I Might Need Some Help

Molly and Phoebe.

Bringing a whole new meaning to procrastination.

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

The one where my daughter's level of maturity far surpasses mine:

How did this happen?

Cauliflower soup?

Going to do lots of work?

Monday, Monday

Aquarius

Long after the dust has settled, the smoke has cleared, and everyone has said their piece, you'll still be standing there, asking a bunch of ridiculous questions.

Get your horoscope from The Onion

How's your day shaping up?

Friday Greetings from Shauna

A question for you:

Does this beat up Vuitton bag make my butt look big?

Happy Friday my friends.

Doesn't she just brighten up your day?

Get your lucite on!

picture borrowed from here

This-n-That Thursday

Very important thoughts:

• Jojoba oil is my new favorite moisturizer.
• I am thinking about stashing some tweezers in my car.
• You should check your TP stash before you prep for a colonoscopy.
• I think Molly might have a new owlet by the end of today.
• I have taken procrastination to a whole new level.
• I don't think I have any hobbies.
• I don't think I've used a dictionary in years...I just look everything up online.
• The same with phone books.
• And maps.
• I never understood why Sandy Bullock was with that guy anyway.
• After Molly eats, I feel queasy.
• I think I'll have about 20 bags to give the Veterans next week.
• If I can tear myself away from the Molly cam. I am an owlcoholic.
• I love almond milk.
• I saw a snowflake on the weather map. I almost cried.

I think I may need help.

Meet Molly

My newest obsession.

Molly is a Barn Owl.

Her mate is McGee.

Molly is here with what is believed to be her first clutch.

This is a live cam outside her owl box near San Diego.

It is on 24/7.

Black and white is the night vision.

It is in color during the daylight hours PST.

We have two owlets so far: Max and Pattison.

McGee roosts in a nearby palm tree during the day.

At night he visits to "bond" and bring food.

Molly leaves the box at night for a few minutes to fly around and poop.

Sometimes I cannot watch her eat her dinner.

Nature is neat but sometimes too real for me.

There are three more eggs that might hatch.

Owl eggs hatch in order of when they were laid.

Now settle in and watch this.

When you don't get anything done today, you can thank me later.

Live Video streaming by Ustream

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Riveting conversations with two young adults who clearly think I have lost all ability for rational thought:

The Villanova student:

Really?

You are wearing a Villanova jersey?

At the Villanova game?

The STUDENT:

Seriously?

You don't have enough time for all your work?

And you have to get right to that John Mayer concert?

And I'm supposed to be all worried about this why?

And a really good thing I've discovered with this Parentexting™ business?

I can just shut my phone off and walk away.

Life is good in my little empty nest.

If Only...

Aquarius - Mar. 22, 2010

Today you could make the acquaintance of actors, musicians, or other performers, some of whom might be quite well known. Social occasions could bring valuable contacts your way, which you could make good use of later. You might be having so much fun out among the beautiful people that you really don't want to go home! Don't make it too late a night, however, Aquarius. You'll need all your energy tomorrow!

You don't know how funny this is. No, seriously.

What's yours?

Welcome Spring

Beneath the sunny autumn sky,

With gold leaves dropping round,

We sought, my little friend and I,

The consecrated ground,

Where, calm beneath the holy cross,

O'ershadowed by sweet skies,

Sleeps tranquilly that youthful form,

Those blue unclouded eyes.

Around the soft, green swelling mound

We scooped the earth away,

And buried deep the crocus-bulbs

Against a coming day.

"These roots are dry, and brown, and sere;

Why plant them here?" he said,

"To leave them, all the winter long,

So desolate and dead."

"Dear child, within each sere dead form

There sleeps a living flower,

And angel-like it shall arise

In spring's returning hour."

Ah, deeper down cold, dark, and chill

We buried our heart's flower,

But angel-like shall he arise

In spring's immortal hour.

In blue and yellow from its grave

Springs up the crocus fair,

And God shall raise those bright blue eyes,

Those sunny waves of hair.

Not for a fading summer's morn,

Not for a fleeting hour,

But for an endless age of bliss,

Shall rise our heart's dear flower

The Crocus

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Public Service Announcement!

I am hearing lots of chatter out there about Spring Cleaning.

And have I got a solution for you!

The Vietnam Veterans of America will come take it away!

They really need clothing of every kind.

And some other stuff they will take:

Shoes

All bedding items

Draperies and curtains

Housewares and glassware

Jewelry and cosmetics

Toys-games-bikes

All kinds of tools

Small furniture

Small appliances (no TVs or computer monitors)

They sell these donated items to private companies, and these funds provide almost half of their annual needs to support local, state and national service programs (homeless vets, Agent Orange related health programs and improved hospital care for veterans with disabilities).

Here is the link to see if your state has the pickup service.

Or call 1-800-775-VETS (8387).

You just leave it outside, and they will take it and leave you a tax deductible receipt.

Think about it...

