A lot more good than bad

I actually am going to write a new post. Last week, Don and Shawn and I were in Portland. We spent one day riding the TriMet trains through Downtown Portland.

We love the adventure of it.

At one stop, while waiting for a train, I saw a young mother with two little boys. She was talking to the oldest one about how she expected him to behave when they got on the train. Her youngest son was in a really old beat up umbrella stroller. I was really impressed with how she was with her boys. She sat by us on the train and she was just so good with her little boys it made me smile.

I suddenly had an idea that I wanted to do something nice for her. I quietly pulled my wallet to the top of my purse and looked in it to see how much cash I had on me.

I had 27.00.
Not much really.

But then I thought of my youngest daughter Courtney and how 27.00 to her is a lot. Especially if it's money she wasn't expecting.
So, I took it out of my purse and kind of folded it into the palm of my hand. When we got to the young woman's stop I quickly stopped her and handed her the money and told her it was for her and her sweet little boys.

I know it really took her by surprise but she was extremely gracious and thanked me and was a little choked up. I watched her as we went on by, showing the money to her oldest son and it felt so good to see how happy they were. I've decided that I'm going to try to always have at least 20.00 on me at all times in case I run into someone who needs a little shot of sunshine in their lives. Because, you know, it just felt so good to make a little difference to someone like that.

I know I'm not alone in doing these kinds of things.

After the week we've had, seeing the worst of humanity, but also the very best of it. I have to really agree with the sentiments that have been going around that there is much more good in this world than bad.

I really do believe this.

I think we have an obligation to this world to be nice and kind and to be on the lookout for people who need a little extra happiness in their day.

I don't mean money either.

Just to smile at people and to say kind things to them and have patience with them. Everyone is capable of bringing little bits of happy to those around them.

Sorry, if this sounds preachy. I don't mean it to.

I just want the good people of this world to so completely outnumber the bad. And I would love to hear about whatever you do to make someone's day a little bit brighter.

Do I remember 9-11? Of course I do!

I was as affected by 9-11 as every other American, and I realize I'm taking a risk of angering some of my fellow citizens, but when has that ever stopped me.
I am so weary of having the events of 9-11 crammed down my throat by the media.
They tell us what to think, and how to think it, and how we should be feeling and responding to that horrific time 10 years ago.

Today, on Today, they had five of the "children" of that day who had lost a parent. They had been rounded up by the Today Show to put "A Face" to the tragedy of those sad times.

Was it necessary?

Did it help me have more compassion and understanding of what so many went through that day.

No. It did not.

And the reason it didn't is because over the last ten years it has been used by the media, both print and television as one of their top "Go To" stories for those times when there just isn't much happening in the world.

In other words; Fodder for a slow news day.

I can just imagine the giddiness of those news-crews covering such a gut wrenching story as

9-11 Ten Years After

Back to this morning.

There was good old Matt with those children (most of them now in their 20's) who had lost a parent to the horror that was 9-11. Of course the Today Show has been keeping track of them during these last ten years.

And of course, in typical TV journalism fashion, Good old Matt Lauer wanted to know,

How did they FEEL?

Guess what? They were good. They have moved on. They have survived. In fact not only survived but by the sound of it flourished.

And guess what else?

They didn't appreciate all that much being forced to relive that day for the nice Today Show audience.
In so many words a few of them basically told Matt that they prefer to not think about that time. They don't dwell on it. They have;

Moved on.

Has anybody thought about that?

Has it ever occurred to anyone other than me that maybe, just maybe the victims of 9-11 don't really want their entire life defined by that awful tragedy? I'm sure it's occurred to a lot of people actually. I think that maybe someone needs to enlighten the media.

I absolutely believe in the "Never Forget" mentality.

Within reason of course.

One point I would like to make though, is I think what this means is to never forget the mistakes we have made as a people, as a country.
As horrible as 9-11 was it wasn't an event that we caused. I don't really think that any rational person still thinks "Well we brought it on ourselves, hopefully we can learn from our mistakes."

No. Of course not. 9-11 was the result of evil men with evil intentions, wreaking evil on innocent victims.
We have nothing to be ashamed of.

Now, if we really believe in "Never Forget" we need to remember the truly awful things we have done as a people.
The atrocity of slavery. We should also, Never Forget the way Black people were treated after slavery was outlawed. Did we take the chance to repair the evil we had done to the innocent victims of this most horrible chapter in our country's history? Did we engulf these newly freed people in arms of security and prosperity as we should have?
No. We did not.
Instead they were thrown from the frying pan into the fire. the . Segregation, discrimination, horrible Jim Crow laws. Evils that to this day still exist, in part, in certain areas of this country.

