Really?

OMG!  Can it really be almost a MONTH since I posted anything here???  I wouldn't believe it, but I see by my "last published" date when I signed in that it has!  I bet you people thought I had died!  Well, except for my ONE for sure reader who also happens to be my bestie.  She knows I'm ok, cause I talk to her EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.  She's awesome.

But back to ME!  Let's see.  Thanksgiving was awesome.  Company like crazy and all my food came out wonderful (wonderfully? what's the proper grammar here?).  My husband said it was the juiciest, tastiest turkey he's ever eaten.  High praise from my marital turkey connoisseur.  And my giblet gravy was equally scrumptious, if I do say so myself.  So mark one holiday activity as successfully accomplished!

Did I mention that we also have several family members whose birthdays are between the last week in October thru the end of December?  Yeah, you'd think that would complicate things wouldn't you?  Well you'd be right!!!  So, in addition to the "normal family" (is there any such thing?) stuff at Thanksgiving, we also have to have a mini birthday party too.  That went pretty well also, except for the smaller children who couldn't understand why they couldn't also open ALL THOSE PRESENTS under the tree! ("But it's got my NAME on it!")  Second holiday activity...check!

So, now we're getting down to it.  Christmas is practically upon us.  Almost done with my shopping, just lacking a few stocking stuffers for my teenager who SWEARS she still believes.  (It might have something to do with the fact that.....when she was little she asked me if Santa was real.  And of course I said he was real as long as you keep believing in him.  The minute you stop, he stops bringing you presents.)

But before all that happy crappy, we still have a High School Band Holiday concert, tomorrow night.  Then a week from tomorrow, we're having our annual band fundraiser, Supper with Santa.  Much coolness.  The Jazz Band plays, we have a silent auction, we serve chili, Santa is there for picture taking.  A fun time is had by all, and a very worthy cause gets a much needed boost to its bank account.   Oh, and in there somewhere is one or two of those pesky birthdays.

NOW do you know why I've neglect you, my bloggies?  I will try (TRY, I said!) to do better in the future....

Happy Monday!

PS.....What's up with this crazy weather?  Had to have my A/C on yesterday and the heater today!  REALLY?

Things are lookin' up!

So......

• The Hubs GOT the job, so we should get his first paycheck right around Thanksgiving.
• I found out last week that I have some days left that I need to burn before December starts, so I get ALL of next week off work.  WITH PAY!  (That music you hear is the Hallelujah Chorus.)
• Munchkin has perfect attendance and got "Advanced" on a test they took last year, so she gets the whole week off too.
• Now I can concentrate on getting my house ready for all the company we'll be having next week for Turkey Day.  Thought I was going to have to have our gathering on Friday, because I need a day to get everything ready.  But since I'm off work (did I mention that was with pay??) I can now get everything ready on Wednesday and have our traditional TG!

So do you do the Black Friday Shopping thing?  I have a couple of times, but I can't say it's worth all the stress and frustration.  One year I went, and was really excited, because I nabbed the last one on the shelf of a Paula Deen cooking set that I really wanted.  And the price was really good too.  It was a big box, so I had to put in on the under part of my cart.  Now, here is just how crazy it was in that store.  When I got to the checkout it was GONE.  Someone had stolen it right off my cart, and I didn't even notice!  That's just a little too much if you ask me.  Plus getting up that early?  I just don't think I can do it this year.  And besides, I haven't seen any sales yet that I just can't live without.  I think I'll stick with Cyber Monday and do my shopping online. I think we'll just eat leftovers, and I'll scrapbook all day.  

Oh oh, and I forgot!  My BFF is coming on Wednesday for a craft day.  Yes, I'll be working on getting everything ready for Turkey Day, but I've been doing that for so many years that it's just second nature.

I'm so excited.  She's been cutting out vinyl on her new big Silhouette machine, and she's going to show me how.  I've got the small Silhouette and a Cricut, (I've even bought the vinyl!)  I've just never gotten brave enough to try it.

I'm going to be really busy, but I will try to take some pics and maybe even give you my Father-In-Law's famous giblet gravy recipe....(What?  You don't eat giblet gravy with your Turkey?  Where are you FROM?)

Anyway....stay tuned.....

Happy Thursday!

Melissa

Wednesday

Remember I told you the hubs was sick??  YUP.  He gave it to me!  So.....I ended up on the couch all day Friday with my snuggly blanket and tissues.  

So it's looking like I'm going to end up being about a once a week blogger.  At least for the rest of this year.

Because:

·                     My daughter is beginning drum lessons at the local (HA...an hour away) college to prep for auditioning for their band.  That's going to be taking up a good portion of our Saturdays.

·                     OMG the holidays are coming up, and I've bought ONE present!!!  I told my husband the other day that I felt a "spree" coming on.  Whether it was shopping or killing was entirely up to him!

·                     I have a list of Pinterest ideas a mile long that I'm dying to try.

