To Sum It All Up

Never agree to 30 posts in 30 days.
I mean, if you can do it, more power to you. But if you find you're typing while your children's giggles are slipping by, it's probably not worth it.

A couple of things I learned from being out here each day is:

There sure is a lack of tolerance for one another's creativity.

For instance, the music divide. Wow. Who would've guessed people could get so upset about music being on a blog? Here's my theory (and you'll notice my music was turned off a month ago), a person's blog is an expression of who they are. Music and the careful timing of songs with posts MAY be the one joyful, self-indulgent thing they did all day. Is it so hard for the anti-music folks to just turn the volume down? And yes, sometimes the music conflicts with a video or with your own itunes player... yaddah yaddah, but if it's so much bother, don't go there. If their blog is SO intriguing that you can't stand to miss a post, well, I think you know what you need to do.

The second thing was the Nablopomo. I really, seriously considered NOT doing it because for some reason people feel that they must read every post to be a loyal follower. That's a huge demand for someone reading 30+ blogs daily. Then I realized, I didn't start blogging to gain readers, I started it as an outlet for some repressed emotions. I decided I wasn't going to freak out if people didn't make it over for every post (to be truthful I didn't make it over for every post-- some were scheduled). I watched followers drop like flies and my feelings weren't hurt. I understood.

So, in summary. It was good. and bad. and I'm not doing it next year.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...

"Teacher says, every time a bell rings, another Mom loses her mind!" or something like that.

It's that time again.

Time to eagerly look forward to Christingle Services (and the possibility of a child impaling themselves on the church font or catching another child's hair on fire), the kids' school Nativities to prepare costumes for, Christmas Fairs (where we will donate the prizes so that we can buy tickets to win; bake mince pies and cookies to donate so that we can buy and bring them back home) and church parties (with more themes requiring those of us without sewing abilities to buy costumes).
It will be the crazed insanity of pinning each child to his seat long enough to address Christmas cards to each of his 30 classmates (yes, children give cards here) and A2's incessant declaration of how much closer we are to Christmas since the day prior.

Not to mention meeting the USPS postal deadlines.

Fun times ahead. fun times.

Going, Going, Gone!

I am purging.
The last ten years have revolved entirely around nursing, pooping and nap schedules.

During that decade I have amassed great quantities of "stuff".
I buy scrap book paper because I envision making lovely pages for my children to enjoy when they're older.
I buy rubber stamps, embossing powders, inks and more paper because I can picture the fantastic cards I will make and send.
I bought a sewing machine for the adorable tutus I'd make for Miss Ky, before I knew that Miss Ky would be the destructor of all things if not supervised every second of the day.
There's paint and brushes held over from my artistic life before marriage as well as art books that have only recently been opened by borrowers.

It's all leaving.
The sewing machine just left for $10.00. The violin will be sold for about the same.

They are all reminders of the life I don't live. The life I envisioned when I married. The life one has when one hasn't committed to 10 years straight of diaper changes.

There's a woman who holds onto the photos, letters, memorabilia from the temperamental lover who has dumped her. The handsome single neighbor goes unnoticed by her while she sits alone in her house playing "their" song and mourning the lost love. If she'd just toss out those letters and step outside, she might see what's in store for her....

It's got to be better than this. Constant reminders of what never was.

What are you clinging to that holds you back?

Thinkfull

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues. ~Cicero



I thank God for this day,
For the sun in the sky,
For my mom and my dad,
For my piece of apple pie!

For our home on the ground,
For His love that's all around,
That's why I say thanks every day!

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!
I'm glad for what I have,
Thats an easy way to start!

For the love that He shares,
'Cause He listens to my prayers,
That's why I say thanks every day!

***************Happy Thanksgiving U.S.********************

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence. ~Erma Bombeck

Going into the Closet

In less than a week I will have completed the 30-day blogging challenge. I'm not sure there was anything to gain from it on your end, but for me, knowing that anything can become blog fodder, I found myself being a bit more introspective.
I'm not always happy when that happens because I find there are some things about me that have changed that shouldn't have.

Take The Chronicles of Narnia for example.

IF you came upon a wardrobe, in an unfamiliar house, would you be brave enough to hide in it? (no one else was thinking about spiders?)

IF you were brave enough to climb in-remember this wardrobe has been under furniture drapes for a while and mothballs came rolling out when you opened it, would you push your way (backwards) all the way through the musty smelling coats to the back?
(Still no spider thoughts?)

IF you would've done these things and backed out into a snowy world, would you then explore it?

