As a Dog

Christmas was Pretty cool, but now I have the flu. Spent all day yesterday with fever hallucinations and passing out. Today was better. I actually got out of bed and took a shower. I'm hoping to feel much better tomorrow and then be ok for NYE. Have photos to process and stuff to do.

Been reading and catching up with bloggy buddies, and lazing about the house. Also have realized that daytime T.V. Is boring and repetitive. Have run out of immunitea, and am getting desperate. The Boys have been fairly well behaved for the past 2 days, telling me that they are sorry that I am sick. They have been very sweet, and The Oldest even made his own scrambled eggs for lunch. I supervised and they turned out delicious (according to him).

We Need a Little Christmas

This is my absolute FAVORITE musical - of. all. time.


And because I couldn't NOT include Bea:


Took The Oldest to see this musical over Christmas Break, and admitedly teared up on this song:


I hope you all have a wonderful day!

My Town Shoot Out - Christmas

This week's Theme is courtesy of the My Town Shoot Out gang.
"Our theme for this week is Christmas. Christmas is celebrated worldwide. How is Christmastime celebrated in your part of the world.
Christmas is a favorite of winter celebrations, a time for beloved traditions that are honored year after year. A time of hope for the future and reminiscing of Christmases past.
Caroling, feasting, and gift-giving along with the prayers and wishes - Christmas is celebrated with high spirits in various parts of the world.

As we rejoice in the birth of Christ, we're reminded of just how special the day truly is. It's no wonder why Christmas is the most popular holiday of all!

We are all very busy this time of year, especially this week. Hope you all can find a few minutes to post what your Christmas tradition or family fun time is.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!."

Check out the other participants here and here.

Christmastime here in Northern California can mean snow and rain and ice. For me it always means warm houses and cold weather, and driving around with friends and family to look at Christmas lights:

This year it also meant a lunar eclipse on the Winter Solstice:

The following shots were all taken on a walk through neighboring downtown Danville:

Renovations of the Danville Hotel:

 The winter death of a rose:

Gingerbread people in a bakery window:

And because I was led to the following, and they made me smile this holiday season:
The cutest version of The Christmas Story EVER:

And for those of you who enjoy a good song and dance number:


May you all have love, happiness and hope this coming year. Love and peace to you all!

My Town shoot OUt - 10 minutes

OK, so I meant to go 10 minutes away, and indeed may do just that before the weekend is up - and shoot incredible photos.

But today I was at a Happy Hour Playdate with my friends. We drank Sangria, and ate a TON of appetizers, and laughed, and cried, and all the bonding stuff we do. All this while our kids tore around like crazy people and played and laughed and fought and were really very loud. It was a blast, and needed, and relaxing, and I truly love my friends. Truly.

Image is not mine.
And as I reflect upon the afternoon and evening, I am reminded of this song:

My Town Shoot Out - Thankful

I know this isn't Friday - I seem to be an entire day behind these days...

I think in Dublin, what we are most thankful for is living in a beautiful city, is made up of communities, made up of people who care about each other. The communities are varied and come together initially because of commonality. We are made of members of specific organizations, families, neighbors, school friends, co-workers, and people we run into regularly. Within our communities, we help each other out as much as we can, and are always there when we need each other. In the hustle and bustle of the holidays it is easy to forget that we are all in this together, and all of us are members of one human family.

Personally, I am grateful for my friends and family, for our continued good health and humor, and for being here another year to celebrate life.

Oh, and my oldest turned 10 this week:

From this sweet and adorable 6 month old:

To this sweet and adorable 10 year old:

Happy Weekend all!

Tableau Tuesday - On Wednesday

I know that I am late on this, but I DO have over 600 photos that were narrowed into the selection below.

Before we get there however, I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention that today, December First, is World AIDS Day. I have walked and raised money to fight AIDS (among other things) for over 20 years now, and I work toward a future where AIDS no longer kills. In fact, in many instances it doesn't.

Also, I received some news of a dear friend being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. I have no idea what that designation actually means, though I will be researching it later this week. She will be in my thoughts for her treatment path and recovery.

Now on to the photos, all taken last Friday, in Snata Cruz, and all gifts of unparalleled delight:
Two seperate sightings of Red Tailed Hawks. For this I feel blessed:

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

West Cliff, The Harbor and their sights:

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

The Sunset from Wadell Creek Beach. I took 168 images trying to capture the green flash, but to no avail...

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

My Town Shoot Out - Main Street / Favorite Shop

I am back in the swing of Friday Shoot Outs, at the urging of Bloggy Friends - Thanks to you for getting me off my butt!

This week's Theme is courtesy of NanU of Have genes will travel.
"Favorite shop, well, show us what you like about it. Inside, outside. Maybe some people who work there and what they sell or do.

Also I thought it would be fun to show us a shot of your main street."

Check out the other participants here and here.