·                     Christmas cards

·                     Have to get the house cleaned up for all the company coming for Thanksgiving.

·                     Still haven't taken down the Halloween decorations.  (Note to self:  Have Munchkin take down the Halloween decorations tonight....)

·                     Have to put the Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving so it'll look nice for all that company I mentioned.

·                     I haven't scrapbooked a single page in about 6 months, and I'm really having withdrawals.  I did print out a bunch of pics last weekend while Munchkin was at her lesson (hey, I'm all about killing 2 birds with one stone).  But I just can't seem to find a chunk of time to actually sit down and put a page together.  When I do, I might just post it for you guys to see!

·                     Did I mention the holidays are coming up?  Oh, and did I mention, I'm pretty broke?  The hubs has been between jobs, but cross your fingers.  He had an interview at a place he used to work, and they sent him for his drug test, so I'm hoping we hear back soon.  (Like, "can you start tomorrow?")

·                     So since I'm pretty broke, the fam may be getting more "handmade" than "bought" presents this year (provided I can find the time, and something cheap/easy to make!)

So excuse me while I go get started on all that....

Happy Humpday...

Melissa

Here I am!

I bet you guys thought I'd abandoned you, huh.  Been almost a week since I posted.  Sorry about that. Just way too many things going on.

The Hubs has been sick all week, and you know what a pain in the butt men are when they're sick soooo....

I can't use that as an excuse tho.  I've really been struggling with what to write about.  Lots of ideas, but none that are really forming into a full-on post.

I'm thinking about the hurricane hitting the northeast right now, and what all those poor folks are going to have to face in the next few months.  We had flooding here a couple of years ago, to the point where there was only one way to get to my house.  But luckily I live on a hill, and we didn't have any damage.  Just a little inconvenience for awhile.

So, on the heels of that, I'm thinking of the holidays coming up, and how thankful I am for all that I've been blessed with.  I think that might be a post all by itself, but I want to save it for closer to Thanksgiving.

I haven't (yet) done any "how-to" or recipe posts, but I'm thinking I might do some on my holiday meal.  I do the big Thanksgiving meal at my house, and I always get compliments on the whole meal.  If you're not from the South, you may not eat Giblet Gravy with your Thanksgiving meal....which is a real shame, because OMG!  When it's made right, it's to die for.  I have to say, tho, that I wouldn't touch the stuff when I was a kid.  (Not that I was picky or anything...Ahem....)  But after I got married, my Father-In-Law made the BEST gravy ever.  And we were lucky in that he taught me how to make it the Thanksgiving before he passed away.  He wasn't even sick, but somehow, he knew it was time to pass on the recipe.  So......I think it may be time to let others enjoy that recipe.

And I'm also one of those people that are addicted to Pinterest, and I have great and wonderful plans to duplicate all the wonderful crafty things I see on there. (Insert choir music here....)  BUT, I'm also one of those people that are what's known as procrastinators.  I'd love to decorate my house with all manner of homemade pumpkins etc.  But here it is, the day before Halloween, and NADA.  If it weren't for my daughter, we probably wouldn't have even decorated with all the cheesy stuff we've had in a box since LAST year.

And every Christmas, I plan to HAND make my Christmas cards.  I am really good about SENDING Christmas cards, but MAKING them?  Not so much.  I usually end up buying the $2 box of 30 cards and mailing those out.    And since I haven't yet started making any.....I'm thinking it's not looking so good for this year either.  (Sorry, family.  Deal with it.)

So......bear with my while I try to get my jumbled thoughts together and come up with some posts that will have some semblance of order to them. (Unlike this one.)

Oh, and in case I don't get back to you tomorrow.....Happy Halloween!!

So you had a bad day....

Well, not lately...this happened about a year ago, but I wasn't blogging then, so I'm telling you about it now...

October is by definition a busy month around my house.  My daughter is in band (I might've mentioned that...) and we have lots of ballgames and competitions during the month.  Needless to say, by the time October is over, I'm exhausted.  This particular day happened at the end of marching season last year.

First.....I had been battling a poison ivy breakout on my arms for about a week and a half, and it wasn't getting any better.  I decided it was time to see the doctor about it.  So I went, and ended up getting 3 different shots for it.

Next....my husband called, and had locked himself out of his truck, the house, everything.  We live about 10 min out of town, so I had to go home, and unlock the house for him.

Luckily (I guess??) we hadn't left for the band competition yet, which was 3 hours away.  He would've just been out of luck until we got back.

So, not wanting to tempt fate, I decided to ride to the competition with one of the other band moms.  The trip there was uneventful.  But after a trip like that, the first thing I want to do, is use the bathroom and get something to eat.  Then we usually settle in for several hours of marching band performances.  This day was no different, except that AFTER using the bathroom and getting my food, I stepped wrong going back to the bleachers, and twisted my ankle.  But I held onto my food! (Hey, I have my priorities straight!)

