Serena's 24/7

Time to Head Up North Again....

2011-12-14T12:54:00.003-05:00

I literally blinked and it's full-on Christmas Season 2011. We're half-way thru the Advent Season and I didn't exercise, I didn't cut-back, I didn't create poor Toots that BABY BOOK that her siblings both have and that she doesn't. I didn't get to do a lot of things that I said I'd do this fall.

The sixteen weeks that made up the fabulous fall semester 2011--flew right on by and didn't pause for a second. I'm sitting pretty regarding the Holidays. Presents are mostly shopped for and WRAPPED. Christmas Cards were sent the week after Thanksgiving. Teacher gifts have been distributed. House is 99.9999% decorated. No panic or frantic this year.

This fall there were 2 trips to Chattanooga....and a kickin' weekend in NYC with Bit-Baum. There have been POD visits home, birthdays, and faced-paced-living. We've experienced Broadway shows, a Comedy show and a Country singer show. We've had a lot of laughs. The PODS thrived.

Now it is time to journey North once again. By car, it is 512 miles door to door. Time to gather up the Bit and all her worldly belongings and bring her home. Baby Girl has had a season of GROWTH. She has flapped those proverbial wings. Reentry might be ROUGH.

She'll return more confident and assured than the previously, FEARLESS Woman Warrior that left. We have three semesters left....her and me. There is much to be Thankful for...

Toots and I will start our journey tomorrow...slowly heading into Philadelphia to see Weenie and her sister, Ursula. They want to go to The Olive Garden for lunch. So, to The Olive Garden, we shall go! Then we'll depart and still go further North until we hit Seacaucus, NJ...the site of the Meadowland Stadium, the New York Giants and our very own Embassy Suites. Friday, we'll go to Dobbs Ferry, NY, home of the Master's School and the program called, CITYterm....and fetch the Bit, pack the car up and head back to our hotel next to the stadium.

We'll venture into the CITY...for just 2 more days. We'll see a Broadway show, the glitzy Rockettes, the Rockefeller tree, Central Park, Irene, Fao Schwarz, and we'll have tea at The Plaza. So much to do, so little time. A first time experience for Toots. We plan on stopping in Wilmington, Delaware, to see Juan Don and Sachi. Hug their necks, have a meal? Then it'll be home again, home again, jiggly jig.

Bo will already be home. The HOLIDAYS will officially begin for us. Life is goodly good.

The Relaxing Autumn that Hasn't Begun, yet?

2011-09-13T10:00:00.003-04:00

Today is September 13. I always think of my first real boyfriend today because it's his birthday. It doesn't mean anything other than the fact that I have sweet memories of a nice kid. I resist the urge of sending him a BIRTHDAY email because it is creepy and stalker-ish--but in heaven, I hope we're buddies.

A lot has happened since we dropped our son off at his boarding school in Tennessee and I dropped off our daughter at her semester program in NYC. I haven't even had the time to blog about the Road-Trip-to-the-Big-City, moving BIT into her dorm with a boat load of stuff and no AC, seeing Weenie in PHILLY....however, don't worry- BIT HAS HER OWN BLOG...click here: Bit's Blog. She is doing a great job of documenting her adventure of doing CITYterm this fall.

The first week after dropping off Bit, in Dobbs Ferry, NY, I spent the customary 15++hours planning the Girl Scout year ahead of us. This is the sixth year of my being a leader. I am the ADMIN Leader for Troop #1592. I usually take at least 20 hours, on our beach vacation each August to plan the upcoming year--but August was crazy this year, there was no beach vacation, and I did no planning. Our girls are second year JUNIORS (they wear green, still) and they're in the process of earning their BRONZE AWARDS. The pre-cursor award to Silver Award and then the Gold Award. Think Eagle Scout. Think College applications.

I also went back to my PHYSICIAN that first week of NO Bit and Bo. I had the same doctor from ages 21 to 42, whom I loved. Then about 3 years ago, he went to a new program called MDVIP, where they ask you to pay what I consider BIG MOOLA up front, just to be his patient. On his end, he only takes 600 patients, as opposed to 2000, and you get all sorts of great care and his personal cell number for 24/7 care. In other words, my doc is my bitch. Sorry to be crude, but that is what comes to mind. Anyhow, I decided back at age 42 that I was too healthy and I didn't want to pay $1500 a year to have 24/7 access to this doctor that I loved.

Please FLASH FORWARD three years as I return with my tail tucked between my legs, after doing all sorts of dumb things medically and having a TERRIBLE doctor at Duke. Quite possibly having an unnecessary Gall Bladder removal surgery because I was on the quest for the elusive Lap-Band that BCBSNC denied me. I quit therapy cold turkey. I was taking no meds whatsoever. I had needed an upper GI earlier this spring....because blood and guts fill my eyeballs with acid reflux. Ok, ok....I went back to see JEFF.

During my 2 HOUR initial physical, you read that correctly, we determined four immediate issues. 1. I have sustained hearing loss. This came as NO surprise. 2. I am approaching the need for real eye care. The days of using CVS reader glasses are coming to an end because my eyes have deteriorated so fast that I'm approaching 2.5 strength readers and will max out. 3. I need to take my GUT MEDS for a minimum of 60 days. No BS--he said take your medicine. I said, "ok." and 4. It is official--I am ADHD.

No surprise. None at all.

So, I get to take speed. I'm grateful for the little jolt each day. I don't take depression meds or anxiety meds. The speed makes me zippy--I'm only on week 2, so I'm trying to decide if it helps me focus. I'm still a hermit in my cave but it is crushing my hunger and I am getting things done slowly but surely. Bo is MILDLY ADHD and gets to take fab meds to concentrate. Toots is BONAFIDE ADHD. Toots made me a believer. Bear said there was no such thing and I was to never give any of them drugs. So the jury is out on me....I guess I am? But really, I've been this way my whole life--I have strategies that are the fiber of who I am, to deal with how my brain rolls.

I had grandiose visions of organizing my home office, getting my pictures in scrapbooks, BLOGGING constantly, sorting out stuff for goodwill and consignment, converting our PC Quicken to MAC Quicken, EXERCISING and loosing weight, and cooking heart healthy meals. Not so much.

So, I'm waiting for that relaxing cool autumn to enter my reality. I think I'm investing well in Toot's life. She is thoroughly enjoying being the only child. As she knew she would. I take her to her writing skills tutor twice a week for an hour (you thought I was kidding in the camp postcard entry?), I take her to dance, swimming and a weekly riding lesson. We eats TONS of chinese take out and pizza. Yuck. I've forgotten how to use my kitchen AND I certainly don't know how to cook for 2.25 people. 2 of which are on ADHD meds and aren't hungry on weekdays.

This weekend marks Bo being gone a MONTH. On Friday, we'll get up very early and head to Chattanooga for Parent's Weekend activities. #ohboy (that is trending. i trend now. it seems i might begin trending on my blog, too?) I miss my boy. He seems to be thriving. He made the McCallie Crew team. There weren't supposed to be cuts but 45 boys went out for CREW and they cut had to cut 28, BO made it. whew. Bo trained this summer with a trainer for crew. I'm glad those weren't wasted dollars. I think he is really enjoying his classes and has made a friend or two. The roommate stuff hasn't launched well at all....the McCallie adults have recently become involved, so I'm hoping to hear of improvement in that one area.

I'm glad Autumn is upon us. Toots and I have brought down PUMPKIN schla decorations from the attic. I'm ready for the relaxing part to begin.

Camp Merri-Mac 2011

2011-08-30T12:58:00.000-04:00

Jesus Calling

2011-08-23T13:33:00.002-04:00

From Jesus Calling Devotional by Sarah Young:

Entrust your loved ones to Me; release them into My protective care. They are much safer with Me than in your clinging hands. If you let a loved one become an idol in your heart, you endanger that one-as well as yourself. Remember the extreme measures I used with Abraham and Isaac. I took Isaac to the very point of death to free Abraham from son-worship. Both Abraham and Isaac suffered terribly because of the father's undisciplined emotions. I detest idolatry, even in the form of parental love.

When you release loved ones to Me, you are free to cling to My hand. As you entrust others into My care, I am free to shower blessings on them. My Presence will go with them wherever they go, and I will give them rest. This same Presence stays with you, as you relax and place your trust in Me. Watch to see what I do.

amen.

{shared with me today from an old, dear friend. resonates with my heart and soul}

A Dorm Room at McCallie

2011-08-22T15:22:00.001-04:00

Moving into McCallie. What a weekend. Intense Freshman Orientation. Done very well. One side of a room, on a hallway, in a gazillion dollar state-of-the-art dorm. The Patriots are being supported in Chattanooga.

Tried to think of everything. But there are still little things that come up.... and one needs to shop. Still on the whole, I did pretty good.

Signing up for classes. Hiding. Countdown till we leave him. No words can be written to describe the countdown or driving away. 446 miles.

My great big paci-boy. Boy to Man in the span of a car ride home.

I never post ghastly pictures that reveal me. ewwww. Saying goodbye. These pix were all taken on a camera phone. I didn't even bring a camera to this 48 hour event. I forgot it at home. Burke was the photographer.

The night before we left him. At the hotel. Me and my mostly, Bo.

Mornings

2011-08-21T14:50:00.006-04:00

Before now, I have never spoken of a daily behavior that I've been doing for as long as I can remember.

It seems that when I first begin to gain consciousness each morning, while lying in bed with my eyes sealed shut, I'm still very much in and out of consciousness, when I'm slowly trying to determine how full my bladder is and whether I can continue to lie in bed or make the dreaded shuffle to the loo... the first worldly concepts that I focus on are: Where am I? What day of the week is it? And then I immediately determine if all 3 of my pods are in their beds down the hall? Every single morning, without fail, are our children in their beds?

This might be a curious thing to focus on for some, but in my world, my brain immediately shifts to where are Bit, Bo and Toots? Are they here? If they aren't here, where are they? Because lets face it, there are a lot of comings and goings with children the age of mine.

Obviously, during the school year, when I realize that it is Thursday, I remember that it is a school day and I know they are in their beds. So my mind then immediately thinks, "Glory be, what time is it?" and "How long till they're tardy?"

This entire process takes but a moment, but it happens every day. Every single day.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We took our son to a boarding school this week. Burke and I drove Bo to Chattanooga, Tennessee, this past Thursday. Bo is starting a new life in a new school. He is going to the McCallie School. We are so proud of him and his decision to go away to school. Bo and 52 other young men comprise the freshman boarding students, in a class of 161 freshman that make up the McCallie class of 2015. We went through a very organized but intense process, by which our son was moved into a beautiful freshman dormitory, registered for classes, planned for his future and then we respectfully took our leave and drove the 446 miles home. As we went through the process we had our decision confirmed over and over again. Bo is where he should be. Bo is on his path to adulthood and I won't be a daily bystander. And it is ok. It is good. It is a God thing.

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I woke up today. I knew I had to pee. I remembered it was Sunday. I wondered what time it was because I felt like I'd been hit by a mack truck. I remembered driving all day yesterday. I remembered dreaming about Spence. My mind turned to counting pods. Bit is here. Toots is here. Bo isn't. Bo isn't going to be here. Wait, a minute, Bo is missing. No, this can't be. I can't account for him at this very moment.

Burke is beside me. I say aloud, "Spence is missing." I think, "oh God, Spence is far away." I am fearful. I want to cry. I wish this wasn't happening. The enemy loves to get me with fear.

Burke replies, "He's not missing. He's just not here. He's in a great place."

My new reality began today. I won't be able to make a daily morning accounting of Bo. My feet will hit the floor each day and I won't know that he is safe and warm and needs to get up and get going. I knew I would blog about Spence's leaving, and his new life. I thought it would be a few pictures of our journey there or a pithy, upbeat entry that was hopeful and happy.

My mornings will be different from now on.

I am going to have to trust in a Heavenly Father that I'm a little untrusting of. I suppose that I'm going to be forced to grow up, to grow in Faith, and to rely on God to protect something that I cherish. My track record isn't so good with desiring a loving relationship with Him. I know this life choice is for me too. I will be grateful. I am grateful.

My mornings will be different from now on.

A Month of Holly

2011-08-15T18:04:00.003-04:00

This SUMMER good ole' Toots went to overnight camp in the heart of the western North Carolina mountains for 28 days. Camp Merri-Mac located in Black Mountain, NC. This was the most highly anticipated event on her yearly calendar.

As I had done last year, I prepared her "camper correspondence" ahead of time, so that contacting her family would be within the realm of possibilities. Last year, I dreamed BIG and copied my friend, Amy's idea and had cute stationary printed up with Holly's name and camp address on note card and prepared the envelopes for the countless letters that she would be writing. ha.

I got smart this year and printed POSTCARDS. Again, totally stealing my friend, Amy's postcard idea for her girls for summer camp 2011. Toots and I made a deal...if she wrote me 3 postcards a week for four weeks, I would take her to Costco and buy her this GINORMOUS STUFFED TEDDY BEAR...that I really, really, really, really, really didn't want to buy or have it come live in my house and in her room. I want to be clear on my feelings towards this BEAR. Too damn big. Toots had 40 postcards stamped and ready for action. 12 for me. 28 for various friends and family. The race for the BEAR was on.....

Before I begin--I would like to point out that these A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E. postcards were designed by Laura Spence, as in Boom, my creative genius, sister-in-law. Merri-Mac divides the girls into 3 INDIAN TRIBES: Choctaw, Iroquois, and Seminoles. Each sporting their own colors, songs, cheers, chants, CLOTHING, and accessories. Toots is a Seminole. Their colors are navy and gold, but the gold looks more yellow to me at times. We weren't able to get the navy and gold but we did get blue and yellow. The motto "Not Words, But Actions," speaks for itself.

On the backside of said postcard--we have the Seminole Crest and Holly's camp address.

Note: From my Bunk at Merri-Mac

I.LOVE.THESE.POSTCARDS.SO.MUCH. THANK YOU BOOM.

When Holly whipped these adorable postcards out of her trunk--her counselors thought they were the BOMB. As she says in her first postcard, "they think my postcards are like GOLD or something."

Off to a good start. Postcard on Day One. Surpasses any dream from last summer.

Notice that she is a 15 word and done type of postcard writer.

Again--the 15-16 word range. But the addition of color.

At this point, MY DAILY EMAILS that I scribe to her that are newsy and rather longish epistle types of ditties...begin to say: WRITE ME MORE WORDS and tell me what is going on, please.

Must've been a rainy day at camp. See water stains. However, I learn that she has a nickname and that she prances around her cabin like Bambi. Stellar.

In this postcard she is directly answering questions from my daily emails.

Session one ended. Session two began. Toots's 3 school friends--LEAVE Camp. Out of a cabin of 20 girls--17 leave and 3 remain as MONTHERS. Please note: Toots referenced the campers as going into "histarics" (hysterics) I am blown away by vocabulary. I am also enrolling her in after school writing technique tutoring this fall. omg.

"tray-po" is TRADING POST. The DAILY onslaught of sugar that they buy after rest period. Toots lived for tray-po. Pictures taken at camp often showed her consuming large quantities of skittles, sodas and candy. NICE.

She switched things up with this one. Scribbled out my name and wrote BURKE. love it. I think Burke wrote her one email. Hmph.

They were a messy group of girls both sessions. They lost tray-po often. Poor Toots.

You are going to have to take my word for it that I got 2 more postcards. I'm showing 10 but I got 12. I can't seem to find them as I write this and even if I did my scanner is giving me fits and won't scan onto my Mac. Only my PC and that is cheesing me off greatly.

Toots ended up sending 42 postcards. She managed 2 more mystery postcards with postage and addresses. I was impressed.

Guess What? Somebody got to go to COSTCO. Somebody got to pick out the world's biggest bear in the GALAXY. Groan.

Big dumb Bear.

See what I'm talking about?

They deserve each other. Until I yard sale it or give it to Goodwill when she's not looking.

