Halloween...in short!

A lot of adults are very into Halloween. ~ Suzanne Smith

Sorry for the pitiful entry...I can already tell you that I am not "on a roll" for writing or ranting, but want to try to write every day. I think I will be more inspired when I have the photos and am not ready to embrace slumber. I am definitely not into the "trick-or-treat" aspect of this holiday. Costumes and handing out candy are my main interests. What's truly sad is that Ethel, her husband....who I guess should be called Fred...., and I took our brood of kids out for the evening (if one considers an evening 'under two hours'). We made our way around our small neighborhood via their pick-up truck...lined with pillows nonetheless. Pure laziness....but then again, who wants to tromp around the neighborhood carrying our alcoholic beverages when we can drive with them? I have vivid memories of childhood trick-or-treating.....hours of walking....no trucks or transportation of any kind. We begged for that candy until our legs ached and we were practically frozen (yes, I grew up in THE NORTH). Fortunately, tonight was a nice evening (I think the ones in the back of the truck who had to endure the mosquitoes who were obviously out trick-or-treating for their favorite delicacy may disagree). The kids collected an abundance of candy. I ate myself sick all day (we had a Character Costume Party at school - I was Stellaluna - which my daughter insisted I wear this evening too). Oh...and best of all....Son introduced us to a new entity that lives in our house. In addition to "I Don't Know" and "I Didn't Do It", we now have the impish "Boogie Dog" residing in our home. This infamous creature was responsible for spilling the dog's kibble on the kitchen floor. Look out for this new havoc-wreaking freak. BEWARE!

AHOY!

Birthdays are nature's way of telling us to eat more cake. ~ unknown

Throughout my life my mom ALWAYS made a big deal about my birthday. Winnie the Pooh theme with handmade burlap ears for all. Major sleepovers. Roller rinks. Even as an adult she continued to do nifty things for my birthday....for years she'd bring doughnuts and milk to my classroom for my students and me. In fact, she unexpectedly died a week before my 30th birthday....with plans for celebration underway. No, I am NOT trying to bring anyone down. I fondly and happily look back at all of those times, knowing that she did it to demonstrate her love for me. I no longer enjoy (nor want) my birthday emphasized. In fact, it saddens me...but I often go through the motions of celebration for my kids....they do not understand why I don't want to celebrate my birthday. On the contrary, however, I LOVE to plan and execute themed birthdays for my kids. Daughter has had a jungle party (complete with hand-made vines that I slaved over for hours), a princess party (with a castle cake), a circus party, and several sleepovers...I think she really loved the spa party last year. At the beginning of October we had Son's Pirate Party. We did pirate make-overs...complete with gear and beards made with the ashes of burned cork. The kids dueled with pretzel sticks. They threw bean bags at the large X I drew on the sidewalk. They ran wildly around the yard searching for the missing presents that were stolen by Captain Blue Devil who left clues around the yard. It was super! Then it was time for the cake. I am not domestic. I am not a great cook (Hubby is in charge of that). Needless to say....I was proud of the cake Hubby and I created. The idea came from the Family Fun website, so I can't even take credit for that, BUT I think we did a super job with the execution. Like Son would say, "Isn't my cake AWESOME?!" HEE HEE.

A Rare Glimpse

While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about. ~ unknown

We recently purchased a new digital camera. Our old dinosaur was close to extinction and needed to retire. Oh the fun we are having with our new toy. Hubby caught the image of our little ninja at his preschool Costume Parade. When I showed the picture to Son he beamed with pride as he said, "Don't I look AWESOME?!" His self confidence made me chuckle.