Years ago, I would've said, "Heck yeah!" but today I was anxious as that CS Lewis world opened up. I was wondering if I would dare leave that wardrobe for fear of it disappearing.
I might shy away from possibilities for fear of leaving the familiar behind.

How about you? Would you explore or hold onto the wardrobe?

Mail's Here Mail's Here

Here's the mail it never fails it makes me wanna wag my tail when it comes I wanna wail MAAAAIL!
Sorry, everyone should have to suffer that song at least once. Doesn't everyone love good mail? I enter giveaways and exchanges to get it. They're doubly exciting because I get the thrill of shopping for and then mailing something (ok, that part's not the funnest part) and then, ooooh mail.

Here's what those fine folks at the USPS brought to me today...

Gorgeous Christmas ornaments from Rachel at Something to Blog About. She received my name when she entered Abbilyeverafter's Ornament Exchange.

See? FOOD for my tree, did she get it right for me or what? They sparkle (and you know how I love glitter and sparkle). The photo does NOT do these justice, they're lovely. Thank you Rachel!

Next was this bulging box from Jeannie's Happy World. This brilliant exchange was hosted by Mamarazzi from Dandelion Wishes, "Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swap".
Can you see how Jeannie hooked me up?! I just have to sell off the children so that I can slip away and pamper myself now. Included in the box was her very own cookbook, a cranberry candle (YUM), Burt's Bee's Lip Balm (my lips are thanking you Jeannie), bath pillow, moisturizing socks and gloves...really, it would take a whole post to list it all, can you see all of the stuff in here?! Note to future swappers: If you draw my name, cry "foul!" because I can guarantee you, my box did NOT look this nice.

And last, but certainly not least... I think I choked up a little on this one....

I actually WON this lovely piece (movie companion) of THEMOVIE I'MSTILLWAITINGTOSEE ~sniff~ from Julie over at My Journey to Family. You know how you win things folks? You latch onto some poor soul and stalk them like they're the only blogger for you Perseverance people, perseverance. Thank you Julie!!

See, I have good days too. Of course it will be hard to beat this one....
What have you received in the mail lately?

Using Our Time Wisely

It was announced before Sunday School that church would be released early. We all made our way into the chapel for a very brief sacrament, and then bundled up to face the drive home. The snow was accumulating and the driving conditions were worsening by the minute, so it was a wise decision by our church leaders to cut the meetings short...

...unfortunately the congregation isn't as wise. We all stayed for snowball fights in our sunday best.

I almost feel like I should wish you a Merry Christmas or something...

Shopping Solves Everything

Hey that last post was SO not to glean sympathy (but thank you for the blog hugs). I really meant what I said, nothing like a good cry to relieve some stress.

I have lots of good in my days too, they're just not as fun to blog about.

Like today. I had a lie in until EIGHT AM. Can you believe that? At which time I was joined by four of my five children-- pure heaven (the fifth one is 20 years old, that might've been too many on one bed).

• I got fun emails from excited Twilight friends.
  
• The hubby brought home Indian takeout from Tesco (I love Tesco) AND straightened the garage that I destroyed while getting the tree out.
• The kids got along for the most part and Miss Ky took a real nap.
• We then went to Footy Mum's for "nibbles and footy" where our kids played happily together (Miss Ky was especially happy to help their daughter flood the bathroom) and the husbands watched Norwich win.
  

And then it snowed.
Now you see, if I hadn't had that lovely release in the middle of the kitchen yesterday, the snow thing before Thanksgiving might've gotten on my nerves a bit.

Thanks for your kindness and for suffering through the whinge of the week.

Now let's move on to the next subject, shall we?

I found another shop I could live in!!
Ready to have a look?Room after room of gorgeous textiles, solidly built (on the premises) pine furniture, and enough sparkle for any girlie girl's fancy.

Seriously, after walking around with my mouth hanging open, I finally went back out and grabbed my camera. I did NOT capture the magic of this place. In the center of the store, there were fabrics draped from the high ceilings. Full "window" displays were up in the loft areas (it's a converted barn) and there were themed rooms for every place in your home. There's even a fun room for kids. The wooden floors have Snakes and Ladders painted on and open bins of old fashioned toys. Wow. This place.

My friend T (with the gorgeous eyes and lactating brain), kept whisking Miss Ky off so that I could look without juggling a child who was as excited to be there as I was.

When you've walked yourself thirsty, there's a tea shop across the way and it's still part of the shop, so you take your basket with you.

But it's not JUST a tea shop, there's even more rooms of gorgeous things. One room is entirely dedicated to gift wrapping!
I'm going back. I have to wait until the roads de-ice, but I am going back.
Can I pick anything up for you?

One of These Days Alice, One of These Days...