Yesterday I took a day to myself, took my camera and headed to my other adopted home town, Santa Cruz, CA. I lived there for 4 years, nearly 25 years ago, and it holds a very special place in my heart. I spent most of my time at the water, which will show up on Tuesday. However, I did also walk the Pacific Mall, and found some interesting sights:

Lanterns at a cafe:

Buskers - this was quite original: 

 This group had a hula hooper with them:

 Love this sculpture:

 The Clock Tower:

 A shot down the street, standing near the clock tower:

 Opposite end of the street, on the side of the retro sneaker store - and yes, the lens flare was intentional:

Hope you all have a happy weekend!

Thoughtful Thursday - Give Thanks While You Can

This week all of my bloggy buddies have been posting their thanksgivings. I would like to do the same. Today is a day to set aside pettiness and just be grateful.

Today (and really every day) I am grateful for my two adorable and insane children, my well meaning husband, my crazy as loons family, my delightful friends, being a vegetarian, knowing who I really am, the goodness of humanity, the funny pages, laughter, the sound smell and feel of the ocean, my viceral reaction to lima beans (they'll kill you, you know).

OK, in all seriousness, I am thankful for all of the above, and for my life. For as much bitching as I do, I am very fortunate.

Happy Sunday Morning

This is the first thing I heard upon waking:

Thoughtful Thursday

I have had this on my mind today, inspired by THIS POST.

How do you live your life? Do you have a split life? One that works the corporate slave machine, and another that lives in the land of faeries and majik? Do you live but one life, compartmentalizing it all into neat and tidy boxes? Do you have different personas to your work/family/friends? I like to think that I am the same person to all in my life, but I know that is not completely true. I hold secrets from various sections of my life. Some of those are for self preservation (or so I tell myself), and some are just for less hassle and scrutiny. Lately I've felt a bit too tipped toward the mundane, and too far from the majik in life. I am going to take a day next week to try and find that place again, that child like wonder and awe. I will try to leave behind my cynicism and doubt and just recapture what I know to be true. This will bring me closer to the universe, and closer to my higher self. You may be reading about it here, or it may still be shifting for me, only time will tell.

My love to you all for continued good health and happiness!

Music Monday Weekend Wrap Up

This song has been in HEAVY rotation in my brain and ipod all weekend!!!


Let's do a rundown of the weekend shall we?

Friday - worked in the morning, and on meetings :-P Then worked in the classroom with 4th and 5th graders on One Point Perspective. They did really well, but it is interesting to see what they get hung up on, mostly it was translating a three dimentional space onto a two dimentional medium. We took them out to the lanes on the blacktop and brought a ball so that they could witness that things look smaller when they are further away from the viewer, and two parallel lines look like they will converge on a single point. Then we did a step by step for one point perspective, leading them though the terms and the drawings. I think I'll go get some t-squares or speed squares before we move to two point perspective, so as not to completely blow their minds. After that, we will move to negative space, and then to still life in various mediums. OK, enough on my geeky artsy teachery stuff... Had a Happy Hour Playdate with only one of my friends and her kids, and it was totally cool. I made the drinks way too stiff, but still good, and we got to hang out and decompress, which rocked!

Saturday - was planning a mellow day, watching soccer games of a couple of nephews and hair cuts for The Dude and The Boys, and then laundry and cleaning house. Ended up out of the house ALL DAY, talking S off of a cliff when confronted with the reality that has been in place for years, but only newly revealed to her. It wasn't all sunshine and roses, and it will take her a while to unlearn the behaviors that pull her into the drama she doesn't need. She needs lifelines, and I am one of those, and happy to help in any way I can.
This is her theme song right now:


Sunday - worked a 3 hour shift at the snack shack, and then laundry and cleaning, washing the dogs, and grocery shopping. Also talked to M, who had a hundred questions about yesterday. Emotionally drained from the whole thing and having to navigate through the pain and hurt and anger to actual tools useful in interactions with the very people who have hurt you.

Thoughtful Thursday - Veteran's Day

I took this photo. I walked two military cemeteries during half a year in order to record their beauty. What I found was complete sadness at such loss of life. The person in this photo is a bugler. His name is Mark. He came out this day, as he had on many other occasions, to honor his fellow service men and women. I heard from his family only months later that he suffered from Alzheimer's and they wondered why my card, e-mail and copy of a model release was in his possession. I sent them the book where this photo appears, and a note of gratitude.
I thank all of our service people, and although I am staunchly opposed to war, I am grateful to all men and women who serve. I hope that someday soon gay people are allowed to openly serve as well.

Please keep these folks in you thoughts, prayers, and positive vibes this week:
Liz - my friend and a kick-ass grandma (literally - she just attained her 3rd degree black belt). Her father is having brain surgery today. Send positive an healing thoughts her way.
The Hunter Family - a local family who lost their father last weekend after a week on life support, following an off-road accident. Also for the little girl who caused the accident, that she may never know what effect her actions caused.
S - is going through a particularly rough patch. Send your vibes for her path to smooth out, and her confidence to return. She and her kids deserve so much better than they have had to endure.
KP - Is in the middle of making a decision on her relationship with R. Send her the calming energy she needs to have clarity in her decisions.
Audrey (CN) - my bloggy friend is still in treatment and bouncing back to her positive self.
Audrey (US) - Sending positive thoughts that all of the tests for her cancer continue to show no evidence!

