Learned something

During tonight's "Family Night" I learned something about myself and my children.

We're dorks.

Dorky dorks who find a great deal of amusement and joy in looking at calendars. Especially calendars with pictures of dogs.

I also learned that my DNA has been expressed in my children in ways far beyond their beautiful blue eyes, evidenced by the fact that they were so happy to be in the calendar section that they didn't need to go to the kids' section at all.

I'm a proud, proud mama tonight.

Miscellany

Without anything deserving of a paragraph, here's a collection of bullet points. Because you know you like them.

• My daughter now needs daily showers.
• My dog needs to act her age (she's five and acts like a puppy).
• I'm not excited about all the touch-up painting that needs to be done at the house.
• I met a local blogger yesterday which was cool. There might be more on that later, as the story unfolds. At this point, it was just coffee and conversation. A little like a blind date, except less pressure and you already know a lot about each other (unless our blogs are both big fat lies, which could be interesting, too....).
• I hate the pedometer. With a passion. Because I can't get to that 10,000 step per day mark, even when I work out for an hour on the treadmill. And walk to work. And walk a lot at work. No wonder our nation is obese, if I can't get the recommended amount of exercise when I go out of my way to try. I'm never using that stupid pedometer again.
• There's something really cute about a kid getting out of bed because they just realized that they forgot to do some homework. It's even cuter when they keep thanking the parent who helps them. And cuter still when the child demonstrates her mad index and glossary-using skillz.
• Have I mentioned my kids' afterschool activities? Alex is taking guitar (second year for him) and hip hop dance. Susie is taking piano (third year) and cello (first year).

I love my life so much, even when I bitch about it.

The weekend

A few images from our weekend. Enjoy the tale.

Foreshadowing?


We were a little worried when the best feedback we could find about our motel was that it was clean and the owners were friendly. The view from our room was equally unnerving.



And the other direction? A view with sound effects at 3 a.m. Sweet!



But the room itself? Fine. Clean. A little like a sweet aunt's guest bedroom.


But the best part about the place was the wraparound porch. Our group occupied five of the inn's eight rooms, and we used the porch from the kids' bedtime until the wee hours. And since the rooms had screen doors, we could leave the kids in the rooms, sleeping, and feel not a bit like we were abandoning them.



But we didn't go to Branson to sit on a motel's porch. We went to have fun! And the kids sure did!

And in a stunning moment of irony

The hot librarian just gave me a prize.

Wait for it. It's awesome.

And because I'm so very surprised to have received this award, I'm going to have to wait a minute and maybe breathe into a paper bag before I can award it to anyone else. (Plus, hello! I read snark! Not nice!)

Okay, I'm feeling better, not quite so lightheaded. And maybe I'm ready to give some prizes.

First, I'd like to give this award to Sarah and Izzy because they were both so welcoming and nice to me at BlogHer. Nobody forced them to hang out with me but they did anyway, and that made me feel so happy and accepted.

I met Katherine at BlogHer for about 30 seconds, but I've been blogstalking her ever since, and I think it would be great fun to live in her house. Except I'd weigh about 30,000 pounds in a month because her cooking looks very delicious.

So there it is....me spreading the love. Or whatever. Please don't start singing or holding hands. Please.

Back!

With little to say.

There are many pictures on my camera, but my camera and my computer haven't had a chance to talk to each other yet. And honestly, the pictures tell the story of our weekend far better than I do.

But hey! I did something nice for someone yesterday, and maybe it'll build up some good karma for me. Because that's the real reason I do anything nice, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I am hard and mean and not at all sweet, no matter what my mom says. Seriously, I've been talking so much smack about so many people that I figured I had to do something kind and life-affirming or I'd be going straight to hell. And I probably bought myself a little bargaining room yesterday. So thanks, Melissa, for the chance to do a good deed! Sorry about your tires, though (honest, I didn't do it!).

Oh, internet, you're lucky you don't have to live with me all the time. Because lately all I do is bitch about everything. I can't blame PMS, nor can I blame pregnancy or menopause or anything else. I'm just grumpy and most things fall somewhere on the spectrum between "annoying" and "must kill". Very little is on the "great" side. To the point where I'm intentionally not drinking this week just as a test. And because I can't afford the extra calories since I've been eating extra chocolate. I'd love to know what my problem is. Other than the obvious stuff. Because it's getting tiresome, being such a bitch. I used to be nice and I only slightly remember what that was like.

Sorry to whine and run, but that's all I've got.