Obsess Much?

I've been having a lot of thoughts this morning but nothing in particular is screaming for attention (except my citrus loving children who keep asking for more oranges).


Then this thought comes to me: I need to get a Dr Pepper. And I keep thinking about that wonderfully shiny can of deliciously satisfying Dr Pepper until I get up and get one.


Then I thought, "I bet I can find a picture of Dr Pepper online." You see, I didn't want to post the picture of John holding a Dr Pepper because it would bring back too many sad thoughts of betrayal and what not.... aaaand I'm feeling a bit lazy about taking a picture of my current can. (Besides, there's too much clutter around here this morning to get a clear, non embarrassing shot.) So I went to drpepper.com and found THIS:

Yeah, apparently they don't sell cans of Dr Pepper in their online store. Go figure.

**Excuse me while I go run the vacuum so that my boys can run around like screaming banshees......... OKAY. I'm back. I hope you didn't mind waiting. **

But while I was there, I discovered that under the entertainment link there is an online game (games are nice) and that you can watch a cute and funny little commercial for Diet Dr Pepper (which I don't drink). Oh. Sure. You can drink it if you want! I just realize that it's winter and our bodies need an extra layer of fat in order to keep warm in these frigid temperatures so a LOT of regular Dr Pepper and brownies help me out in that area.

HOWEVER, the most important discovery I made is in the "About" section. There is a timeline which shows you what Dr Pepper has looked like throughout the decades! You know, in case you were to time travel, you can know exactly what you're looking for without having to question whether it is a counterfeit Dr Pepper or something. I think it is a very thoughtful and informative slide show. I'm going to study it diligently, just in case.

ANYWAY... now that I have my Dr Pepper, what am I going to write about this morning? *sigh*

My Heart is in Haiti

This morning my thoughts and prayers are for the people of Haiti.

I've been there.

I've lived there.

I suppose it is like hearing your hometown was leveled. I'm familiar with it. Friends still live there.

Are any of the victims the children that used to hang on my arms? The ones with smiles and laughter despite their living conditions? Do they have their own children now?

Are the people I bartered and joked with now pleading for help?

And so I pray. Will you pray for the people of Haiti today?

"But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.'" Mark 10:27

This picture is of the Haitian flag with tears or blood flowing through it. Both are flowing in Haiti right now.

Woohoo! A Rant and a Pouty Session

I received my new camera yesterday! Woohoo! A brand-new-to-me camera! You see, I've been having "camera envy" when I see all these great pictures out there so I decided to use my Christmas money and buy a nice one for myself. After doing a lot of research (some may call it pestering my photography friends), I bought this one (because she told me to).

It's supposed to be this colossally awesome point and shoot camera so that I can take colossally awesome pictures now! It didn't come with a manual but, no worries, John downloaded the manual to my desktop for me. And it's only two hundred and some pages long. So.... I haven't read it yet. But that hasn't stopped me from trying it out.

Now that I have a new camera to pursue my interest in photography, I'll have to learn more about it. Yeah, learn more about both my camera and photography. First, I'll check in on Ree and Miz Booshay to see what photography tips they have for me. Then I'll ask questions of my friends; I'll try to limit it to, oh say, ten questions a day. Oh. Sure. Yeah. I'll read my manual too.

You might tell me that I could read Photography for Dummies but then I would be like, "What did you just call me?!" and I would so unfollow you (unless you are just too funny for me to stay away).


I despise these books. I don't even care if they are helpful. I look away when I see a display of them in the store so as to avoid even the possibility of being suckered by them. They call people dummies. And people call themselves dummies by buying them.

Dummy: Slang A stupid person; an ignorant or foolish person.
Stupid: Very slow of apprehension or understanding; marked by, or resulting from, lack of understanding, reason, or wit; senseless.

I love informational books (Learning is awesome!) but I just don't understand the success of books that insult you. *sigh*

Moving along...

I tried out my new camera to document what happens when Noah spills the salsa. See?

I can't believe that just happened. I'm devastated!

Don't even look at me!

Are you still watching?

What do I have to DO to show you how awful this is?

End of Pouty Session

My Milo, Episode 5

Previously...
Our long-suffering cat, Milo, went missing during a very cold, very snowy week. There was much worrying and fighting off of mental images of frozen felines.

The saga continued....

Okay. The worrying was all me. Thursday at bedtime, we prayed for Milo and his safe return. Afterwards Josiah says, "Our cat is missing?" (That whole "time is relative" concept is sometimes a blessing. My plan had worked! You see, I had purposefully not drawn attention to the situation in an attempt to prevent the boys from worrying.) When Josiah asked if we would make posters for him I told him that we probably would.

Our search efforts on Thursday night were unproductive. I walked up and down the block calling for Milo. I even had John dig out the sewer, which had been blocked by a wall of snow, to see if perhaps Milo had gone in there and been trapped by the snow plows.

