Rodeo Days

OK, so am I a good mommy or what? On the very first day of Spring Break, I'm feeling guilty because we aren't going anywhere for vacation with the kids. I decided to take the three out to see the Fair/Rodeo/Carnival Food at the Expo Center. We drove out, played on the free cat food display (inflatable blow up bouncy thing), we looked at the petting zoo, got milk from Elsie, dined on the midway and rode (very few) carnival rides. We had two suspected cases of funnel cake sugar overload meltdown during the trip. But it was glorious weather and there were no crowds at all. So I consider it a success, but next year -- no funnel cake!

You may not be able to see in the photo, but this dining establishment is called International Cookhouse, and one of their spotlighted entrees is Frito Pie, hmmmm, fan-cy.

The funny story behind this photo is that the buffalo hide welcome mat to this teepee had it's eyelids still on, and sewn shut, so the kids would NOT step on the rug. They sort of leaped into the opening.




Rock Climbing wall, Joey has on his Omnitrix wristband.

Monkey Max

Ooooh, Elsie's baby Beauregard is sooooo cute.....

Hook 'Em

Need a job?

House of mirrors, Emma and Max scrambled right in, and Joey tried to keep up, but twice I heard him go right into the glass, face first. He did not think to put his hands in front of himself, and couldn' t hear me telling him to do that from outside the ride.

Maybe she gave her child a funnel cake.

Takin' Care of Business (Photo-wise)

I've been too busy to post news lately, but here are some recent events in reverse order: Arts by Bryker Woods wrap up meeting, Max turns 8, and Max has a bowling party. Joey before haircut is also in there, completely out of order..........

This was our victory party.

Or was it our own special brand of PTA meeting?

Either way, after our big AxBW (Arts by Bryker Woods) Art Festival, the committee had a mandatory meeting at El Arroyo. We enjoyed a few pitchers of frozen margaritas, some nachos and well deserved time for us Mommies to unwind and have some fun. For our event, we had over 400 people come to school Thursday night, enjoy art and performances and poetry made byour students. It was a lot of work and a great success--and a very cool committee with all my best Bryker Woods buddies!

8 year old and Zebra Cake!

Max's favorites -- new Webkinz animals!

Joey just prior to his last haircut. He likes the way his hair looks long, and even though he flirts and chats non-stop with Darlene, his stylist, he always breaks her heart by crying when he gets a look at his new, shorter hair.

Finally getting around to putting up my brother's OSU flag. I flew it because OSU beat UT in regular season this year. However, we had much better success in the National Championship than the Buckeyes... oh well.

Frank at Max's 8th Birthday Bowling party.

Dart Bowl Rocks!

Amir loves to bowl.

Beautiful Movie

I just re-watched the ending of a lovely movie. Stranger Than Fiction with Will Farrell was like a little gem.

Texas Independence Day

March 2 is Texas Independence Day, March 3 is Max's 8th birthday. Which reminds me we've been back from Seattle exactly 7 years today. The ten years we lived there flew by like the blink of an eye, and these 7 have done the same.

Four good friends,
Hot waiter,
1.5 Frozen ritas with salt (I shared the second with Betsy)
Good conversation,
Salty chips and spinach queso,
My favorite radio show on the drive home (KUT's Phil Music... kut.org)
Plans for mommy date at the park tomorrow.


I'm getting back to normal.
Smile.

Finally, an update

It's been a while since I've written anything. Soon, you will know why.

It happens this way every spring. There is usually a two week period in there when all the shit hits the fan. (Sorry, but putting it more politely than that just wouldn't capture the feeling). It's being too busy, and having that time where everytime you turn around, you owe someone hundreds of dollars both hitting at the same time, you know - shit hitting a fan.

First off, it's time for a big spring event at our elementary school. It's called Arts by Bryker Woods, like South by Southwest here in Austin. We have an arts event in the evening. Lots of visual art hanging in the halls, poetry slam, live performances at several stages around the school and dinner. I love this event, because about four years ago, it was how I met one of my lifetime best friends. I also met the whole crowd of ladies I hang with today. But I'm in charge of dinner and that freaks me out a bit. This week, it is ticket sales before school and after, depositing money, etc. Next Thursday, it is heading to Sam's, buying food for 400, and cooking that night. Getting volunteers to sell tix this week and serve lasagna next week is what keys me up.

Couple that with the little job that is hanging over my head and threatening to start. (Still hasn't started yet)

Finally got oven fixed last week. Asked repairman what the clunking sound the fridge has been making for months might be... needs freon or compressor going out. Damn. Shit. Fan.

Emma and Max out of school Monday. Me reading to Joey's class on Tuesday. Joey out of school Wednesday and Thursday. Wondering why a preschool needs two days off for conferences (the second round this year...) and why they have TWO MORE DAYS OFF for conferences in April. Um, this is preschool, not Harvard. Damn!

Gabby, the cat, eating away at her tail till we took her to the vet Monday. Brought her home after a $350 operation. $350!!! Damn! Shit. Fan. And our wild outside cat has to wear the hood and stay indoors. His whole butt and half the tail is shaved with a shunt draining... whatever. I almost hurled when I saw it. $350!! Damn!