POW right in the kisser!

Today was that day.

It takes a precise combination: One busy week (computer repairs, car repairs, etc) + allergy/cold symptoms that drag on long enough for one to consider a nose amputation + never ending tedium of packing lunches, making breakfasts and doing an insane amount of laundry + at least one daily surprise: a child losing the third coat in one month while out with dad, a child remembering he left something at home when the whole group is already late, or the best surprise-- the surprise one gets when sitting blissfully alone outside the head teacher's office (while oldest of the four is watching his baby sister 150 feet away in the house) and having a mother approach you saying "Your daughter is out in the street".

Add those ingredients to a Christmas tree (a much hated ugly tree) shoved up in the attic (by someone 5 inches taller so that all 60 pounds can come crashing down on one precariously perched on a chair) + Miss Ky losing pieces to said tree within 15 minutes of unpacking it + spilling hot pasta in a boiling sauce all over one's hand while Miss Ky is bouncing a juice box along the kitchen floor and you get...

POW right in the kisser.
An emotional breakdown that hits as hard as a Mike Tyson punch to the jaw.

I feel so much better after a good cry. Miss Ky keeps saying, "You already cried in the kitchen?"
"Yes, Mummy cried in the kitchen"
"I luff you".

This video should be watched in the spirit of "We don't celebrate Thanksgiving over here, so it's NOT too early!"

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Let's See, Why is Today's Date Ringing a Bell?

NOVEMBER 21st is finally here!! Yes, the day that commemorates the six glorious days until Thanksgiving.

I know you're probably beat from ramming your shopping cart into people while fighting over the best-sized turkey and yams without mold growing on them, so lay down, take a rest.





You'll want to be well-rested for the after Tday sales!

And speaking of, now is the time to ask the teenager if she will babysit for you on that day, starting at around 3 am. Be prepared for the look you will get....


And since it's so exhausting trying to convince the teen to suck it up and give you a hand, you may want to lie down again for a little while....
Happy Friday you lucky dogs in the U.S, I can't wait to hear the Twilight Reports!

I would like to thank my purple friend (who can't be publicly named because of piracy issues) and In Style Magazine for the wonderful contribution of these fabulous photos.

Gates Has Nothing on Him

When you think of "king" perhaps you think of this:

or this:




or this:

or maybe this:




When I think of King, I see this:

My hero.

King of all Computer Geekness.

He fixed my email and I can communicate again! Macdaddy is off of my poop list now.

There's a lesson here for you all...
yes, your photos are backed up, but if something happens to the program they're backed up in, can you still get to them?
Are there addresses, e-photos, passwords or registration numbers sitting somewhere that would be lost if the computer got temperamental?

Thank you Hubby! I'm a happy woman today.

I have learned that only two things are necessary to keep one's wife happy. First, let her think she's having her own way. And second, let her have it. ~Lyndon B. Johnson

A Watched Phone Never Boils

I've waited.
so oh oh patiently (Yeah, the thing I do NOT excel at).

Apparently that's the wrong way to do it.

I'm just going to start packing and see what happens.

What do you mean, "What the heck are you talking about?"
Remember that great house we fell in love with?

Remember how we really gave it some thought and decided we couldn't swing it because the timing was wrong? And then the timing became right... and then we were told the house would be ours (to rent) when it became available but they weren't sure of the date it would be available... have I lost you here?

Then remember how my husband received a plane ticket to visit places of the Bible?

lots of faceless people work there. I hope it's not catching!

You don't, huh? Well, we called the estate agent and we explained my husband's wandering ways and let her know that IF the house would be available by ___ time it would really be better otherwise I'd be doing the move alone. She said she'd talk to the home owner and get back to us either way.
It's been 10 days. Not that I'm counting.

Wordless Wednesday Warwickshire

Is having a wordless wednesday cheating when you've committed to blogging every day for a month?Warwick Castle

These two are for you, Holly.
Beauty, don't you think?

Mac the Life

I love Macintosh computers. I always have, always will. Despite the fact that mine hates me right now, I will always love a Mac.

I knew Macdaddy was unhappy with me for going away on holiday. When I rushed into the house, threw my luggage down and fondly lifted the keyboard to give it a quick kiss... it shut down. Just like that. It shut off and took with it all the emails I had received while I was away.

Fickle beast. I chose to ignore it, the way I ignored the 10 year-old the other day at the dinner table. He had been away for three days on a school trip. We missed him. I shut the door to his bedroom so that I wouldn't be tempted to curl up on his bed and smell his sheets. When asked about his experience he said what he disliked most about the trip was "having to come home". Ouch. See if I bake him anymore coconut pies.