My love to you all for continued good health and happiness!

Tableau Tuesday 11/9/2010

These were taken after dropping off The Youngest at the Birthday Party on Friday.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Music Monday Weekend Wrap Up

First off a song:


And the weekend went like this:

Friday - The Boys had a half day off of school, end of Trimester Teacher Workday. The Youngest was at a fellow 2nd Grader's Birthday Party - at the movies, followed by pizza, and had fun, while The Oldest hung out at home and watched a glut of TV. Friday Night was fairly quiet with little whinning, and The Dude studying Microbiology.

Saturday - Got up early and went grocery shopping, as we were out of laundry soap and dryer sheets, two necessities for laundry on the weekend. Got home, unloaded and put away said groceries and left again to shop for a friend's 50th party later that night. Ended up going in with another friend on a gift basket and items for a fondue (chocolate fountain) tray. Got home and didn't even enter the house. Immediately left for the final game of The Youngest's soccer season. He played goalie for a quarter, stopping all but one goal, and scored three himself, including the season ending goal! It was a great season, and all the boys on the team had fun. Signed The Youngest up for Little Leaugue on the way out of The Sports Park, and went directly to the End Of Season Pizza Party, where there was pizza, cupcakes and trophies. One of the Jr. Coaches wrote very nice words about all the players, and everyone had fun. Came home, picked and cut up apples and went to the 50th party which was fun and a little wild, while The Dude took The Boys to a Jr. High production of Grease. The daughter of friends was in the chorus and they loved it. I got home before they did and went directly to bed (well, after a LARGE glass of water, Tums and Motrin)...

Sunday - it was the end of Daylight Savings Time, and we all slept in a bit. Ended up cleaning out the lint tube on the dryer, and did laundry all day. Also processed about 500 photos and listened to The Boys watch, and then re-enact Grease Lightning. All. Day. Long..... They did take a break mid day to tell me their Christmas wish lists - oh joy!

Happy Monday all!

Music Monday - On Thursday Evening

I have a stomach ache - likely brought on by too much crappy Halloween candy today. I was doing great not even going near it until today. Now I have this song going through my head...

still crazy

another crazy week with Halloween, and elections tomorrow, I may get the chance to post something Wednesday???

It's been a hell of a week

This weekend was Halloween Fun Night at The Boys' school. So the last week was a blur of prepatory activities, and associated drama. I may write more later, but I really need a nap.

Tableau Tuesday is on the way

In the meantime, I am completely in love with Glee, and last week's show has been viewed a few times, for these two songs alone:

River Deep Mountain High:
Embedding was disabled, so you will have to go HERE to see it.

And the Tina Turner version:


Happy Days Are Here Again / Get Happy:
This has the screen reversed, but still beautiful.


And the Judy Garland / Barbara Streisand version:

Music Monday - Who Are All These Old People?

Alternate Title: Can't They Turn Down The Music?

Last night was the 25th Reunion of my High School class. For those who cannot do the math, we graduated in 1985. I was a Band Buddy (as I have already attested). What this meant in 1985 was that I was not well known among the class of 250. Only about 75 of those were at the reunion last night, and only 5 people from the band. It was really great seeing the people I remembered, and talking to people I normally wouldn't have. It was also very flattering to have one of the cutest guys from then actually remember me, and say hi to me when we first got there.

Some hints for people planning these events:
If you are going to print name tags, PLEASE make them in a font larger than 12 point. May I recommend 48 or 72. We are all in out 40's, most of us need corrective eyewear, and none of us want to go around invading personal space to read nametags placed on people's boobs.
If you are also going to place yearbook photos on nametags, consider a photo larger than 1/2' square. If you think reading small print is bad...
Reconsider location. I wanted to spend more time talking to people, and less time shouting over Lady GaGa. I do love her music, but with a few hours to visit, I felt a bit cheated.
Please work on drawing more than the stoners, jocks, and cheerleaders. While I can appreciate the diversity of such a crowd, I felt NEARLY as invisible as back then, and I'm WAY cooler now. I submit as evidence, the fact that I am a blogger...

The good points:
I won a bottle of good wine as a door prize.
I was thanked for donating door prizes (not the wine).
I had dinner at a friend's restaurant - the food was really good, and the dessert was better. If you are ever in downtown, I highly recommend the Limoncello Tiramisu.
I didn't get drunk, and therefore had no hangover today.

The less than stellar points (not bad or good, just stuff):
I missed the Jimmy Buffett concert for this. Of course, the Buffet tickets were at least $120, and the reunion was less than $30, but still. I could have been exceptionally drunk and watching people in varying states of undress.
It rained, limiting access to the outdoor patio where the music wasn't deafening.
Many of the people I really wanted to see weren't there.

Feeling every inch ofthis song. Even though it is WAY before my time, we still danced to it at The Edge back in the 80's when Mod was in.

