.

I say...
Exactly.

16. What’s something you’ve always wanted?
I don't know. I'm pretty good with what I have. More money is alway nice. (Money can't buy happiness, but it can take you places where you can look for it.)

17. Do you enjoy spending time with your mother?
Yes! I love my mom!

18. Do you want a bright yellow ‘06 Mustang?
How about a blue '08 Sebring convertible? With heated leather seats and a remote start?

19. Where is/are your best friend(s)?
In Oklahoma and sitting across from me.

20. Would you rather swim in the ocean or a lake?
I grew up swimming in lakes so I'm gonna have to go with the ocean.