We need to Never Forget the forced determent of Japanese citizens during World War 2.
Innocent families rounded up and forced to leave their homes and everything they owned and sent to what were basically concentration camps in THIS country. Most of those victims of US stupidity never got back their homes or property, their jobs, their previous lives.

When was the last time you heard this evil remembered.

The Joseph McCarthy insanity.

Women and Blacks denied the right to vote.

The Trail Of Tears i.e.The deplorable treatment of Native Americans.

There are many wrongdoings that we as a people need to remember and learn from.

9-11 is an event so awful, of such incalculable harm, that yes, we still feel it's effects these ten years later. So of course we will remember.

Erect the monuments.

Engrave the names of the victims.

Grieve for the families who lost loved ones.

That is only natural.

But stop contributing to the media's exploitation of that horrible time and let's all remember in whatever way seems appropriate to each of us.
I will never forget that day, that week, that month, and the years that followed. I will never forget. But, I will claim the right to remember it in

my own way,

on my own terms,

and not the way dictated to me by the media.

I do remember, and I do care, but I refuse to feel any guilt if those early days have become somewhat hazy in my mind.
It doesn't mean I don't care, it just means that I'm human, I have a life, I have my own hardships and I have many happinesses as well.

That's how life is.

That's the power of humanity.

We remember.

But we refuse to let those memories stunt our further growth and development.

We heal and then we move on.

And thank God for that.

Warm nectarines and ice cream

I just had myself a near perfect moment.


I was out running errands, and had brought along a nice, fat, juicy nectarine . . . .

. . . for munchies.

After getting my nails done, and stopping in at Target for necessary Target stuff, I remembered that lovely nectarine.

By now after almost two hours of being in my car in the summer heat, that was one warm and super juicy nectarine.

I took that first bite and it was so dang GOOD.

I immediately started to think how it was too bad I didn't have a nice dish of creamy vanilla ice cream to go with it.

LIGHTBULB MOMENT:
I look across the parking lot and there is a nice friendly little McDonald's.

Oh Boy!!!!!

Five minutes later I'm at the north end of the parking lot eating creamy vanilla soft-serve and a delicious car warmed super juicy nectarine.

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH . . . . . . . SIGH . . . .


And then to make it even better. . . . .

. Satellite by Guster starts to play.


It really was a wonderful, happy, delicious, feel good moment.

And of course it made me think of my poor neglected little blog, and how much I wanted to share.

I did have one other thought at the time. . . .

Would I have enjoyed this as much at 24 or even 44 as I did at 54? I like to think I would have, but I don't know.

It's taken me a while . . . . .

to really grow up . . . . . . .


and set my priorities in order . . . . .



and today I did just that .

Susan's Fashion Flubbery

Another oldie but a goodie. This blogging business really is the closest thing to keeping a journal I have ever done.


It is quarter to six Monday evening and I am home alone.

I like being home alone.

It hardly ever happens.

And the reason I am home alone is because I didn't go to the function I was suppose to go to with Shawn.

Don went instead.

I was going to go to this function and then use it for fodder for my blog. Well obviously that won't happen now. But I just now realized that I can write a blog about not going.

Confused?

I will explain.

I wonder if any of you know Donna Tracy? I know that Kim and Richard do because apparently she lives by them. Well Donna is one of the sweetest most sincere people you could ever hope to meet.

How do I know her you might ask.

I know her, because she works, as one of the directors, at the ARC. She is the one letting Shawn be a volunteer this summer at Partners and Pals, the ARCs summer camp. Well Donna called me last Tuesday or maybe Wednesday ( I never remember details like that.) She called to tell me about a golf tournament, slash, fund raiser, dinner, being held tonight to benefit the ARC. The Arc has outgrown their current building in Richland and they are planning to build a new one to better serve their needs, and because of this they are doing various fund raising type activities.

Donna didn't tell me about this particular fundraiser because she thought I should be up-dated on the ARC's every move.

No. She told me about it because she wanted Shawn and I to go to it and kinda be spokespeople for the great programs through the Arc that Shawn has participated in and enjoyed so much.
I told her yes of course we could do it.

Then comes the STRESS!

It is being held at the Meadow Springs Country Club from here on known as MSCC. It will be attended by MSCC type people. People that have money to donate to causes such as this. People that are used to fancy dinners. People that know just the right way to dress for occasions like this.