Thank-you to the Universe

On Monday I had a REALLY crappy day. All around BS from The Dude, work, parents at The Boys' school - you name it, it was all hitting the fan. I was angry as all hell, and ended up writing 10 pages of brain dump in my journal before bed. I woke up on Tuesday with a completely jacked up neck and shoulders and feeling like I hadn't released my anger from the day before. There was a bright spot during my day - having lunch with two good friends.
I awoke to one of my daily affirmations - you can sign up to receive these, and mostly they just make me refocus on happiness, and my long term goals, but occasionally one hits the nail so greatly on the head that it becomes an a-ha moment. The Oprah kind:

not the 80's pop band kind:


This was the message that greeted me from The Universe:
By the way, dear Jeannine, the world doesn't need fixing.

Neither do you.
And dreaming for more, bigger, and zippier, doesn't mean you can't be happy today.

Tallyho,
The Universe

Then I visited my friends around the Internet, Mark had an especially fitting post, which you can read here.
Well then - I suppose The Universe is really trying to tell me something. That I am unhappy in all of these things because I choose to be and/or, I am unhappy with myself for some of these things as well... Back to self reflection, navel gazing and over processing...

Oh and then today, this was put up - FINALLY a new post that made me truly laugh out loud AND cry with laughter. All this, AND Naked Jen is in town - I need to go eat with her and that involves Saturn Cafe and FLTs....  I'm drooling already!

Wicked Wednesday #6

Trying to continue my Wicked Wednesdays. I'm getting ready to attend my 25th High School Reunion this weekend, so another story from this time in my life.
Wicked Wednesdays all began with this post. I'll regale you with another night of drinking that went horribly, horribly wrong. If you are under the age of consent for wherever you live in the universe, take these as cautionary tales. If you are like me and have had your share of poor judgement moments, then we can laugh together. Yes that is a picture of me with a lampshade on my head, doing the shimmy. I will not be posting the names of my cohorts in these wanton ways, but for clarification, will identify them by an initial of their names.
In High School, one of the places I worked was Shoe Town, a shoe store in a strip mall between a luggage shop and a Rainbow Records. There was a store manager, an assistant store manager and about 5 workers. I was one of the youngest workers, and going through an Imelda Marcos phase of life, so it all worked out fine. My managers were young too - maybe 25? And as such were extremely understanding and helpful should I show up to work on a Saturday morning just a tad hung over. Through the manager, I met and had a crush on the manager from another store. He was really funny and sang karaoke. One night, he invited me to listen to his karaoke, so I hoped in my Mustang II (white with burgundy shag interior - a mini pimp car) and hauled myself out to Fremont. This is not a long drive by any means, but after ordering tequila sunrises (3), and not even being blinked at, I was feeling less able to drive myself anywhere. I didn't, but my not driving actually entailed having one of this guy's buddies drive my car, while I rode with the cute singer to another party in the South San Francisco/Burlingame area. I was drunk, and have no clue other than it wasn't too far from the San Mateo Bridge. I only passed out at the party (I think), and when I awoke at 3AM, I decided I should drive home. The San Mateo Bridge used to have a lighted center divide, and at no time were all the lights working. As a result, the skipping rhythm was nauseating to a bleary eyed teenager. I had to pull over for fresh air once I got back to this side of the bridge, and happily puked my guts out from the stress, alcohol, and acidic orange juice. I shakily and safely drove the rest of the way home, and never drank another tequila sunrise again.

Upon reflection I am grateful that this guy wasn't a scumbag, and didn't try to get laid, as I likely would have gone along with that plan. Hey, I was young, drunk and horny - don't judge...

Tableau Tuesday

Well, now I'm 2 for 2 - but I don't want to jinx it, so I will merely say, Please to enjoy:

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
All were taken over the last week, at walk to school day, and at Rock City.

Music Monday

The Boys were watching Shrek this weekend and I'd forgotten this song was in it. Hearing this reminded me of how much I love The Proclaimers:


I'm also putting together some door prizes for my High School reunion:, which brought up music memories:

And:


Had to love the 80's!

Wicked Wednesdays #5

It's been OVER a year since I posted a Wicked Wednesday, time to start again, I think. I'm getting ready to attend my 25th High School Reunion in a couple of weeks, and boy does THAT bring up some memories!
Wicked Wednesdays all began with this post. I'll regale you with another night of drinking that went horribly, horribly wrong. If you are under the age of consent for wherever you live in the universe, take these as cautionary tales. If you are like me and have had your share of poor judgement moments, then we can laugh together. Yes that is a picture of me with a lampshade on my head, doing the shimmy. I will not be posting the names of my cohorts in these wanton ways, but for clarification, will identify them by an initial of their names.
In High School I was a Band Buddy. This is likely why I adore Glee today, but I digress. We used to drink Mickey's Big Mouth and go ice blocking at Castlewood Country Club - upper course:

View Larger Map
Looks like kids are still doing this as the area we rode shows up brown in the satellite imaging (far left, middle of the image). OK, so, on this one night, S, R, C, K, maybe M, and I were all sitting under the trees, on the downhill slope, drinking and getting ready to ice block. I was the only Junior in the crowd, the rest were Seniors, and we were there because R lived very close by. When the security forces, or police showed up, we laid low on the hill, and the searchlights missed us, but we knew they'd be back. Deciding on a hasty retreat, we rode down the hill which banked into a cart road at the end. Because we were running from the law, we didn't return to the road, but beat it through the brush to R's house. I think that was also the night we all bleached our 501s, though given the frequency of the ice blocking it really could have been another night. I do recall it was a school night, and the next day, M, R, C, S and K were all in trouble because they all had poison oak and their parents knew who exactly had been ice blocking. I am immune to poison oak and claimed innocence until this very day ;-). I really wish those jeans still fit, and every time I hear this song I think of those times and smile:

And who remembers Marilyn McCoo and the Solid Gold Dancers?

