Happy Blogoversary to Me: A Giveaway!

Three years ago I wrote these profound words:

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2007

Greetings

Welcome to my blog. I am a middle-aged mama attempting to negotiate my daily life and what lies ahead. Sigh. Please join me as I try to maintain my equilibrium with the help of my family and friends, and maybe a few strangers just for good measure.

Today, I count some of you "strangers" among my dear friends...ain't it funny how this here Internet works? Anywho, because I got so many comments about my coffee maker yesterday (which was only in the shot to give you an idea of how gargantuan that box of Goldfish is) I have decided to bestow one on a lucky stranger!

I think to have been along for me on this three year ride means you must be drinking lots of the caffeinated stuff. I say this because I often put myself to sleep reading my own drivel. So, I'd like to keep you awake. All you have to do is leave a New Year's Resolution for me. Enter as many times as you want, but I need a Resolution every time. Spread the word! I will announce the winner on New Year's Day!

Here's your goal:

Now get creative! Mama needs some rules for 2011!

Simple Math:

Two college kids+Mom's grocery list+Mom's Credit Card=A Few Extra Things

A two pound box of Goldfish? But, look--at least they got whole grain. That's good. Right?

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Storm texting--why do 19 year olds not get it?

A dog that needed to be emptied, and then exhausted so she'll sleep the rest of the day exercised:

And on the Fourth Day of Christmas, we venture out. Halleluja.

Apologies to my Fellow New Englanders....

You can blame this snowmaggedon on all your Aquarian friends:

Aquarius - Dec. 27, 2010

This is an auspicious time for you, Aquarius. It gives you the energy and enthusiasm to make the necessary changes in your life. There is a lot of work to do, but you're up to it! First focus on your relationships. Your loved ones don't care about your professional successes. They want (and perhaps need) to spend more time with you. Do what you can to bring your life more into balance...

So, along with much of the Northeast, my office is closed today, and when Dora and I headed out for our walk this morning, this is what greeted us:

That right there is a colossal snowbank. I felt a little Laura Ingalls Wilderesque.... And my family is fixin' to spend so much time with me you may be reading about it. And I don't know about the balance part. Some stuff just may stay off kilter--because I like it like that.
Happy Monday! Is your scope as good as mine?

December 25, 2010

"There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say," returned the nephew: "Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round--apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that--as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they were really fellow- passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"

Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Merry Christmas

Really?

You Are Creative

You are open minded, flexible, and adventurous. You never quite know where you're going, and you like it that way. You are hard working and live fast. You want to accomplish great things in your life. You find that most tasks are more difficult than you anticipated. And you don't give up until the job is done. You work hard for the feeling of satisfaction it gives you. Any money you get is secondary.

The Labyrinth Test

Blogthings: Our Quizzes Weren't Written By Bored 12 Year Olds

If I'm so creative, why can't I come up with something better than this? Hmmm? And I bet you took the test, too. Come on...take the labyrinth test.....

Ummmmmm

Aquarius - Dec. 22, 2010

You've been working exceptionally hard, Aquarius. Today is a good day to recharge your batteries. It seems everyone wants a piece of you. You may have reached the point where you have nothing left to give. It's OK to say so. If possible, take the phone off the hook and reserve the day for yourself. Sleep in, meditate, go for a walk - you get the idea!

What about work? How are you doing, my friends?

What are you supposed to do today?

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Today we take a break from the rugrats. Here is some new stuff to ponder...compliments of Flea. Big type is an early Christmas present from me. You're welcome.

ATD: At The Doctor's

BFF: Best Friend Farted

BTW: Bring The Wheelchair

BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth

CBM: Covered By Medicare

CUATSC: See You At The Senior Center

DWI: Driving While Incontinent

FWB: Friend With Beta Blockers

FWIW: Forgot Where I Was

FYI: Found Your Insulin

GGPBL: Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low!

GHA: Got Heartburn Again

HGBM: Had Good Bowel Movement

IMHO: Is My Hearing-Aid On?

LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out

LOL: Living On Lipitor

LWO: Lawrence Welk's On

OMMR: On My Massage Recliner

OMSG: Oh My! Sorry, Gas.

ROFL... CGU: Rolling On The Floor Laughing... And Can't Get Up

SGGP: Sorry, Gotta Go Poop

TTYL: Talk To You Louder

WAITT: Who Am I Talking To?

WTFA: Wet The Furniture Again

WTP: Where's The Prunes?

WWNO: Walker Wheels Need Oil!!

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly,

Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably,

And never regret anything that made you smile.

Huh?

Today'a inane post is a direct result of boring Aquarius horoscopes all over the Internets:

You Are Sophisticated and Well Mannered

You're the type of person who can sit all day entertaining guests with witty banter. You believe in presenting yourself in the best light possible. You like to be seen as classy. You give a first impression of being upper class and even a bit snooty. And you're the first to admit you're a little guilty of that. You are an armchair critic. You can detect quality easily, and you want the best things you can find.

The Chair Test

Blogthings: Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

All I thought was that it looked like the most comfortable seat for this tired old spine of mine...what does your chair say about you?

Fashionable Friday

And, do these pom-poms make my thighs look big?

Have a great weekend, my friends.

Got dress up plans?

Cartoon source

This-n-That Thursday

Wanna get your dander up today? Check out these earmarks your elected officials are trying to get through...and remember, many of these people don't want to extend unemployment benefits...

● $40 million for a National Bio and Agro-defense facility in Kansas, requested by Sen. Sam Brownback (R., Kansas).

