Friday, August 28, 2009

Tahoe, Baby!


Trip to Lake Tahoe- Circa Aug. 2006 (yep, I just used the word 'circa'; just 'cause I'm cool like that!)


When Big Ben and I were dating, we went to Tahoe for an Alexander reunion. Besides falling in love with Big Ben and the Alexander Family, I fell in love with Tahoe!

This weekend, we're going back!!! We will be there for 4 nights and 3 days to enjoy the beauty.
I'm so excited!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Adventures in Grocery Shopping

Sometimes I just don't learn my lesson. The particular lesson that I am referring to this time, should have been learned over a year ago when I repeatedly ran into a certain "little dirty guy" (LINK to story) at the grocery store in the neighboring town. These close encounters really should have been enough to teach me that some money savings are just not worth the risks involved. But, obviously I didn't learn my lesson, or I wouldn't be writing this post and you wouldn't be reading about my latest grocery store adventures.

Fortunately, this time LDG is not involved! However, the recent grocery store adventures have been so traumatic that I might almost be relieved if it was merely an LDG sighting.

About a month ago, I decided to stop at the grocery store the neighboring town to buy some meat and produce that was on a killer sale. Broc was along with me. It was a Friday afternoon, the busiest time at this store. Broc and I made our way through the aisles without anything significant happening and went to check out. Without paying too much attention I selected a line, they were all pretty long and we waited. While waiting, I noticed the lady in line ahead of us, she had long orange hair. I also took note of the 'costume' she was wearing. I say costume, because I'm not sure it could fairly be described as an outfit. She was wearing a negligee, there was no doubt about it. Her negligee... wait, that sounds a little too classy, it's much more appropriate to refer to what she had on as 'hoochie wear.' Her hoochie wear consisted of a top made out of black lace, I could see the under-wires in the demi-cups and it was complete with corset bones and little pink bows. Her garter clips hung down at her legs, dangling over hot pink leopard print spandex shorts. As I thought to myself that she MUST be employed in the "world's oldest profession," I went about my business pretending not to notice her and not wanting to draw Broc's attention to the spectacle.

Finally, Madame Grocery Store moved on and it was my turn to pay. As the cashier scanned my items she began to talk to me. She asked if I had seen what the lady ahead of me was wearing, I shyly responded in the affirmative, then as if she hadn't detected my quietness the cashier proceeded to tell me her own story. She told me about a lady who had been in the day before. This lady had been African American and was wearing a royal blue tunic style shirt, with no shorts underneath. The cashier told me that the shirt was completely sheer and the lady had NOTHING on underneath except white granny panties. I was becoming very concerned about Broc's ten year old ears hearing this. Then the cashier continued to describe this lady and added, "the worst part was that she was 9 months pregnant!" As the disturbing image became all too vivid in my mind, I paid as quickly as I could and rushed Broc out of the store. As we left the store Broc asked, "what was she talking to you about?" Oh, nothing Broc! Nothing at all!

Today, because I'm a sucker for a good deal or maybe it's a glutton for punishment, I went back to the same store, again. Today, as I waited for my turn in line I noticed the lady behind me. I noticed her because she kept singing in my ear. I don't know what she was singing, but it wasn't good. When I turned around to look at her I was looking at this :
The lady was apple shaped, wearing a pink shirt and matching pink leggings. And around the bottom of her shirt were two distinct ruffles.

So, all these stories pose the question... will I be returning to this same grocery store again? Well now, let's be honest, the ridiculousness that I encounter there makes me feel much better about myself. Of course I'll be going back!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Everything but the Kitchen Sink

Ok, meet FlyLady! She's trying to change the world one kitchen sink at a time. Fly Lady provides help for life. She's a life coach. Her program is completely free and completely broken down into tiny little babysteps. The babysteps are meant to heal a life and home that is being consumed by chaos. Normally, I don't think chaos is a gigantic problem for me, but I am always looking for helpful tricks to make things easier.

Step One for the Fly Lady is your Kitchen Sink... yep, your Kitchen sink. The premise is that if you start out each day with a clean, shiny sink your entire outlook on life will be changed. It will be a small step that will make a giant difference in your life.

It reminds me of my grandma's advice that if you "keep your dishes done and your beds made, everyone will think you are a good housekeeper!"

I've been working on the Kitchen Sink thing. It works! When I get up in the morning and my sink is clean and shiny and there aren't dishes waiting for me, I am more motivated the entire day to maintain the cleanliness.

I highly recommend it. Check out Fly Lady, read her daily goals... but definitely shine your sink up before you go to bed tonight, in the morning you'll be glad you did!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

What's in a name?

Sarah is quickly accumulating Kindergarten friends. Each day she comes home and informs me that she has made at least one new friend that day. It has become a pattern.

Sarah: Mom, I made a friend at school today!
Mom: You did! That's great. What's their name?
Sarah: Ummm, I don't know her/his name. No one tells me their names! Maybe I'll ask.

On the second day of school, though, it went a little different. Sarah came home and made the proclamation of friendship, however, when I asked the girl's name, Sarah informed me, "she likes to be called Broccoli!" I laughed, Sarah looked at me confused. Apparently, in a Kindergartner's mind there is nothing humorous or unusual about someone wanting to be called Broccoli.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Silly in SB






Three days hanging out in SB with Bubbe leads to some pretty silly behavior!

The End

The end of her first day of Kindergarten. I'd call that smile a success!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

It sounded like a good idea

For 20 years, my dad has talked about wanting to make a trip to see a Copper Mine near our favorite campground. He has been told about it, knew that it required a 4 wheel drive and has hoped to see it himself. A couple weeks ago while Big Ben and I were on a camping trip my dad, brother Rob, and nephew Kevin showed up at the campground in Rob's 4 wheel drive Kia. This seemed like my dad's perfect opportunity. So we all loaded up and struck out on the adventure.

The road was long, steep, rocky, windy, slanty and treacherous. We kept going with the thought that we were in a 4 wheel drive and would have no problem on our return trip. However, remember it was a KIA!

At the bottom of the long road we found a beautiful river. And a VERY small copper mine (only about 20 feet in depth) and some people camping down there. We looked things over and got in the car to start our return trip, however, we quickly realized there was no operable 4 wheel drive on the Kia and we were left with only a rear wheel drive KIA to get us out. We weren't going anywhere.

Because we might be the luckiest people in the whole wide world, the people camped there were super nice and had a 4 wheel drive with full towing ability. The wonderful people towed our butts ALL the way out of there. What could have turned into a nightmare was in the end a 3 hour adventure.

Lesson learned! Next time my dad and Rob have a "brilliant" idea for an adventure... we will stay in camp!

A whole new world

We have a new Kindergartner! Sarah has "officially" started school.

She was so excited!


And a 2nd grade brother, who wasn't so excited about the prospect of returning to school.


Sarah is now a Tompkin Tiger!


This was the moment Sarah realized that this might not be as exciting as it seemed the night before.
She cried! But only for a minute and when I picked her up after school she said she "had a great day!" And was upset that I picked her up too early! She also told me she made a friend and she was sure she would make a lot more friends!

Our Monkey is in the monkey class! So appropriate!