Tableau Tuesday

Welcome back to Tableau Tuesdays - it's been a while, but now that we are in the school groove, I might actually be able to participate in my own weekly photo post, and maybe, just maybe, join back in with my other weekly photo challenges.
These were all taken on a field trip with The Boys last week to the Dublin Heritage Center:

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

And that final image is The Youngest being a bit of a pest to the camera. My kids are far too camera aware!

Music Monday

This song has been going through my head this weekend:


And because no one asked nor likely cares, here was the play list from my iPhone shuffle on Saturday while I did laundry:
Poker Face - Lady Gaga

Benny And The Jets - Elton John
Goin' Up - Great Big Sea
I'll Take You there - The Staple Singers
They Might Be Giants - They Might Be Giants

Pata Pata - Miriam Makeba
Brick House - The Commodores
Love and Luck - Jimmy Buffett
Here's Where The Story Ends - The Sundays

Stop! - Erasure
In My Life - Jake Shimabukuro
Life of a Sailor - Corsairs
Uptight - Stevie Wonder

The Wino and I Know - Jimmy Buffett
Shop Around - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Presents to Send You - Jimmy Buffett
Barflies at the Beach - Royal Crown Revue

Only You - Yaz
If I Can't Sell It, I'll Keep Sittin' On It - Women of Blue Chicago
Deadbeat Club - The B-52's
Superstition - Stevie Wonder

Dear Home Town - Great Big Sea
With a Little Help from My Friends - The Beatles
Blow Ye Winds - Corsairs
Dammit - Blink 182

In the Midnight Hour - The Commitments
You Keep It All In - The Beautiful South
Hallelujah, I Love Her So - Ray Charles
Goin' Up - Great Big Sea (Live Version)

Saved - LaVern Baker
Love child - The Supremes
Fallin' - Alicia Keys
Lady Madona - The Beatles

TheDark End of the Street - The Commitments
Jolly Roving Tar - Great Big Sea
Stories We Could Tell - Jimmy Buffett
Rum and Coca-Cola - Professor Longhair

Take It Back - Jimmy Buffett
Anybody Seen My Girl - Keb' Mo'
Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode
The One I Love - R.E.M.

Inside Out - Eve 6
My Baby Don't Tolerate - Lyle Lovett
The One I Love - R.E.M.

Slap and Tickle - Squeeze

Women and Men - They Might Be Giants
Bold Riley-O - Corsairs

This guy gets it

I've quoted him before, but you just need to go read this now.

And to anyone who is feeling like an outsider, I say this to you:
You are NOT alone. We, the outsiders welcome you with open arms, homes and hearts. It is in the edges and the fringes you will find yourself. You will find your way, your life, your love. I want to be there when you do. I want you to be here when you can shake your head about those stupid kids you went to school with, and their narrow minded little lives. And I want you to be here to forgive them. At some point you will forgive them because your heart can hold only love and light and laughter.

A joke from my dad

Told to me yesterday while discussing a wedding my folks attended, and my dad was seated next to the priest and claimed that you can only be yourself to a certain degree.

I've mentioned previously that my dad is taking after his Uncle Jack in the joke telling department (he also looks alot like Uncle Jack).

A man is playing golf and hits his ball into the woods, knocking a leprechaun out cold. When he finds the ball, he revives the leprechaun, makes sure he's OK, offers to take him to hospital, but the leprechaun says he's just fine, and because of the man's kindness he will grant the man three wishes. The man refuses the request saying he has no need for wishes, checks to make sure the leprechaun will be OK, and goes on his way.

The leprechaun decides to grant the man three wishes anyway, to be the best golfer in the world, to have more money than he would ever need, and to have the greatest sex possible.

One year goes by and the man is playing the PGA tour, on the same course and hits his ball into the woods. It lands near the leprechaun, and when the man arrives the leprechaun asks how his year has been. The man says, it's been wonderful. The leprechaun asks about his golf game, and the man tells him he has never played better. The leprechaun asks if he is doing well financially and the man replies that he has never been wealthier. The leprechaun asks how his sex life is going and the man replies that it is OK. The leprechaun is stunned and asks why it's just OK. The man replies that he's having sex two or three times a week. The leprechaun is incredulous, saying it should be every night, to which the man replies, "Well, two to three times a week isn't too bad for a priest in a small town."

Love you Dad!

Boys... ... Yet ANOTHER proud mom moment

As I write this it is only Tuesday, and already this week, there has been a call in the middle of the school day. From. The. Principal. About not just one of The Boys, oh, no... BOTH OF THEM...
Great.
Just. Great.

So, what was it this particular time?