This-n-That Thursday

Utterly random drivel:

• I will never try a raw oyster.
• Miley Cyrus annoys the tar out of me.
• I really cannot wait for the official start of Spring.
• The puppies are going to their new homes this week.
• I love bagpipe music.
• I am going to Spain in June to see Miss Hower!
• Is there anything better than that first sip of coffee in the morning?
• I took bagpipe lessons for a while. My children begged me to stop.
• My new obsession post-puppies will be the owls' nest.
• I clearly need to get a life. And a job.
• What should I have for dinner?
• I don't fold fitted sheets right.
• The way my mind wanders is a little scary to me.
• I love grapefruit.
• I am going to miss those darn puppies.

What is on your mind today?

BB

My mother should have been 80 on this fine day.

Choosing to admit this, would have to be her say;)

A beauty til the end, and gone far too soon,

To my brothers and me, she hung the moon.

Yet her legacy still thrives,

In us, and in our children's lives.

And I know she'd be utterly thrilled,

At the lives we continue to build.

I miss you my Dear Mother,

A model for me like no other...

I'll remember you this day with smiles and with tears,

But still wish we could have had you a few more years.

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

The Bird's Spring Break--

She came home, and went out.

Some friends came from Virginia, and they went out.

Then they all went to Vermont to ski, and I had the following conversation:

Can someone please clarify for me the concept of a home cooked meal?

Don't the participants have to be, like, home?

Right?

The Lion Roars In

Up until Saturday, we had had a nice March.

Up until Saturday...

Almost every street has these scenes.

We watched this tree go down in our back yard.

It happened in slow motion.

Across the street...

The morning after: Dude. Where's my house?

Schools are closed today.

Many are without power.

And may be for more than a week.

But my family is safe.

My friends are safe.

And for that, I am thankful.

How was your weekend?

Playdate

Dora shows her puppy-friend Mac the art of sitting around.

She's an expert.

Out and About With MPM

I like to study people in their cars.

Take this couple below...

They seemed very content sitting there.

I wondered where they were going.

I doubt it was for their emissions test...

But was impressed that they were wearing their seatbelts.

And then I had to find my inhaler.

The End.

This-n-That Thursday

Wondering...

• If you just keep your hair in a ponytail, does it stop falling out?
• Am I the only person who looks twice at a Toyota in a 4-Way-Stop?
• The hair, that is.
• Do you have to buy organic cucumbers?
• Why are passport pictures shot on a wide angle lens?
• What did all our beautiful grandmothers do without Retin A?
• Is everybody done with tax stuff? I'm not.
• How high do reading glasses go?
• Dear Southern Blisters, does anyone have a good Lemon Icebox pie recipe? The kind without meringue?
• Why do dreams get really weird when the seasons change?
• Has anybody had goat mozzarella?
• The Music City Marathon is in 6 weeks.
• What was I thinking?

Spring Cleaning Chez Mental P

There once was an old lady in Connecticut,

Who had so much crap she could just spit.

She awoke one fine day,

Surveyed her nest in all its disarray,

And promptly made lunch plans.

What are you doing today?

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

The ones where I am Florence Nightingale and Mom...

Don't tell her, but I may have laughed a little.

And more loving, nurturing medical advice to a certain son.

He had a stiff neck.

And was leaving for Montreal with his friends...

A neck brace? I actually laughed out loud.

Seriously?

Notice how when I told him he shouldn't have gone,

he was all better? Hmmm.

I think a Stiff Neck is a precursor to a Man Cold.

And how did any of us go on Spring Break without our cell phones?

Integral?

Gah.

I hope I survive college.

Watch Out World

Aquarius - Mar. 8, 2010

Put your wisdom into action, Aquarius. There is no good in accumulating knowledge and then letting it sit, collecting dust like an old book on a shelf. Put your thoughts into motion and watch as magical things begin to manifest before your eyes. You have incredible opportunities today that only come when you’re expressing yourself in your truest form. Wear something outlandish to remind yourself and others what an outrageous person you are.

Get your scope

Outlandish? Do tight jeans count? Happy Monday.

I Squishy Heart Amtrak...

...because it will bring me this present today:

Charlottesville to Connecticut.

I will hug her and squeeze her.

And kiss her.

Then she will get in her car,

and go see her friends.

Life is good.

This-n-That Thursday

Random and pithy little thoughts wandering through my head this week...

• I really, really like fried chicken.
• My dog doesn't have any idea that she is a dog.
• I wonder if I would like living in Savannah.
• I make banana bread with whole wheat flour and it is better than with white flour.
• I sometimes kiss my parrot on the beak.
• People who talk on their phones while pulling out of their driveways annoy the crap out of me.
• Naomi Campbell needs help.
• I wonder if I would like living in Charleston.
• Am I the only person who is not all bent out of shape about the kid in the air traffic controllers' tower?
• I don't think I've ever glowed. I just sweat.
• Paula Deen's Red Velvet cake is actually better than my mother's recipe.
• Augie is in Montreal with his buddies for a few days. I wonder what they are doing.
• The older I get, the less stuff I want.
• I would rather have aches and pains than itch.
• I am very itchy.
• I sure hope Augie is behaving.

Now tell me your random little thoughts.

Pity Party

Somebody had their physical today.

50 is so much fun...

Cooperative veins...not so much.

Up next, we have a bone density scan,

and a meeting to set up the dreaded colonoscopy.

The fun never ends.

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Using the text as an alarm clock 101:

We still have much to do...

My Man...

Is probably spinning in there.

Am I the only one sick and tired of every single elected person in this country?