Outsider Art - Exhibit A

Although the artist left this piece untitled, I like to think of it as, "Ples Pass the Catsup." The composition is dominated by a huge chandelier and a candelabra, which symbolize two sources of light for the feast of the century. The catsup, emblematic of yearning and nourishment, has dwarfed the humans in the work, giving us a sense of the futility of eating when we will only "want more catsup" at the next meal. Thankfully, as the superimposed text intones, it's all good.

Jeremiah Wright and Bill Moyers

I just watched the Bill Moyers interview with Rev. Jeremiah Wright. It was full and complete and thoughtful. It was exactly NOT what sound bites and our media have suggested about Obama's pastor.

I would vote for Barack Obama, Bill Moyers OR Jeremiah Wright to be our president. They are three thoughtful, intelligent Americans. And what is done during our political campaigns, the business of politics as usual, is so anti-American and anti-Democracy that it is shameful.

Watch the video of the interview for yourself (or read the full transcript) before you vote in November....
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04252008/watch.html

River Girl

I had a big epiphany while laying on my back in the middle of this river Saturday.

I am a river girl. My mom and sister in law are really beach girls, and don't get me wrong, I love the beach.... but in my heart, I'm happiest in a Texas Hill Country River.

I was laying next to a little waterfall on a rock in the middle of the Blanco on Saturday afternoon. I felt the warm sun, the cold water, saw the blue sky with big hawks circling overhead. Heard the rushing water and birds and frogs. Felt the breeze blow by. It was absolutely perfect. The water was crystal clear. And there was no buring sun, or sand in my swimsuit.

I had so much fun that I've decided to act on a plan I formed a couple of years ago. Here is my flyer, it goes out this week:

Butts Up!

Please join your buddies for the “First Annual Moms Only Before the Kids are Out of School For the Whole Summer River Trip”

When? Friday May 16 (if raining, we’ll go May 30)

Time? We drop off the kids at school at 7:45 and start driving to the River at 7:46. We’ll head back in time to pick up our little ones by 2:45.

Where do we meet? Near the BW parking lot

Bring? $15 for tube rental + $20 for tube deposit + a bit extra just in case, cooler (Styrofoam not allowed!), beverages, food to share potluck style for lunch, camp chair, hat, sunscreen, towel, river shoes, and your funky self!

Who can come? Fun moms, the more the merrier! Forward this.

What if I have to work? Call in sick!

Little Max's Ghost

Because there may be ONE person who doesn't read my sister's weblog who reads mine... this is a long lost photo of Max. What is remarkable is the little person on the TV behind him. It is the future brother trying to call to Max.....

"M....mmmm...... Max-eeeeee....... I'm going to torment you in the future......."

shark mouth

Max is growing an extra tooth from the roof of his mouth. Yes, it is exactly as weird as it sounds. Yes, it is proof that one of my children is my genetic offspring since my mom and my brother each produced extra teeth (however, not from the roofs of their mouths)

We went to the dentist and he informed us that the tooth will of course have to come out, but that there was no rush and we could do it this summer.

Coincidentally, the oral surgeon who was the father of Emma's best preschool friend called asking about Architectural services for two projects he has in mind. I mentioned Max's situation and he offered a free consultation and xrays. Too bad I can't stamp the drawings and do the project myself or I could barter dental care for drafting.

Anyway, the dentist yesterday asked to take a photo. It really is that weird. If he gets a digital shot (using a special mouth mirror) at Max's cleaning next month, I'll post it. One of the teachers at school called it Max's Lucky Tooth, so he feels pretty OK about it.

Par-tay Oh 8!

A little glimpse into the secret activities that occur when four old friends get together for the yearly road trip.

Fortunately for us, what happens in Tyler--stays in Tyler!


We started our trip with a little surprise, Mary had made a DVD trip down memory lane, complete with high school yearbook photos.




Our lodging...outside...

... and, inside.

Shopping for steak and PJs

Breakfast on the deck.

When your B&B has decorations like this....

... you should expect some of this.

No longer allowed to dine in the presence of strangers.


Tyler Azalea Trail
We hadn't really planned the trip to see the flowers, but it sure worked out well.

Lafon, our friendly innkeeper

We had to stop shopping before we ran out of room.

Our last meal together, at Joe T's

Good food!

Wishing Rock

One of Joey's friends gave him a "wishing rock" today. Joey told me that anything you wish for with the rock comes true. For example, when we waited in the hall for the rain to stop after school, Joey wished he would find his black marker to draw with. Then he walked into his classroom and found his black marker in his cubbie. He also wished for food because I hadn't packed a snack, and then, in his room when he mentioned to his teacher that he was hungry, she gave him a banana.

He also wished he was a superhero, but that wish did not come true.

Max's Party

Max finally got his birthday party.... 13 days after his real birthday.
Bowling at Dart Bowl

Make Art

We worked on this piece of art for many years before it finally gave up the ghost recently. Some lucky Goodwill worker will enjoy repairing or dismantling this charmer.

Left over from Maker Faire

Last summer, when we were at Maker Faire, the Chronicle had a booth where you could make your own announcement. They posted some of the photos on their newspaper machines around Austin, and then the rest were posted to the Chronicle site.