Friday morning, John made the requested "Missing Cat" posters and placed one at each end of the block. Within just a couple of hours, we got a phone call from a lady who thought that it was our cat which she had housed for a night. When she wasn't able to find his owners the next day, she took him to the ANNA shelter.

John called the shelter and they confirmed that our description matched the cat there; however, the shelter is only open three hours a day and they were closing in 5 minutes. Seriously? Three hours? We had to wait until Saturday to (hopefully) retrieve our Milo.

John went to the shelter Saturday while I was at class. I gave him a call during my break. It went something like this:

Me: Hi. Whatcha doing? (asked just like Isabella asks Phineas and Ferb)

John: I got the cat.

Me: Our cat is home?

John: Yep. We had to pay $35 to get him back.

Me: Really.

John: Yeah, but while he was there he drove them crazy by spraying all the time.

Me: Milo was spraying? (He has never done that at home.)

John: Every time a male cat came near.

Me: Oh.

John: So they fixed him.

Me: What? They just neutered a person's cat!?

John: Apparently, he was driving them crazy and it was before we called.

Me: They didn't take out his claws, did they?

John: I don't think so... but they gave him his shots too.

Me: Huh. *inwardly thrilled that our cat was neutered and shot up for a mere $35*

John: They told me that he was spraying so much that they made the vet squeeze him in right away.

Me: Okay. See you later. *and there was much rejoicing*

Later, Josiah asked me what "fixed" means. I told him that Milo wouldn't be able to be a daddy now unless, of course, he already is. "He can't be a daddy? What if he already was?" "Well, then he'll still be a daddy but he won't have any more little cat babies", then recalling that he already knows that girls have the babies I added, "He can't help a girl cat have kittens anymore." The questioning continues, "Why not?" *sigh* After trying to gauge how much information he will need to be satisfied, I tell him, "They did a surgery that cut the tubes that carry the cat seeds to the girl cat." His next question was "Can he be a grandpa?". So I inform him, "Not unless he already has kittens out there somewhere and then they have kittens some day." The follow-up question: "Well, can he be an uncle?" Not sure where this is going I ask, "Hm?" Josiah clarifies, "If he meets a girl cat and she has kittens already, can he be their uncle or something?" I responded, "Yeah, sure." Satisfaction was achieved. *and there was much rejoicing*

To sum up: Cat was missing. Cat was found, slightly altered. No more man whore cat.

Doesn't he look thrilled to be back?

In a Minute!

I have class this weekend. There is one class tonight and one class tomorrow morning.

This is actually the snow-date class. The original dates were December 11-12 but a snow storm came, the roads were bad, and it was pushed back until now.

Guess what? I still have to finish my homework. That's right. Still.

Of course, the morning of the original class date I had laid out all the books and notes that I needed to write my two essays but then the class cancellation phone call came and I immediately re-prioritized my day. After all, I had just been given the time to catch up on the previous days' tasks. I don't remember what those tasks were but I'm sure they were very, very important.

My month in which to finish the homework quickly filled with shopping (that Christmas deadline was looming), decorating (Christmas again), planning (um.. yeah), cooking (there's always that except when I don't do it), celebrating (Christmas! and New Years! and football not so much), visiting (must be social), playing (new games, ya know), reading the novels which I received for Christmas (I certainly don't want to seem ungrateful!), and, yes, blogging (the monologue in my head has to come out sometime).

That brings me to today and I find myself just a bit closer to completion on the homework front. (The Mentalist was a rerun last night so I wrote an essay then.) It's not like the homework is hard; it will just take a block of my time. Once more I must bust out the books and notes and write that last essay... after I finish cooking a special breakfast for my guys.

I hear another storm is heading my way too.....

Wondering about my Wanderer

Dear Cat (or Milo if that is your preference these days),

I realize you are a well-liked, well-trained, gets-along-with-dogs, friendly cat and that others in the neighborhood may like to visit with you. However, you've been out visiting for two days and two nights now and I worry about you. Why have you chosen this cold, snowy week as the time when you don't come home at night?

Are you stuck inside another person's house thinking of us as we are thinking of you? I know you can be most persuasive when you want outside. Can you try to convince them that you desperately need outdoors for your *ahem* "seed sowing" time? Or is that what has caused this situation in the first place? Have you been tamed by a female feline?

I realize that you are a desirable cat. Your list of quality attributes is impressive for a cat:

1. You stay off tables and kitchen counters. That is a quality many cat owners only dream about. Give a big thank you to Nathan for that since it was his task to chase you down yelling, "CAT! CAT! CAT!" when I was otherwise occupied with nursing the baby.

2. You play well with others. After being brought to our home when you were a little kitten, you were immediately immersed in the atmosphere where young children and a curious dog were simply accepted as the norm.

3. You've never ruined a piece of furniture even though you have all your claws.

4. You cuddle in the evenings and are a great foot warmer.

5. You allow yourself to be picked up pretty much any way and any time. Again, a big thanks to the boys and especially Nathan for their training in this area.