I'm looking forward to next year's postcards. I truly enjoyed my month of Toot's postcards. And from the mobile snapshots of postcards that people sent me, it seems the other 28 postcard recipients enjoyed their's too.

Spence is HIGH SCHOOL Bound--Hooray!

2011-05-27T11:45:00.001-04:00

Please someone stop and tell me how this adorable little boy--that loved "lell-o" (yellow), his smiley face pin, who had significant speech language issues, that was the most precious little boy that I had ever encountered.... grew up and became this young man. Make it stop. I can't bear it.

Bo. And Big Bird.

Paci-boy

Seriously, he doesn't have a neck. I put him turtlenecks everyday. Bold primary colored turtles.

He has slayed me every day of his life.

Spence and Kym Gardener, his 8th grade Academic Dean. Someone who was kind.

Spencer Dicks--8th grade history. Fine teacher. Super hard. A baby himself.

Andrew Needham-Latin. Another dear teacher. Thank you for teaching my buddy. Another young one.

Middle school hasn't been what I'd hoped it would be for Bo at Trinity School. He derailed early and the school didn't succeed in doing their part to get it back on track. It sucked and then some.

We're looking forward to a new start in a fine school.

The McCallie School in Chattanooga, TN.

I'm praying that Spence finds one true, loyal and faithful friend. One that totally gets him. One that he can trust, where he can just be himself. So many adults get Bo. Suffering builds character. We're not there yet, but someday he will be a man of great character.

I adore you , son. You are my pumpkin man.

{all time favorite picture taken at Red Parker's Pumpkin Patch.}

Davis Culton and Spence Hutcheson: 8th Grade Graduation -- May 2011

Davis and Spence @ Top of the Hill in downtown Chapel Hill. August 2011

Dear ____________,

2011-03-18T13:48:00.002-04:00

Dear Almost-17-year-old,

Your room is vile. You've stolen all my laundry baskets. Don't ask me for s#&t.

Love,

Your Jailer

Dear Bratty-Children-that-Just-Went-to-Mexico,

We've been home 5 days. Girls, thanks for not taking your luggage to the attic and leaving it in the hall for me to trip over and break my ankle. Son, thanks for dogging-me-out and pretending you had actually trekked up-the-stairs to the third floor, when in reality you'd opened the attic door and just tossed it in there. Remind me again, why was it that I saved your a$$es and took you somewhere warm and tropical?

Love and Kisses,

Footloose and Fancy Free Traveling sans Ninos Mamacita

Dear Intestinal Mexican Parasite,

Why did you claim me at Las Islas Mujeres? What did I ever do to you?
Please leave me, never to return.

Always,

Mamacita-with-No-Bowels-In-Tact

Post Spring Break Reality Has Hit.

Hello 2011....

2011-02-15T17:33:00.012-05:00

I need to Blog. Dieting always makes me come back to my Blog. What else am I going to do when they are eating OR when I want (need) a cocktail? Hmmm? Like I said, time to Blog.

Now I face the ginormous task of figuring out how, pratell, I can update five months into one concise Blog entry? Lets see, what has happened since the end of September? I turned 44, Toots turned 10, Bo and I traveled to Chattanooga, TN, in November, to tour McCallie, a prep school, that we might consider for high school and we saw Gnochi and her family. We vacationed in Orlando for Thanksgiving--loved Sea World--not so much Universal Studios, Christmas was pleasant and uneventful, really liked my Christmas Card and circular (banner year), Bo turned 14, and New Year's Eve happened.... weeeeee.

January blew in with SNOW and Winterim for the BIT @ Trinity School, the older two PODS have been working out 5 days a week since mid-November at ActiveEdge (fitness place), I'm still a leaderee of a Girl Scout troop, I take TOOTS to fencing more than once a week, my two youngest kids cause me to waste money on them for piano lessons, BIT teaches a tiny kindergartener violin pupil (she is VERY squeaky and doesn't seem to be improving), B-Daddy and I joined our local Young Life committee and BIT got selected to go work on Young Life Work Crew this summer at Frontier Ranch, in Colorado.

BIT applied to CITYterm, in Dobbs Ferry, NY, for a semester program for the fall of 2011. We won't hear if she gets in until April. I think it would be a GREAT, GLORIOUS thing for BIT to go learn NYC-backwards and forward. Bo was accepted to the McCallie Schoo l for the fall of 2011 and I seriously need a job. I had a upper GI tube procedure thingy at Duke (not fun) and I have reflux and other problems. I need to loose weight to get my teeensy tiiiiiiiiny sri lanken miniscule Doctor off my back. Started that about 10 days ago. BIT is on day 17ish of Nutri System and doing a bang-up job! BIT is what inspired begin this weight loss effort...that and a trip to the doctor. I booked a "booze cruiseish" type spring break vacay without the cruise, on a whim, this past Saturday, for me and the PODS and we're not taking B-Daddy. He is uninvited from vacations until further notice. We're going to Cancun, Mexico, and I plan to drink many all-inclusive margaritas. whew. Those are the highlights anyway.

I also forgot to mention--I'm blind...and cheat blindness with my Costco READERS and use them all-day-long and I'm also kind of hard of hearing, too. shit. I still loathe Bo's MIDDLE SCHOOL experience--even though this year has been better than the last two. I think? I'm counting the days till Bo is in high school, wherever that is? Did I mention that we are in the process of delivering 250 boxes of GIRL SCOUT cookies? Toots got her Cookie Diva Pin for the third straight year. It should be my Cookie Diva pin. Not one cookie has passed through my lips.

So, I restarted Medifas t...I know that the diet works....takes me off the HOOCH though....but you loose, loose, loose when you do it right. I'm down 9 pounds today. I felt inspired and I cleaned out my closet....gone are all sizes. The rules of the clean-out were this: do you hate it? will you wear it ever? will you wear it fat or thin? does it make you sick to look at it? GONE. Very liberating. I have PILES and PILES of clothes in the upstairs hallway that are waiting to be bagged for Goodwill.

Feeling that I'm on the road to getting my SWAG back....yeah.

Valentines 2011

2011-02-14T12:00:00.002-05:00

I truly hope Toots never stops drawing. I love her art. I love the details. I love Toots. She made a similar picture like this for her teacher, Mrs. Davis. I saw it scotch taped to her desk. I secretly coveted it, too. I hinted around that I might need to scan it. It still is taped to the desk. Valentines is a holiday created by Hallmark--but enjoyed by all the Hutchies. A holiday for the schmalzy.

Happy Valentine's Day 2011

Stolen from Another Blog....

2010-09-27T10:05:00.002-04:00

Ames sent me an email with a link to a blog this morning..... I heisted this right off the blog... it is just the verbage I needed to READ and meditate on today.

Tomorrow Bear will be gone 5 years--it was a gorgeous day. It is raining today---long anticipated rain. I hope it rains all day tomorrow. I'm missing Sisty so much lately. I guess I didn't realize the comfort I had in just knowing that I could pick up the phone and hear her voice. I miss her warm, encouraging voice. The last one that knew everything. David doesn't know me. Eddie didn't know me. Tommy doesn't count--too bad on that count. Lena is so old, weary and tired...it is just different.

Eddie's departure has had very little impact on my life. It is just weird to be orphaned officially. It isn't anything new. I'm ready for October. I always am. I have a tiny baby girl that is equally as ready. I'm holding my breath.

Someone loves you

Someone sees...

when you're weary,

when you bite your tongue,

when you do that right thing that no one may ever notice.

Someone knows...

when you push through that wall,

when you shed that tear,

when you make it through another day and you're still okay.

Someone cares...

when you feel lonely,

when you're really happy,

when life's good, and hard and everything in-between.

Yes, He sees, knows, cares

and, in the middle of it all, declares--

"You're valuable.

You're mine.

You're LOVED."

Meeting Mayor Bell

2010-09-21T19:45:00.000-04:00

What a DIFFERENCE a YEAR can MAKE!

Spence logged in 105+ hours of Community Cervice during the Summer of 2010

Jenna logged in 120+ hours of Community Service during the Summer of 2010

Proud of the PODLINGS. They are dear podlings--I'm glad they are mine.

Correspondance from A Nine Year Old Girl

2010-08-09T12:00:00.014-04:00

You really need to know Toots to gain full appreciation of what it is like to receive mail from her. This has been the LARGEST and MOST FABULOUS summer that Toots has ever known. She went to Montana with her father in June, to have a Daddy/Daughter trip and see some very good friends. They got their NATURE on in a BIG MONTANA SKY KIND OF WAY. We've done a trip with each of the pods as they've turned 10....and Toots and Burke went to Montana.

AND...Toots has gone to 3 OVERNIGHT CAMPS. You read that correctly: THREE.

It didn't start out that way. Holly was only going to go to one camp originally. Kanakuk. A camp in Springfield, Missouri, that my little brother went to for three summers growing up. A camp that is FABULOUS beyond measure. 25 days for Holly. She did 13 days last summer with Bo, by her side, but this year she was venturing out on her own and going for 25 days. In my mind it was equitable to my taking Bit and Bo to Italy, in June, for Bit's Violin Tour. I knew Toot's had it in her to go away for such a long time--when I was nine my parent's sent me to camp for a month, too. Grant you--they were living their newlywed year and my 9-year-old self was cramping there style.

However, in January I received an email from a friend asking if Toots would be interested in joining her daughter at fabulous camp located in the NC mountains that I had heard of for ages. Clearly, Toots was a summer camp kind of girl and I was pondering the reality of sending her to Missouri every summer, so I signed Toots up for a six day stater camp at Merri Mac, in Black Mountain, NC. Hoping that it might be the camp that she shifted towards in future years.

THEN.....my girl scout troop came a knocking. Holly went to Girl Scout camp when she was seven. Because she had watched her siblings go to camp when she was 4, 5, and 6--Holly was chomping at the bit to go to camp. Camp Mary Atkinson is a GSUSA (Girl Scout USA) camp in Garner, NC. It is OK. Nothing more, nothing less. Sparse, hot, buggy--and Holly went there for a WEEK! Two summers later some of her friends from her Brownie troop had decided it was time to make the leap and go to OVERNIGHT CAMP. So--in the 11th hour--Holly signed on for a very reasonably priced camp and went with SIX friends to Camp Mary Atkinson for six days.

37 days. Thirty Seven days and nights. Holly Elizabeth Hutcheson is living somewhere else this summer. I know it is good for her, for me, for us.... My brother quipped, "do you think she'll remember us?" And I responded, "bye-bye Toots--we'll see you when you turn 10." (in October)

At the first camp--I didn't even bother. I emailed her daily and I didn't mess with providing her with self-addressed postcards to send to Mommy Dearest. At the second camp she was given 3 postcards: one for me, one for Aunt Laura, and one for Aunt Becky. Bit must have told her to write to her as she was headed out the door because Toots wrote one postcard that week. It was half written to me and half written to Bit. However, Toots forgot to mail it and I found it in her filthy clothes when I picked her up.

Holly flew to Missouri on Monday, July 19, with her father. He took her to the baggage claim of the Springfield airport where she met the Ground transport team that was going to take her to camp. I provided her with DARLING Vistaprint notecards--and self-addressed bagillions of envelopes to her friends and family alike. I gave her six or seven to write to me over the 25 days.

I told her to write her friends at the onset of camp--that way they'd have her address and write her back. I went to my mailbox daily that first week.....

July 4th Week--2010

A Postcard that was NEVER sent.
Found in the depths of filthy clothing in a duffle bag.

Dear Mom Best first day of camp. PS I am in the best swim group. duh.
Love your little swimmer, Holly.

Dear Jenna I told you I would write so here it is. ILY
Love Holly

July 23, 2010 (postmark)
5 days into camp.....

Dear Mom I have the best counselors
I miss you. Heart.
Love, Holly

(hmph. is all i can say)

July 25, 2010 (forced postcard from camp)

Camp is great. Our view is great also.

It is very hot. {we sweat so...} even at bedtime.
I love you
Holly

July 26, 2010 (postmark)
Dear Mom My counselors are great
but 1 is soso

I love you
Holly

(a second letter was postmarked this
day...this might've been a tough day?)

July 26, 2010 (postmark)
Dear Mom There is a mean person in cabin 3. I'm in cabin 9. She said yuck it is annoying to look at your face.
ILY Holly

Clearly, a VERY hard day for Toots.

Then there is NO NEWS for a very long time. The camp nurse had called to tell me that one morning Holly fainted. About a week later--on August 7th I receive this beauty.... I am to assume all the other days have been fine, the 3 day OVERNIGHT CAMPING TRIP was great, the Daily DANCE clinics are wonderful. But this is the NOTECARD that arrives in our mailbox.....the one I've been waiting to get.....

August 4th (postmark)
Mom You said you wanted to "hear"
from ME- S0, I was at morning Bible and I said I needed to throw up and then I fainted, threw up and fainted again.

Love
Holly

(wow--is all I can say? Please tell me what I would've done if I had received this and hadn't known for a week that she fainted?)

In 48 hours--Burke and I will board a plane and fly to Dallas, Texas, and then another to Springfield, Mo.

We'll rent a car and drive an hour to K-1. There at around 4pm, we'll find Toots. We'll spend the rest of the day and into the evening enjoying the K-1 surroundings--going to her award ceremony for the Kickapoo tribe, we'll experience our first KLife, eat dinner at the Kamp cookout and we'll see what she has lived for these three and half weeks. Late that night we'll scoop her up into our rental car and head to the motel that is just a mile or two down the road.

We'll bring her home on Thursday, August 12, 2010. Who knows if any additional postal treasures will await me in the mailbox these next few days..... Holly is quite the correspondent.

Beginning to Loose that Same 40+Ten

2010-08-07T23:15:00.001-04:00

Let's face it. I blog because I went on a diet in January 2007. A diet that worked for but a moment. I realized during my Mom's illness--that writing helped me process the raw, crazed emotions that I felt from minute to minute. When I began my Medifa$t diet in 2007--writing helped me deal with my physical hunger, I bonded with the other foodies on the Diet website struggling to live in KETOSIS, to sort through the mental stronghold food had over me my entire life, writing kept me laughing and finding humor while trying to fit into a pair of size 14 jeans. Soon after I'd written 10 or so entries on the Diet Blog Site--I moved over to Blogger and here I've rested ever since.

I've tried several times since that smokin' successful year to recapture my "dieters edge," as I so brilliantly called it back then. But fun food and drink and non-exercising desires always prevailed in my half hearted attempts to begin again. My Blog is my diary, a journal, a letter to God, a conversation with my Mom, my rage and hurt, it's pictures and memorabilia and the scanned drawings that Toot's creates. A virtual scrapbook which revolves around ME! I guess you could say it is the work in progress transcript? Without the flowery language and verse references.

The last weeks of summer are upon us. We've lived fast and furious--me and the pods. We've travelled and glom-ed (a bear term meaning: to glom--a verb. to be unproductive and vegetative). The entries I've missed this year--Bit's Sweet 16 Gala, Toots Does Montana, Italy-Pa-Loosa.....all words to write and pictures to show. Facebook is such a quick fix--however, I can't bottle it up someday and show my "wall" to the pods.

This 50 to be shed--I began today by run/walking 4.0 miles in 70 minutes. I never fret at the thought of doing a 5k--and I thought it might be nice to do a few this fall. As I listened to a FABULOUS PLAY LIST on my iPad that I made just for my August workouts--I also made a mental list of all the goals that I have for the coming fall and winter. I didn't go beyond March--but I surely made some mental lists.

The first and foremost would be to loose 50. 50 means loose fitting size 14 jeans. There has been discussion of possibly doing a half marathon the last weekend of February, in the world's happiest spot--Walt Disney World--a run complete with a tutu and crown. In order to cross the finish line--I'll have to run 13--16 minute miles--consecutively without missing a mark. Don't get me wrong--I could walk a half marathon tomorrow--It would take me 6 hours (tops)--I'm mean enough and stubborn enough--that I'd finish 13.1 miles. But in order to succeed at Disney you have to make the time given OR else a Disney Mobile will come along the course and scoop you up and place you into the Disney wagon and bring you to the finish line at Epcot. I want no part of that. None Whatsoever. It would be like being fished out of the Jersey shore in Avalon--ugh.