This past couple of weeks Macfickle continued shutting down when I least expected it to. It ate my Photo Shop (an older version of PS, not Elements--still waiting for someone to take the very subtle hint that I need that).
ate.it.
It exists no longer. Which also means the things I worked on are no longer. All reports from disc utility say everything is perfectly fine.
Oh well, que sarah, right?

But Macdaddy has gone too far now.

A few days ago it ate my emails. My in box, my to keep box, my sent box-- the whole stinking thing. Gone. Is there anyone else out there stupid enough to keep all of the passwords to blog silliness in their email folders?

I'm about ready to turn this cantankerous piece of technology into a planter or a lovely lawn ornament if it doesn't shape up.

Have you ever had a computer meltdown and lost something that was important to you?

All I am Saying....

If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace. --John Lennon

There's a lot of angry people in the world. I see it when I'm skipping around in blog world.
For me it's like running full speed towards an open door only to find it was an exceptionally clean sheet plexi glass. SPLAT.
Because I have met so many brilliant, wonderful people, it's so strange to pop over somewhere and see blogs that are just... angry.

For instance, the campaign is over. Posts by people who saw their candidate lose are offering prayers for the candidate who won. And not snarky requests like: "Please pray that he doesn't run our country into the ground". The thoughts are genuine: "Please pray for him and his family, pray that his children will be happy".
Yet some blogs (who have winner buttons plastered all along the sidebar) are still venting everything they've ever hated about Sarah Pallin, President Bush and the Republican Party in general. Holy smokes Batman, what are you so mad at?! You won!

Have you seen what's happening to the Mormons? I can see my comment section already-- people who don't know me and never been here before will now tell me all the sins of the Mormons for supporting Prop8 so nothing I say here will make a difference for you-- you will remain angry regardless. But for my own satisfaction (because this is my place), I will say that THIS Mormon doesn't hate people who have a different belief system and a different outlook on relationships. What I do believe that one of the quickest ways to watch the breakdown of a society is to divide it and that division begins in the family. If we don't protect the family, we might as well prepare to be eventually divided as country. That's my opinion and I'm expressing it because this is my blog. It's what I do here.

Which leads to "the defensive" angry folks. People who show up at a new blog ready to vent about a post or an opinion when they've NEVER visited there before. Wow, ever hear of the Thumper Rule? "If you can't say anything nice, then go read a blog you do like" or something like that.

Angry people are energy black holes.
I would say energy vampire, but I don't want to offend any beautiful vampires I'm currently head over heels for...
They suck the joy, they suck our energy and even when one tries to rise above it, sometimes they still manage to steal some of our time thinking about what they've said.

The older I get, the more I understand where John Lennon was coming from.

Anger kills. It makes people ill. It is rarely productive. Do you think the hockey dad sitting in prison for killing his son's coach would do things differently if he could go back?

I'm singing to the choir, I know this. I was just wondering if you've been noticing or if it's always been like this and my head's just been under a rock.

Angry people, let it go. It's said laughter is the best medicine. So go get happy (HERE click HERE), I'm a dealer today and you know I've never steered you wrong!

I can even turn a simple award into a novel...

Do you know who I am? I'm a grateful blogger who is time (and memory)-challenged.

I have received some lovely awards. I try to go immediately to thank the giver but then absentmindedly forget to pick my little gift up...
Imagine I've come by to borrow sugar. We get to talking and you tell me some great stories. Then I skip happily away with my cup overflowing. Not the measuring cup full of the sugar I needed-- that'd be left on your countertop. That's who I am.

So, before I forget again, I want to say thanks to the ones I managed to keep track of (and apologize to those I didn't).

Thank you AVT coach, who tried to throw me off her trail by changing her comment email link--but I found her anyway and instead of hiring someone to get rid of me, she gave me this award.

With it I am supposed to list six things that make me happy:

*Kissing the warm little faces of my children when they sleep *hearing their giggles and full belly laughs when they're awake *real mail * a surprise day off for the Hubby *hearing my husband's deployment is cancelled would make me happy--not happening though *staying in a clean, fresh hotel bed.

And on the same day, the same award from Cheshire Wife (which I find amusing because truthfully, I'm just grateful to be counted as one of her readers. We live on the same side of the planet and I love hearing about her world)

Here's six more things that make me happy so you can't accuse me of being lame:

*chocolate *cooking without miniature humans hanging on to my leg *painting *the sea-- calm or angry *snuggling with a pet, preferrably calm.

Straight to Your Hart made my miserable day brighter with this award. I could award it right back at her if she didn't already have it!