I captured the picture of Daughter cheering last weekend. She has always been so shy about "being watched"....never wanting the attention placed on her. She is completely at ease - dare I say wild - with her friends and family and around people she knows (hmm...wonder where that trait comes from). I was flabberghasted that she agreed to do this. I really think she has enjoyed the experience and I think she looks absolutely adorable in her cheer-gear. Anyway....I know I am usually "weird" about posting the kids on the web, but I just couldn't help it today. :0)

Just a Typical Saturday Night

If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane. ~ Jimmy Buffett

In the short time since I blogged the insanity involved in rearing children has become quite apparent. While out and about with Hubby this evening, Daughter was goofing around with some hot peppers that someone had given Hubby. She touched her lips. Yes, they were burning. When he brought her home, she was searching for lip balm. She can NEVER keep track of hers and mine was in the car. She went into the bathroom and came out producing a tube of Preparation H. She asked Hubby if she could put it on her lips. He said that she could not....trying to hold back the laughter. Her argument FOR using it involved the fact that the label said "cooling" on it. I then walked into Son's room. He had oddly gotten ready for bed before being told to do so...a major oddity around here. Needless to say, I needed to investigate to see if there was a particular reason. I found the dirty clothes strewn across the floor....nothing odd about that. They were not wet or exceedingly dirty. Then I spied the large wet spot on the carpet. The 5-year-old lying machine went right to work citing that he had spilled a drink in his room. I did not believe him for a minute. My Mom Instincts had me down on my knees smelling the wet spot....definitely not the smell of Propel. More like urine. Human urine. He finally admitted that he had pulled down his pants and peed on the carpet. We DO have a bathroom with the modern luxury of a flush toilet. Instead, my dear son felt the need to pee on his carpet. Just another Saturday evening of fun at my house. (Hubby is telling his sister the Daughter story right now....unable to hold back his laughter this time. WOOP....there goes the Son story - hee hee).

Get a Room

True love doesn't come to you, it has to be inside you. ~ Julia Roberts

If you don't have anything better to do on a Saturday afternoon, I have just the thing for you. Last weekend I was subjected to the newest and greatest trend ever.....attending a football game for 10-12 year olds so you can draw attention to yourself while passionately kissing and grabbing ass. Apparently this is quite the rage. I was fortunate enough to capture this public display of inappropriate PG-13 action while I was trying to watch Daughter cheer for the football team. They had briefly come up for air when I snapped this image. Go team!

Yes, I'm Gone to Carolina

A silver tear appearing now, I'm cryin', ain't I? I'm gone to Carolina in my mind. ~ James Taylor