And so it'll begin. For the remainder of August--walk/runs on the treadmill, a swim here and there, I seriously doubt that I'll touch my bike. I have Curves and my feet. I have a treadmill and a trainer on call if I need her. School will begin and the diet will commence. Water intake upped and alcohol intake decreased. I've yet to research if I'll continue Medifa$t or if I'll do this other thing my neighbor seems to be having success on and she doesn't seem to have her shit together at all. The LapBand got shot down by BCBSNC--however, I did loose my Gall Bladder in the process but that is another story altogether for an other blog entry.

And so it shall begin. The quest for ONE-der-Land before January 1, 2011. ready go.......

The Last Postcard Serena Hess Russoli Ever Received

2010-08-04T16:23:00.002-04:00

Me and My Cutie Momma

2010-08-03T15:56:00.002-04:00

July 1971

Jammy's Library. You are 28 years old. I can not even fathom all that you've been through.

This summer is so difficult. I'm doing the usual frenetic life style living that you so hated. I can't wait to see you again. I'm already concerned with how much of you I'll get when I see you. So dumb and non eternal. So Finite when you and Christ are infinite.

I'm hoping that I'll be as happy to see HIM as I am you. shh, don't tell.

You were so great. The hole is big and black. I working on finding new skills to fill it when it needs filling. No one fills it like you. Bumfield.

tiny bear

2010-08-01T15:44:00.001-04:00

i happen to think you were the cutest two-year-old little girl that God ever created. i miss you so much today--i ache. i love you.

give my love to Jammy and Diddy.

A Mother's Day Garden from Bo

2010-05-09T21:00:00.000-04:00

A proud son, after hours of weeding, tilling, preparing, and planting....mulching and pruning

Bear's Wrap Porch Bench found a new home in the Garden of 2010

Seriously, they worked ALL DAY LONG....love it, I do.

9 Tomato plants, Banana peppers, Cayenne peppers, Zucchini, Squash and Watermelon.

The Garden Key. The Key of Keys. I will save this one forever. I may just have to laminate it.

Mother's Day: 2010

2010-05-09T18:00:00.001-04:00

Sixteen years ago, I celebrated my first Mother's Day. It was a beautiful day in Chapel Hill, NC. It was a Sunday--just like today--we went to Church with my parents that morning at the Chapel Hill Bible Church and we dedicated a teeny tiny Bit in front of the whole congregation. She was weenie peenie, less than 8 weeks old and had already won my heart forever. We had a delicious meal in the dining room--Bear and Goggy constantly had incredible meals for every occasion. I miss our family meals. Burke worked nights the whole first two years of our marriage and I ate dinner more with Bear, David and Ferf, after I was married than I did in the whole decade leading up to my becoming a mama. I think David was perplexed as to why I was there every night.

One of my dearest friends in the world was with us that Mother's Day 1994, at Bear's house, Amy was pregnant with her first child that we had prayed and prayed she would conceive. I suppose Mark was on call because she was husband-less. Ames told me that afternoon, that if we went to Ben and Jerry's, we would get a FREE Ice Cream Cone for being a mama. I don't think we made it down Franklin Street that day--but it was a day I'll remember forever. I was a YOUNG thing.....27 years young with a tiny baby .

There have been many memorable Mother's Days--I usually have Bear in my married with children memories--this is my fifth Mother's Day without the Bear. My first Mother's Day without Sisty. My 13th without Jammy. The woman that shaped my entire being.

Lord--Please tell Jammy, Bear and Sisty that I miss them and hope that eternity with you is treating them well. Tell them I'm not as angry. At least not today.

The Pods were very busy this Mother's Day season. The PODS that I am charged with raising--came out in full force. I suppose Mother's Day began last night with a family trip to the DPAC in Durham, to see the show, Wicked. It was great. Bit, Bo, Ferf, Boom, Big Daddy and I all had a quick bite to eat on the downtown loop and off to the theatre we went.... Toots spent the night with Pia and Jorge.

We were awoken early with Ferf bringing Bojangles. Yummo. As I inhaled my Bacon, Egg and Cheese biscuit, I thought to myself just how good it tasted and hot wonderful my cup-of-joe was. Toots was retrieved by B. Daddy.

The presents were thoughtful beyond measure. For starters--B. Daddy wasn't involved in the driving to Target and the nail salon. Bit took Toots to Target and directed her in the shopping. It was classic Toots--she used her own personal gift card to purchase my gifts, so I don't even feel like I bought it. Bit got me the perfect gift--A pedi/mani gift certificate. I could get one of those for every birthday, Mother's Day, Valentines, And Christmas for the rest of my life.

But it was a tiny Bo that managed to create the shocker Mother's Day 2010 gift....For the last 3 years+, the fenced in area behind our shed, aka: the bodega, has become a waste pit of good earth (compliments of Ferf) and WEEDS that could strangle a human. Horrible surface conditions to grow anything. Bo determined this would be a GARDEN YEAR--so, he started very early and worked all day--B. Daddy and he, borrowed Papa's tiller and worked more. They shopped at Lowe's and by sundown the most wonderful summer garden had been planted. Add some herbs to the deck planters and Summer can come.....

It was a Great Mother's Day.

A Heart Attack

2010-05-03T09:09:00.002-04:00

Funny thing happened on my way to see if I qualified for a LAP BAND....

Perhaps, I should start at the beginning.... A year or so ago--being very unhappy with my current weight and having spent most of my adult life being overweight, I went to a Duke Bariatric Seminar to inquire about surgical procedures to assist in weight loss. I wasn't fat enough. Bummer. I am fat enough to be able to shop in Woman's Clothing stores--and have no choices whatsoever--but not SUPER PIG OBESE...ugh. I thought to myself--Great, I'm going to have to strap weights on my body to get the BMI needed....to qualify and then I'm going to need to prove that I have a second thing wrong with me to get BCBSNC to cover it. Duke also said this scary sentence.... "you won't be able to drink fizzy drinks (think Perrier) and eat steak" OMG. I left.

Recently, I ran into a gal that I've known forever--she is 10 years my junior--and I knew her when she was a kid and she is a BEAUTIFUL person. She has always struggled with her weight. Fat or Thin--she is drop dead gorgeous. Anyway--she had ballooned up in recent years. And was loosing her battle with weight. However, when I saw her, she was 36 weeks pregnant and just so dainty, small and happy.... I asked, "WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO YOU....?" And she said-- LAP BAND.

Flash Forward a Year: Guess what? I ate a whole helluva lot and barely, just by the hairs on my chinny-chin-chin, made the required minimum BMI--without putting 5 pound weights in my pockets, to be considered for the procedure! Ha.

Without boring you with the long conversation we had that day, the continued phone conversations, the googling research on my part, the YOUTUBE videos I've watched....discovering that I could continue to drink Perrier and eat steak...I decided to seek out this gal's Christian Doc, in Raleigh/Cary, and investigate the procedure sincerely as an option for me.

Which leads me to my heart attack. And gall stones. Rather Gall BOULDER. And gall bladder removal surgery.

Last week, I went back to the Bariatric doctor after being phoned and told that the pre-op tests they had administered to see if I could manage the Lap Band, had shown that I had gall stones and that my gall bladder needed to come out before they could do the Lap Band surgery. I went blithefully over to the Docs office, rather amused that I was so old-fart as to NEED my Gall Bladder taken out--when the Doc looks at me and says, "I would like to schedule your gall bladder removal surgery, but FIRST you need to get a cardiologist's clearance"

"WHAT!?!? WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY? " Clearance for whom?

"Yes, from the EKG you received at REX HOSPITAL, it would seem that at some time in your life you've had a heart attack and your heart has sustained damage."

"Alrighty then."

SH*T. I was most brave in the Doc's office but texted B. Daddy to get his a$$ straight over there, before I fell out in the parking lot. We talked. B. was worried. I had to find a HEART DOC. UGH.

I ended up driving directly from that parking lot to my primary care physician at Duke Primary- ....I pounded on the door and said, "let me in!" Right then and there the adorable Sri Lank Doc squished me into her jam packed afternoon.... I said, "HEY--did you forget to notice my heart condition when I was in here for my yearly exam, 2 weeks ago?"

A Bewildered Adorable Sri Lankan Doc...blinked at me.

An immediate EKG was administered--and my heart LOOKED GREAT. But guess what? I still had to find a cardiologist and get clearance. I went directly to B. Daddy's father... STAN-the-MAN Hutcheson.... who just so happens to have spent the last 40 years making machines that monitor the heart. A man who can read an EKG upside down who says upon examining both EKGS-- "Looks like the technician at Rex hooked up the lead wires incorrectly." Hmph. STAN said this in much more technical fashion and I was bored to tears--but the bottom line was someone at REX screwed up. Namely--the ding dong tech that wanted to get a cup of coffee and grab a cigarette.

The saga continued and I squirreled my way into seeing Goggy's cardiologist today. After another EKG--I got the final word that my heart was fine. I still have to do a Echo Stress Test where they run my butt on a tread mill for 2 hours and watch me gasp for air....but I will receive the clearance needed to get my gall bladder taken out through my tummy on Monday afternoon, May 17, as an outpatient procedure at Rex. Do I want to go to REX?

My family (Goggy) and a couple friends think I should tell REX about the skunky tech down in the basement. I made one phone call but it will take a lot of effort to find superiors and squawk and I don't know if I have it in me.

So--back to the Lap Band. After the gall bladder comes out my guts need to rest for 4 weeks. I will go to Italy in June, with my oldest 2 pods and watch Bit play the violin with her violin ensemble and Bo and I will eat our way through all of Northern Italy if given half a chance. BCBSNC has not approved the Lap Band for me... and a 2 oz. pouch seems very small....I don't know what I'll do if and when the procedure is approved. It would happen in July and I could very easily take off 50 pounds in six months. My beauty friend went from 250 to 180 in 5 months.

I am an over eater. I like sugar. But I really LOVE food. I'm one of those crazy foodies. I am a quantity girl. I live to EAT. I don't eat to LIVE. Individuals that have great success with the LAP BAND are the ones that are quantity eaters. Sugar people do better with the Gastric Y. I get happy thinking about food and social events. My friend with the LAP BAND says that she can eat everything she ever ate in life--just a whole lot less. I aspire to wear normal clothes--size 12s. I don't aspire to do Triathlons and repeat 2007's weight loss and exercise misery.

I get THE swag when I wear a good pair of jeans. I don't want to work my a$$ off and loose the same 40, gain 50 for the rest of my life. Obesity runs in my family. I want to see my Pods get married. I'm ready to go if the Lord calls me--actually, that would be really great--however, I think that HE wants me here. So, if I'm stuck here I want to enjoy life more fully, play with the Pods and stuff my curvey butt into smaller jeans.

I am learning that people have such definite opinions about Bariatric science. And that they also feel free to speak up and tell you those opinions. I believe at the end-of-the-day everyone in my life will pony up and support me if I do this....we'll just have to see what BCBSNC has to say about it.

I will Blog about this. How could I not? There have been hilarious things that have happened along the way so far--I slept in a Sleep Apnea clinic...I had rubber cement in my hair and only qualified with mild obstructive upper respiratory sleep apnea (alas, no sleep machine for me) and that was one of things that would've qualified me for the surgery.....Going to the Bariatric Doctor's Office is an experience in and of itself...the people, the CHAIRS....the HUGE CHAIRS! I will chronicle this adventure--but for the sake of my poor kid in middle school--the 13 year old--I won't post a YOUTUBE video series--the series will be made, fear not. It just won't go cyber.

I'm glad I didn't have a heart attack.

Taylor Swift Concert

2010-05-01T23:45:00.003-04:00

I love these 2 little faces. I just do.

Bit and Toots and I had a GREAT Adventure! We went to see Taylor Swift at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC. It was the best. THE BEST. It was Toot's first concert. Santa had left tickets in the girl's Christmas Stockings. We spent a LONG DAY in Clayton, NC,--participating in an event where all of my Brownie Girl Scouts bridged up to Junior Girl Scouts.

It was hot, sticky, long-at-times, and meaningful...I have 16 girls that are officially Juniors. My girls and I, at around 5pm, made our way to the Conference Center Bathrooms and with perfume, toothbrushes, and deodorant in hand--we spruced ourselves up as best as we could--changed into concert wear and Cowboy boots-- and JOYFULLY Headed to the RBC Center to await Taylor.

I didn't realize this until tonight--but I short changed myself when Bit was in 3rd Grade--a friend of hers invited her to go see Clay Aiken in concert. Without thinking, I said sure she could go. Why not? My parents never let me got to concerts going up--such an odd thing to enforce--but there were no concerts for me. Within a month of my going to college, I was a concert-going-fool and I never looked back. I first saw Billy Idol with my friend, Deedles, and a long list followed suit.

I decided to let my kids go to concerts. I felt that the taboo of concerts prompted my attendance during college and not always did I practice smart behavior while in attendance of said concerts.

So--Sadly, I missed Bit's first foray into a Concert Stadium. I don't know how snappy Clay Aiken may or may not have been--all those years ago? Dry Ice? I think Not? Pyrotechnics? mmmmm--but I missed seeing Bit see lighters swaying and the all purpose adrenaline of a CONCERT.

We had decent seats. We were first row of the upper level. When Taylor came to our side we could see her--without the binoculars that I had brought. We used those too, but they weren't critical. Holly was a maniac. She screamed. She waved. She just knows that Taylor looked directly at her. She did heart motions with her hands. She screamed. Bit and I smiled at each other often and wondered who this foreigner was that we brought to the concert.

Taylor worked that crowd. The venue had sold out in 20 minutes or some such record time. 13,500 tickets--poof, gone! I scored great ROLLING STONE TICKETS a million years ago, in the same fashion, the first 20 minutes. This time I wasn't so lucky and had to go to the scalper websites...ooops, rather Santa did.

Every girl aged between 15 and 24 either wore a Baby Doll dress and Cowboy boots or Long Dresses and Cowboy boots. The MEMO clearly was Dress and Boots. Cowboy Boots. Bit wore her Austin, Texas, Cowboy boots. And I wore mine, too. With jeans, however. I told B. Daddy that seeing this concert with our girls was perhaps one of the TOP 3 Memories that I've had since Bear left.... it was a glorious night.

Break Over

2010-04-28T09:05:00.000-04:00

What can I say? First I needed to un-deactivate because I needed Lars (my hairdresser's phone number and email) then I started creeping and lurking like I like to do--Then I realized that I couldn't keep tabs on High School World if I wasn't active and on.....

Who am I kidding? Love me some Facebook.