Angeline at All About Your Child has patiently waited for me to come by and get these out of her way (you're too good to me!). She deserves a kind blogger award, because when I began to try to tell you about her, the word kind and giving kept surfacing.


(ooh, one is not showing up, it's a flash player one--sorry)

So now the hard part...
I need to give them away.

Chris from Life...or a reasonable facsimile thereof. You already know I love your blog so I'm tossing the Kreativ award over to you. I think it will fit nicely since you are so Kreativ with your blog-- especially under the pressure of a 31-day blogging stint.

Moannie, from The View From This End, WOW woman. Your childhood stories take my breath away. It's like sitting down with a good book, so please, take the I love your Blog award!

If you already have it, lie to me. I'm only picking two recipients today (but I'll be back...) because I need to get to bed. I am going on a shopping trip with NO CHILDREN I'm sorry, was I using my outside voice just now? tomorrow (which was actually yesterday, thanks to blogger scheduling).

Thank you! And Thank you for all of your kind comments on my wreath. I learned that you all are the type of people who would tell me I looked good when I have spinach in my teeth, but I love you anyway.

Baby You Can Drive My Car

You may have wondered what it's like to drive on the other side of the road.

Have you given much thought to having the steering wheel on the other side?How about this....Ever wondered if you could drive on the left side, with the steering wheel where you're used to having your passenger seat WHILE shifting with your left hand? Oh, and while you're shifting, don't forget to use your turn signals, especially if you're in a roundabout.

This is my loaner car. You know, the tiny little thing I will cram all of my children into for the next week or more while the body shop (not the one with yummy smelling, free trade body butters) fixes my bumper from a previous skirmish with a buried stump.
Norfolk residents may want to stay off of the roadways for a few days (or at least avoid all places where one may have to shift down while turning).

FYI: I have a real life friend that has just started her very first ever blog. I've blogged about her before but I used her real name so I can't link you to those posts (bad me), but trust me, she's great. The woman was born and raised in Norfolk and has never been anywhere else. We're changing that. Will you swing by and welcome her?

She's Crafty

As I was sitting outside, freezing to death trying to get a proper photo of my loaner car --in the dark (for an upcoming post), I began shivering.

Shivering really makes it difficult to hold the camera still enough for night shots and I was not going to walk back into the house to get a tripod for a silly post photo.
So I held my breath (good when you're trying to be still) and looked over to see this.
Obviously this photo wasn't taken tonight and you're probably wondering why I bothered to take it at all.

This is me, stepping way beyond my comfort zone.

I signed up for a Spouses Club activity this week to make wreaths even though I am the most craftily-challenged person ever. This project accomplished several things:

• I agreed to go somewhere without any crutches--no friends.
  
• I agreed to go somewhere. period.
• I also realized that I don't always finish projects I start. Like my first attempt at cross stitch in 1997 that has gone to every location with me for the last 11 years. I managed a shadow and two buttons of a snowman and then got bored with it. There's two unfinished afghans buried in a landfill somewhere in the U.S., do I even need to mention my Stampin'Up collection that NEVER gets used?
  

So there I was " Wreath night" on the military base where I know NO ONE.

It was a great group, they really helped me feel welcome and hooked me up with a lady that I liked instantly. As we teased our moss and pricked our fingers on nasty little thorns (found a snail and a stink bug in the greens as well) that stinking allergy thing hit again. I had to step away from the table to sneeze and wheeze more than I was actually building my wreath.

As I stood there with a moss-covered wire covered on only one side with a glowing red nose and leaky eyes (I image my face was beginning to resemble a Dali painting), I mentioned that I was happy with it just like it was but my table wouldn't let me give up.
I even tried to leave without a bow, but someone quickly put one on for me and the instructor wouldn't let me exit the building until she put a hanger on the back (despite my protests that I could just wrap a string around it--I think she actually cringed).

I made that sad little wall hanging and lived to photograph it.

Now knowing this, maybe you'll get my excitement over winning these fabulous hand-made cards over at Potted Frog. Don't tell her, but I was actually thrilled to death when I thought I had won a choice of one of the cards, but the prize was all of them!

I'd love to send you a nice little note, but for now I'm sleeping with them on my pillow. They'll probably sit on my mantle after that. Thank you my Albuquerque friend!!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Psssst... Have You Seen Me?

Did someone looking like me drop by your blog today/yesterday? Did she make strange comments, or worse --did she read and run?
Disregard the woman behind the curtain, she's running on empty.

I appreciate your comments and concern for my man-child (and the advice of Miss Ky's preschool blues) and certainly hope I've replied, but wow... I think too much allergy medicine is detrimental to the thinking process.