So I limped back up the bleachers and got settled back in my spot.  Watched several bands, ate my food, etc.  Later, when I was thirsty, I limped back to the concession stand for a bottle of water, which I promptly dropped UNDER the bleachers the minute I sat down.  Hadn't even opened it yet! (These bleachers were enclosed around the bottom, so there was no hope of getting it back.  I ended up sending a band kid to buy me another one!)

So I'm thinking this day cannot possibly get worse, right? By the way, don't EVER say that...'cause it will!  For most of the competition, we had been observing this group of birds that were circling on the other side of the field. (I bet you can see where this is going.....don't spoil it......just let me tell you.....)

Well, for the past couple of bands, they had been moving closer and closer to OUR side of the field.  So at one point, I heard this unmistakable sound.  Sort of a "SPLAT" kind of sound.  So I took off my visor, and yep, you guessed it.  One of those birds had CRAPPED on my cap.  I guess an optimist would say, "At least it wasn't your head."  I probably would've too, if the universe hadn't been crapping on my head all day!!!

So there you have it, my really bad, sucky, need a do-over day.

And the friend I rode down there with?  We got pulled over on the way back....15 min from home....


Happy Humpday....

Melissa

Kids say the darndest things.....

I think in my last post I told you about my now 17 year old kid, and homecoming, and spending money on dresses and blah blah blah...

Well, I thought today I'd tell you a (semi) short story about when she was oh, 2 years old.

I should start by saying that her daddy is a bit mischievous. (Understatement... ahem.)

So she comes by a bit of that mischief naturally.  One day when she was a wee tyke, we were sitting around not doing much, but she did something that was playful and cute (and I don't remember what it was.)

But her daddy got tickled, and said, "Heh. You little shit...."

Well, talk about indignation!  She straightened her self up to her full height of about 2 feet, and said, (and I quote...)

"I not a little shit!  You a great big daddy shit!"

I still giggle when I think about it.


Happy Thursday!

Melissa

Dresses and jewelry and shoes...oh my!

Sorry I've not posted in a few days....it's been a little crazy in my corner of the world for a few days.

On Thursday, my daughter called right after school and said, "Mom!  We have to go shopping!  I got Junior Homecoming maid!"

Now, I'm not sure how Football Homecoming works where you live, so I'll give you the 411 on ours.....

Our "high school" consists of grades 7-12.  Each class votes for their member of the Homecoming Court.  7th and 8th grade each get one maid, while 9-11 get two, and the Senior Class gets 2, plus the Queen. They vote about a week beforehand, giving the moms ONE weekend to find the perfect dresses.  Yes, I said dresses.  Plural.  They have to have one, for the presentation of the court at school, where the football players escort them out.  Then, that night, they have another presentation, at the game.  In that one, the father's escort them out.  Much ado and fanfare you see.  I'm telling you, it's bigger than prom.  (At prom you only need one dress.)

But you see, I didn't HAVE an entire weekend to find the dresses, because we spent all day Saturday an hour from home at a band competition. (The band did VERY well, BTW.  We came home with 8 trophies!)

So, Munchkin and I, my BFF, and her two nieces set out yesterday on the dress search. Oh, and did I mention that the nearest mall is an hour away?

The first place we went had a TON of dresses.  She tried on and tried on and tried on.  We found a couple of contenders but nothing that screamed, "the one."  She had looked online at several also, but none of them seemed to be in the store.

Then, after we had sent the nieces to go look at Sunday dresses for themselves.....one of them comes tearing back across the store with a dress that Munchkin had seen online.  (She was very proud of herself, not that I can blame her.)

I tell you, my child was MEANT to have this dress....not only was it in her size, and looked fabuloso on her, but when we checked out, we found out that store doesn't even CARRY that dress.  It had been returned one hour earlier by someone who bought it in another city 4 hours away!!!  Tell me fate doesn't exist!

So that took care of one dress.  Now, she's had homecoming maid before.  Once for basketball in 8th grade, and football in 9th.  (Yes, this kid is way prettier and far more popular than I ever thought about being.)  Anyway.  My "go to" place for these kinds of dresses has always been....well, a national chain, who recently changed its "business model."  I won't mention their name, but their initials are JCP.  Ahem.

Well, changing their business model is an understatement.  That store had FIVE dresses.  All floor length, which simply isn't done.  (Those are reserved for pageants, dontchaknow.)  And this skinny kid of mine wears a ONE.  These were well, let's just say, several sizes bigger than that.  And no, I wasn't in the wrong section.  This was ALL they had.  Very disappointing.

So we ended up back at another store where she had found a dress she "might" want, and got that one.  Black and sequins, and she's dressing it up with a (hot) pink belt, matching shoes, necklace, all that jazz.  It looks really cute on.

And it only took us 5 hours!!

I hate to admit it, but I'm gonna miss this stuff after she graduates...

Happy Monday!

Melissa