Bartender, a Double Shot of Zoloft, Please!

I am ready for summer to be over, at least as far as the kids being out of school goes.  They are bored and bickering with each other and I came home to find the skin from grapes on my living room walls.  Nice.  I am also PMSing, I think.  Yeah, just did the math...due in a couple of days.  The bitch is in the house.  I think I need a second zoloft.

As much as I hate cold weather, I am just ready for everyone to have their respective schedules back, including me.  I'm looking forward to getting to the Y to work out and to getting my house fall cleaned.  There is just no sense in doing this until the kids are back in school and not as available to...well, make a mess (see grape skins on the wall)!  They are often just insane, especially this late in the summer.  Summer is good and they need the break from school, but it's just too much at one time.  If they divided it up, like a month in the summer, a month at Christmas and a month at Easter, not only would there not be as much time for them to be bored and parents to be insane, but families could travel at different times of the year when flight prices would be a little cheaper and not have to fight taking their own children out of school. Sign me up!  I'm all for it!

I have to go to a viewing tonight as a member of our church, who had been battling cancer, died this week.  He was only 64.  He used to razz me about keeping my hands in my pockets when I was up front singing even though I had explained to him that my hands were cold and that was the reason why.  He would even make the motion of having his hands in his pockets, from the back row where he sat, when I was singing during the service.  I'd try to make a point of taking my hands out of my pockets just to play along. 

I'll think of Charlie every time my hands are cold now and I'm trying to keep them warm in church.

Oh!  Guess what??  This morning, I tried on a size 18-20 top and it FIT! It fit nicely!  I didn't wear it because it is red and I don't wear dark colors much during the summer.  Maybe by fall it will be too big.  Wouldn't that be a catastrophe?

Extremely Busy Day

Today was the day that I thought was never going to end.  Started out with work, of course, and I didn't leave till 1:00 due to getting into a discussion with the pastor.  Once I left, I rode out to the new gym in town to see what they were all about and though it was a nice facility, it really wasn't what I was looking for. 

So, I headed home to collect the kids as we needed to stop over at Aaron's school to get his school supply list.  Once that was done, it was to his meds doctor's office, but we got there early, so as JJ had a coupon for a free smoothie, we stopped in the convenience store so he could get it, and I bought Aaron and I drinks.  Then to the doctor.  After leaving there, on a whim, I stopped in the used furniture store to try to find Aaron a bookshelf and desk (the boys shared a room until after the first of the year, and we had not gotten around to getting these things for his room. He had a small desk, but it was time for something bigger).  Found both, paid for them and loaded them into the Highlander.  Stopped at the pharmacist to drop off Aaron's prescription and then came home.  We disassembled the old desk and carted it down to the basement, then the three of us unloaded the new stuff and got it upstairs and cleaned.  We searched for Aaron's books and got them on the shelf.

Then it was time for the boys to round up the tools we would need that evening to set up the security camera at the church.  Once that was done we had exactly 15 minutes to chill out before it was out the door to meet The Brit for dinner.  Had dinner and hurried to the YMCA to get a family membership (YAY us!), then to the church to meet Dane who would be helping hook up the system.  While the guys did that, I went back to the yard sale room to help Sandy and Ronnie sticker and price items until Dane needed me to drive home so he could drop off the curio cabinet I had bought.  I got home first in time to move the corner table so the new cabinet could go there.  Once Dane left, *pant, pant* JJ and I cleaned up the new cabinet and placed the glass shelves back inside.

I don't even have the energy tonight to put anything in it.  Tomorrow is another day, Scarlet.

The Shack

What am amazing book. 

I have just finished it, Monday night, though this post will not hit until Tuesday morning.  I so encourage Christians to read it.  Though a work of fiction, the way the author explains things just makes me think and many times, I found myself nodding my head, mentally saying "Yes!"

Just a quote or two to intrigue you:

"I don't want to be the first among a list of values; I want to be at the center of everything.  When I live in you, then together, we can live through everything that happens to you."

"but rules will never give you answers to the deep questions of the heart and they will never love you."

There are so many more quotes.  I spent my time reading the second half of this book with a highlighter in my hand.  I'll be rereading it again with my Sunday School class in September.  It's THAT good and I want to share it.



Click on the link to visit the site or your local bookstore should have it, but please, read it.  Even if you hate it, I promise you will think about it.

I love my WLS friends!

I have had the worst hankering lately for cereal, despite the fact that I was never a big cereal eater before surgery.  But now and then, I would buy a box of Special K, Honey Nut Cheerios, or Golden Grahams, or on a PMS day, Lucky Charms and enjoy it until one of my kids discovered it and polished off the box. 

But since surgery, I have been steering clear of it, simply because I have been trying so hard to fit protein in everywhere.  But thanks to Meg, I had a yummy bowl of Special K Protein Plus with skim milk for lunch today and was in heaven!  I added a pack of Splenda as I like it with a touch of sweetness and I'm now sorry I didn't buy any bananas today because they would rock this cereal as well (though there are peaches in the fridge.  Yum).  A craving satisified in a good way!

I had to take my mother to the doctor's today because she is having dizzy spells.  Doc thinks she has vertigo and is sending her to have a neck ultrasound done and then next week wants her to see an ear, nose and throat doc.  He gave her some meds today that will hopefully take care of her dizziness, though it may make her sleepy.

So by the time I got to the grocery store today, it was already late and I had been on the go since 7:15.  So dinner tonight is salad with shrimp and veggies and corn on the cob, which my husband may be getting sick of, but the days of locally grown corn are nearly over for the summer and I plan on enjoying them to the fullest until they are over. 

