Happy St. Patricks Day


and now, today's guitar finds.....

Gee-tar 3-4-5-6-7-8

Found the next six guitars today.

We also had a guest searcher along.
Elisa
(who Joey hopes to marry one day)
hung out with us and searched for our art gee-tars.

Art Art Art

Guitar Number 1
Blanton Art Museum

Guitar Number 2
KXAN Studios

The kids were so patient while I worked today, I decided an afternoon escape was well earned. So we started on a quest. Austin has 30 ten foot Gibson Guitars around town, all decorated up, and the kids have loved spotting them from the car. So today we made it our official quest... we are going to photograph every one of those babies. We photographed 1 and 2 today. Number one was at the Blanton Art Museum at UT. Once we got to the museum we found this super art installation outside, AND the Blanton had free admission today. And of course it was the site of our first guitar. Here is the art:

And a little out of order, the museum....

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.....