Max's birthday and party on Saturday. 12 boys bowling. Cupcakes for school on Friday, cupcakes at party and cake for home.

Girl Scout troop has Thinking Day on Saturday. Presenting report about Italy. Serving Italian food. Presenting Italian facts. Fun event, just a busy time.

Then there is the issue of Max's arm. He has a lump. We are supposed to get it removed. There is a problem with the insurance, so we are trying to convince the surgeon's office, David's office HR, and the Health Network to get their act together and find us a preferred provider.

Now you might be thinking, "will she ever stop complaining?". Yes I will. As bad as all that sounds when I'm having my pity party, I know how to fix things. I sent an email out yesterday for emergency girl's night out. The friends have come to my side quickly. We meet tonight for a relaxing hour or two at El Arroyo. And the ultimate fix is just two weeks away. My annual girl weekend with my middle/high school buddies. That is like a shining beacon in my calendar and I CAN'T WAIT. It is the perfect fix for fans.

Holding Pattern

About a week ago today, I got an email from a girl I worked for last summer. She has a new project. Her jobs are mentally challenging, a little intimidating, very technical, and quite lucrative. She asked if I could help on a very fast job, 40-50 hours over two weeks, and earn about $1000. I couldn't say YES! fast enough.

Anyway, the job was supposed to start last Wednesday. I quickly cleared as many obligations off my calendar as I could, delegated PTA assignments to committee members and braced for the onslaught. But then we had to wait for her client to sign a contract. So each day, I log onto the computer and hold my breath and the start date keeps sliding. The ten day window now contains several days the kids are out of school-- haven't quite figured how I'll manage to get productive work done those days. Joey was out of school today. The big kids are out Monday for conferences and Joey's school is out next Wednesday and Thursday for some reason.

On top of that, I'm in a major role in an upcoming PTA evening event. I'm in charge of feeding about 400 people on March 8. And Max's birthday (and party?) are March 3.....

So, do you want to hear the positive development? This waiting time has gotten me working on everything I can think of toward getting stuff accomplished. This weekend I finished the last two thirds of the garage clean out. I think I collapsed over a hundred cardboard boxes! I also found (and asked David to remove) a mummified squirrel or rat. ugh.

So, anyway, when I lie in bed early each morning, and I feel the stress bubble up after I remember the upcoming project, I think about the garage. Today around lunchtime I even went out and looked at it. Because that's why I took this crazy job, to save some of the money we need to renovate it into our studio/storage/possible guest room. Hopefully without mummified mammals.

Joey tells a story his way....

Super Ham

Joey's Play Time

Joey and Mr. Fisk, one of the two teachers in his class this year. But, sadly for us, today was Mr. Fisk's last day. He got a job at Dell. So right after the play, there was a going away party for Mr. Fisk.

Joey and Remy, during one of the five or six "pose photos" they wanted me to take.

Joey and his buddy, Remy

Three little bears and their porrage.

Fairy Tale Theater

Yippee!!!!

We are done, done, done selling Girl Scout Cookies!!! Yippee!!!!

It's been about three weeks, and Emma set a goal high enough to get a PDA (little electronic address book/calendar) that I could have probably spent $5 to get at Target... but, beyond that, I am so proud of her for setting a high goal and making it!!!

And we are done, done, done!!!!

Drama

Today I stopped at the post office to mail a few eBay boxes. Joey was with me, and we went inside to find only a couple of other people in there.... some retired ladies. Yes, moms and kids and retired ladies make for small crowds at 1:00.

We walked in and I heard every person in the post office coughing. Then Joey started to cough. It sounded like a TB ward, and I just knew I'd catch some crud. Then I got the overwhelming urge to cough. There we were, all of us, hacking away. I was looking for smoke since my throat was just stinging. And one of the ladies told me, it's not a cold, something happened. I got to the desk and the post office lady told me someone had a canister of pepper spray that accidentally went off just before we got there. She said she would probably be sick by the time she got home.

I was getting about three good breaths to each bad chemically one tearing up my lungs, then it changed so that every breath made me gag-cough. The lady was weighing my boxes and I was trying not to cough so hard that I would throw up on the desk. I sent Joey outside to wait, held out my credit card and almost just left it there for her to ring up while I ran outside to breathe. I just wanted out of there.

In the confusion, the clerk and I both forgot my biggest box should have been media rate. So I lost quite a bit of my eBay profit with the upgrade to postage, but by the time I figured it out, in the car, there was no going back.

And there, in the Terrytown Village parking lot, where many of the West Austin moms I know from Joey's preschool do their business, I did a nice farmer's blow. I just didn't care at that point who saw me snotting it out of my system.

So be thankful there is no photo to post today.