People who are Movers and Shakers.

I am not a Mover or Shaker. I have no desire to be one either. But I do have a desire to help out the ARC because they are such a worthy organization, and they have done so much for Shawn, and for so many other people like Shawn.

So I told Donna yes, and then immediately started to freak out. I had absolutely NO idea what I would wear to something like this. She said she wasn't quite sure either. Something she said, like business casual.

Business casual?????

Even though I can picture what that would be for a man, after all it is a golf tournament. So the men will have on nice casual slacks and nice polo shirts. But I could not picture in my mind what that would translate into for a woman. Donna wasn't really sure either. She said that she was probably going to wear some nice slacks and a nice shirt.

AAAAAUUUUGGGGHHHH! ! ! !

I have nice casual clothes. At this time of the year, I wear mostly Capri pants and nice casual tops. I think I look pretty put together for a stay home mom. But, and this is a big BUT. I see women all the time that work, and look very polished and professional. Also I watch "What Not To Wear" and "How Do I Look. "

I have always wondered how Stacy and Clinton would pick me apart.

I don't have the slightest clue how to look polished and professional. I have always admired women that are, but that is not me. Well I decided to go out and at least try to find something suitable.

I went to Catherine's. The store for Larger Women. Because no two ways about it I am a Larger Woman. Now this doesn't really bother me too much, believe it or not. I'm more comfortable with myself now than I have ever been.

Okay, off to Catherine's.

They have nothing, NOTHING. Everything has a sailor motif with stars and anchors. Or jungle prints. And last, but not least, embroidered flowers. Mind you I don't have a problem with embroidered flowers.

FOR MY MOTHER.

Okay, I tell myself, don't panic. Where have you seen the kind of clothes you have in mind. Hmmm? Gee where do I spend the most time shopping and where do I buy a lot of my clothing?

Walmart.

That's right Walmart and I'm not even embarrassed to admit it. They have a lot of really cute plus size clothes. I can also fit into quite a few of their regular sizes in an extra large.

Yeah, Walmart, good idea.

Well I get to Walmart and start looking around and they suddenly seem like Super Casual Central. There are a few nicer looking, slack type Capri's. The problem is that they have cuffs and they are so long, that instead of looking like nice corporate type Capri's, I will look like I am ready for a flood. So, no, to the nice cuffed slightly corporate looking Capri's. Then I think, wait a minute. In my closet is a pair of very nice looking blue and white plaid Capri's that look really nice on me.

TA DA!

I will wear these. Okay pants problem solved. One less thing. Now what to wear with my nice blue and white plaid Capri's? I usually wear a cute white short sleeve top and I think I look pretty good. But, Usually when I see the women dressed the way I am hoping to dress, they don't have on knit tops. Oh No. Woven. It's almost always some kind of button down woven top. Okay. Okay, I tell myself. Don't panic. How hard can it be to find a nice button down woven top? I go back to the plus size section of Walmart. And there it is. A really cute, sort of young looking, woven, button down, plus size top, that even comes in white. And it looks like the tops I have seen in several other stores, which is good, because even though I do love to buy clothing from Walmart, I didn't really want to walk into the MSCC wearing something that screamed,

Yeah that's right, she bought me at WALMART!!!!


And, as luck would have it, it's even the kind of top that Courtney keeps telling me I should get. Okay, time to try it on. Now I am a little bit nervous because it has puffed sleeves. Puffed sleeves seem to be really popular right now. And even though I don't have a problem per-say with puffed sleeves, I do think that women with a certain arm circumference are best off avoiding puffed sleeves. I suddenly remember that, this is exactly why I haven't let Courtney talk me into buying one of these shirts. Oh well. Oh well. Desperate times and all.

I do end up getting a much bigger size than I need because those sleeves look SO TIGHT.

And as a matter of fact they were tight.

New dilemma.

Do I get the size that fits me all over but is a little squeezy on my arms? Or do I go with the comfortable arms and look like I am drowning in the shirt?

I decide to do what women have done throughout history. Suffer for fashion. I get the size that fits all over but kinda squeezes my arms.

Boy, if I were only in charge of sizing plus size clothing. Of course that is a whole different blog.

Now I have the top. I have the Capri's. What else do I need?

Proper footwear of course.

I have some really cute white slides that are just a little bit dressy without really being dressy. Yes, Yes, those will be good. But then I start to think. I have been wearing these since last summer and maybe they aren't as nice looking as they use to be because they have seen a lot of wear.

AAAAAUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!! AGAIN!!!!!

Well I finally came up with a solution that was so perfect I really don't know why it took me so long to think of it. Do you want to know what I finally did? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


I told Don to take Shawn and go to it instead of me.

PROBLEM SOLVED.

Shawn's little hobby

I'm into summer reruns right now at Nonlinear Thinking. And since my Shawn posts are some of my favorites I'm going to lead off with one of them.
And remember, if you haven't read it before then it's new to you!



I don't believe that I have ever mentioned Shawn's love of pencil sharpening.

He came by it quite early.

When he was in Elementary School, about the only behavioral problem his teachers ever had with him was his insistence on taking at least a good five minutes to sharpen his pencil.

And then to compound the problem.

He felt that his pencil needed sharpening at least a couple times a day.

His teachers quickly learned to use pencil sharpening as a reward for him.


He would be allowed sharpening time when he had finished whatever work he was being a bit stubborn about at the time.

It worked out really well. He did his work, he got to sharpen pencils.


As he moved through his older years of school, other inducements were discovered, by other teachers, but Shawn has never lost his love of sharpening pencils.

Now here on the Home Front, I have tried to always have some means of sharpening pencils. I don't use pencils a lot, but if I am going to use one I want it to be good and sharp.

For years, at our old house, we had a nice manual pencil sharpener.

The kind that you attach to a flat surface, stick your chosen pencil into the hole and turn the crank until you achieve the right sharpness. It had different sized holes that you could turn it to, and it did a nice adequate job of pencil sharpening.


As can be imagined, Shawn was quite fond of that sharpener.

And the Sorenson household never lacked for sharp pencils.

Eventually, that classic old sharpener, pretty much wore out.

A decision was made, mostly by me, to replace the old manual, with a nice new electric sharpener.

So I did.

Shawn was of course very interested in the new fangled sharpener. The only problem was that this sharpener made noise.

When he was younger, Shawn was very afraid of loud sudden noises.

Unless, of course, he was the one making them.

It was pretty hard for Shawn to cover his ears and sharpen pencils at the same time.

As a consequence, Shawn kind of gave up pencil sharpening for a while.

The thing with Shawn though, is IF he decides he wants to do something badly enough he will usually find a way to do it.

I'm not sure exactly when he did it, but he somehow decided that he wanted to sharpen pencils more than he wanted to cover his ears.

So after a few months, I would hear that new pencil sharpener start sharpening. If it went on longer than a minute or two, I knew that it was Shawn and not a sibling or husband who simply needed a sharp pencil.

Now to cut to the chase.

I'm not really sure what happened to that electric sharpener. I don't even remember if it made the move from our old house to our new one.

All I know is that for quite a while we didn't have a decent pencil sharpener.
My kids had mostly grown up and finished school. Shawn was the last to leave school, since special needs people can stay in school until they age out at 21.

For whatever reason, we had been making due with this little battery
powered clear plastic sharpener, you know those small little sharpeners that always are around for Back to School shopping, one of those.

I'm afraid that for Shawn that wimpy little sharpener was almost as bad as no sharpener at all.

So for a few years he was in a sharpening slump.

Around September, he started telling me that we needed a new pencil sharpener.

I'm pretty sure it was brought on by all those Back to School ads he kept looking through that came in the Sunday paper every week.

I guess he was suddenly reminded of how he had been missing out for so long.

I figured that I might as well go get a new sharpener.

So I did.

This might sound mean, but I bought it on a trip to Walmart, when Shawn was NOT with me.

I had my reasons.

Buying anything with Shawn around is frustrating.

First of all, he has a really hard time deciding just what it is he wants. And if there are more than two options it can take forever.

Plus, for some reason that I have never understood, he will always find the most expensive of whatever it is I am shopping for and insist on it. He will then have a fit if I don't get that one.

There are times when, even three days later, he is still angry that we didn't get the one HE wanted.

So, I went to the store without him and picked out a new sharpener without his in-put.

This is the best way to do these things.

When I come home from any kind of shopping, Shawn is always there looking through all of the bags to see if there is anything in them to interest him.

Kind of like his own little treasure hunt.

So when he went through the shopping bags and found the new pencil sharpener, he was as excited as if he had picked it out himself.

Instead of mad about it because I didn't get the one that he felt we needed.

So you see, I have worked out a pretty good system for Shawn shopping.

A few hours went by, I was downstairs in my living room reading.

All of a sudden I heard this loud electrical buzzing.