● $8 million for expanding Anchorage’s port, requested by Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R) (who campaigned on her ability to bring Alaska earmarks) and Mark Begich (D).

● $165,000 for maple research in Vermont, to further delve into the quality and food safety of syrup and to consider how current production methods affect tree health, requested by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D., Vermont).

● $1 million for arthropod damage control, requested by Sen. Harry Reid (D., Nev.).

● $21 million for Hawaii Federal Health Care system, requested by Appropriations committee chair Sen. Daniel Inouye (D., Hawaii.)

● $2.5 million to improve pedestrian and bicycling paths in Illinois, requested by Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.)

● $307,000 for research on small fruits, requested by Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D., Oregon), Norm Dicks (D., Wash.), Rick Larsen (D., Wash.), Kurt Schrader (D., Oregon), and David Wu (D., Oregon) and Sens. Maria Cantwell (D., Wash.), Mike Crapo (R., Idaho), Jeff Merkley (D., Oregon), Patty Murray (D., Wash.), James Risch (R., Idaho), and Ron Wyden (D., Oregon).

● $350,000 for Cool Season Legume Research, which would fund studies on what diseases harm and what improvements could help crops such as lentils and beans, requested by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D., Wash.) Kent Conrad (D., N.D.), Bryon Dorgan (D., N.D.) and Patty Murray (D., Wash.) and Reps. Norm Dicks (D., Wash.) and Earl Pomeroy (D., N.D.).

● $15 million to reduce emission-caused pollution in California, requested by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) and Barbara Boxer (D., Calif) and Democratic Reps. Dennis Cardoza, Jim Costa, and Jay McNerney of California.

● $1 million for AFL-CIO training programs, requested by Sen. Tom Harkin (D., Iowa).

These are but 10 of the 6,600 earmarks in the new spending bill. They total $8 billion.

Merry Christmas.

Source

Deck ♬the Dog with ♪Boughs of Folly♫

My mommy has been working a lot lately. So I thought I'd help out with this here blog, and show you what she does in her spare time...

Seriously?

Antlers?

And I thought that collar was bad last year.

I wish she would find a hobby....

Like baking dog biscuits.

And if she thinks she's dressing me in that New Year diaper,

let's just say that I hope her will is updated.

Ho Ho Horrified, Dora.

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

It's exam time again.

Mama offers encouragement and advice to her babes:

My son knows what he doesn't want to be.

And The Bird:

I am so glad it's them and not me this exam season...

So I guess it's safe to say I'm low on both estrogen and empathy...

But they'll be home in two sleeps!

I cannot wait♥♥♥

Scoffing at this one....

Well, Mercury is in retrograde.......

Aquarius - Dec. 13, 2010

A problem with your house - plumbing, electricity, phones - might necessitate calling in professionals, Aquarius. This might prove mildly irritating, as strangers could be going in and out all day, and you or other members of your household might be temporarily housebound when you have obligations elsewhere. Don't take your frustrations out on others. This will all pass by tomorrow!

However, here at the complex, I have my concierge.... Please allow me my moment--this peace has been decades in the making;) Happy Monday my friends.

Is that silly Mercury bothering you today?

My New Friend at Work

Meet Guinness:

Guinness is a hedgehog. He sometimes comes to our office with his mommy.

Have you ever held a hedgehog?

The adorableness is overwhelming.

I can now take "kissing a hedgehog" off my Bucket List.

Happy Friday, and if you get a chance,

take the time to kiss a hedgehog.

It cures a lot of woes.

Recycled...

The Driving Tiara becomes The Studying Tiara:

A Good Man is Hard to Find...especially if you already have a tiara.

Do you think Flannery O'Connor would approve?

Mental Pause Musing

Ever feel this way?

Maybe, like, every other hour?

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Santa's little helper:

What a good and generous Baby Bird...so selfless in her guiding me while I shop for her twin brother. And today? She has changed her mind. I have some new ideas:

"ok i guess if you insist... i would like either some nice black leather boots (equestrian style) or a red or camel long wool coat"

Are you finished with your shopping yet?

Sooooooo...

Aquarius - Dec. 6, 2010

Today is one of those days in which prosperity is much closer than you think, Aquarius. You will find what you seek, but it's up to you to take the first step to going after it. More than likely, you're looking for solid answers to your deep and probing questions. Don't let your inquisitive mind rest until you find the answers that ring true for you.

This is good. Right? I'm all for the prosperity part. And I guess I'd better start thinking probingly deep thoughts. And, probingly is too a word. Is too.

Is yours this good?

Sunday Plans?

Mine look like this:

Happy Friday!

Got plans?

This-n-That Thursday

Observations based on three days of gainful employment:

• The time between 7 and 8 am is the most precious part of the day now.
• On days when it is raining sideways, take a few minutes of that precious time to pack a lunch.
• I don't have nearly enough clothes to wear.
• Office phone systems are different nowadays....
• I think poor Dora is already used to my absence.
• When do I go to the grocery store now?
• Is it possible for your brain to hurt and yet you don't have a headache?
• Have I mentioned I don't have nearly enough clothes?
• I am one of the oldest people in my office. I doesn't matter one bit.
• I don't remember being this fulfilled in a long time.

And now? It's 7:42. I must get much stuff done in the next 18 minutes. Have a great day.

Mental Paws Moment

My mommy keeps going to someplace called 'work.'

She is all happy. I don't think I like it. At all.