Facebook

2010-04-18T20:30:00.000-04:00

i needed to take a break for a little while. i'll be back. so, i'll have to communicate the old fashion way--AN EMAIL. yikes. the good thing about it is that it is a time suck and i can't wait to see if i actually get something done around the house.

sisty

2010-04-11T21:10:00.003-04:00

i miss Sisty.

my mom's little sister died two weeks ago. no warning--nothing. gone. i am waiting to hear what the final cause of death was.

the world is empty without Sisty. someone is missing. the safety net is gone. i know her girls are aching with sisty withdrawl. no morning calls and check in. i still have to say it aloud and i still can't believe it. with the exception of Weenie--there is no one left that i can call.

sisty and i called the allentown house for years and years after it was no longer. 432-3241. i asked ferf if he'd deleted sisty yet. i haven't and won't for awhile. grief is weird--i could look at a bottle of bear's conditioner for years, drive her car all day long every day, but i couldn't bear to see dasjhs@aol.com or have her cell contact in my cell. pain. pain. pain. i wanted to tell the girls to each get a tube of her lipstick. i didn't.

i can call my fly-girls in a pinch--but old school--know everything from the get-go--know me and my life--complete comprehension--they are dwindling. all but gone. ferf is adorable, but no. the chicklets are wonderful, but no. they come after me.

sisty's tinies are just that tiny. tiny Godly woman. waaaay more so than i was at 39. i hope God tells Sisty how brave and holy they've been. she would be so proud. i talk to those girls a litttle. i facebook 2 of 3.

i go to sisty's facebook and look at it. it is the same emotion as when you have a baby and want to scream, "hey world, i just had a baby! don't you know it? stop and have a moment of silence." i want to say--"world--there is no sisty--just this wall--don't you know it"

the weekend that sisty died, a local boy that was a senior in high school took his life. i had heard that his mother had been writing on his FB wall. she is talking to him on his wall. there is a side of me that wants to write on sisty's wall--maybe, i'll private message her. sisty is with God in the Heavenlies, with her big sister. i wonder what they talk about? they don't talk about Facebook.

i emailed uncle. i didn't think he would respond. but i was kind of hoping he would. it was a C-R-A-Z-Y serena email. i don't know if he knows about FB, my FB, his son's FB or this blog. sisty used to say that my mom would probably TRIP on my having a blog. she said worse but that is what i'm going with for now. that trio of sibs did not go public. never write anything that you don't want to see in public again and again. i know why. i like blogging because it sometimes feels like i'm talking to them. to God.

i love you, sisty. i hate that you are gone. tell bear, hello. tell her wait for me and don't tell all the good stories. tell her i'm lonely for her. i'll miss laughing with you diddy.

I knew it! I knew it!!

2010-04-09T09:45:00.006-04:00

For at least 3 years the phrase for something outstanding amongst the younger generation is BEAST. I've ignored it for as long as I could because I thought it lacked originality and was just plain stupid. Bear was my very best audience in the world because she LOVED all the words that I brought home from school---the Cresset years being the most lucrative with fresh and sassy verbage. Cathy Culton and I had zillions of expressions and sayings that were fabulous. Beast is just goofy.

However--I am BEAST. I just opened the Duke Medicine Result Portal and the SRI LANK TROLL DOCTOR reported that I'm fit as a fiddle with the 3 blood panels they drew yesterday--SPLASH of CREMORA be damned!

CHOLESTEROL, TOTAL 172 mg/dL
Reference Ranges
****************
Desirable: <200>239 mg/dL

red blood cell, white blood cell, platelet count normal
--Annotated By:SHARON SUSON RUBIN On: 2010-04-08

your fasting glucose, electrolytes, kidney function tests are normal

SHARON SUSON RUBIN On: 2010-04-08

BEAST. BEAST, I say. Wow....I guess this health train will end one of these days but it is fun doing absolutely nothing but sitting on my a$$ and getting such good health reports. I am blessed--thank you, Lord. Did anyone notice the ODD spelling of the Sri Lank's middle name. I wish I had a photo to post. Perhaps I will find one on the Duke Healthcare website.

Enough crowing about my health. A gal that I was kind of friends with in high school (i went to the beach with her for a week--does that count?) became a grandmother yesterday. I believe her daughter was a sophomore at Peace College in Raleigh, NC. I am not ready to be a MAW MAW--I decided today. Not yet.

Bit has a crush. A crush that is a senior at East CHHS and he is going to RIT next year. Rochester NY---why? shudder. brrrr. Because Bit reads this--I can't dish like I'd like. However, she wants to go to Ritas and get a dessert with the kid tonight. He is looking forward to meeting me. I haven't decided if I'll be Friendly Fritter or not. Depends if he has an adam's apple or not. I'm not ready for venturing off in cars.

Hell--we didn't have an opposite sex SKYPE policy in place until Wednesday of this week. Now car venturing? I think Big Daddy and I are the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants- parents.... I feel like other parents agonize over these types of things and have a manifesto in place by the time their toddler is cruising.... us ....we'll text at around 5p....the kid will be in the driveway at 7p and off they go come 7:12p.

I'm eager to go to the Apple Store in the next little bit--for one-on-one training. So many topics to cover. So little time. I'll spend a longish amount of time drooling over the iPads. Mother's Day, perhaps?

Finally--a precious picture of 12 of our 18 Brownies at Camp Graham last night.

You know it has been awhile......

2010-04-08T13:53:00.010-04:00

when you're not quite sure what your online password is for your blog.....really? wow.

and if i'm being truthful--i was pretty lame all fall doing picture slides and writing very little. Facebook doesn't help matters because I just blurt out my own personal status updates and if anyone has feedback for me, it is immediate and most satisfying.

today was a HARD one. ooooh eeeee--a real grieving challenge. not sure of the spelling of the sound i'm making.

where to start? Jammy, Bear & Diddy are in Heaven with God all-fricken-Mighty and I'm stuck here in Durham, NC, with an inch of pollen on my deck and me being completely out of sorts.

i went for my yearly (actually it'd been 14 months--but I went) doctor's physical today.

i had previously walked around rather smug that i weigh what i do and have such LOW blood pressure and GREAT cholesterol. So besides being the pig that I am--I am the picture of good health. let's face it--i go only to get the RX for birth control. which is also a joke--because Big-Daddy-Cane is neutered. i like being regular and acne contained.

well-i'm not 100% positive about today's interaction with my tiny doctor- however, i think my teeny tiny doctor was mumbling something about my cholesterol being high--(based on last year's blood work?) no bloodwork had been drawn since February 2009.

i was like, "why didn't you mention this 14 months ago?" so, we took blood work today. i lied and said that i hadn't eaten or drunken anything so far today--except that i had had coffee with splenda and a splash of cream mate stuff....SPLASH is the keyword. i was feeling too lazy to come back--

however, if my blood readings come back icky--i'll 'fess up and get retested. i'll feign amnesia regarding the blood test fast that didn't happen.

i changed my PRIMARY doctor last year, after 21 years with a man i liked very much. i now go to a teeeny tiny smurf--from somewhere near Indonesia--Sri Lanka--she is minute. i get the overwhelming desire to pat her head when she walks in the room. she totally looks NAT GEO with big ole' clear eyes. she is toot. i'm not sure she really is a doctor and I have no faith in her medicine. not so good i suppose? she graduated top in class at Cornell University.

i started crying when she entered the room. told her not to think me crazy--that i'd been crying all morning. my aunt just upped and died on me last week and i wasn't feeling very stable. i told her my dysfunctional BIO father called last July to announce he had colon cancer? i think that is what he had? palups or something--his liver is shot--and perhaps we should make a notation on my chart that my buttocks will need checking down the road. mercifully, not today--she threw out the number 50 years and I said, "amen."

i went and got lunch at CHIPOTLE. a burrito chix bowl. too much food. i am in agony after i polish it off. i swear it off each time and then forget about the true physical pain the very next time i pony up and get one.

tonight--i accompanied 12 Brownies to Camp Graham, in Henderson, NC, at Kerr Lake, for Songs and Smores. I love our huge troop and these fun getting bigger all the time little girls.

the day is winding down. bit is playing violin. toots is asleep. bo is getting ready for bed--if not already there. tomorrow i go to the APPLE store for a one-on-one hour of instruction. FUN. I go to see a bariatric doctor next week. am seriously considering a lap band inside my body. Sri Lank Doc said that I could make a great lap band patient. hmmmm. taking her advice under consideration. i will more than likely keep a video diary of that little weight loss journey--if for nothing more than my record keeping. plus--i've watched millions of youtube stories and i think mine will be distinctly mine.

good night Serena's 24/7--i realized today that i missed you.

A Taste of Hutchie Christmas 2009

2009-12-25T23:00:00.001-05:00

Ho! Ho! Ho!

2009-12-09T14:52:00.002-05:00

Health Care Plan

2009-10-15T10:38:00.001-04:00

(borrowed from my friend, sarah)

Let me get this straight....

We are working to pass a health care plan
written by a committee whose head says he doesn't understand it,
passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it,
signed by a president that also hasn't read it, and who smokes,
with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes,
overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and
financed by a country that's nearly broke.

What possibly could go wrong?

I didn't know that Obama smoked.

Dancercize Try-It Meeting

2009-10-14T17:18:00.002-04:00

Thanks Dana Crain for teaching the Electric Slide!

Apple Picking in Charlottesville, Virginia!!!

2009-10-09T11:10:00.008-04:00

I had a LARGE time with my Favoritest Peepers today at the Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlotteville, Va. I LOVE Apples straight off the trees and now so do my Peeps. I would like to figure out a way to build apple picking, mountains, and Fall leaves into all the remaining AUTUMNS that I have left with them. It was a great family time.

Toots Turns 9 with Friends Getting Painted Faces

2009-10-03T17:06:00.004-04:00

Gorgeous, Perfect October 3rd Weather-- Bear always had the prettiest Birthdays.
Bear would've turned sixty-something today.
Miles remembered her with Cookies. I love Miles.

We celebrated Toot's turning 9 this month. Mimi the CLOWN came and did a Magic Show and brought a Bounce House. But Mimi's Pièce de résistance is her MAD FACE PAINTING Skills. Every 3 minutes or so--she cranked out a BEAUTY.

Jenna's buddy Russell came, hung out, and worked his tail off.

Papa and Gram were here.

It was a Great Day to Celebrate Bear's Birthday and Toots too.

October Is Finally Here!

2009-10-01T12:15:00.003-04:00

I love October.

I was brought up to love October as no other.

I've been putzing around getting odds and ends shored up today.

Yesterday-- I finished faxing in Audit stuff for BCBSNC for TriClean and did Accountant work.

I'm in the home stretch of finishing GIRL SCOUT admin work for the current school year.

Toot's is celebrating turning 9 on Saturday.

I bought a new UNC hoodie. I plan to wear it to some chilly night game later this month.

I'm praying for my DEAR, BELOVED friend on Signal Mtn. in Tennessee.

The extracurriculars are well under way. The air is chilly. Fall decor is in place.

One word: PUMPKINS

I'm going to Charlie in the next little bit.

We're picking APPLES next weekend and seeing the Carnes family. Whoot.

Topics of Google Research: Roman Polanski, Tim Hawkins, Jeff Dunham, BCBSNC, cooks.com

Behind on Beth Moore. Slight downer.

Establishing Walking Buddies.

Sunshine after the Rain.

One Pet. One Pet that matters anyway.

I love October.

Bo Meets the Mayor William V. "Bill" Bell

2009-09-16T19:14:00.003-04:00

Bo met the Mayor today. He worked very hard this summer and volunteered 100 hours to our community. In doing so, he qualified for the Presidential Award, too. The award ceremony will be on October 1. Well done, Bo.

Here Comes My Mom.....

2009-09-13T18:03:00.002-04:00

Goodness

2009-09-09T13:42:00.004-04:00

I think we can't go around measuring our goodness by what we don't do, by what we deny ourselves, what we resist, and who we exclude. I think we've got to measure goodness by what we embrace, what we create, and who we include.

---Pere Henri, in the movie Chocolat

This is what I'm mulling over today.

Quimper Pottery

2009-09-08T11:40:00.008-04:00

This morning was just another Tuesday. Settling into the JOY of the newly established long, quiet mornings in the office futzing with this, adjusting that, reading, organizing, iSyncing computers, cell phones, and technology. Mornings where PJs rule and too much coffee is consumed. When what should I hear? The back door slam and the customary high pitched "yoo-hoo" coming from my father's mouth. It is a rather distinctive greeting.

When I arrived in the kitchen Doodles was looking rather dapper. A new colorful polo shirt, coiffed hair and he was busy at work opening a medium sized box. "I have a present for you." he says.

"Goodie." I say. Thinking to myself, "I need a present, I want a present, I surely deserve a present. Oh boy, a present for me."

Now before I tell what was in the box you should know that I grew up in a house LOADED with antiques and breakable antiques...Limoges, Wedgwood, Staffordshire...you name it, we had a few. It was truly a beautiful home to grow up in. My mother, Bear, fashioned her home after her mother's home. Jammy's house on Livingston Street was the best house in the world. Words can not describe the love I have for life and family at Jammy's.

In as much as I love beautiful draperies, carpets, and traditional decorum--I am rather a hodge podge meets clutter decorator. Most of the quality pieces that I have, come from my parents and Jammy's homes. Often pilfered, other times gotten legitimately.

Today--I hit the lottery. Doodles--has just recently returned from a France, Spain and Portugal trip and while on an island off of the coast of France, he thought of me and my new chocolate kitchen as he tootled about an antique store.

Look at the new spectacular plates that were brought home from this past voyage. They are antique Quimper pottery plates from France. Naturally, I had to Google Quimper Pottery.... I immediately loved this couple from the minute they emerged from their wrappings, but once I learned a little about Quimper--I appreciated them all the more.

Quimper (pronounced kem-pair), located in northwestern France in the province of Brittany, has been a pottery town since the days when the area was part of the Roman Empire. Eventually settled by Celts from what is now Wales, Brittany did not officially become part of France until 1532, relatively late by European standards, and thus, it has retained its Celtic heritage. Today, the town has become virtually synonymous with its pottery.

The current history of Quimper pottery begins in 1690 with the arrival of Jean-Baptiste Bousquet. Originally from the environs of Marseille in southern France, Bousquet started his factory in the section of Quimper known as Loc-Maria. He specialized in the production of utilitarian pottery such as tablewares and clay pipes for smoking tobacco.

LOVE THEM.

I truly know these two. I especially like that the man plate came broken and glued together. You can barely see it but it known to me. I wonder whose homes these two have lived in over the last 100 years. The wire to hang the plates was already wired into the plates.

I really like that Doodles was looking out for my newly Brown-tab-u-lous Kitchen.

A final note--I'm sure that in the back of my father's brain, he assumed that these antique plates are my birthday present for 2009. That is simply FINE with me. It is GREAT to really, really like the gift. Heck, they could be my Christmas, too! However, I noticed that Doodles didn't mention the occasion as he bestowed them upon me. So, far be it for me to assume that they are anything but a happy Labor Day weekend present.

Vodka Gimlets

2009-08-28T15:08:00.008-04:00

With the movie Julie/Julia coming to theaters this month...I quickly got my read on and borrowed a friend's book and read it. I then went and saw the movie. I can think of several people, in my tiny world, that were so inspired to begin their very own Mastering the Art of French Cooking recipes and they continue to make complicated Frenchy recipes.

ME? I was not inclined to make aspic or mess with duck--or do all the eggs in the various forms or to create the rich sauces...."not me," I said. At the end of the day--the food didn't appeal to me. Nada.

I did however, like Julie Powell's book, very much. I read a review that called it a "potty mouthed" read. It shouldn't come as a surprise, that I like reading books with a potty mouthed voice. Julie Powell kept a blog in early 2002? 2003? It was hilarious and she had enough material from her blog to write a book, that later got made into a movie, starring, Meryl Streep.

The primary thing that I took away from the book, was the nightly beverage that she and her husband drank in happy moments and sad ones too. They prepared Vodka Gimlets on almost every 5 pages.

A quick Google search and I learned that Gimlets were first served at the turn of the last century. Made with gin....to prevent sailors with scurvy....yadda yadda. After 20 years of my being a whiskey girl--I've recently discovered my desire for this tasty new clear beverage.

Behold: The Vodka Gimlet, on my island.

Vodka Gimlet

2 oz. Vodka
1 oz. Rose's Lime Juice

Accoutrement's de Gimlet

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
Add all ingredients
Shake until shaker becomes slightly frosted
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass (crucial to the experience)
Enjoy

SECRET INGREDIENTS:

Vodka

Lime Juice

Adorable gimlet glasses were $2.95 per glass at Crate and Barrel. However, plain glasses without RED tint are $1.95.....

Most refreshing beverage EVER....to be consumed after 5pm, please. At 4pm, if it is a really taxing day. It feels very Thurston and Lovey....to drink one....but one can not argue that a gimlet is a refreshing summer drink.

Heaven

2009-08-27T08:21:00.004-04:00

Heaven

1. Having the CHRISTMAS CARDS ordered and paid for by 10am, on the First Day of School. They will appear in your grubby little paws by September 5. The Christmas circular can be written by Yom Kippur.