*** *** *** *** *** ***

My car is going into the body shop tomorrow.

I wish it was this kind of body shop, but it's not.
It's the kind of body shop that fixes bumpers that are dragged mercilessly over tree stumps hidden in harmless looking berms of dirt (for loads of money).

*** *** *** *** ***

Have you ever sat through an entire TV show or movie even though you didn't like it?

Or read a book all the way through because someone without any taste told you it was good?

Or kept reading someones post thinking, "It'll get better, I'm sure of it"?

I'm almost positive I had something of substance to blog about today, but this is what you're left with. For this I clogged up your reader....

Just Another Day

Miss Ky goes to play group one day a week. I only take her because it's expected. Children start very early here and my friends were grilling me about when she would be starting... she's only 2.

So far, I take her in and she hardly looks my direction as I leave because she's so busy playing.

Today wasn't like that. Tears shot from her eyes like little daggers.

The thing is, she doesn't need to be there. It's not like I can get a lot accomplished in the two hours she's gone, so I'd be just as happy to bring her back home.

Yesterday, oldest son rang my mobile phone (he's in the states, remember?)

Him:"Where are you?"
Me (desperately trying to hear over the shouting crowd):"I'm at your brother's football game, what's up?"
Him:"A group of guys wearing masks just broke into my apartment, they kicked the door in."

Me (as I start jogging towards the shrubs so that I can hear better): WHA...?!"

I had him call 911 and 45 minutes later when no police had arrived, we called the New Mexico police department ourselves. from England.
Have you ever heard a mild mannered man make an international call to a police department when he's worried about his son? Don't mess with the Sexy Guy's kids.

J1 had been in the apartment, asleep in the living room. 6 guys with masks and hoodies smashed through his door and ran from room to room. Something told him to pretend he was asleep, so thank the Lord he listened to it. As he stirred a little and surprised them, they ran out of the house into a waiting car (that then proceeded to smash into a parked car as they left).

His apartment managers? They're gone on the weekends. There's no emergency number for maintenance. Basically if your apartment burns down on Saturday, they'll discover it on Monday morning. Great way to run a business, don't you think?

So he is in NM, alone with no front door.
For those of you thinking the great stress of motherhood goes away when the kids leave the terrible twos...think again.

I got a phone call. It was one of those automated calls, but before I could hang up, it told me that my name had been entered by one of several businesses I recognized and I was "the winner of a blahblah-several nights blah blah trip".

I have entered a few things recently-- most importantly a paid trip to NYC to see the premier of Twilight (but they started the drawing before the Twilight date was pushed back, so the trip isn't until December), and for free tickets for myself and 10 friends to the UK premiere of the movie.
So, thinking maybe it was one of those contests, I listened. It gave me a confirmation number and asked me to "press 5" for more information. You know those emails you get warning you about scams and how you shouldn't dial any number because then your phone gets linked to Timbuktu and you'll be charged? I hung up.

If I really won a prize, they'll call back, right?

I got another phone call.

On the other end was my friend in New Mexico I have been missing so terribly.

Her: "Guess where I am!"
Me: "LONDON?!!" (grabbing my purse and shutting off the tv)
Her: "No, I'm at (name of annual scrapbooking weekend we used to attend together)"
Me: "Oh".
salt in the wound. ouch.

I'm going back to bed. Wake me when it's tomorrow.

A Rock Made Of Heart

This video is not really 8 minutes long (it's about half that) and you can leave it at any time (but you may not want to).

I watched so many Veteran's Day/Military/Support Our Troups videos that I thought my eyes were going to fall out.
Something was not quite right with each one.

Some had great music, but video that was too graphic.

Too many were set to the tune of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA", and although I love the song and it usually brings me to tears, I got really tired of experiencing it with bad quality video.

Sad to say, but there must have been a contest at one time to make the cheesiest, most cliche' video.

Some were political statements that must have aired during the campaign, and you know what? Veteran's Day is NOT the time to spew your opinion, it's the time to remember and honor.

Just when my husband was going to place my bags by the curb (because I spent so many hours just trying to find a video that said "Thank you, I'm proud of you") I discovered this.

The quality is not great. The music editing is terrible. But one teenager (now adult) said what 30 Youtube videos couldn't.

Thank you Veterans. Thank you families who serve along side of them. Thank you, those who have made the greatest sacrifice. May God bless you.

Sometimes We Think Too Hard

Sherlock Holmes and Mr. Watson went on a camping trip.

After a good meal and a bottle of wine they laid down in their tent for the night and went to sleep.
Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend awake. "Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see."

Watson replied, "I see millions and millions of stars."