6. You prefer to poop outside rather than your litter box which is a thoughtful attribute that I greatly appreciate.

7. Although you may sleep on the beds during the day, you know that downstairs is your designated territory for nighttime.

Milo, I want to know you are safe. Please come home! We love you and miss you.

Sincerely,
Your people

Stating the Obvious

Weather report: It's been a snowy week. (No! Really!?)

Perfect conditions for "snow swimming"

5-Day Forecast: Snow

Snow


Spitting Snow



Snow

More Snow

Okay. Maybe not THAT much snow.

Thank God for that spitting snow; otherwise our weather would be pretty redundant!

In other news....

Boys LOVE snow. So much so that when little Nathan went inside yesterday complaining of cold hands to his mother, he was not yet ready to give up on the snow play. He simply requested his mother to blow on his fingers for him and fix him up with a fresh pair of warm gloves. It is reported that he then said "Thank you, Mommy, for blowing on my fingers." before returning to the outdoors.

Economic news: Hot chocolate sales are soaring.

The Lookout

Here's the situation. My brother and sister-in-law, Micah and Holly, my dad, and myself are sitting around my parents' dining room table on New Year's morning. Micah begins to relay to me a story that my dad told him earlier.

This is my dad's story through the Micah filter:
"At 2:43 the neighbors across the street came home in their car. Got out and went into the house. But they left their car door open!
Exactly two hours later, he came out to close the door but then she got into the car and drove away. Only to return three minutes later."

Me: "What is this? The Burbs?"

Holly: (bursts out laughing) "You guys are scary. That's what Micah said!"

Dad: (chuckling and wondering what the Burbs are though aware it must be a movie)


Me: "Are you writing this down?"

Holly: (cracking up) "Oh my gosh! Micah asked him if he was keeping a log!" (Holly thinks I'm funny; she has an excellent sense of humor.)

Me: (thinking maybe we can get Dad some kind of recording device for his birthday so he can walk away from his big ol' Burb window more often)

Dad: (still laughing at us and himself)

In other news, my other brother, Matt, just got a scanner. He has probably been dreaming of this ever since he was a kid listening to my grandpa's emergency frequency scanner. I hope he keeps posting stuff like this on his facebook status: "I overheard the dispatcher ask an officer "are you on something?" Nothing like a lawman under the influence! (By the way, I do know what she meant.)"

My mom used to be a teacher and everyone knows that they have eyes in the back of their head.

My kids think I have an uncanny sense of knowing what's going on in other parts of the house. What can I say? It's in my blood.

So.... if you think you think you're being watched...

You probably are.

Now if you'll excuse me... I've got to stalk, er, I mean, check in on my other blog writing friends.


UPDATE: My dad called to let me know that it was he who shut the car door for his neighbor. Also, his neighbor has come outside and moved his truck after not being out in about four days (which is unusual for him) so he must have been sick and is now feeling better.
Steve (I think that's his name; I'll have to call my dad to be sure.), I'm glad you're feeling better.

Fashion Advice

Josiah was eagerly waiting for me to take him shopping with me. He had $4.37 in a plastic baggy and he knew he could buy FOUR things from the Dollar Tree. (The cashiers really like seeing that bag of coins pulled out. Heh heh heh) I had told him that I would take him to the Dollar Tree since I wanted to go to Kohls on one condition: He couldn't pester me about when we would leave while I was looking around.

We were agreed.

However, there was no stipulation that he couldn't pester me to actually get out the door and into the car and so he kept checking in with me to see when we were leaving.

At last, I said, "Okay. I just need to look in the mirror to see what needs done." "What do you mean?", he asked. "Well, I'll have to comb my hair and stuff.", I informed him. Always the helper, Josiah looks me over and matter-of-factly says, "I think you're going to have to comb your hair, put on some make-up, and... put your contacts in. Oh, and change your clothes because you're still wearing kind of pajamas."

Huh. This from the same boy who frequently forgets to comb his own hair and wears oversized, undersized, ripped, and stained clothes just because he likes them.

Thanks for tips, kid. How would I pull myself together without you?

Boots, Boys, and Boxes

I came home from work this morning to find this:

Of course, my first question is "Nathan, where are your clothes?" and the answer is simply "I don't need them."

While I am focusing on finding clothes which my child actually does need to keep warm around here, the words "trap" and "cat" and then "cat trap" filter through to me. "What are you guys talking about?" Josiah then directs my attention to their newest contraption. "Oh wow... Is the cat IN there? Okay. Let the cat out, please. Thanks."

I'm not sure if they placed the cat inside the trap or lured him in with his food bowl but he was indeed trapped and seemed very accepting of his fate. He emerged slowly when Josiah opened the trap door. Though I don't condone trapping the cat, I admitted to myself that their setup was pretty cool. Maybe they've been watching too much Phineas and Ferb....

Aren't boots and boxes cool? Of course, they would be nothing without the boys!