2. Knowing that your high-school-aged-daughter is a FULL-ON-HIGH-SCHOOL-PERSON... Understanding that she is going to like adults (teachers) that you dislike, that you're going to have to hear about how spectacular that said adult is AND all the adorable things the adult said--squinch nose-- AND how the adult is going to impact her life for the betterment of society.

The Heaven part is--you are able to channel your inner mother and keep your lips closed and smile, while squinching your eyes and nodding.

3. Is a college student in Lubbock, Texas, that LOVED on your tiniest Podling, during the summer at Kamp Kanakuk, continues to be invested in her as the school year begins. Thank you, Lord.

4. That you have been able to STEP OVER YOUR enormous brightly neon yellow, still packed duffel bag from the beach, on the floor, in your bedroom and not twitch or unpack it because there are other more pressing things to do.

5. Heaven is you read a book in August--and discovered 2 words: VODKA GIMLET. You went to Kroger and Harris Teeter to purchase all the equipment necessary to procure said beverage and it is the tastiest, cold refreshment that you can think of to add to your 5pm arsenal of downer stimulants.

6. That God is a gracious God. That he has been steadfastly walking beside you. That you are able to articulate (in private of course) that you are scared of Him. That you are hopeful that he will continue to do a mighty work in your heart and acknowledge that it will be good.

7. That your Youngest Podling is in the first ALL-GIRL class at Trinity School. That Estrogen City was formed and that when you review the class roster...it is really a dandy bunch of tinies. If ever there was a WOMAN capable of handling the millions of words that those 17 little girls are going to come up with, each and every day, it is Mrs. Tyndall.

8. You are being brought to a better place regarding the Middle Podling. You are able to endure pain and suffering with a parent's eye--not that of a fellow injured adolescent eye. You are willing to pat said pod on the shoulder during a good sob AND not want to bleed for him. You are optimistic about what God is going to accomplish with that one AND you concede that perhaps HE knows better.

9. That Strip Steak, Baked Potatoes, and Big Green Salads exist and can be the "comfort meal" of your heart. Add Red Merlot and Angels with harps will be playing during the meal.

10a. God has provided precious, loving friends--Women that reach your soul, love your heart--the black parts--pray for you--in the midst of your continuing to grow-up at 42 years of age.

10b. This is the begrudgingly written one-- Heaven is you married the most perfect person God could have created for you. AND even though you haven't appreciated or LIKED him this week--You've just come off of 4 splendid weeks and YOU so appreciate that you are not swimming alone around your island of life without said spouse.

Heaven

Summer Reading List

2009-08-24T14:44:00.000-04:00

Shall we revisit my lofty summer reading list goals:

To date I've finished:
The Girl in the Orange Dress- Margot Starbuck (liked)

The Memory Keeper's Daughter-Kim Edwards (hated)
Julie & Julia- Julie Powell (liked)

Working on these all at one time:
The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander-Barbara Coloroso (newly added)
Raise Your Child's Social IQ-Cathi Cohen (newly added)
The Appeal-John Grisham

Clearly, I thought I would have more time for fiction than I did. Dang it.
I did however rediscover, reawaken, my keen love of stand-up since early July.
Bo and I returned from the Aegean and I got on a roll that still is happening... Comedy Central DVR-ed One Hour Stand Up Comics...and NETFLIX Stand Up...
And the raunchy Comedy Central Roasts...Joan Rivers, Pamela Anderson...you name it.

Perhaps this is why I didn't get as far with my bedside paperback stash?

School begins for the PODS on Wednesday--I shall start my fall reading quest then.

Lily Pulitzer + Chuck Taylor = Toots!!!!

2009-08-23T14:15:00.006-04:00

What do you get when you....

Take a Toots and add some

new back-to-school Chuck Taylors??

Toot's ready for church, of course.
(note: rock necklace painted with purple sharpie from Kanakuk Kamp and the new .69 Shark Tooth necklace from Wings!!)

Pawleys Island, South Carolina

2009-08-22T18:00:00.002-04:00

i miss blogging....

2009-08-15T00:35:00.004-04:00

i guess that means that something is gettting ready to be brewed up and served. stay tuned.

We Are Back

2009-06-13T13:37:00.004-04:00

We are back in our house. It is better than I had dreamed it would be. We still don't have a fridge or the new kitchen cabinets. The dogs are back, too.

Resetting the downstairs with furniture, china, nic-nacs, and schla...has been WORK. I'm overwhelmed by PAPER WORK and BILLS that need to be attended to before Tuesday morning.

I haven't made the Life Schedule for the family while Bo and I are on our trip.

I haven't begun to think about the laundry, the packing and the preparing to go. I have been more excited about this "Istanbul Trail" trip than I have been about any vacay in LONG while. Perhaps, Hawaii?

We are so back in our house. Yipee!!!

Toodling Around the Aegean

2009-06-12T17:10:00.000-04:00

The Greek Islands are a fabulous way to spend vacation days, too. Toodling around on the Sea Cloud.

Wyndi and I posing at the Parthenon

A very tiny Bit at the Parthenon

Turkey and Greece--Here Bo and I come five days and counting.....

Looking Forward to Constantinople

2009-06-10T16:47:00.004-04:00

Bo and I head across the Atlantic Ocean next week.....to vacation in Turkey and Greece. This will be my fifth time to visit Istanbul. I love Istanbul. It is a great city. I first went 19 years ago. I can't wait to see it again.

The Persian Carpets, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the people, the city....coming into port and seeing Asia meet Europe and the mist on the Bosphorus. A splendid city....history everywhere you turn.

The Blue Mosque at Night

Class field trip to Hagia Sophia

A wealthy Islamic mosque with four minarets

Hagia Sophia-a 500 year old basilica turned mosque with massive dome-the epitome of Byzantine architecture. This tile mosaic was covered part of the basilica.

The Turkish carpets, the Spice Bazzar and the Grand Bazzar

In Turkey when a boy reaches 13 years of age he gets circumcised. Then about two weeks afterwards his family throws a huge party for him, and he receives a lot of gifts, particularly ones in gold.

i love istanbul.

{all pix taken on my 2006 journey with Bit.}

Summer Reading Plans

2009-06-07T11:50:00.007-04:00

The LINE-UP:

The Associate-John Grisham
The Memory Keeper's Daughter-Kim Edwards
The Girl in the Orange Dress: Margot Starbuck
look me in the eye-my life with asperger's-John Elder Robinson
The Red Scarf-Kate Furnivall
Little Children-Tom Perrotta
day trips from raleigh-durham, Ralph Grizzle and James L. Hoffman
The Abstinence Teacher-Tom Perrotta
The Appeal-John Grisham

In no particular order. I've started 3 and am reading them all at once. I've GOT to quit reading this way.

The line-up is quite fluffy. No hard core self-improvement, non fiction, or Christianity overload for the moment. Just fluff. Actually one is not so fluffy--But the prayer is that I'm not too introspective and I can just escape.

I love me some European Vacations. I really HATE the flying across the Atlantic Ocean component. I haven't figured out where to score some Valium or some other downer for next week's flight...I suppose an over-the-counter sleep aid of some kind will guide me into Istanbul with the Bo. What is wonderful about going to Europe is the TIME TO READ. Time not found on Stateside vacay. Not at the beach nor at the mountains. I seem to work on American Vacations.

The universal truth of me going abroad is that I READ. READ, READ and READ. I am not interuppted and I read on the planes, the buses and in my bed at night. I'm not tired from parenting and am just on HOLIDAY!
On the Austrian Trip--I read several books on the FLDS Cult in Utah and Texas...2 books authored by different Jessop women. Warren Jeffs is spooky and the FLDS woman make me sad. The hair and outfits leave me flabbergasted. It was great seeing inside that actual compound on Oprah this winter.

This summer...
a smitter smatter.

Elephant Hat: Priceless

2009-06-06T10:49:00.001-04:00

Today was a zany day--Big Daddy ended up needing to go to Greensboro. Bit had her fifth day of American Red Cross Lifeguard Training and Bo had a championship South Durham Little League game. They won...so, we have to play the same team on Tuesday because it is a double elimination deal.

And then there was Toots and Me. We dumped Bo at the pregame warm up and head for Michael's Craft Store. I had 2 pieces of Pod-End-of-Year-Art that needed framing. And all the while I struggled with finding pre-made frames for the odd paper sizes of said art--Toots twiddled about at the dollar bins.

We were supposed to eat dinner with two families later that night, so Toots was loading up the cart with hats for all kids 8 and under. A dog for one and a tiger for another....and as always a matching elephant cap for the BFF, Bob. When we got to the check-out these adorable caps were not $1--rather $3.99. I bought one.

As we made our way home, I decided on an impulse to go to Prompt Med to have this red thing looked at under her eye. I should have saved my co-pay and gone straight to the dermatologist--fixable for sure, with the proper tools--or it will work itself away. Use a little steroid cream and water proof bandaids. I just needed the security of knowing it was going to implode during the two weeks Bo and I are on our big trip to the Mediterranean. I am free to go. She won't loose her eyesight.

Toots loves a costume. A mask. A hat. She doesn't care what anyone thinks...Toots loves it.

A lot of snuffling happened. A lot of elephant trunking and tooting sounds were made.

And then a lot of sleep happened. Toots makes even a $3.99 felt hat seem priceless.

~Paint Color Tease from an iPhone~

2009-06-05T11:06:00.004-04:00

Who lives in this house? I never knew that a person could like hardwood floors as much as I do. It is WEIRD! I love dark stained floors. I'm never going back--no way, no how. These are sampler pix taken with my iPhone, stinky light, a monsoon shower was happening outside and the house seems DARK--still, I'm overjoyed. I am never ever going back to neutrals. I am not hanging pictures until July. I want barren, clutterless walls. I love COLOR. My kitchen is Hershey's Special Dark Brown, for the love of Pete!

New yellow LIVING ROOM/Music Room.

Khaki-ish throughout.

POP. POP. That is my kitchen making new sounds.

I wept at the RED Bookshelves.

Mind you this is the first coat. Beck and I sat in the house and giggled like school girls as the color hit the walls. Some people talk in jest of watching paint dry. But we did just that--we watched PAINT DRY and it was glorious.

I'll wait and post a final swan song montage to the Restored Casa.

FYI: Happy Birthday Gnochi and KEH.

A Field Trip to Jason's Deli

2009-06-02T21:15:00.009-04:00

Week 1 of summer consists of Lions Basketball camp for Toots and her BFF, Bob. After camp today, we needed some sustenance and I was in dire need of a SALAD. Bit and I have always liked the baked potatoes there, too. We often split a salad and potato. I have so enjoyed the vacay from the dogs these past 2 weeks and I've certainly been enjoying eating out all day all night. It is my understanding that good ole' Nationwide will pay for the hounds and for all the good eats.

Nothing is cuter than little girls being friends.

Nothing.

They have their own language. They are incredibly silly.

The tiny ones split a salad and 'tato, too.

Then comes the best part--DESSERT! Or as Toots still occasionally says, "massert!" Bit was in charge of of ice cream cones.

VERY LARGE CONES!

I'm not feeling the potatoes anymore. Is that potato swimming in butter or what? Bleck.

Toots LOVES Photo Booth

2009-06-02T20:39:00.007-04:00

New Floors Make a New House

2009-06-01T20:34:00.001-04:00

The floors are CURING.....cure, cure, cure......

The First Day of Summer....

2009-05-30T10:14:00.006-04:00

It is the first day of summer for ME and for the PODS. I am sitting in a most quiet, calm house--the only sounds I hear are of birds and the clicking of keys on the keyboard. The Pods rather enjoy living at Bear and Goggy's house during the "RESTORATION" weeks...it has been "ba-cation" (vacay) as Toots says. Big Daddy and I have a new appreciation for this house as well--I have been so mixed up emotionally when it comes to this house--but I've reconciled so many things during the last nine days and I didn't see it coming. It looks like we are going to be here another 9++ days.

As I reflect on the flurry of BUSY from this past week--there have been and continue to be birthday parties, baseball, swim team, ARC Lifeguard classes...and an 8th grade commencement. I think the school is in flux with what they are calling it--commencement or celebration... but whatever it is eventually labeled; it is the start of something new for the kiddos: HIGH SCHOOL.

The one thing I hadn't anticipated in all of this was Tooter's end-of-year closing anxiety and sadness. I confess I am a bad mother and don't go to the closing ceremony each year... it is just one more hour in that gym and I believe I know the spiel, the tying up of loose ends...the saying of the verse of the year, and the official "dismissal" of the kids..... and then they set them loose.

Well, yesterday Toots didn't come home. I saw all the neighborhood buddies come and go. I watched the thinning of the carpool line. I stood on the cross walk on the school property--NO TOOTS. Finally, I went inside. And there she was. With two buddies drawing on the white board. I saw it in her eyes immediately. This wasn't the case of her actually doing what she was supposed to be doing--going to her classroom post dismissal and waiting for her mother to come get her.....this was a Tiny Sad Toots--one that came over and hugged me and I saw REAL ache in her eyes. So, unbelievably sad for me. She whispered something in her croaky whisper that I usually understand or not. She said, "I just couldn't leave."

I looked at her teacher and we exchanged an "I need help look." She came over and hugged Toots and loved on her for a few moments. Mrs. Bohn goes to our pool--we have regular Mrs. B. sightings. Recently we did a drive by of her house while taking one of Bit's friends home. Toots is secure in knowing that Mrs. Bohn will still be here come fall, she may bump into her at the pool and if we get truly desperate--we can do a drive by house sighting.

Toots said to me in a whisper, "maybe she'll hold me back."

"Oh Toots--you don't mean that. Come on, let's go get a fun lunch. You have Ava's bowling party in 45 minutes !"

Sadly, I think she meant it.

Two more times yesterday she said it again, "maybe she'll hold me back."

With a little prodding she was out the second grade classroom door, only to turn and run to her FIRST GRADE teacher's classroom. This wonderful soul is retiring this year, AFTER 10 or so years of being at our school. She has taught all 3 Pods First Grade. Toots has known of the retirement and been dreading this as well. In her mind when you retire, you vanish of the face of the earth. She wrapped herself around this woman and truly had to be physically removed from the teacher's midsection. I pitied Mrs. Bidgood--they had just prayed and said a blessing over her at the end of year closing assembly and she was a MESS before we arrived in her classroom. We have done drive-bys of her cul-de-sac, too. They plan on having lunch this summer.

Summer begins today. Even though it is Saturday....it is the first day of 3 months of PODS.
I'm excited and up to the challenge.

Our High Schooler....Adorable Bit

2009-05-29T20:48:00.000-04:00

Jon and Kate No More? What happens to the Plus 8?

2009-05-28T09:19:00.003-04:00

Sunday Night, I like most of America, watched the Season 5 premiere of Jon & Kate plus 8.

Sad mistake.

I posted on Facebook (FB) after the show my thoughts about not having the capacity to watch the family implode on the TLC network before America. UNRAVEL. Seriously, I felt then that it would be a season where we watched them head to divorce court. And what then.... I've come to love the little ones. Cara and Maddie bug the crap out of me....but I just love those babies.

It was interesting....I usually get a nibble or two on my FB updates...but 15 people weighed in their thoughts on the show. Many woman that are my FB friends....went to bed that night depressed. I couldn't sleep and surfed the web for hours.

Then today--I open this article from the Vancouver Sun:

Unconfirmed reports emanating from the blog world suggest Kate Gosselin, star of Jon and Kate Plus 8 and What Hairstyle Is That?, has asked for two more seasons of the TV show that documents her life to be agreed to by cable station TLC.

The price she'll have to pay for that deal? Agreeing to go to marriage counseling with her seemingly estranged husband Jon, according to the National Enquirer.

The Florida-based tabloid is reporting TLC insiders say Gosselin initially refused counseling completely, despite the shambolic state of her marriage, but agreed to the sessions only if she would get another two seasons of TV fame.

Negotiations to get TLC's cameras in on the sessions for use on the show itself are reportedly underway.