"What does that tell you?" Holmes questioned.

Watson pondered for a minute.

"Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe Saturn is in Leo. Logically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three.
Theologically, I can see that God is all-powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.

"Is that all?" Holmes asked.

"Yes." Watson replied. "Why, am I missing something?".

Holmes was quiet for a moment, then spoke:

"Watson, my dear friend. Someone has stolen the tent."

Spiritual (or not) Sunday

You know it.

You know when there's something missing in your life.
Your mind can't focus, you're distracted, maybe even a little moody or temperamental.
Something is missing in your life...

I'm at that point right now, but I'm lucky. I know what it is that's missing.


The Halloween candy has left the building.
It is no more.

Next year those kids are trick or treating longer. No stopping early for pizza, I don't care how cold their hands are!

Oooooh! She Got Me....

Sass e-mum at One Strangely Lush Mother got me with a tag.
Perfect since it's November (and I'm struggling for content), don't you think?

A) Four places I go over and over:

• crazy. ok, fine I'll behave. I like to go to car boots or auction houses.
  
• Kids' school, several times a day-- do I have the good life or what?
  
• Local church once a week for a coffee morning (even though I don't drink coffee).
  
• Tescos (when it's not crowded because I sometimes suffer from trolley rage).

(B) Four people who e-mail me regularly:

• Summit Entertainment, but I'm not speaking to them right now.
• My Husband. Sad really, he sits in one room, I in another and we converse that way. We're practicing for his deployment.
• Facebook. People are always throwing things at me. I don't get it. I threw an octopus back once, but it left a mess.
• Isn't that four? Do you want to email me?

(C) Four of my favourite places to eat:

• The Cottage Place in Flagstaff Arizona 1996 (they could be rubbish now, so I want to clarify when it's my favourite). How sad is it that I can't come up with four places to eat...? Oh I know why, I have four small children that would go with me and then it's not enjoyable. Besides, I cook pretty well for a woman with a toddler attached to one leg.

(D) Four places you'd rather be:

• Warm, in my bed, why do I fight it?
  
• Living in the great house we found but now probably won't be able to move into since the Hubby is going to new places.
  
• Uh...
• this is harder than I thought it'd be.
  

(E) Four TV shows I could watch over and over:

• Dr. Who,
  
• Grey's Anatomy
  
• Ghost Whisperer (because the Hubby and I like to make fun of it): Ghost: "Tell her I'm sorry that I never took her on vacations and if I could go back, I would spend more time with her and the kids." Melinda to the Ghost's wife: "He says he loves you". That's not what he said, does she have a hearing problem?!
• Coast. Love touring the Coast of England and since I have a terrible memory, each episode feels like a new one to me.

(F) Four people I think will respond:

Hah! My brain begins it's evil plotting... paybacks. Hmmm, Flea, The Color of Home, Snooty and Cheshire Wife-- but I'm NOT telling them, let's see if they notice.

Thanks for the chance to leave my brain behind, S!

It's Just Stuff

I didn't win the Photoshop Elements.

What's worse, I look like a sore loser because every time I try to congratulate the winner, my email comes back as undeliverable. I didn't email her. I commented on her blog. Isn't that strange?
I won't sulk off like a dejected X Factor contestant. The person who won it was VERY happy and that's contagious, isn't it?

Besides, it's not like I needed a Photoshop Elements or cared to win one...
I also don't want to lose 20 pounds and don't care if I stay forever in a tiny cottage that smells like grease.
I'm a winner just for playing, right?

And I bet you had a hard time finding this baby didn't you? Well you see, I was posting on your clock when I put my posts up (I was in bed when they posted), but managed to forget to do that on one post and therefore it appeared like I skipped a day. I didn't. So this draft post is taking the time slot. Just because.

Yes Virginia, There are More Pictures of the Midlands

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Our holiday in the midlands was planned by some overly-enthusiastic tourist who somehow thought we could cram in everything there was to see in the area in approximately four days.

Our first full day was spent in such a joy-filled frenzy, we actually looked forward to spending our second day in one place.
I booked the Think Tank at Millenium Point in Birmingham. I had had to choose between the Sea Life Centre and this, so I researched everything. I knew the hands-on science stop would be a big hit with my nerdy family and was excited to see the kids interact with the future, present and past technology.

After seeing the Rushton Triangular Lodge, Warwick Castle, and Shakespeare's Stratford Upon Avon, this was entirely for the children's enjoyment.

Within in the first hour we were all ready to leave.