It just kept going and going.

What on earth is that?!?

I ran upstairs to see what was going on.

I don't know why I was surprised. It was Shawn of course.

Sharpening pencils.

Lots of pencils.

I enjoy buying school supplies so much that I have at least seven boxes of unopened, unsharpened, pencils.

Shawn had found them.

Well since that day, Shawn has managed to sharpen and resharpen at least half of our pencil supply.

I think he's pacing himself.

Now, when I am anywhere in the house and I hear that distinctive sound, I just smile.

And know that Shawn is happy, doing what he loves best.



Shawn has graciously agreed to let us watch the process.
Here he is about to stick the pencil (notice how sharp it already is) into his sharpener.

Ahh, is there anything more fun or satisfying than sharpening a pencil?

Hmm, it's only been 2 and a half minutes but mom is getting restless. I guess this will do.

Yes, I guess this is good. Not my best work, but I still can take pride in a well sharpened pencil.

A little bit of Shawn's handiwork.

Anyone need a nice sharp pencil?

From big wows to even BIGGER WOWS

Hey, everyone who cares even a little,

my brother Mike Brinkerhoff
(who btw has his own internet support company "tech services 4 all")
just set me up with my own domain online.

I am now the proud owner of . . . . . . sweetlizzi.com

that's right.

All mine.

It takes you right to my facebook page for my own line of handmade children's clothing.

And how is business you may ask?

Business is great!

At this moment I would like to thank my new friend Esther (she's a friend of Lisa's and noticed some of the dresses I had made for Lex and Lori) And has quickly become my very best customer so far.
Thank You Esther!

If all my friends would like to make me super happy. . . . . .

Of course you won't mind you are all such great people. . . . . .

Then go to sweetlizzi.com and see what happens.
It will take you right to my new little business facebook page that hopefully before too long will be filled with many Sweet Lizzi creations for sale.

And while you are there I would really love it if you would "LIKE" me. To be honest, I'm not even sure how that works but I do know that being "liked" on Facebook for any kind of business is a good thing.

So there you have it. Your very first Non Linear Thinking assignment.

Please please please please please. . . .

Okay, as I gather up what dignity I have left, I can't wait to see my little corner of the .com world fill up with my friends.

Over and Out until next time.

P.S. Silly, silly me, I guess it shows how rusty I have gotten at blogwork, I didn't turn the SweetLizzis into links. Well not to fear I have corrected the problem so click the link to your hearts content.
Thank You!

Wow wow wow!

Sorry to have neglected my blog for so long, but I have been too busy.

"Busy doing what?" You might ask.

Well, I'll tell you.

Making dresses!

Dresses, dresses, and more DRESSES!

(Lovely little Lindsay modeling one of my dresses)

I had a show to sell my dresses at and have been sewing round the clock to get ready for it. I was a little nervous how well they would sell, because the last show I did (actually, it was also my first one)

I didn't do so well.

This was only my second time to see if the public would like my creations enough to shell out cold hard cash. And,

guess what?

They liked me! They really liked me!!! (sorry Sally Field I couldn't resist)

I sold so many dresses I lost count.
It is such a rush to have other people value what you create.

I loved interacting with my customers.

I LOVED seeing little girls so excited by all the different dresses.

I absolutely loved, loved, LOVED, watching countless mamas liking one dress and their little daughters wanting a different one.

I couldn't wait to get home and count out how much money I made. Are you ready for how much?

Drum



Roll



Please. . . . . . .




dadadadadadadadadadadadadadad. . . . . . . .




. . . . . . I made 406 dollars! . . . . .

I was shocked that I made that much. Up til now I have mostly made dresses to give away.

You know? I do have 5 grandaughters after all. And yes I have sold a few here and there, but never like this.

In one fell swoop.

And even better, I found out about another show on July 9th. For those of you who are local, it will be in the parking lot of the Pasco Yokes on Rd 68. At the far end, in fact right in front of where I get my nails done at Hot Spa Nails. (I can't wait to tell Annie, who does my nails and who knows that I make and sell dresses. I know she will be excited for me)

I have never worked a full time job but that's basically what I will be doing now.

So, poor little blog, you will probably be left to your own devices for a while longer. But don't feel bad. I'll come back as soon as I can.

Here are pictures of a few of the dresses I had yesterday.

I still have this little 4th of July one as well as one more that didn't sell. If you are interested in buying them let me know. It's a little snug on Lex but Lorelai wasn't feeling too cooperative that day. It would fit from a size 3 up to a size 5 to 6 the way it's made to grow with the child. I had it priced at
28$ but it's yours for 20 if you want it.