It is alleged that my darling angels, the very boys who fill my days with laughter and sunshine (along with a friend) have been terrorizing the school by threatening to peek over the stalls in the bathroom at other kids. They have also been standing on the toilets and climbing over stall walls.  Evidently this has been happening for a while, but no names had been disclosed until yesterday when they actually did peek over the wall at someone. There have been multiple complaints from parents because their sons are afraid to use the bathroom, and coming home with stomach problems. The custodian has had to lock that bathroom because of the mess, which I can only assume looks something like this:

Their side of the story states that kids chase them into the bathroom, and when they are hiding in there, they stand on the toilets. There has also been admission that at least one of them has climbed the stall wall, but only to unlock the one that is locked. They have admitted to peeking over, but only to check if the stall was occupied.

I don't buy it. The Boys are on restriction from play dates and parties until Halloween. They have no screen time until the weekend. They had to each write a letter of apology to the custodian and the kid who was their victim. And that was just what came from The Dude and I. At school, they are helping the custodian clean up the playground and lunch room for every recess and lunch for at least this week. I recommended they make the kids scrub toilets, but I guess there is some health code or child labor law violation in that... This weekend they will have the privilege of scrubbing the grout in my bathroom. With a toothbrush.

I'm thinking of adding this sign (with the addition of the red circle and slash) to their rooms:

Add to this the fact that The Oldest has had a difficult transition into 4th grade, and the amount of homework he has nightly is ridiculous. I think this is mostly due to him not effectively using the time he is given in class, or making poor choices when he does get them. Last week we discovered that while he is given 20 minutes a day of silent reading time, he wasn't using that time to read the book he had for his weekly book report. He was reading lower level books instead. So on Wednesday and Thursday nights, he got to read two books and write two reports on those. He may have learned his lesson on that as he has already read this week's book, and written the report, leaving the rest of his reading time for fun books, like Captain Underpants. I'm sensing a theme here. this week is all about math homework (3 hours a night), plus piano and saxophone practice and reading. Today both boys were ill behaved toward me and had their bed times moved up 30 minutes.
SERENITY NOW!

The photos for this post were found via google search of images. Search strings = Footprints on toilet, and peeking over wall toilet.

Tableau Tuesday

Not much shooting (apart from documenting my room move), but this guy showed up in my house 2 nights in a row. On the first night, he was caught and released outside. On the second night I let him stay, and he found his own way out over night. He was a VERY bright green.

Music Monday - Weekend Wrap Up

This weekend was BUSY!!!
Friday I spent the entire school day finishing up the field trip shirts for this year. We gave the kids choices this year of the following:
Fish print
Octopus print
Spray on fabric paint with keys or pennies rubber banded into the shirt
Sun reactive dyes
Tie dye.

We have 4 art teachers, and we cranked though about 50 shirts each Friday. I had one mom each Friday morning to get the Kindies shirts done. We didn't give them much choice - didn't want to overwhelm them. All of the shirts turned out completely AWESOME, and mine has a fish print on the front, an octopus print on the back, and tie dye around the edges.

All the moms were fried, so I offered up my home for the Happy Hour Playdate. had martinis and popcorn and got to catch up with friends. Friday was also my nephew's 13th birthday, and Sis had a dinner for him. I kicked my friends out and we headed over to Sis'. My folks were there, and the dinner was delicious, and my nephews are hysterically funny, and getting funnier every passing moment. We played wii and billiards and table tennis, and had fun. The Dude didn't stay - he had a soccer game to play. By the time we got home I was starting to feel a bit out of sorts and went directly to bed.

Saturday morning brought drizzling rain, and doubts about whether The Youngest's soccer game would be cancelled. It wasn't, and we got to sit in the alternating drizzle and bright sunshine until about 10:30 in the morning. Following the game, both Boys went to a friend's birthday party and played mini golf, lazer tag and video games. I took a small drive to the local airport to just have some alone time. I ended up wishing I'd brought my walking shoes and my camera, but I still enjoyed my time. Of course The boys did not want to leave when I picked them up, but they actually did fairly well. Once home, I cut and squeezed a bunch of lemons and we made lemonade. While running the peels through the disposal, it broke loose from the under sink pipes (which are cartoon ridiculous in their construction), and The Dude and I got in a heated argument over the fact that I insist on continuing to try to use the machines in our house for their intended purpose. I like my garbage disposal to dispose of garbage, my dish washer to wash dishes, and my clothes dryer to dry clothes. I think it isn't too much to ask of these items to do what they are designed specifically to do. The Dude disagrees and thinks I should take any item that I can pick up, and throw it in the trash (even though food scraps go in the green bin). He also thinks it acceptable that the front panel is off the dishwasher, and the dryer actaull works as intended, so no issues there (knock on wood). The rest of the evening passed quietly.

Sunday I was feeling like I needed to DO something. While The Dude played soccer and between loads of laundry, I started back in on The Boys' rooms. I got all of the boxes out of the office/playroom and finished taking down the bookshelves. Swept and mopped and while The Dud was holding an open house, my Mother-in-law came over to help. We got all of the furniture moved around, and The Oldest's room is pretty much done. I still need a night light for him and a hamper for The Youngest, but you can see the progression below:

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

And of course, no Music Monday would be complete without a song that popped up in my shuffle while working on The Boys' rooms, and stuck with me the rest of the day and evening.