Stuff you didn't want to know

I'm sleepy and lazy today, so I stole this from Meg:

What time did you get up this morning? 6:15.  I have to be at church by 7:30

Diamonds or pearls? Either really, though I prefer other stones.

What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Mama Mia and loved it!

What is your favorite TV show? Brothers & Sisters. LOVE IT.

What do you usually have for breakfast? I suck at breakfast but Meg has Special K Protien Plus so it is now on my grocery list for tomorrow!

What is your middle name? Ann

What food do you dislike? Brussel Sprouts

What is your favorite CD at the moment? This would be better phrased as "What is your favorite album downloaded from iTunes to your ipod?  I'd have to say 33 Miles

What kind of car do you drive? A Toyota Highlander and I love it

Favorite sandwich? I love a good cheeseburger.  I miss them

What characteristic do you despise? Judgemental people

Favorite item of clothing? Like Meg, most of my stuff right now is either KMart cuz it's cheap or hand me downs due to WLS.  I don't think I have a favorite right now.

If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? An ocean where you can see through the water

Where would you retire to? someplace warm and I'd have a farm...cats, dogs, horses, you get the picture

What was your most recent memorable birthday? I don't think I have had a memorable birthday since I was a kid.

Furthest place you are sending this? The Web.

When is your birthday? July 24

Morning person or a night person? Night by nature, morning by child default

What is your shoe size? 8.5

Pets? 6 cats, 6 fish, a guinea pig and a hermit crab

Any exciting news you’d like to share with us? VBS is over

What did you want to be when you were little? An actress

What is your favorite flower? daisies and sunflowers

What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to seeing? August 20-the kids go back to school

What are you listening to right now? The tv in the next room and the locusts outside

What was the last thing you ate? a handful of almonds

Do you wish on stars? I prefer to pray to God

If you were a crayon, what color would you be? purple

How is the weather right now? beautiful today!  Not too hot, low humidity.

Last person you spoke to on the phone? hmmm....my mother maybe?

Favorite soft drink? I was a Coke Zero fan, but can't have it anymore

Favorite restaurant? lots of them now

Favorite color? Pink

What was your favorite toy as a child? A white teddy bear named Kimba

Summer or winter? summer

Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate

Coffee or tea? coffee

When was the last time you cried? Last week when Jane died

What is under your bed? dust bunnies

What did you do last night? went to dinner and came home and chilled

What are you afraid of? dying before achieving all my goals

Salty or sweet? sweet

How many keys on your key ring? Too many..prolly 12 or more

How many years at your current job? 3

Favorite day of the week? Saturday

Do you make friends easily? I've been told I never meet a stranger.

Your turn!

Birthdays and other thoughts

Hard to believe but my oldest son became a teenager today.  Summer birthdays are hard, and I know because I have one, as friends are often out of touch for the summer.  Aaron had a swim party last year, but due to surgeries, we didn't get the pool up this year.  So, the family went to lunch and then after a stop for new shoes, we picked up Aaron's new bike he wanted as well as a bike rack for the back of the car (as we are soon to be a four bicycle family).  After that, we drove to Frederick to order The Brit's bike and then we went for an early dinner at Olive Garden, which was the birthday boy's choice.

Hard to believe this kid is 13 and has been with us for five years now.  He has been doing really well, after a rough start to the summer.  When Aaron first came to us, he wasn't the happiest of kids and who could blame him after living about five different places before us.  Now, however, everyone remarks on how happy he is and how polite.  I know we are going to face challenges in the teenage years as they are such a whirlwind of emotions, but we'll get through them.  After all, God is on our side.  The youth group at church is transitioning with him as he will soon be old enough to be a part of them.  Aaron helped out with VBS this year, along with the other teens, and got his feelings hurt one night.  Our teens tease each other constantly; it is a part of who they are, and Aaron is still a little sensitive.  He got ribbed a little bit about something he said and went away to sulk, but the kids came after him and one of our teen leaders told him, "Aaron, you are one us now and we all tease each other.  Don't get upset about it.  Suck it up."  That was all it took and he was right back in the thick of things again.  I'm letting the kids teach him, because 13 is a hard age.  Too young for high school kids in many venues and too old for younger kids, so he is working on finding his place and learning how to act with the older kids and they are helping with that.  These kids are such positive influences in so many ways and though he doesn't know it now, Aaron is very fortunate to have them as role models.

I'm still feeling a little draggy today, probably from VBS and from not having time to exercise the past week.  I'm hoping to get back on that wagon tomorrow.

So, Happy Birthday, Aaron!  May your 13th year be filled with God's love and new discoveries!

Finally Finished

Another year of VBS has come to a close.  Praise God.  It went well; about twenty kids this year, which while way down from last year, we were competing with two other local churches who had their VBS this week too.  Tonight was our closing, with a skit, a slide show (parents are invited the last night), pizza for all, and then water games outside.  The water was a huge hit.  We had Slip N Slides, water balloons, wet sponge tag and wading pools for the smaller kids.  Everyone went home wet, tired and happy.

My scale moved today...Hooray!  Only a pound but movement is movement.  In celebration of this event, my pouch got bitchy today and nothing made it happy.  In turn, it made me feel sluggish and rather yucky but that could be combined with just being tired after such an insane week.

My friend, Kim, came through her gallbladder surgery like the rockstar that she is!  She is home and back to blogging already.  So glad that God hears our prayers.

And speaking of God, I am telling you guys to go read The Shack.  It is different from any Christian fiction book I have ever read; so much to think about!  It just makes me think about things a little bit differently and is a quick and fascinating read!  Go! Get. The. Book. Now!