Some people say that if they could go back in time to relive a part of their lives, they would go back to high school. Me? I personally wouldn't want to redo any of it. BUT, if I HAD to choose, I would choose college. I loved the time I spent in Chapel Hill and I have my girlfriend to thank for that. My two main "Carolina" friends: Carolina and Ethel are still a major part of my life and I love them to PIECES! I have known each of them over half of the time I have been alive!!! Ethel lives up the street from me. Our lives are so consumed by family, work, and commitments that we hardly ever have time for each other. Carolina has lived in many places (far from where I live) so we keep in touch through the phone and email....and the occasional visits....one of the best being the time that Ethel and I "punked" her and showed up in her condo in Atlanta (LONG story....but in a short version: she thought my brother was coming to stay with her for the weekend and came home to find Ethel and I instead...we HAD to meet the soon-to-be fiance to give our approval - btw: he is now her hubby!). A few weeks ago Carolina was planning to come to NC for a whirlwind visiting trip w/ "L'il Carolina" while Her Man was in the state on business. No brainer here: GIRL VISIT!!! We decided to spend two nights in Chapel Hill...hanging out and getting to meet the new "bebe". It was killing me that L'il Carolina was almost 6 mos. old and I had yet to put my hands on her! We met @ the condo Thursday evening and visited and TALKED (imagine that!) wildly until late...esp. considering that Carolina had only slept three hours since Wed. evening (when she & Her Man & L'il Carolina had left Detroit for their marathon drive to Va. & then spent the day only to head to NC). This is not an astonishing feat considering it is a known fact throughout the universe that exhaustion cannot cease conversation amongst girls...esp. girls who haven't seen each other in about a year and a half. L'il Carolina is even more precious in person as she is in all of her photos! She is absolutely delightful....hardly cries, sleeps well, very content! Carolina is VERY lucky! Ethel and I could not keep our hands off that bundle of smiles!!! We had her at the Cheesecake Factory where we had a fantastic lunch date with Hippie's Chick....whom I always love to see. I am proud to say I am no longer a Cheesecake Factory virgin. L'il Carolina didn't have her ID so she was unable to enjoy the dry martini that her mom ordered for her. Yes, Carolina ordered her a martini b/c she thought the waiter was being a smart ass. Hee hee! After lunch we did a bit of shopping...mainly Ethel and I dumping money into Limited Too! Then it was back to the condo to wallow. Ethel also had to go to the Carolina Brewery to hang some of her awesome photos of Chapel Hill. Hippie's Chick came over that evening to wallow amongst us. We spent the evening watching the DVD's of Carolina's wedding....mainly the uncut footage of the reception. Whew! What a party! The worst part was that we were watching the DVD's on a widescreen TV. Let's just say that it was not flattering....maybe even worse than my driver's license (see the next blog). We were laughing and ragging on ourselves as well as other wedding guests....I possess quite the sharp tongue and can be rather wicked when I get on a roll. I completely forgot that these people that were being "slammed" were friends and family of Carolina and Her Man. She told me later that she told Her Man (who called in the midst of the onslaught) that we were laughing at the DVD's and that I was her "South Park"....nothing is sacred for me. She said it jokingly...but it's true. She also knew that even if it was my family I would be carrying on in the same manner. My sarcastic and cynical comments are not selective....they're issued fairly to all: including myself. We found ourselves up late again. shock...not. Saturday was awesome! Another morning of bagels....this time from Panera (Friday had been Bruegger's). Then, it was off to Kenan for football. We took L'il Carolina to her first Tar Heel football game! OK...so the Heels are suckin' @ football...but there is NOTHING like being lost in a sea of Carolina Blue, listening to the marching band, drinking out of a blue cup, and cheering our old familiar cheers. It was awesome! And even better being with my Carolina Girls...and the newest of the bunch! Even though we lost, it was still spectacular! We took a stroll around campus after the game. The campus is as gorgeous as ever! The grass. The trees. The buildings. Traveling back in time....revisiting all those memories. Ah...UNC. We spent the rest of the afternoon @ the condo, knowing it was just a matter of time before Carolina had to leave for her next destination on her trip. Ethel and I agreed to hang out with L'il Carolina while her mom went to mass. However, the church that Carolina frequented in college (usually right before an evening of fun decadence and indulgence), was no longer in the same spot. Sad how things change. We fed L'il Carolina and helped Carolina pack her MINI VAN (boy are all of us cool - hee hee). Then it was the most dreaded moment of the whole trip...time for them to leave. I tried not to cry, but I just couldn't help it. I could start again...so I won't even go there!!!! Ethel and I went to dinner and then went back to the condo to wallow on the couch in front of the TV. Wow....we're such the party girls. On Sunday we shopped and headed home...arriving in the early evening. I loved spending time with my Carolina Girls. It was over far too quickly. So, when's the next reunion?