The new season of Jon and Kate Plus 8, in which Kate complains about all the attention her family gets from the press while being paid $75,000 per show to parade her family on television, starts Monday night.

GREAT!!!!!! I don't think televised Marriage Counseling is the answer. I still want them to pull the plug on the show, go to marriage counseling, Jon get a real JOB, and Kate go back to mothering. What is wrong with this? She seems so greedy. He so selfish. And the Adorable 8 are the fall out. I will be so ANGRY if they televise their therapy. ARGH.

I'd like to know the statistics of families that divorce after doing a REALITY SHOW?

Oh, Laaaaaaadies.....

2009-05-27T21:07:00.001-04:00

Something MAGICAL happens between the first day of SIXTH grade and the last day of SIXTH grade....tiny children come to the realization that persons of the opposite sex don't have cooties.

Such was the story of today. The End-of-Year 6th Grade Pool Party.... a party which started with distinct groups of BOYS on one side and GIRLS on the other.....began to mish mosh and enjoy being with each other and together judging a DIVE and BELLY FLOP competition.

D. and Bo

PLAYERS

gotta love 12 year olds. a new sentiment for me....

The 2008-2009 Sixth Grade Class of Bo's School

Tomorrow's Seventh Graders.

A Work in Progress

2009-05-26T18:41:00.005-04:00

This is what the TO CODE plumbing should have looked like behind the refrigerator and the ice maker. Kinda straightforward--both have an obvious water line cut off. The ding dongs that installed the previous in our kitchen tied the line into the mud room's utility sink. I'm beginning to think that most service industry peoples are corrupt and everyone just does the minimum to get IT done.

ACTUAL installing of new hard wood flooring by damaged appliances. Go floor people!

Home office flooring to Hallway flooring.... contrast... is so cool.

I wonder how many coats of finish they used the first time around? I will never know.

A fun side to water damage! Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...... guess which one I picked?

A blank palette....ready to be stained!

A new and improved kitchen living space.

They stain tomorrow.... I can't wait!

The Three Amigos Head Off to a Slumber Party!

2009-05-22T19:04:00.008-04:00

Historically, it is on the record books that I am not a big fan of a slumber party. They are the absolute worst, quite frankly. However, they are a part of life. The three neighborhood amigas headed off to one a few moments ago. AN AMERICAN GIRL MYSTERY SLUMBER PARTY. They were most excited. They were to come dressed in costume. And so they did.......

ooooooohhhh, i absolutely love them.

Water Damage Addendum

2009-05-20T13:58:00.013-04:00

Adorable POD in driveway. The excellent folks at Premier Restoration that are making this happen.

HERE is the KICKER. FAT, DUMB, DISGUSTING BUTT CRACK DUDE-- didn't do the job properly the second time around either. ARGH!!!! When we went to pull out the ice maker...wetness was to be found and the base cabinet was destroyed.

Basically, MIKE DIAMOND of GREEN COUNTRY homes....let a crew of sub-contracted plumbers install water lines for my fridge and ice maker from my utility room sink and NOTHING was built to CODE. Zippo. The NEW none A&E appliance plumber comes tomorrow and will fix it all....for a price.

I will post pictures of what the plumbing behind my appliances should actually look like. We've moved into Goggy's Abode and here we shall stay.

Nationwide is On My Side

2009-05-19T16:24:00.025-04:00

The Hutcheson Family Hardwood Floor Restoration Project

In November 2007, my free standing ice maker started making a CLUNKY sound. The A&E Appliance Company, based out of Raleigh, NC, came to investigate said sound. You see, I purchased the Big-Cheese-Bells & Whistles-5-year-insurance plan with this ice maker because it is the SECOND ice making machine, we've purchased in the seven short years we've lived here.

Ice Maker Machines are from the pit and are notorious for breaking down. Please don't get my stepfather's thoughts on ice makers, you'll loose a half hour of your life. Anyhow-- The insurance company sent the geniuses from A&E.

Well, a repairman came that was VERY PORTLY, one that didn't exude intelligence, and one who showed more butt crack than I cared to view. He waddled in and snorkeled about with the ice maker. He breathed loudly and made me uncomfortable. I've since been told that he "overtightened the ferrel fittings." I'm not sure if "ferrel" is an actual component of plumbing, I associate this word with a wild cat or some such. For example: "We caught us a ferrell cat in those there woods." Ferrell.

The Portly Dude left and did irrevocable damage in the half hour that he was with me, he damaged the water line causing a teeeny, tiny LEAK to begin.

Flash forward 2 YEARS....floors are buckling and there is a disaster in the kitchen.

The above photos were taken during the Emergency Damage and moisture control phase.

Today the FRIDGE went to live in the garage...Look at the yucky mildew was growing up the wall.

ewwwwwwwww!!!

Work needs to be done!

The upright piano got ushered out today...

The California Closet Office System got dismantled....

Boxes were packed on Monday.

China. China. Breakables. More China.

No more home office, for now. Dust Bunnies.

Area Rugs will go to Raleigh to be professionally cleaned. Whoot! Whoot!

No more dining room and the Family Room flat screen is gone for now. It will reappear in a new location. Stay tuned for before and after pix.

The same Portly repairman with the same HUGE Butt Crack came to fix the same ice maker, 2 years later, when I called and said, "my ice maker is leaking and making clunky sounds." I am here to report that he has kept every single ounce of girth. It was this SECOND VISIT, 2 years later, that we discovered the LARGER PROBLEM.

Nationwide has been a dream. They were johnny-on-the-spot and had people in place to take over and make this go away. The dogs are booked at the Sunny Acre Pet Resort. Martha and Mandisa never had it so good. They are giving me a food allowance. We opted to stay at my Dad's but when he returns this weekend--we are going to a hotel for a few days until he leaves again. Heck--we might go to the beach? Why not!

The storage POD is in the driveway. Movers come to fill it tomorrow.

I need to pick the final paint colors--I'm leaning towards a deep dark chocolate brown kitchen, khaki family room and common areas, the book shelves being painted green in the back, and a pale yellow living room.

I'll post the after pictures. Big Daddy said that I should look into carpeting the downstairs office....he used the word, "cozy." This is turning out to be a good thing after all.

morning grumpy

2009-05-14T07:58:00.003-04:00

it continues.....

i am grumpy that my youngest is such a space cadet AND contrary person EVERY SINGLE WEEKDAY MORNING.

i am grumpy that my youngest doesn't like to eat any BREAKFAST foods.

i am grumpy that the chihuahua does a little piddle of submissive urination to great me each day.

i am grumpy that i had to put the 8 YEAR OLD in time out for being a jack ass.

i am grumpy that HE didn't cover the grill last night.

i am grumpy that HE went to sleep early and gets up long after me and isn't helpful.

i am NOT grumpy nor am i a basket case for staying up till 1am watching TAKEN.

i am grumpy that TOOTS just got a spanking--{i can write spanking Internet, i am tired of being P.C.} and is still verbally being sinful.

i am tired of being grumpy.

Very Grumpy

2009-05-13T22:55:00.006-04:00

i am grumpy.

i am grumpy that Danny Gokey was voted off American Idol.

i am grumpy that our home office looks like a bomb blew-up in it.

i am grumpy that I don't have any warm chocolate chip cookies to nibble on.

i am grumpy that Middle School kids are soooooo mean to each other.

i am grumpy that my boy's little league coach is a tool and sent the team a ridiculous email tonight. this is the first time in seven years that i won't contribute to the coaches gift--nary a cent.

i am grumpy that it is so late and if I try and watch the movie i rented i'll be a basket case tomorrow.

i am grumpy that i have a running list of "blog topics" that i want to write about and never get to them-- sigh.

i am grumpy that whiskers grow in odd places.

i am grumpy that by mistake, i was helping the Bit change her password and then store it, in aol, and then i somehow managed to lock us out permanently. OMG. so grumpy, i am.

i am grumpy that wispy, air thin, onion strings dunked in ranch, have enough fat in them to sink a moose in a lake.

i am grumpy that i need so much sleep and there aren't more hours in the day.

i am grumpy that i let myself quit exercising, like i was in 2007, and now i have to begin anew with the trainer; and kill myself to get ready for the Sprint Triathlon this October.

i am grumpy about the obvious--no BEAR.

i am grumpy.

my biological dad

2009-05-09T11:31:00.016-04:00

i rarely speak of him. he isn't a deep dark secret or anything--i just do best when i don't have many dealings with him. well--yesterday was his birthday. and i phoned him at around 9:30pm at night. i call him maybe twice a year.

at 42 years of age, it has ended up being a relationship of 2 phone calls per year, that usually leave me reeling, afterwards. you see, he is the most charismatic alcoholic, in all of the Caribbean islands. he is one hilarious, short, bloated, ITALIAN, literally blind-in-one-eye, Old Man and the Sea character.

the thing i adore about him is his humor and the way he speaks--his turn of phrase and verbage-- i long to hear the great words come from him, used in atypical ways. i want him to love me and be this fantasy dad that is interested in me. every time we speak, usually mid-phone call, i loose my objectivity, and set myself up to be crushed.

Last Night, he was slurring. that is normal. he told me he doesn't read blogs, including mine--freedom to write--even if he did read?--truth is truth.

he ended the conversation with, "Well, it was good to hear your chirp." i really liked that. being the pitiful affirmation seeking person that i am. CHIRP. Bird metaphors. a few years back he started calling my PODS the PEEPS.

the other DAD lives just yards away. he and i have been dooking it out for as long as i can remember--35 years to be exact--it will end up being more years than he and Bear had, for sure. HOWEVER, he is the one that has shown up--for better or for worse, sickness and health, rich or poor--i got me BIG D. when it comes to my being "emotionally-cared-for-by-a-parent", i am, for all practical purposes, an orphan.

God has been CLEARLY MOVING in my life the last few weeks. I groan when I hear people say stuff like that. Better yet, "God revealed to me" or "the Holy Spirit showed me" or some other uber spiritual introduction, that leads the listener to believe that the person speaking has a direct hot line to God.

HOWEVER, about 18 months ago, I read the book The Shack. A highly controversial book. Several years after my Mom died--I found it was the first stirring, I felt of God being there for me, in the aftermath. I felt the desire to come back to seeking God. I know I had been the one who had left HIM and was very indifferent about my leaving. In my ignorance, I went out and bought at least 10 copies of The Shack, and gave copies to everyone that crossed my path. I realize in hindsight that not everyone is ready to read this book, let alone have a category for it. I can only speak for how I believe it was initially used in my life--God can (and does) love me in the midst of Great Sorrow.

The author portrays God the FATHER, as a the black mammy character, similar to the Gone With the Wind's Mammy; or the black woman on the maple syrup bottle. If you know me--I have my own Mammy--her name is Weenie. God used Weenie's face to entice me back to HIM in a gentle loving way.

Flash forward a year-and-a-half--I go and listen to the author of The Shack, speak at a local church. Within the same 48 hours, I discover this hip, cool, preacher on the Internet. The Dude is based out of Seattle, Washington, and his messages shake me to the bone. After much processing, I discover that God is ready for me to work on my skewed perception of who and what God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost and their role in my life. {wait a minute, didn't i spend much of the 90s doing this very thing?}

God is ready for me to remove Weenie's face and find a loving face for HIM. He doesn't want the face of the man in the Carribean or the guy-next-door. That is how that tricky God works. Next thing you know, I'll be more whole. sheesh.

Bear issued one mandate: "BE THERE." I will.

(authors note: as Simon Cowell says on American Idol, when a singer sings some outlandish song to showcase his voice and it bombs royally, "that was rather self-indulgent." May I remind you that I keep this online journal for me and the PODS. Sure, I try to be witty and self depracating at times, for the sake of being funny, for appearances and for my ego--but at the end of the day--I don't do a lot of these serious type of introspective entries because of the publicness of keeping the Blog and I'm not sure why else? So, if I am being self-indulgent, let it be so.)

PED EGG

2009-05-08T19:30:00.006-04:00

Mother's Day 2009

I don't require much. One flowering bush from Costco, cost $14.99, RED knock out roses. Must be planted by sun down on Mother's Day and watered thoroughly.

AND one PED EGG. On sale through May 9, at Target, for $9.99.

How difficult can this be? Not very subtle though. I want one. I need one.

After all--I have been a mother for 15 years.

Happy Birthday Audrey!!!

2009-05-05T09:01:00.004-04:00

This is my Bear and her best friend, Audrey. It is Audrey's birthday. Happy Birthday Bobby.
It is Cinco de Mayo, too. Ole.
(i've determined it is time to take a more recent picture of audrey)

my man

2009-05-04T11:08:00.002-04:00

ooooh-nobody makes me laugh harder or more ticked OFF, than this man.

(this is when he had hair. i don't remember it really. i actually like him bald. i am so grateful that i like his noggin and think he is an adorable baldy. my grandmother, Jammy, whom I adored, strongly disliked baldness. that is so foreign to me. i'm glad she didn't know Barkley, her nickname for him, during this last 10 years. cause he's been a baldy. poor thing.)

these were taken in the fall on 1985--just before we celebrated our 1 year anniversary of dating.
i will have been hanging-out with Big Daddy for 25 years come November. this week i've liked him less than other weeks. oooooooh-he surely can get under my skin.

the week in review:--- nah, i can't kill him that way. i've never used my blog to lob flame throwers at anyone. well, i take that back there were a few times.... i attacked vicious middle schoolers that weren't nice to the pods. but, as a rule of thumb, i don't use the blog to take aim and fire. so, we've agreed to go to our separate corners of the boxing ring until Thursday--when we go to the accountant.

whew.

ps: he lost that ring that i gave him that you see pictured. hmph.

i suppose i still like him.

First Flip Video Produced by Toots!

2009-05-03T10:41:00.005-04:00

Toots had her Tonsils and Adenoids removed on April 9, 2009.

TOOTS spent the first 48 hours languishing in our bedroom, post serious surgical procedures.
B.D.(big daddy), who has never in 25 years picked up a camera or a video camera decided that during this particular Hutcheson Life event, HE WOULD pretend it was time to make a documentary for the Discovery Health Channel and he was on a medical shoot.

As a result, I have the most pitiful footage of a tiny, suffering Toots. However, LATE on the night of the actual surgery, when Toot's was supposed to be resting her tiny body and recuperating.... it appears to be party time with the FLIP camera, in our room. 41 remarkable seconds that only a MAMA could appreciate.

Just Brilliant.

The Primate Center: Lemurs!!!

2009-05-02T16:56:00.000-04:00

I Can Take a Hint!

2009-05-01T09:40:00.001-04:00

Sometimes circulars and ads appear in the office and they land on the table behind my desk.
Someone must have been thumbing through the Disney advertisement and saw the special that they are currently promoting.
Someone was doing some calculations.
Someone left the Disney ad and the calculations at my desk for me to review.
Someone wants to go to WDW.
Someone doesn't know this but--So, do I.

April Crazies....

2009-04-30T20:55:00.007-04:00

I always pen a ditty about the the Hutcheson May Crazies... I just do. However, this April gave the May Crazies a RUN for the money. In one month--we went from organized chaos into the unmanageable.

There is Bit--a full-on-15-year old with a driver's permit, a job that she works EVERY weekend, a Varsity soccer team that is really annoying to her mother because they practice 5 days a week and act as though it is the only thing that matters to the players, Violin-age--which is not getting the time and attention that it deserves and her mother desires, texting and flirting--in that order, SCHOOL, youth group, and the return of Facebook to her life.....

Bo tried out and made the Middle School baseball team at his school and is playing his last season for South Durham Little league. It has been a great seven year run but he will age out at his next birthday. Sadly, this last season has been the WORST...you know how on TV you see idiot parents at Little League games behaving atrociously? Well, this season they only fielded 4 "MAJOR" teams and there is ONE in particular that is unfairly loaded with so much talent that it clobbers the other three teams at each and every game. Historically, SDLL has really dispersed the good players and the stinkies. It is demoralizing and the grown-up politics of this league, flat out suck. I am grumpy--but Big Daddy has forbade me to run my mouth about what a farce this has turned out to be. B.D. (Big Daddy) is making us see it through to the end with a cheerful heart and spirit...which I might've done anyway--but, I'm just peeved and grumpy about it all.