OMG, this is F*cking FANTASTIC

I seriously laughed so hard at this post (found via Blogs of Note), that I was crying and in need of incontinence products.
GO. HERE. NOW!
Hyperbole and a Half

Come back later, when you've recovered.

I'm in Love with Betty Bowers!

Thanks to Jayne, I am now in love with Bett Bowers!

Been gone too long

Have been without consistent internet connection since the first of September. Still spotty, but thought I should at least drop a note to let everyone know I hadn't fallen off the earth ;-)

Music Monday - NSFW

OK, this was on my Monday a while ago, and I still am singing this song in my head - I think it's the hook, and the Gospel singers - Love them! The official video dropped last week, and it's really great - see for yourself:

Of Couse that led me to a similarly titled song that I was singing to myself when it came out:

And yes, I know this is not the official video - but damn, I like this version Soooooo much more!

Happy Monday All!

Thoughtful Thursday

Take a Moment - Right now, and send a prayer, a good vibe, or healing, helpful and loving energy. My heartfelt hopes for good health to you and everyone.

People on my list this week:
Audrey (US) - Has to figure out a new treatment option - which chemo? Eeney, Meanie, Miney, Moe...
Audrey (CN) - Hasn't posted on her blog in a couple of days, so hoping she's ok.
Hanan - Still managing her cancer.
For the people in my life harboring so much anger that it will start to kill them - I hope that they are able to process and recognize it for what it is, and then let it go so that it doesn't damage all of our lives.
Everyone who is stressed out - My hope is for all of us, maybe just for a moment, to take a deep breath and relax.

May good health always be yours.

J9

Tableau Tuesday and Life gets in the way

This week is no exception. I have a Tableau Tuesday, and may even get to it tonight - after the kids go to bed, after putting in more non-paid overtime to do my actual work because this was my calendar:

But more importantly, here are my pics from the week:
Long lost and recently found cousins:

 

A cool shadow I caught on a walk last week:

 Have a good week!
J9

Thoughtful Thursday - Let's help out our family members

Take a Moment - Right now, and send a prayer, a good vibe, or healing, helpful and loving energy. My heartfelt hopes for good health to you and everyone.

I have this bumper sticker on my car:

You can read about it here.

So my thoughts today are on helping the members of our human family. injaynesworld has a guest blogger today, living in Pakistan and talking about the flood. I have added a couple of buttons on my side bar as well. Go and help any way you can.

Love and Good health to you!

First Day of School and random thoughts.

OK, today is the first day of school - please to enjoy:


Given that the summer started like this, it's been an entire summer of me mostly looking forward to the return of fall. Of course, this was also one of he coldest summers I can remember, and yesterday it decided to get hot - 101 to be exact. I knew this was going to be the year that Halloween is over 100, and of course The Boys will want to be something heavily clothed and furry - a Wookie maybe? In the years where it is 50 degrees on Halloween, they want to be Michael Phelps...

Two days ago, in an apparent olive branch gesture, and a complete 180 from the 2nd day of summer break, The Boys got themselves up, and made themselves breakfast, cleared their dishes, brushed their teeth and got dressed. I was so stunned at the thoughtfulness of this simple act, that I thought I'd woken up in a parallel universe.

On to the random thoughts in my brain. A blog I follow had the most famous image of the effects of Minamata disease, and not knowing what that even was I looked it up here. One of the paragraphs that struck me was:
"When the first cases were reported and subsequently suppressed, the rights of the victims were not recognised, and they were given no compensation. Instead, the afflicted were ostracised from their community due to ignorance about the disease, as people were afraid that it was contagious."

If you keep this in mind for the next generations of the Gulf Coast of he U.S. you would do well. For although we do now know the effect of petrochemicals on humans and other living things, the company responsible is denying that there will be lasting impact, and has minimized the damage all along.
 
I was also reading Esquire this morning and contemplating the 11 people who lost their lives, and the article chronicling their lives so that we do not forget the first 11 to die from this disaster.
 
All this to say that you should celebrate your family while you can and not believe people who will only make more money by lying to your face.
 
Happy Tuesday all!

Music Monday - I feel like dancing NSFW

These both were making me smile over the weekend. Oh and neither is particularly safe for work.

First up the new Scissor Sisters:


And last but not least, new from CeeLoGreen:


Happy Monday all!!!

My Town Shoot Out - I know what I am

The update is that I photographed this a while back, and you can see that post here.

This is the ceiling inside the Sunol Water Temple designed by Willis Polk, and a place I'd been to on and off during my childhood. I need to take another trip out here and soon!

Cool concept from Lena of Spirits of Lena.


Here's mine:


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From J9 and stuff

Check out the other participants here and here.

Thoughtful Thursday - 2 days late

Take a Moment - Right now, and send a prayer, a good vibe, or healing, helpful and loving energy. My heartfelt hopes for good health to you and everyone.