Beyond Horrific

Now you know what I have to ask you for. ~ waiter at PF Chang's

Mention a driver's license photo and you are guaranteed to begin a debate about whose is the most wretched. Carolina sparked such a debate on Saturday morning (which is now WEEKENDS ago). We compared. I believe I won. Just the type of contest one wants to win...the Whose Photo Is the Most Disgusting Contest. I had an idea that I would win since I was amazed at how hideous I could appear when I first received the license. I was goofing around with someone else when the photographer took the shot. I was further convinced at the wretchedness of it when I had to present backup identification at an out-of-town branch of my bank because the photo, according to the teller, "really doesn't look like you". This, by the way, is definitely a compliment. During the course of the conversation with Carolina, references were made to Nick Nolte's mug shot. She felt that my photo, although hideous, was not as bad as his merely due to the fact that I did not look menacing....I at least looked like a happy drunkard/drug user. Since the photo was taken, and especially after the comments from the bank teller, I did toy with the idea of having the license redone, but ultimately felt it was a ridiculous expense....who was going to see it anyway? Plus....if they did....it would probably save me from a DUI because I would resemble my photo (I'm saying this as though I make a habit of drunk driving....far from the truth). Well, on the very evening of the day I had this conversation with Carolina, I found out that other people COULD possibly see the picture. Ethel and I went to P.F. Chang's after Carolina left Chapel Hill headed for her next stop on her power-visiting trip. The wait was going to be at least an hour, but we had no place to be and no responsiblities for the evening (how rare is that?!). Needless to say, we bellied up to the bar for a cocktail....I adore their Asian Pear Mojito! Ethel was driving, but opted for one since we would be hangin' out at Chang's for quite some time. We drank our drinks and chatted...which we had not had the opportunity to do in a LONG TIME despite the fact that we live on the same street...how sad! Finally we were seated. At the table I opted for another mojito...Ethel abstained due to the driving thing....she didn't have the drunken license picture to help her out. I was flattered and shocked all at once when Mr. Suave (our waiter) said to me, "Now you know what I have to ask you for." What? I was feeling the first cocktail just a bit and considering the fact that I am on the higher end of thirty-something....I was not exactly sure WHAT was going on. Then flattery struck....I was being carded - woo hoo! I looked young enough to get carded....this is NOT something that happens to me on a daily basis! This feeling of elation was short-lived.....I actually had to share my hideous license with another human being! UGH! Reluctantly, I pulled the license out and hung my head as I handed Mr. Suave the happy-version-of-Nick-Nolte (aka my ID). He made no comment, but brought me my drink....I guess he wanted a good tip. Ethel and I had a big laugh over it. I also called Carolina to share my misfortune with her. I had to leave a voice mail. She called back....I guess during the meal and I didn't hear the phone....she told me that my tale of misery gave her a chuckle....and it probably gave the waiter a good chuckle too. I am now thinking that I really should get the ID redone....it may be frivolous, but that thing is heinous!!!!

On My Mind

Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth. ~ Genesis 9:16

Saturday, September 16 was the third annual Day at the Docks. It is a tradition that was initiated one year after Hurricane Isabel devastated our community. It symbolized the strength of our community and celebrated the progress we had made toward recovery in such a short amount of time. Unfortunately, I had to be in Greenville meeting with one of my grad school professors to discuss my final project. So, I missed it. The second year we had evacuated for Hurricane Ophelia and ended up staying a few extra days with our friends in Smithfield. We DID make it home for the Blessing of the Fleet however. All the boats who choose to participate travel together and dock at one of the local marinas (as you can see in this photo taken from our boat last year...Girlfriend is one of the kids sitting on the bridge of the boat behind us). Being part of the procession is absolutely amazing...all those boats lined up is just awesome. A short, but meaningful, ceremony is held to honor the local fishermen as well as remember those who have passed. In addtion to being a spiritual activity, it is quite a social event for us. (And that's all I'm going to say as far as that goes.) This year we were here for the entire day and boy did we have a blast (again, enough said). The food was delicious (chowder, grilled tuna, shrimp skewers, YUM!!) and the booths and demos were super. The kids fishing contest was stressful, but fun....we had about 6 kids to handle between a few adults. Our crowd didn't win anything, but we were happy with the fact that none of us were hooked. I even baited hooks!!!! The Blessing was as touching as it had been the year before....but the absolute best part was the ride back to our marina. For me it was nothing less than a sign from God. The sky was gray and cloudy. The air was moist and salty. The sun was gorgeous as its flaming glow fell into the briny liquid. Before completely sinking away and casting us into darkness for the evening, a bright rainbow boldly appeared in the sky. For some a coincidence. For me a confirmation.

Birthday Eve

We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams. ~ Jeremy Irons

Although Son and I enjoy Love You Forever and often recite the "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be" verse, I know mentall that he is no longer my "baby" in the traditional sense and has not been for some time (my heart....that's a different story). HOWEVER, on the eve of his 5TH BIRTHDAY, it is now even more apparent. Where does the time go? My time machine easily transports me back....his birth, introducing him to Daughter and the rest of the family, illnesses, bumps, bruises, giggles, expressions of joy (on the 4-wheeler, riding a 2-wheeled bike, winning a trophy at the recent fishing tournament, surfing, having the "big kids" acknowledge him), the Hot Diggity Dog song & dance, the Michael Jackson dance, our trip to Baltimore, fits of anger (that make me laugh after the fact). As for traveling forward, I only wish for the best....success, happiness, UNC-CH (aw' c'mon...you KNEW I had to go there!!), and a vast amount of time to add more memories. Happy Birthday, Son!