TOOOOOOOTS! She rocks. She flits from thing to thing....Brownies, Swimming, Piano (we are sooo bad about making practice happen), Choir, Art class. The BIG-TO-DO for Toots this month was she had her TONSILS and ADENOIDS removed~they say it isn't an easy surgery and recovery and they are right. Her TONSILS currently reside in an artichoke jar with rubbing alcohol on a prime shelf in the Family Room. They are truly gross. And I love it.

It took a full two weeks for her to recover. We have explored all sorts of soft foods. She craved Stacy's Pita Chips and BBQ potato chips. Odd Duck. She is back to her old crusty self. AND the May Crazies are about to begin..... (I plan on posting my first "flip" footage of her surgery and the first video she made without anyone knowing... it makes me laugh. You have to know her though.)

Strawberry Picking!

2009-04-29T21:10:00.001-04:00

Hutcheson Easter: 2009

2009-04-12T18:45:00.011-04:00

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Thank you Jesus for dying for Me.

The Nintendo DS

2009-04-11T19:16:00.000-04:00

Most of Toot's communications with me are via pictures. Toot's draws during most of her free time. I'm not saying her artwork is progressing to the level of that of her peers--I've noticed there is a real PROGRESSION in her peer artwork that is more precise, real and tidy. I wouldn't trade what I've got going on here for nothin'. This has been a weekend FULL OF ARTISTRY and REQUESTS.

Some art speaks for itself. {note: haircolor of Bo and me}

FROGS: The Life Cycle

2009-04-08T19:28:00.000-04:00

My Adorable Hippie

2009-04-08T08:40:00.005-04:00

Bo's class, meaning his section, decided yesterday that today would be HIPPIE day.
And so it is.

There are three sections of sixth grade this year: Blue, Gold and Green. Bo is Green. They seem to be a friendly little clan....(Blue has the turd bullies and meanies). So, the darling cherubs up and decided yesterday, that they would be HIPPIES today, and their dear teacher, said,
"Why not?" Love HER!

My Bo is Adorable. Don't you think? He totally reminds me of the BIG kids at Swain School, in Allentown, PA, when I was in kindergarten. It is hard to believe I can place this look. Hippie is much more fun than say, Greaser or 50s person.

The thing that rattles me is that NEVER do I hear about "costumes" the night before they are needed... Today, I heard at 8:09am that a costume was needed by 8:25am...so that he could be in his seat, in the classroom at 8:30am. I think we did pretty damn good!? Toots wanted to dress up today. Surprise. Go Bo!

Bit's Birthday Bonanza Weekend

2009-04-01T11:01:00.007-04:00

It has been a big week for our Bit. All three PODS have inherited their grandmother and mother's LOVE of BIRTHDAY celebrating. It is the custom, that Birthdays stretch out over several days, with a lot of adoration and general overindulging.

Both--Bit and Bo--didn't want FIESTAS this year so that they could have an iTouch. Fine. As mentioned in February, Bit managed to have a "Valentine" Slumber Party, in an non-BD party year. Bit has some VERY dear friends.... together they planned to surprise her with a Surprise BD Dinner at RED ROBIN. Abby had Bit come over after she worked at RITAS, on Saturday, to hang out and "maybe go get a bite to eat"-- When they arrived at the restaurant--The Wicklets, Olivia, Alex, and Gracie waited for Jenna and Abby. They had loads of presents for her and they treated her dinner. Naturally, Dinner was wonderful and they followed it up with Ice Cream cake and running around outside in the rain at our house. All were gone by 9pm-ish. Another un-birthday-party.

Sunday she worked at Rita's and had her annual family birthday dinner. LOW-KEY was the mood. She wanted Wings as the starter and Pork Ribs for the meal. I managed to overcook the ribs-- I was bummed. I've botched the ribs the last several times that I've attempted them...I'm beginning to have Rib Baggage. Boom made her a BIRTHDAY CREAM CAKE and it was eaten entirely that night. Bit was allowed to choose one BFF for family dinner and naturally, that rolled into a sleepover. I hope I get points somewhere for doing cool stuff.... when complaints happen later in life for my shortcomings... I hope all the PODS have "cool" points stashed up for me somewhere, too.

MONDAY--the actual BIRTHDAY~~ She and Olivia went to school. I sprung her at lunch and the plan was to go to the DMV and get her Driver's Permit. Things didn't go swimmingly with the test--she missed 6 and you are allowed to miss 5. Sadly, we returned to school with no permit. Who knew--she actually NEEDED to STUDY the BOOK? After school, her soccer team had a game-- they WON! We had spaghetti for dinner and the Bit spent the rest of the night studying the Driver's Ed book and playing the violin.

Turning 15 was a wonderful thing-- We love you soooo much, Bit.

Bo bought her a cool water globe at the Chattanooga Aquarium--she loved it.

iTouch and iTunes gift cards.

Papa and Gram got her a purse. She wanted the purse! Uncle Ferf loves to pose.

Camping

2009-03-31T16:00:00.005-04:00

THREE WEEKS AGO-- I went Camping.

Camping in the freezing rain absolutely sucks. That is what I did on a very cold wet Saturday night a few weeks ago. Because we have technology in our home-- I knew 10 days out, what my FATE would be. At 5 days --the Doppler showed RAIN headed to NC.... and by the weekend-- shall we say the word: MONSOON.

The bright side of this story was that I went camping with my bud of buds-- CCC (C3). C3 and I have been friends for sooo long-- I don't really remember not knowing her and being buddies, in some capacity. We first were friends at 9 and 10 years of age--more acquaintances then....but we were in the same GIRL SCOUT TROOP! Our friendship became a done deal in 10th and 11th grade--and there has been no looking back ever since.

C3 and I are co-leaders of our Baby Girl's Brownie Troop. When we were living our 20s and 30s having babies, C3 once commented that we would one day have daughters and be their Girl Scout Troop leaders. That stuck with me....and as the girls ROLLED into Kindergarten--we started a Daisy Troop with our third Amiga, Sophie. Who knew that Three Years later we would find ourselves on the Virginia border, in BRUTAL weather, learning to pitch tents, use a compass, tie knots, build camp fires and earn our OUTDOOR 2 Certification?

The Girls Scouts of America (GSUSA) doesn't PLAY when it comes to training their volunteers. I have logged in more hours than I ever thought imaginable. And in order to take our girls to their first KAMP KAPER in May--we needed this last piece of training.

Training began a week before the slotted camp out with a 5 HOUR in-town training session. The lady crushed it into less time but we received 5 HOURS for our suffering. Next-- we were told that unless it was icy or Jesus Returned we'd be camping the following weekend. (I made up the Jesus part) We knew that there was no canceling this trip due to weather.

So--we counted down until our camping extravaganza. To add insult to injury-- it was during Spring Break...the last days....we frittered away. I suppose this is not the attitude one should have-- however, I soooooo wanted it to be warm, dry and an unexpected mini vacay from my family with my buddy.

The 18 leaders were divided into PATROLS. We were the RED RAIDERS. Whoot. Whoot. The patrols managed the flag ceremony, "camp fire" activity, and departing words of reflection. They also planned their own meals for their particular patrol.

We determined to cook lasagna in a dutch oven, some LAME-O Brown Bear dessert (I didn't vote for that) and salad for dinner that first night--we cooked over coals and in a box oven. I brought mini chocolate chip cookies to be baked in the box oven as well--Brown Bear didn't get me stoked. Brown bear is gingerbread and applesauce mixed and baked. We did this HUGE SKILLET BREAKFAST-- on Sunday morning at 6am-- it was dark and required lanterns but we were out there in the rain-- MAKING FIRE in a fire pit and cooking up a skillet breakfast. Sausage, Eggs, Potatoes, Peppers, Onions and Cheese. It lacked salt and pepper-- but no one complained. GSUSA doesn't permit alcohol. I honored this and brought NO FLASK.

Girl Scout leaders go to bed a 9am. Some leaders snore. If I held my cell phone just right... I could get coverage about 25% of the time. I LOVED texting my misery to loved ones, while the good girl scout leaders snored away. C3 and I played connect the dots on my cell. It was a long night. I was up a bagillion times.

There were 15 volunteer leaders from Durham and Orange County--three trainers. The 18 leaders did the fastest clean-up, shut down, unfurling of a camp site you ever saw.....and we were sent home with OUTDOOR 2 patches in HAND!

We were wet, cold and miserable. The one thing I took away from this--our troop is NOT NEAR READY to camp out, come May-- not in a million years. But at least we know what to do in order to get them on the road to camping. I will make sure that our cute little Brownies know about my wet camping training until they graduate from high school.

Time Article: Why Facebook Is for Old Fogies

2009-03-20T12:09:00.000-04:00

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009

Why Facebook Is for Old Fogies

By Lev Grossman

Facebook is five. Maybe you didn't get it in your news feed, but it was in February 2004 that Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg, along with some classmates, launched the social network that ate the world. Did he realize back then in his dorm that he was witnessing merely the larval stage of his creation? For what began with college students has found its fullest, richest expression with us, the middle-aged. Here are 10 reasons Facebook is for old fogies:

1. Facebook is about finding people you've lost track of. And, son, we've lost track of more people than you've ever met. Remember who you went to prom with junior year? See, we don't. We've gone through multiple schools, jobs and marriages. Each one of those came with a complete cast of characters, most of whom we have forgotten existed. But Facebook never forgets. (See the best social-networking applications.)

2. We're no longer bitter about high school. You're probably still hung up on any number of petty slights, but when that person who used to call us that thing we're not going to mention here, because it really stuck, asks us to be friends on Facebook, we happily friend that person. Because we're all grown up now. We're bigger than that. Or some of us are, anyway. We're in therapy, and it's going really well. These are just broad generalizations. Next reason.

3. We never get drunk at parties and get photographed holding beer bottles in suggestive positions. We wish we still did that. But we don't. (See pictures of Beer Country in Denver.)

4. Facebook isn't just a social network; it's a business network. And unlike, say, college students, we actually have jobs. What's the point of networking with people who can't hire you? Not that we'd want to work with anyone your age anyway. Given the recession — and the amount of time we spend on Facebook — a bunch of hungry, motivated young guns is the last thing we need around here.

5. We're lazy. We have jobs and children and houses and substance-abuse problems to deal with. At our age, we don't want to do anything. What we want is to hear about other people doing things and then judge them for it. Which is what news feeds are for.

6. We're old enough that pictures from grade school or summer camp look nothing like us. These days, the only way to identify us is with Facebook tags. (See pictures of a diverse group of American teens.)

7. We have children. There is very little that old people enjoy more than forcing others to pay attention to pictures of their children. Facebook is the most efficient engine ever devised for this.

8. We're too old to remember e-mail addresses. You have to understand: we have spent decades drinking diet soda out of aluminum cans. That stuff catches up with you. We can't remember friends' e-mail addresses. We can barely remember their names.

9. We don't understand Twitter. Literally. It makes no sense to us. (See the top 10 celebrity Twitter feeds.)

10. We're not cool, and we don't care. There was a time when it was cool to be on Facebook. That time has passed. Facebook now has 150 million members, and its fastest-growing demographic is 30 and up. At this point, it's way cooler not to be on Facebook. We've ruined it for good, just like we ruined Twilight and skateboarding. So git! And while you're at it, you damn kids better get off our lawn too.

Working Girl!

2009-03-16T22:30:00.009-04:00

Today was a BIG day for the Bit! I mean HUGE! The biggest she's logged in so far in her short little life. It began at 5:50 am with a shower and meeting her Driver's Ed teacher, at the school gates, to DRIVE. She and this adorable boy from her school are driving each morning this week and two days next week, to fulfill the mandatory "driving" time to get their permits.

The Bit wasn't so sure about it. Anxiety and Fear were present. The instructor asked who would be driving first and without hesitation, Bit volunteered the BOY. She told me, "he then proceeded to drive flawlessly for 40 minutes!" The same can not be said for the Bit. She kissed the shoulders more times than she can count and she flat out went off the road a time or two, to boot. She drove onto the school driveway at 8pm and felt very satisfied as her HISTORY teacher spied her and inquired as to her morning.

Later in the afternoon--she rose to the occasion and performed with the sweet girls from her violin ensemble, for a funeral. Lisabeth, was one of the girls that went to Austria last June, and her father who had been battling bladder cancer for years-- finally got to go home and meet Jesus, last Wednesday.

Previously, those words said and read were always HOLLOW and complete CHRISTIAN-ESE babble for me--but for the first time ever--they evoke comfort and longing. The Bit and her ensemble played Telemann and Amazing Grace-- Lisabeth's father lived a rich life, loved Christ, and I pray for the family as they continue to live life without him. I wept and Bit was very much moved,too. I know that this is all part of it.

FINALLY-- the EVENT that SHATTERS the RECORD BOOKS...... Our tiny BIT--logged in a three hour shift at her NEW JOB!!!! Jenna is now employed by Rita's, in Durham.

This is sooo significant because while I was pregnant with all three PODS, I consumed NO LESS that 300 Lemon water ices. Ok, perhaps, I exaggerate. However, Rita's is a chain from up north and when I would visit my grandmother while pregnant with the Bit-- I consumed countless Rita's.

I've moved on to loving Blendinis and the custards. Custard is a gross way of saying Frozen yogurt... Custard sounds unappealing--but I get the fat free vanilla and it is DELISH!

We had to go online and get her a NC Department of labor work permit. Her job is called "counter help"--how cute. It wasn't cute when I was counter help but Bit doing counter help is cute. Two of her friends stopped in to buy Rita's. How dear is that? One friend, picked up an application--who knows?

Burke and I are so proud of her. Burke took Bo to baseball practice last night and while he was killing time he decided to do a drive-by and look in on her to see how she was doing. One drive-by turned into two, then three and finally four! He remarked how serious she seemed and hard working. Yeah, Bit is good at playing the violin, she works hard academically and puts forth her best effort most of the time-- we are proud of LOTS of things she accomplishes....but Burke just kept saying, "this will be so good for her"... Discipline..... she will learn the value of a dollar--something that she sorely needs to fathom.

I can't stand it-- she has a nametag. How ridiculous? Her visor has flair. 7 pins to be exact. She was exhausted as she plummeted into bed tonight-- whipped. Bone tired. Tomorrow she begins a new day-- driving, school, soccer, and violin. I love that Bit.

This Artist is Truly My Favorite

2009-03-03T18:54:00.004-05:00

I love when she draws. I just do. It rained and rained and rained last week and all weekend long. Toots has a new matching raincoat and rain boots (wellies) from Old Navy that she just LOVES! And one thing she mastered during her 11 months at the Lucy Daniels kindergarten was OUTDOOR WATER PLAY. It was FREEZING on Sunday--but she suited up and out she went--her new fantasy puppy went with her. She has a LADYBUG umbrella. Toots-- loves to do a singing in the rain number whenever the weather cooperates.

However-- today the mood changed. Valentine thoughts are fading and Spring Break is LOOMING and the E. Bunny is now coming to mind.

Other SNIPPETS that are happening..... Bit made the Varsity Soccer team--they are an infant team--so, I'm hoping they learn and improve. Bo made the Middle School baseball team and will continue with South Durham Little League, too. That is happy for Bo. Bo is going back in braces in two weeks! Poor Bo. Bit drives with instructor two weeks from yesterday, we practiced yesterday. No comment. I won something in a raffle-- a FUN Basket with all kinds of FUN gift cards at my favorite preschool's annual fundraising pancake breakfast. We are headed out for Tennessee wildness this weekend..... It SNOWED yesterday. Another day home with my PODS.