What a disappointment! It was less hands-on (although they did have things the kids could participate in, several of them weren't working properly-- poor planning for half-term break).
We stayed long enough to view the 3-D Imax film we had pre-purchased tickets to see (when did Imax stop being about entertainment and start being all tree-hugging?) and then decided to make a break for Stratford Upon Avon again. The day before we had rushed through it and were unable to see Anne Hathaway's cottage, so we decided to make the 45 minute drive again.

Birmingham traffic... yuck, but we managed to get out with only a few delays. Then just as we started seeing signs for Anne Hathaway's cottage, we discovered our exit was blocked. One man in a highway police vehicle was parked next to traffic cones blocking the exit.

Remember, exits here are roundabouts. As you go whizzing around in a circle, it's always abruptly surprising to find you're not getting off where you thought and nerve-racking to make a split decision which exit you're now going to veer towards.

Undaunted, we quickly re-programmed the Sat Nav and headed off on a country road. It popped us back out on the highway we had originally attempted and we joked about British police throwing random road blocks up for giggles.
As we approached our next round about and tail lights twinkled in all hues of red, we realized why this highway was closed. A lorrie (truck) had spilled his very heavy load in the roundabout,
exactly on the exit we needed that proudly displayed the sign "Anne Hathaway's Cottage 1 3/4 miles".

We again re-set the Sat Nav as the entire population of England got off at the same exit.

We crept away from the roundabout... for approximately 2 hours.

People in oncoming traffic began chatting with our queue. I told one lady what was ahead of her and she told us why we were stopped. No road rage, just people being courteous in an otherwise un-fun situation.

I did get a picture of the cottage. Just before the sun went down.

This is it. This is as close as we got to Shakespeare's Wife's home. It's beautiful, don't you think?

Why? Why? Whywhywhywhywhy?

Look people, quit whining about the Presidential race, quit whinging about the economy and puhleeeease stop ranting about global warming and war. There are serious matters at hand and you are turning a blind eye to all of it.

There is a Twilight fiend living in Norfolk and for some stinking reason, Summit Entertainment didn't find it important enough to take the movie to military bases! Do you have any idea the horror this causes?!
Do you realize that from November 21st through December 19th I won't be able to talk to you or go by your blogs?
I can't possibly keep up with you if you're talking about the movie.

Didn't Summit take into consideration that it's November, National Blog Posting Month?!

Billboard photo brought to you by Twilighters anonymous.com

It's terrible.
Do your duty,
write your congressman.
Write your new President.
Write Stephanie Meyers! she probably has no idea of the injustice
Stop the madness!

Gettin' Fawksey Wit It

In 1605 Guido Fawkes, a revolutionist, attempted to carry out what is today known as the Gunpowder Plot.
Guy Fawkes was unsuccessful in blowing Parliament to pieces.

You can't have more bad breaks than this guy... seriously, next time you're whinging about the bad day you're having, think of this. Everything that could go wrong with this plot did, including two suspensions the meeting of Parliament which led to a hasty application of the plan and resulted in his conviction of treason.

What did he have to show for his time and trouble?

A whole nation annually celebrates his getting caught and makes wax images of him to scoff at and stuffed effigies to burn.

.

November 5th is the official date, but anytime the week of marks the beginning of the celebrations.
Some areas have the lighting of a huge barrel of tar that will travel through the cheering crowds like rock star.

I personally don't understand why no one thinks this is a strangely dangerous activity. "Hey mom, look! The barrel of burning tar is coming right for us...oh, poor man he trippedaaaaaaaaaghhh my skin!"



Here in Norfolk there's no tar, just a nice cozy bonfire to burn the effigy of Guy Fawkes (sick, I know), with music, fireworks, chips and burgers and plenty of cheaply made glowing toys for the kids to break.

Remember, remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason, why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

Remember, remember, the fifth of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot!

A stick or a stake for King James' sake

Will you please to give us a fagot

If you can't give us one, we'll take two;

The better for us and the worse for you!

Or:

Guy, guy, guy

Poke him in the eye,

Put him on the bonfire,

And there let him die.

Yeah, I told you it was sick.

As we drove to the event we'd be attending this year at RAF Marham, I stupidly excitedly looked forward to watching this spectacle from a large field blanketed in fog. I love fog.


I didn't think far enough ahead to realize that we wouldn't be able to see the fireworks...
so we ooh'd and Ahhhh'd at all the right moments and laughed hysterically at ourselves for subjecting our children to the cold and damp on a school night.

We laughed until we realized the hot ash from the fireworks and bonfire was raining down on us like an eruption from Mt. Vesuvius.
Well, we still laughed, but with our mouths closed.
Hubby said the ash tasted terrible.

We LOVE living here!