I found the slip of paper with the weblink, downloaded these photos, then lost the slip of paper.

Look how hot we were! October that felt like August -- UGH! And summer is coming again. It is supposed to be in the 90's tomorrow, we might break a record -- DOUBLE UGH!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAXY! (and other news)

March third, our special middle guy turned nine years old. His birthday weekend was spent in Fort Worth enjoying opening day at Six Flags! That was a blast, then we had a family birthday cake for him on his actual birthday. Then his friend party has to be on hold until all his buddies get home from Spring Break. So this Sunday, watch out for crazy fun at Dart Bowl, Max's favorite place to celebrate.....


Other things I meant to post.... but forgot......

During cookie sales, this is what our recycling looked like on Fridays. Each of those case boxes held 12 individual boxes of cookies. The sale lasted 5 weeks, and our recycling looked like that each week.

Emma ultimately sold...... 1064 boxes of cookies! Woo HOo!!! She will get all sorts of goodies, and parties and receptions along with the other 1000+ sellers. But I am most jealous of the 1000+ Club patch. I really wish I would get one too!

Tried to donate blood with the girls one day a short while back, unfortunately my iron level was one point too low. So I just sat around mouthing the words.... "this part really hurts" right as the nurse was about to stick my friends.... (I'm a naughty slightly anemic girl!)

And of course, I did enjoy the post donation breakfast just as if I had donated... hopefully next time I'll be good to go.



Just got this photo of Joey's lost tooth out of the camera. His second one is wiggly and he's sad about losing it.
Emma finally got her birthday party, a few weeks late...but it was really fun. We invited a few friends to eat pizza at Mellow Mushroom on the drag (excellent pizza) and then we went to Amy's for ice cream, then home for gifts. A girls night out. I'm training Emma to enjoy girls night and I hope she has a lifetime of good girls' nights with her friends...


Now, that almost catches me up.... I just have about a three weeks of delayed chattiness to go before I'm up to current events. Hopefully I'll stay on track now, but if not, I've got a good excuse. I'm busy!!!!!!

A better photo than mine....

Girls Night Out

OK, so this post is called Girls Night Out, referring to tonight, but the post is going to backtrack about 24 hours.

First off, I'll say that Thursday night is my favorite time of the week. On weeks that I take Friday off, it is the beginning of my "golden day" when my weekend starts, and a full day before my family's weekend starts. Yippee..

So last night, I watched the Democratic debate and I was so proud that 1) it was at UT, 2) it was in Austin, and 3) Barack AND Hillary did so well that I could vote for either one. I was so proud to be a Democrat and eager to get to work getting the country back on track.

Then today, I went and early voted for Obama!

Did chores, but the house was my own so that was OK.

Then this evening had a girls' night out and saw our friend Luis and his beautiful artwork which will be at City Hall for the next year.

Then, of course some margaritas....

Then, the Obama rally at the capital with many thousands of my fellow Austinites....

Emma Did It!

On Saturday, Emma sold ME her 1000th box of cookies (Thin Mints). Since then we've sold 50 more and then stopped. YIPPEE! It was a wonderful relief to hit that super milestone.

Other news, my boss came over and gave us some excellent guidance about adding onto the house. Now instead of 50 variables about how to add some square footage, we are using his expertise and experience to narrow it down to one, very workable plan! YIPPEE! I slept like a baby that night.

I've got a handle on the kids' summer camps, need to sign up for those.

And on a sad note, a mom at our school and her teenage daughter were involved in a terrible wreck this weekend. And a high school age former student at BW was killed in the wreck But watching the Bryker Woods machine spring into action to support those families was amazing. Life can change in an instant, hug your kids extra hard every day.

903
9 days to sell 97 boxes....
unless they extend us two extra days.....

835.... sold 50 today!

Cookie update:
Emma has sold 785 as of Sunday night.
Monday and Tuesday are usually our best selling days.
I'm now afraid I've seriously underestimated the number of Caramel DeLites/Samoas we needed to order, although we have about 13 cases of Thin Mints. If they extend the selling period to include the weekend after Feb 22 (they almost always do that...) we should be fine.

Joey update:
He's going to school tomorrow!

Household update:
Tamaflu seems to be working, however I am actually (now) knocking the wood window jamb next to the computer.

Work update:
Very busy day ahead for David and Kathy

Weather update:
PERFECT! This is why we live in Austin, it is glorious.

Life update:
Going great, although if cookie time was over, I'd be much more relaxed.

749 boxes sold..... 13 days to go.

yikes!

Emma has sold about 650 boxes. We've just ordered the rest we will need to reach 1000, and I'm a little nervous......and.....

Joey tested positive for the flu.... so I'm wondering if a week of the flu for various members of the family will waylay the chance for selling all those cookies.

wish us luck!

The art of selling cookies.

Emma has sold 460+ boxes. Yesterday we got a new shipment which, when sold, will take us to 696. The sale goes until February 22nd, so mathematically, she could reach her new goal of selling 1000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies.

However, since we often have the boys with us- and payment for good patient behavior is a hot chocolate, or donut- I will have spent around a hundred bucks on bribes, which could have bought about 50 boxes of cookies.

It's a delicate balance.

Wish us luck. A little later I'll describe the turf war we are in with another leader down on the drag. It is very intense.