Bullet Murmurings: I wish the local branch of my public library wasn't expanding--it is inconvenient beyond belief to not have a quick access library. I'm working Pioneer Day this Friday, in the second grade. I think they'll be making LOG CABINS with milk cartons, pretzel sticks and chocolate tub icing. Tennessee: I am a TERRIBLE packer. Laundry and Packing Loom. I have a new discipline system in place for one of the PODS--I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but it might just be effective and work. A friend just found out her husband's cancer is back and he has just weeks to live--I've been trying to wrap my brain around that today. Her daughters are the exact same age as mine. A casserole just seems senseless.

Spring Time-- Please Come!!!

2009-03-01T00:00:00.007-05:00

Toot's Handiwork-- February 2009

Undefeated Season for the Banana Peels!!!!

2009-02-28T14:55:00.006-05:00

The Banana Peels....

Toots played basketball for the Banana Peels this winter! They had the nicest coaches in the galaxy. The head coach played in the NFL and was humble and kind; the other coach was a gentle, patient giant--they both were incredible! And the team happened to be stacked with talent, too. I want to know how these girls had already mastered such mad baller skills at 7 and 8 years of age?

I love Toots but she was the absolute worst one on the team. I am not being mean, or modest or fishing around for someone to say, "oh, she couldn't have been that bad..."-- seriously, at the end of the season she still doesn't know the difference between offense and defense and why or when it changes during a game. She doesn't know about travelling, fouling, or air balls. She played most of the game today smiling and looking at me. She stole the ball when she shouldn't and just ran around and blocked whether she needed to block or not.

I sent her to a basketball skills camp last summer-- to no avail. She loved it. She really loved this team and wants to play for them again next year. The coach invited all the girls to sign up next year and ask for him. Now the pressure is on me to get her the basic understanding of the game--it was adorable this year, but whenever she was out there--they were basically 4 players playing on the court. Holly never shot that I remember. Half the time if by chance she got the ball, it was like a hot potato and she couldn't get rid of it quick enough. The girls were always kind to her--no one made her feel badly--that was the dearest part of all.

Parents would tell me how fiery she was. Or how, fearless she was. She was truly cute. Next year the goal will be for her to leave her spot when offense is trying to make the basket. (see below)

My favorite memory was when the coach was handing out trophies today-- his remarks for Holly were something like: " this girl liked to steal the ball whether she was supposed to or not, she played pesky and tenacious defense, and always had a smile on her face and cute little dangle earrings."

Wow--stellar remarks for Toots. Next year, we'll wear stud earrings. Argh!

If you ask me, today's final game was close for most of it and these coaches were EVEN STEVEN on rotating the players into the game.... I was dying. I didn't want her subbed in, quite frankly. However, they won the game 15 to 11. And the Coach had cute tiny basketballs, where someone had written, most likely his wife, "Banana Peels Undefeated Season" with each girl's name on the ball, too. They ended with bagels, trophies and little tiny squishy balls. It was a very happy morning.

Vita Mix

2009-02-25T08:29:00.006-05:00

It is official--I've become the Bear. Morphed. It was gradual--almost non-noticeable--but I've awoken and found that I am she. Bear was "juicing" 20 years ago--not that we changed our other eating lifestyle none whatsoever--but we would occasionally juice too. Bear bought one of those vacuum pack sealers to preserve food, back in the day when it took an outer-space-jet-pack to suction all the air out of the wrappers and force the seal and make contact.

I'm not saying she was a late night infomercial sucker by any means. I would need to confess that I have awoken many nights in my late 20's and 30's to watch those horrific lying shows and get goaded into buying whatever they were peddling. It's true--I've bought cassette tapes and CDs of music, a panini maker, a steamer-- truthfully, I can't remember everything I've gotten--But Bear was not a late night compulsive shopper.

Last Friday I was at Costco, by myself. Big mistake or perhaps not? They were "demo-ing" the Vita Mix. Two Christmases past, Sam's Club was "demo-ing" these knives that can seriously cut through cinder blocks-- I bought a set for us and a set for my in-laws--BEST THINGS EVER...my Stepdad somehow managed to get the "spare" long industrial knife from my set. You know you are buying in the land of nonsense, when they are always "tossing in a complete extra" of the thing you are buying-- anyway, I digress.

So-- I stopped and watched all of the WHOLE FOODS being dumped into a blender and tasty creations in all varieties were being sampled. WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE was the word FIBER. FIBER. FIBER. My two girl pods need FIBER. PODS can be sluggish. I've spent my entire mothering career trying to make laxative "cocktails" and get girl PODS to go potty. So-- the Vita Mix Gals, in the demo booth, had me at FIBER.

The deal makers were-- Vita-Gal was making veggie cocktails that looked like V8s--yummo for me--and the V8 could in theory turn in to a Bloody Mary, too, if need be. AND Vita-Gal said while making fruit smoothies, after being asked if you could put all of the watermelon in the smoothie, "NO problem--but if you put the rind of the watermelon in your smoothie, you just can't leave your house!" Ha! I thought-- I'll put watermelon rind in the smoothies! I also liked that they were tossing cabbage in cappuccinos and the "pink bubble gum" ice cream (red cabbage dessert)-- Spinach was thrown into everything-- My eyes glazed over-- I was sold--I was getting the world's most expensive mixer in the middle of a recession. All else be damned.

Vita Mix Schtick: Vita-Mix is the only blender on the market that can break through the cell walls of whole foods to get all the nutrients. The tremendous force of the stainless steel blade tips, traveling at 240 miles per hour, breaks whole food down to the cellular level. It is a commercial blender-- it can grind up wood!

Suffice it to say-- I've had more Natural Whole FIBER in the last 4 days than I have in the last decade. I was sitting at the YMCA the other day-- and I literally made the 50 yard dash for the facilities. We've been making drinks 24/7 here-- lots with cocoa powder, flax seed, wheat germ, bananas, cabbage, peanut butter and milk... the Reese's PB Smoothie..... I'll be making up a batch of Cabbage-chinos midday--feel free to drop on by and get one.

A cool attachment is the BLACK TAMPER-- A Big Ole Stick to beat down the veggies!

Don't they LOOK Professional--They have a summertime margarita made with REAL Lemons, Limes, and Oranges.... I seriously can't wait.

The Vita-Gals were much more fetching....but this is the display that changed the course of HUTCHIE History.....

Shower Stall View

2009-02-24T16:31:00.000-05:00

All 3 of these artifacts are from the Bear-- All 3 are featured in my bathroom--where while showering, dressing, bathing, lounging or just brushing teeth--I can see them. They each have a mighty story. I cherish them all.

Snorky: A Lifetime of Hippo between Jammy and the Bear.

Bear's North Carolina Cross Stitch--she added a heart and Chapel Hill to the pattern, stitched in 1984.

MB Kirby's hand painted water color of a violet that was in our downstairs powder room for a zillion years.

author's note: my bathroom is painted a luscious dark chocolate and our bedroom is milk chocolate... it is wonderful to reside in Brown rooms. Yellows and Greens are my favorite colors but Browns can be wunderbar, too.

All is Well in My Tiny Blog World

2009-02-24T16:27:00.000-05:00

Boom fixed it. Thank Goodness for Boom.

i'm mad

2009-02-22T22:35:00.004-05:00

i am so mad--i did something wrong and now my profile and fun junk that goes on the right hand side of the blog is down below where it doesn't belong.... grrrrrrrr.... i don't know how to fix it either. HELP!!!!

Who Is She?

2009-02-22T15:27:00.016-05:00

I can't be mad at her really. In a manner of speaking, we are cut from the same cloth. Toots is a NIGHTOWL, just like her Mama. I remember growing up and being "put to bed" at around 8pm, much earlier than Toots could fathom, and then being WIDE awake until 11pm easy, often midnight. My mother was brilliant--she MADE bedtime happen because she wanted a break.

I was then stuck in bed for hours to entertain myself with a couple of stuffed animals and my imagination.

When it comes to getting the PODS in bed each night, I haven't been so lucky! Our PODS have always swum year round, for a swim club that only offers NIGHT TIME practices....since they were teeny tiny they would arrive home at 9pm wet, frozen, in need of pjs, a snack and a bedtime story.

The bedtime goal for Toots is 10pm, at the very very latest. (you gasp!) Mind you, they don't get up until 7:50am, when they roll out of bed and walk over six blades of grass and are in their classrooms. Trouble begins for me when she isn't tired. Bit and Bo always crash when their heads hit their pillows--but not so for Toots.

Toots created her very own PEBBLE BEACH GOLF COURSE in her bedroom the other night, in the dark and no one heard a thing.

When we awoke the next day-- her room was set up for playing golf. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS--NOBODY PLAYS GOLF IN THIS HOUSE. We don't own clubs, balls, tees-- zippo. Burke and I couldn't care less about the sport of GOLF. Where did this come from? This wasn't a putt putt golf course she saw at Myrtle Beach, SC-- Toots, in the dark, devised a putting green, complete with all the green articles of clothing she could find in her closet, she made signs for where "children 8 and under" could putt from and where "children 9 and above" should putt from. She posted how much it would cost to play golf at her golf course!

She has her piggy bank out so she can collect golf fees.

She built in "water" as a bunker. She was obviously coloring and cutting at her desk, perhaps by candlelight?

She built in "Sand" as bunker. I concluded this from the color YELLOW.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Until I woke up 3 days ago-- I didn't know the word BUNKER and GOLF went together and I personally had never uttered the word "BUNKER" before in my life.
I thought a bunker meant WWII and Vietnam firing holes. Think PLATOON.

Apparently--she was keeping score of what she was shooting in the dark. Did she birdie? Was she one stroke below par?

But the Pièce de résistance-- she fashioned-- in the dark, mind you--a golf club bag out of paper, complete with shoulder strap--and then went into her closet and BROKE two white plastic hangers and made two golf clubs!!!!! Who does this? Who is she? Where did she find the golf ball and tee? What the heck?

I asked her the next day, "Do you want to play golf, Tooter?" I don't think she really does-- she just liked inventing the golf course. What is she going to be when she grows up?

6th Grade Birthday Party

2009-02-20T09:04:00.002-05:00

I'm telling you-- moving those boxes of pictures into the house has lead me to more nostalgic moments than I've felt in years! In the initial sampling from the attic boxes, I brought down the Brownie picture, the band picture, a letter I wrote home from camp, a picture of the Bear, and several pictures of my fellow Brownie leader, Cathy and me, when we were terrors at 15 and 16. It is hard for me to believe that my daughter is the age we were in those photos and her son is the age she was in the photos--Life flies by and it has been pretty splendid, I think.

Here are two pictures from my sixth grade BD party, I was turning 11 and my Mom invited every girl in my grade and neighbor friends. It was one of my last BIGGIES-- we went and ate pizza at Pizza Hut and then went BOWLING! This was back in the day when you could stuff a million kids in a station wagon and didn't have to worry about seat belts. I'm still stuck in that error. Seat belts are annoying. At this party, for laughs, we unscrewed all the Parmesan cheese and hot pepper shakers in the Pizza Hut and thought we were so clever. We were very rowdy and unmanageable in general.
In these pictures, I see Janis B. Anne Harrison. Anne Cable B. Andrea M., Marinda S., Heather G., Carolyn D., Sabrina W., Carolyn B., Sandy K., Ann Hemmons, an undetermined Brumley twin-- I'm guessing Nancy but it could be Marie., Princess Jananne R.(kid's real name, I swear), Durann W......
My mother cashed it all in on this one-- I don't remember getting a good ole Bear BD party again until I turned 16 and 17-- fear not-- I have pictures from those events to prove it.

I don't know what happened at the ages of 12, 13, 14 (boarding school) and 15? I surely didn't suffer in the slightest. However, I like seeing the cast of characters in these particular two pictures... the best part is that I still see and run into many of these girls from day to day and certainly hear legend and lore of what happened to the rest of them....Today, I'm just groovin' on sixth grade birthday fiestas and how much fun they can be.

My Trombone

2009-02-19T09:44:00.006-05:00

Serena Russoli and Anne Harrison--Sixth Grade-- 1977

Much to the dismay of the eldest PODS-- I play nothing musically and can't carry a tune. I am tone deaf. My poor parents forked out big bucks for guitar, piano and trombone lessons. I had more years of recorder than I care to remember--and when it is all said and done-- I play NOTHING.

I decided early on that each of the PODS would master some musical instrument. The contract that should be issued to a young person embarking on the quest for music and melody is this-- you will practice 5 or 6 days a week, every week, for the rest of your life. End of story.

Bit can wail on some violin--if she is moved to do so. Bo can play the piano and REALLY enjoys it and loves when he gets an hour lesson vs. a half-hour lesson. Bo dropped Sax rather quickly after a couple months a year ago. But he rallied and is approaching a year of guitar, as a secondary instrument. Clearly the first love is the piano.

Toots--poor Tootkins. This year we began piano, last year was violin. I have been forcing, policing, bullying, and demanding musical practice for so long--that I no longer have it in me to instruct, sit-with, and make music happen for Toots.

She was babbling something about the flute the other day. It will make me really sad if we all manage to survive this journey and only 2 of 3 can make music. I wish with all my heart that I could play an instrument-- I think this is one of the greatest gifts I can give them.

Bear

2009-02-18T00:00:00.001-05:00

The house I grew up in downtown Chapel Hill was sold the last week of 2008. There was a final crush to get all of the stuff that was stored there out of the house. Naturally, I got boxes and boxes of pictures and memorabilia. Two weekends ago--our garage got cleaned and those same boxes came into the house and were moved to the attic. (don't tell me about heat and damage--i know--it is short term storage!)

While the dear Burkester toted box after box to the attic, I parked my keister up there and went through a box or two-- GLORIOUS pix were discovered. Made me miss her more that I can express, not in a boo-hoo way or a depth-of-despair way--but in a we-got-short-changed-way.

My mom was the best mom in the whole world. She was beautiful, hip, funny, loved everyone without exception. I suppose I look like more like my dad-- but I have a lot of the Bear's expressions. I'm going to post Bear pix for awhile. It is soothing to my soul.

A Tale of Two Brownies

2009-02-17T09:38:00.005-05:00

Serena Hess Russoli: Flying Up Ceremony in the Rose Garden, Allentown, Pa
May 19, 1975 (8 years old)

Holly Elizabeth Hutcheson: Brownie Meeting making Valentine's for Senior Citizen Community, Durham, NC
January 20, 2009 (8 years old)

34 years apart-- 2 little girls that love being a Brownie

No Mandisa Monday Today!

2009-02-16T23:42:00.005-05:00

I'm tired of Mandisa. She is officially a 1 year old dog. January 14, 2009 was the big day.

She is still the most un-house-trained dog to walk the earth. She chews everything she can get hold off and she climbs up on furniture and tables and get things you thought were safe! Recently Burke had a crew come and spot clean the carpet in all four bedrooms upstairs. Nasty little pee spots. I really was thinking about surrendering her to the pound. She remains only because of my PODS and she makes Martha a complete dog.

Let's talk about the book SKINNY BITCH. That is the dumbest book. I thought, hmmmm, I'm tired of being fat, sure I'll read the book SKINNY BITCH. Guess what? Hell NO. I can't even pronounce half the foods they write about. I like the concept of eating only Whole Foods and organic-- but please it is pricey and just plain hard to do. I need six heads of romaine at a Sam's Club price--pesticides and all.

I like being a flesh eating, coffee consuming, sedentary person. I'll just be a PLUMPER BITCH. I will credit the authors of SKINNY BITCH, for a writing style that warms my tiny heart.

We had leftovers tonight for dinner. They were tasty and lots of 'em. I'm going to begin an exercise campaign AGAIN tomorrow. Girl Scout Cookies arrived--165 boxes need delivering... Toots earned the COOKIE DIVA pin. It is most cool. Worth the suffering of delivering all the boxes, for sure.

I'm still processing the funeral yesterday and my friend's life-- 1000+ people were there.... His death is the saddest thing. The pastor had a meaningful eulogy and his sister spoke on behalf of the family--she did a FABULOUS job.

Until tomorrow-

2009-02-14T16:33:00.001-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day--to everyone I love!

Valentine Ninja Warriors

2009-02-13T01:11:00.001-05:00