This is my list for today, so if you are reading, send a positive thought or prayer for these people - they could really use it. Updates are at the end, with gratitude for your help!

Audrey (CN) - She is staring another round of chemo, and has lost some hair, but not her sense of humor.
Jacob - a nearly 2 year old who's family is dealing as best they can with his recent diagnosis of Leigh Syndrome.
Hanan - Her cancer is not treatable, so it is being managed. It's in her spine and she is enjoying her time with her family now, while she can

May good health always be your's,

J9

My Town Shoot Out - What Am I?

Cool concept from Lena of Spirits of Lena.
Here's mine:

From J9 and stuff

Long time readers may be able to identify...
Answer coming on Sunday.
Check out the other participants here and here.

Happy Weekend all!

Well Hello Dolly

Ran across this at around 11:30 last night and stayed up to watch it all. Mostly because I LOVE LOVE LOVE this song, the dancers, the singing, the feeling - ALL of it!!!!!!


Secondarily, I ADORE this number - it makes me laugh and giggle like crazy! I know. I'm usually a cynical bitch, but I swear that this morning I was clapping like a 2 year-old on Christmas morning!


AWonderful, Wonderful Wednesday to you all. I will be registering The Boys for school and paying all the lovely fees :-). Also, I'm working on a frugality update, hopefully this week.

Tableau Tuesday - Nevada City

It's been a while since I've posted photos, so I thought I'd process the Nevada City ones from last weekend. I was playing with color, contrast, saturation - just having some fun:


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Happy Tuesday all!

Another new follower! And my choice for Music Monday

As a welcome to my newest follower, I am including a new song from KT Tunstall, of whom The dude is a fan:

Happy Monday all!

I want to be like her

Quick witted, honest, and thinking on her feet, even with a mic and camera in her face - this woman is my newest hero:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Hey I have a new follower!

I don't often mention this because there are really so few of you, and I generally gain and lose a couple over the course of a year, but I do notice, and I do go to your blogs (If I am not already following you). I generally believe you all follow me because I either know you IRL, or am following your blog. When a new follower pops up (and I notice), I visit the person's blog(s). So my new follower posted this image on a blog, and I loved it because this is a pet peeve of mine:

This is such a pet peeve that every time one of The Boys or their friends or classmates uses this term, I ask for clarification.

Example:
The Oldest: Mom, there was like this great thing at school today!
J9: So, it wasn't actually a great thing, it was only something that was similar to a great thing? Or was it not really great and just a good thing?

This drives each one of them crazy, and causes them to not say "like" inappropriately.

Take This Job and SHOVE IT

So, I'd debated on whether to weigh in on the Steven Slater story that has been making the news cycle, and then I decided that I can't let this slip by. This is mostly because I am constantly assaulted by the story every where I turn. On second thought, maybe I should re-examine where I'm turning. That's a post for another day.
If you are under a rock and this is your only outlet to the world, get a life, and search the story yourself. Too lazy to do that? You can see the essentials on this:



This version made me laugh. Yes, Out Loud.

So he is being heralded as a hero by every service worker everywhere, while the bougie elite can't understand what his problem is. I'm sure the right wing nuts will spin it into a bitchy queen story, and some b.s. about how this is what we face if we allow gays to marry. nice. try.

For me, this just verifies my theory that a sense of entitlement is dividing this country. I see it all the time. The person who thinks that whatever is going on in his/her life is far more important than you, your safety, your happiness, even your life. Compassion is thrown out the emergency exit, sans slide. I teach The Boys empathy and compassion, and people chastise me, telling me I'm turning them into doormats / future victims for a competitive world. I think these people have lost their moral compass (or it's going in circles).

If there is anything this world needs, it's compassion for our fellow inhabitants, not derision. I often find myself repeating that the people who do inconsiderate things must not have the presence of mind to do otherwise. Maybe they are going through a tough time of life, and I don't take it personally. But it really makes me wonder if there is a larger force at work when I encounter SO much of this.

Examples:
I am THE only person to wait for people exiting an elevator, while people who are BEHIND me are pushing past me, and running into the people exiting.
I am at a store and the person in front of me abandons her cart, while it is still between me and the register. I move it aside, and start unloading my cart. After she has been rung up, she pulls it back to where it was BLOCKING my route to the register, and then walks out.
I am walking in a cross walk, WITH the light, and a person drives in front of me by about a foot, across the cross walk to turn into a parking lot.
I am in line at the theater and a person walks up and stands right in front of me. After I point out where the end of the line is, the person just looks at me like I've grown another head, and STAYS in line. Did I mention talking on the phone the whole time?
I am assigning work to a TEMP at the office, and she tells me that she will not put together these binders because that's BELOW her.
I am working in a nature / science store and a small child knocks over a delicate glass piece shattering it. She goes to pick it up, and as I am telling her not to do so (because I don't want her to cut herself on the glass), her mother says, "Don't you touch that glass. That's what she's here for." in reference to me, and said with such disgust it was frightening.

I cannot possibly blame Steven for doing what he did - completely understandable. It could have perhaps been handled a bit better, but certainly not with more style.

For the 70's version of this story: