What was I thinking?

So, last Friday I went camping with the boys. In a tent. In a wooded area. In 40 something degree weather. In a tent.

We had the car packed and ready to roll, but alas! the battery? She be drained. I got out of the car and walked to the back (why? I don't really know.) and there was a fluid pouring out from under the car! I reached under, dipped my fingers in, and took a whiff. It didn't smell like anything. I called Matt over and we sprawled out on the garage floor. The fluid was coming down from above the spare tire. WTF? I stood up and opened the lift. The carpet in the back of the car was wet. Heh? I didn't even put ice in the cooler so I figured it wasn't that leaking. Then Matt said, "My Camelbak!" Something had come unplugged in his pseudo-Camelbak and had leaked a lot of water out. Luckily it didn't get any of the camping stuff wet, but still, why won't the car start?

We pushed it out of the garage and since my cables were in the storage area under the camping stuff, we jumped it with his sad, sad little jumper cables that had seen way better days. (When we got back from camp, I chunked 'em. He now owns brand new ones.)

Ahhh. Camping. In a tent. It was cold. Chris and I had -5 degree bags, but my feet were still cold. I took a throw and stuffed it down around my feet and that made a world of difference. It took forever for my nose to warm up. (First thing I saw when I woke up the next morning? Four packs of Hot Hands that I had taken out of the car and put beside me JUST IN CASE MY FEET GOT COLD. Totally forgot about them. Cussed myself all day Saturday.)

Between the cold, the leaves and acorns dropping on the tent, the snoring in the tent next to us, the racoons, the coyotes, and Chris sitting up in bed, jabbing his fist into the air and yelling, "Tough Guys!" in his sleep, I didn't sleep that much. Go figure.

But I made it. And I just may go again. But only with one of these. And some earplugs.

Woot!

Guess what I did last week.

Here's a hint.



The Boy kept calling them the Rolling Rocks.

The next day, we saw some stuff that was older than they are (we think).



By the way, when you are up this high, there is a severe drop in the level of oxygen. My lungs tried to revolt. It wasn't pleasant.

Won't you be my neighbor?

Google Earth finally started focusing on my area, so I thought I would share with you.
(The house to our north should be for sale in the next year or so. You'd like living next door to me. I share my booze.)

Click on image to biggify.

Crap, then non crap

Crap - It is official. The Commander got his orders for 365 more days of being away from his family.

Non Crap - I reserved a hotel room in NYC for next Easter weekend. I haven't made the airline reservation yet, but the plan is to get there on Thursday early afternoon, free time the rest of the day, free time all day Friday, Bonus Son and the orchestra play at Carnegie Hall on Saturday morning at 9:30 and 11:30, free time the rest of the day, and fly home on Sunday. Fun is to be expected. By the way, if you need me that weekend, I'll be here.

Duh Ashley

If you need a chuckle, this will do it.

Assistance Needed

I need to buy a family tent.

I would like to be able to stand upright inside of it.

Got suggestions?

Fun and games 'til someone dies

The Boy - Mom, can a tornado really suck stuff up?
Me - Yes.
B - You think it would be fun to be sucked up in one?
M - No. It is very dangerous and you could die.
B - {pause} Well, besides all that.
M - I guess it would be until it dropped you.
B - Yeah! You would need a parachute then!

I'm Personable!

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have high extroversion. You are outgoing and engaging, with both strangers and friends. You truly enjoy being with people and bring energy into any situation. Enthusiastic and fun, you're the first to say "let's go!" Conscientiousness: You have medium conscientiousness. You're generally good at balancing work and play. When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done. But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. Agreeableness: You have high agreeableness. You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly. Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone. You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance. Neuroticism: You have medium neuroticism. You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic. Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy. Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is medium. You are generally broad minded when it come to new things. But if something crosses a moral line, there's no way you'll approve of it. You are suspicious of anything too wacky, though you do still consider creativity a virtue.

The Five Factor Personality Test

Last I heard...

Got this from Miss Zoot.

You use your search engine (I use Blingo. Join me, won't you? I've won four times! Click the link down on the left.) and put in your name and "last I heard he/she was". Then you can see what you have been up to lately.

Sherry "Last I heard she was"

Last I heard she was in Bedfordshire but originally from Essex.
Quite so. High tea in the parlor makes me hollar.

Last I heard she was in Big D, she's gone from there now.
Hello, I'm in Bedfordshire.

Last I heard, she was going to have a psychological evaluation and might not end up in jail.
Ha. If they ever find me in Bedfordshire.

Last I heard she was staying in a beach hut down the Mexican coast having a great time.
Uh, no I'm not. I'm in Bedfordshire. Bedforshire. Not Mexico.

Last I heard she was in the Army and blew out her knee.
I hope it was my bad knee.

Last I heard she was marrying a Sergeant from the Army.
My physical therapist who works on my knee. (Don't tell the Commander.)

Last I heard she was deployed to the Gulf to fly helicopters in the National Guard.
If I can pass my physical. Damn knee.

Last I heard she was sleepin' rough
Down on the Darby beat
I have nothing to add to this.

Last I heard she was considering adopting not only a baby, but also the baby's teenage mom.
Hey! A two for one sale.

Last I heard she was taking legal action.
Yeah, I need some cash.

Last I heard she was collecting all things mod and searching desperately for vinyl dresses and white thigh-high boots.
So I can look good for the trial.

Last I heard she was worth only $7 million.
Gasp!

Last I heard she was in intensive care on a nitro glycerin drip.
Wouldn't you be if you just found out you were worth $7 million smackers?

Last I heard she was trapped in a dimension where she is punished and suffers only to an end for which she is resuscitated, and then punished again by the do-gooders of the Double Dragon UNIVERSE in an infinite loop of cruel irony!
I hate irony.

Last I heard she was seen at a Jerry Falwell prayer meeting early this morning.
So I can wave my $7 million in the air and yell, "And you aren't getting a cent, Mister!

Boy, I have been busy. What about you?

Party like it's your birthday

People, people, people. What is it with you and these freaky baby names?

We attended a birthday party yesterday for a friend's little girl. I kid you not, there were kids there named - Montrey, Django, and Scotland. WTF?

Montrey - girl, forgot to ask where the name was from

Django - boy, I did ask and found out he was named for Django Reinhardt

Scotland - girl, asked and found out ancestors were from Scotland (Wouldn't it have been easier to just give her a good Scottish name like "Una" (Winifred), "Eithne" (Anna), "Meadhbh" (Maeve), or "Fionnaghal (Fiona)?)

Totally fell in love with my friend's niece who belongs to this woman. Almost tucked her under my arm and took her home with me.

The boy fell in love with my friend's brother brother's go-cart.

Most, if not all, of the women there were the stay at home/home school moms that I have TOTALLY NOTHING IN COMMON WITH! Good times.

Cry me a river

Build a bridge and get over it.

Why I like Rat

Click to biggify.

Wow. It's been that long?

12 years. Who'd a thunk it?

Last Anniversary was spent at his mobilization ceremony. (I don't know why it is called a "ceremony". They need to call it "A meeting where fluff is said and everyone's heart is ripped out, thrown to the ground, and stomped on with those huge military boots.") Then he bought me a car, so it kinda evened out.

This Anniversary, I get to go down and see him! He asked last night what I wanted to do and I couldn't think of anything. Just being with him will be good. If he wants to take me somewhere and buy me stuff...I'm not gonna ruin his happiness by telling him "no". That's how nice I am. I'm a giver.

That's MRS. Dirty Charity Vane to you.

My pirate name is:

Dirty Charity Vane

You're the pirate everyone else wants to throw in the ocean -- not to get rid of you, you understand; just to get rid of the smell. You tend to blend into the background occaisionally, but that's okay, because it's much easier to sneak up on people and disembowel them that way. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

New Tattoo

What do you think?

Friday Boast Post

Don't jinx it, but I had to sign a consent form for the boy to be tested for enrichment at school. His teacher told me he is really smart and that he could really benefit from it. She apologized to me because he gets bored in class. Woot! Test away, people!
{{{Fingers Crossed!}}}


Of course while I was filling out the form, I messed up on the address part. Figures.

Do I know you?

Dear Mixmania Friend,

Have we met? 'Cause some pretty freaky-freakiness happened when I got my CD yesterday...

I ran home from work to change clothes before going bowling. My CD was in the mailbox. Woot. I ripped the card off of the front and zoinks! the picture on it is a woman bowling!

And then? the cool protective cardboard was cut from my favorite box of cereal - Honey Bunches of Oats w/Almonds.

I popped the CD into the player and listened on my way to the bowling alley. Bridge over Troubled Waters! One of my faves. Never heard Johnny Cash sing it before though. Liked it.

Listened some more on the way home and then took it to my bedroom to listen to as I fell asleep. Naked Eyes. Always Something There to Remind Me. I ab-so-freakin'-lootly love this song. I included it on the one I sent out. But wait! America the Beautiful by Ray Charles. Also on the one I sent out.

I was thrilled with my CD. I didn't recognize all of the songs, but I knew most of the artists.

Thank you!
Sherrypg

My Mix

9/11 Mix Mania

2,996 people died five years ago. It isn’t those people I think about when I think about that day. I think about the ones left behind. For every one of those 2,996 people who died, there are loved ones still here - parents, brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, kids, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Countless people touched by that day.

This CD is for them.

1. You Are My Sunshine – Ray Charles
When my son was born, this is the song I sang to him every night. He is my sunshine and I can’t imagine him ever being gone.

2. He Was in Heaven Before He Died – John Prine
“A person can’t tell his best friend he loves him.” Do so. Every day.

3. Photographs & Memories – Jim Croce

4. Every Mother’s Son – Matt Dusk

5. There You’ll Be – Faith Hill

6. Birdhouse in Your Soul – They Might Be Giants
An odd song to choose, but I like it.

7. Always Something There to Remind Me – Naked Eyes
This is one of my most favorite songs ever.

8. My Favorite Memory – Merle Haggard

9. How High Did You Go? – John Conlee
How do you want to be remembered?

10. Return to Me – Dean Martin
I love the song and I really love the movie. I don’t cry at movies much, but I cry at least three times each time I watch it.

11. Painter Song – Norah Jones

12. Seasons of Love – Rent
How do you measure a year in the life?

13. Hold On - R. Kelly

14. Shower The People You Love – James Taylor

15. If Tomorrow Never Comes – Garth Brooks

16. Let The Day Begin – The Call
I love this song. The Boy likes it too.

17. America The Beautiful – Ray Charles
It is.

At Dick's Automotive

Me and the boy were on our way home from grocery shopping last night when I saw a deer standing next to a telephone pole.

Me - A deer!
Boy - Where?
Me - We passed it. I'll turn around and go back.

We get back to where the deer was and since there were no other cars around, I stopped so we could gawk. (It isn't like we don't ever see wildlife. The things are everywhere. But we like to say hi and scare the bejesus out of them.) The deer was still there and a little further back was a wee baby deer. Cool!

We drove on, turned around and started back. I slowed down when we got near the deer sighting area. The baby was still there, but the bigger deer was gone.

Hmmmm...reminded me of a song.

Me - MOMMY DEER. DEAD. BABY DEER. ALIVE.
Boy - MooooOOOOOoooooom

heheheheheh

WooHoo! The County Fair!

The Good
Pineapple Whip

The Bad
Ticket Prices

The Ugly
OMG The Ugly. Where do these people come from? You never see them any other day of the year (thank goodness). I saw a lady pushing a stroller with a 3 year old(ish) little girl in it. The woman had on a shirt that said "Very Kissable" on the front. So, I glanced up to see what was so kissable about her. I immediately took off my glasses and made jabbing motions toward my eyeballs. My friend D started laughing and said, "I was wondering why you took your glasses off." I told her I was trying to jab my eyes out to erase the image I just saw. This woman could have been anywhere from 30 to 70 years old. She was slim, but that was about the only thing going for her. She had bright blue eyeshadow troweled on her lids. Her eyebrow was pierced with I don't know what kind of jewelry hanging off of it. Very bleached hair. I don't think that color occurs naturally anywhere on Earth. A cigarette precariously hanging from her lips as she is trying to talk to the little girl. And the wrinkles. OMG the wrinkles.

I must go jab at my eyeballs some more.