Been a long time my blogger friends
Oh, what a tangled web we weave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our town doesn't really have a REAL trick-or-treat: Today, Benjamin (via the Boys & Girls Club) got to "beg" at the local university. Of course, the college kids went all out, creating a haunted house and had a pizza party for them afterward!!!! Friday at 3pm (YES, 3PM) they can visit the local merchants downtown. THAT'S IT.....REALLY!!!!!! Don't know what the hell's up with these people?????????? OK, most of them are Bible beaters, so it's probably the whole devil/satan/going to hell thing!
Time is ticking away!
I have LESS than five complete days until I leave for Dallas! I thought for sure it would take longer than this to get here. Do you remember the days when it felt like a month to move a week??? Well, I think I've found hyperspeed!!!!! It feels like it should still be July, NOT mid-September!!!!!!! I have so much to do...I haven't started packing, still have a quilt to finish, still getting orders, UGH!!!! My poor family is turned up on its ear.
This image is by one of our favorite artists, Josephine Wall...this one is called, of course, "Time Flies".
The boys had a WONDERFUL time at the Gulf of Mexico. Due to the heat and water, we didn't get many pictures, but the boys are talking about it anyway!!!! Aren't they just adorable in my sun hat!!!! I think they are accepting the two month stint away better than Bob or I!!
Life is taking a strange turn....
We've had this doe coming into our back yard for a couple years now. Last year, she had a fawn; if this is the same one, this year, she does not. She likes eating apples, peaches, and persimmons off the ground and trees. After watching her for a while, she got spook when she saw Bob's red video camera light and hasn't been back. This morning as I was going down the road (a good way away from our house), I saw a doe run across the road. Knowing they don't normally travel alone, I slowed down and looked to her departed direction for followers. Without seeing anything, I traveled cautiously waiting for a runner. I flashed my lights at the cars coming toward me to make them aware of a possible "something" up ahead. Well, when I looked in my rear-view mirror, all I saw were brake lights and a little brown & white ball rolling in the grass. Thankfully the driver pulled over, but I'm afraid little Bambi didn't make it. I didn't cry, but it has effected me all day. I just can't imagine the Momma watching what happened to her baby without being able to run to comfort him/her.
On the lighter side of life, I'm in the midst of CHAOS!!!!!!!!!!!! This weekend we are going to Gulf Shores for our first REAL family vacation!! The boys have not been/seen water like this before. I can't wait to see their faces when we pull up. We're planning on going to a refuge which supports all the Gulf wildlife, like 2,000 lbs turtles, all the birds you could imagine (especially pelicans & herrons), and even alligators! I would also like to take a ride on a chartered boat to see if we can find some dolphins or manatees swimming in the Gulf of Mexico! I think Bob's even going to take Benjamin parasailing!
Of course, when we get back is when the real fun begins!!!! I'm going to have to start getting my stuff ready for at least FOUR weeks in Dallas. Then during Columbus Day week, I'll have to wash all my clothes and pack again for another FIVE weeks in Dallas. I'm planning to mail my sewing machine to the hotel and pack a bag full of only fabric & fabric accessories! The boys still do not know of my plans, but I'm waiting for all hell to break loose when they do. I've only been separated from them for a weekend throughout either of their short little lives. So needless to say, I might have to get a webcam to take with me! Please hope for the safety of the children, as Daddy Hitler takes over. He is so much stricter (and moodier lately) than I am. So hopefully they will not have dents in the floor where they've had to stand in the corner for weeks on end. But then again, he's usually nicer to them when I'm out of the picture, so hopefully this is the case this time. I couldn't imagine spending 10 weeks in his wrath!!!!We got through the visit unscathed!!!
Convincing the unconvincable...
OK, Bob is still not convinced this IRS deal is a good thing for the family. HELLO!!!! More money, better opportunity, he gets to be a SAHD with no children from 7-3!!!!! This man has it MADE! Yes, I will be gone to Dallas, TX for about four weeks, but he still has my M&D to help out if need be...did I mention he pretty much has ALL DAY to himself since both boys are in school??????
The boys were very excited to have a (very short) visit from their Papaw. My parents (and grandmother) came over for dinner last night as well. Bob made the BEST meal ever - BBQ pork chops (on the grill), doctored baked beans (10 lbs!!!), and mustard potato salad from Walmart (4 lbs!!!!). I haven't hit the scale yet this morning cause I don't want to see the results!!!
La la la la la la (to the tune of the Smurfs, of course)!
Benjamin is becoming such a young man. His fifth tooth has started coming through the gums, so it'll be knocking out a few more soon, I'm sure. He can make the most awesome whistle, though!!!
Cohen is being effected horribly by the full moon. For those of you who also have kids affected, the next one is July 7...so I should be griping again around then (Benjamin is the week of and Cohen is the week after). It's like PMS, you really only get two good weeks out of a month!!!!
Speaking of PMS, I'm pretty sure my ovaries are still doing their job but failing miserably. The last estrogen count I had was 57 (which is usually what menopausal women receiving hormone treatment are), however, my other test which shows if you are or not in menopause said no. But the rheumatologist told me to be on the lookout for: Irregular periods & Decreased fertility were taken care of by the hysterectomy, Vaginal dryness - don't think so, I'll have Bob check ;o), Hot flashes - I've had some major ones lately, but then again I don't have A/C, Sleep disturbances - This is normal for before the hysterectomy, Mood swings - Hello, my whole life is a mood swing, Increased abdominal fat - Have you seen my apartment?, Thinning hair - I could actually use this one, Loss of breast fullness - Great, they are going to hang lower than they did before! I guess in this case I could be on my way...Yeah, another surgery to remove my ovaries (I'm only excited because she said she'd give me a tummy tuck too while I was there!!!!).
Nothing truly special...
I just wanted to say hello to all my goofballs out there that like to check in and see what's happening in the world of "Sharp". Not much really, we're dealing with the typical summer chaos. Benjamin goes to the Club everyday and is enjoying immensely. Cohen is having a hayday at Nan & Pap's. Bob has sold some cars, but I don't know if it's enough to clear his guarantee. I'm just trying to keep myself from sleeping too much. I need to finish Ms. Traci's clothes, so she can enjoy them before the Ohio summer fades away. Still waiting on UM to call and offer me the Grant Administrator job, but the good thing is they are also looking for the supervisor to this position, so maybe that's why they are taking so long. Our second batch of little birdies have left the nest in the crook of the porch. We still don't have air conditioning, which is showing to be miserable as the heat index rises. Bob has a few more things to do (which hopefully he'll finish on Thursday) then we have to get the certified guy out there to hook up the last remaining items. I am hoping by July 1, we will have AC. Get to go for a colonoscopy next Friday to determine the origin of all the abdominal discomfort, pain, and bloating (tired of looking like I'm 5 months pregnant when I've lost weight!). Hopefully this will help in the correct arthritis diagnosis as well. Learned my biological nephew has rheumatoid arthritis which may just throw me into that category anyway. We'll have to wait and see...Rheumatologist isn't again until August.