Mexican Folk Art Sale

One of my friends, Lindsey, knew these girls who were selling a LOT of Mexican Folk Art. Their mother had been an importer and after she died five years ago, these sisters wanted to hold on to everything. This year they decided to sell the house, and its contents so they could begin the next phase of their lives. So they've invited friends, and friends of friends to come pick out some art (at rock bottom prices!) and take it to their homes. I got some great stuff last Saturday. There is another sale this week (Feb 3rd) in San Marcos, so if you are tempted.....

My demon on a bike.....

My first three paper mache Mexican dolls. I loved these so much I ordered 10 more and will hang the whole baker's dozen on a wall in the house.

This glass fronted cross holds the special toys of my children... it will hang in the kitchen so I can look at it while I cook.....

Emma is Ten!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful daughter.
We all love you very much.

Being nice brothers

It's going to be a cold, cold night. So Joey and Max are doubled up in Max's bed. There's no school tomorrow ( and possibly Wednesday!) So the fact that they will stay up later than normal looking at books and talking is not a factor.

New Year, new promises

My new year's resolutions are:

1. Fill out the paperwork for the will my neighbor will write. I live across the street from an estate attorney and she is even giving me "the neighbor discount".

2. Clean every cabinet and storage space in my house, and hopefully get rid of 10% in each location. I am most excited about this one. (evidence of boring life) I made a list of every cabinet, closet, garage, kitchen junk drawer, and I am picking one every day or couple of days. So far I've done the kids' closet, 1/3 of the garage (huge improvement!), and the cabinet over the guest bathroom. It feels good, although is completely invisible to a visitor to the house.

3. Walk Town Lake three times a week, increasing my ability to jog so that I can jog the three miles without stopping by the end of the year.

4. Not yell at kids. (already broke that one.)

5. Try not to say bad things about others. ie... no gossip. If I wouldn't be willing to say it with that person in the room, I won't say it. UNLESS I am talking about certain politicians.

That's it. Five. Five resolutions. Five hard for me resolutions.

Just got home...

Our hotel room view. We pulled chairs up to the window and just sat and stared late into the night, it was mesmerizing.

Central Park's Alice in Wonderland Statue

5th Avenue, and Central Park

We stumbled across so many things we didn't even know existed in New York, this sculpture just popped out of nowhere at us!

Peek a boo Chrystler Building view

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Walking in Central Park

RIP Godfather of Soul

Rockefeller Center Ice Skating Rink

Emma with Diana DeGarmo, former runner up on American Idol and the character Penny in the Broadway musical Hairspray.

Our first hour in New York, we stepped out into Times Square and couldn't belive our eyes.

Radio City Rockettes did a dance routine as these little soldiers.

Emma's walk through the city.

Our room looked right into Times Square, toward this end of the plaza.

We just got home last night from our wonderful trip to New York City! Emma, Gramma Lu and I stayed right on Times Square and were able to look down on all the action as the ball dropped. To be in the crowd with my 9 year old, would have meant parking in the square for about 8 hours prior to midnight, and we had too much to do on Sunday! I'm sort of disappointed we didn't stand in the crowd, but it was still quite an event to look down on.

There is way too much to report about all our fun activities. The highlights for me were getting to see Hairspray and getting autographs from the stars after the show, seeing the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall and their Christmas show, walking in Times Square at night when the signs made it seem like daylight.

We took a long tour of Manhattan which included lunch at Katz's Deli (When Harry Met Sally scene was shot there), and visited the church that survived across the street from the World Trade Center. The church was remarkable. It not only survived 9/11 and had that story to tell, but also survived when much of the city was burned by the British during the Revolution. New York was the original capitol of America and that little church (Anglican!) and was the home church for George Washington, Ben Franklin and all those guys. It still had gouge and scratch marks from the tool belts of the 9/11 responders. I was very moved by the place.

We saw the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, the Statue of Liberty, and the different neighborhoods in the city. We stopped in Sardis to see the charactures of the stars, and I located Katherine Hepburn, Lucille Ball and hundreds of others. We went to Grand Central Station, about which I had written a paper in college. Our tour guide was unbelievable and although I thought it was very "touristy" to use a day taking a guided tour, it turned out to be such a great choice. Now I know my next trip will have a day budgeted just for wandering around Soho.

Rockefeller Center Tree and Ice Rink, Saks Holiday windows, NBC studios for Saturday Night Live and the Evening News studio viewing were all so fun.

Emma and I walked up 5th Avenue (she was a trooper!) and ate lunch at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and we meandered through Central Park on a beautiful, clear, sunny winter day. The rain held off until our last morning, and we had crisp cool days in the high 40s.

I was determined to see a celebrity, and did! Bob Costas was in the building during our NBC tour and I was the only one to spot him. Kathy Genet:: Celebrity radar- ON!

We ate New York style pizza, Matzo ball soup, bagels, pretsils from street vendors. And lots of hot chocolate! We found a wonderful deli our last night there and we feasted on so much food.

I found New York to be safe, helpful and remarkably clean. And I can't wait to go back! I am a big city girl who was mistakenly born in Texas, and I just found the city to be so exciting... so if you are interested in travelling with me in, oh, 2008?, let me know.