This one sold. I might have to give Lorelai a treat for modeling tee hee



The one Alexandra is wearing sold, and the one Lori is wearing I got two orders for. One a size larger, and one smaller.

This one sold as well, Thanks Lex. She is always happy to model for me!

This one sold

This one too.

Well, nice chatting with ya! I'm off.

Want to guess what I will be doing? tee hee hee hee

Beware the SCHOOL CARNIVAL a cautionary tale

A friend's comment on facebook made me start thinking of this.

When Courtney (my youngest in case you are somewhat new to my blog) was in fifth grade at Eastgate Elementary, they had a school Carnival that year in May.

Of course she went.

And of course she won prizes.

And of course one of those prizes had to be two goldfish.

We aren't talking big pretty goldfish mind you (think: Cleo in Disney's Pinocchio) no of COURSE not. They were the cheap little feeder fish that are, or at least were a dime a dozen.

Now Courtney, being a sweet loving child wanted those goldfish to have a nice home. And me, being the loving indulgent mother thought, "why not?"
Straight to Walmart to get a nice round goldfish bowl.

Catch number one; While looking at nice round fish bowls, our attention goes to the nice little 3 gallon Fish Tank. Complete with bubbler and filter.

Have I mentioned Courtney's big brown puppy dog eyes?

Sorenson mother and child go home with nice, slightly more expensive, three gallon Fish Tank, with bubbler and filter.

We get home. I read the instructions. Apparently the water needs to be prepared. A process that promises to take no more than 24 hours. This also requires another run to Walmart to get more ingredients for a successful three gallon fish tank with bubbler and filter.

Cut to next day. . .

The tank is set up, the water is good to go, oh, oh, it appears that one of the fish is swimming a little funny in the makeshift glass jar.

You know? Funny? As in SWIMMING UPSIDE DOWN!

That's right folks, one of those fish was D. E. A. D.

Was Courtney sad about this?

Unfortunately NO.

She wasn't sad because in all of the procuring of goldfish related accessories, she couldn't help but notice that her goldfish were not fancy goldfish. By this point she had seen all of those pretty little, fancy schmancy, long finned, pretty ruffly tailed, differing shades of gold and white, Premium Goldfish.

Long story short; We came home with a fancy schmancy, goldfish.

(I have no proof but I think Courtney was at this point hoping that ordinary, boring, Eastgate Carnival Won, gold fish, would also kick the fishy bucket.)

She got her wish a few days later. Did I suspect foul play? I prefer to not answer that.

Now in case you haven't been doing the math, that left us with ONE, extra fancy schmancy goldfish.

Now, for the sake of time, my little story will pretty much end here, except for me to say that due to a series of events that would soundly put any of the "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" books, to complete shame, we ended up with a 15 gallon fish tank, complete with filter, bubbler, little plants and of course a little castle. And just to show how out of hand this had gotten, there were no longer any goldfish (fancy or otherwise) in that 15 gallon, high maintenance beauty.

Nope. Not a ONE.

There were guppies, swordfish, rainbow fish and many others that I don't remember the names of. It was fun. It was educational. But in the end it turned out to be a LOT more work than I had ever envisioned.

So after five years of having fish I sold the entire setup and never once have I looked back. (Well except for now I guess.)

I'm sure by now you have figured out the moral to my little story.

Don't let your child attend anymore School Carnivals!

Advice for a Give Away?

I'm in the mood for another give away. I'm not sure just when but I think sometime this Spring I will be having a give away. I would appreciate any input on what kind of give away to have and what a good prize would be. I kinda liked my pick a number contest that I did last time. I don't know though. I'm open to any ideas you may have. The more input the better. So, that leaves me with only one more thing to say. . . . . .

Your Thoughts?

Pink Toenails? Is that a problem??

Hold on to your hats because I feel a rant coming on. Apparently people are up in arms because J Crew has a new ad showing a mother painting her young son's toenails. And guess what? Mom and son are LAUGHING and having a GOOD time. I thought, now isn't that so cute. "They" say. . . . HORROR of HORRORS! There we go promoting EVIL! Our children might see this!!! How dare they show something so deviant and shocking! I can't keep quiet about something this stupid. I hope I don't offend any of my friends who read my blog but I have to say what I feel about how screwed up this is. Point number 1 I have never known a little boy who would put up with something like that if he didn't want to. There were times when my children were small when I tried to get one of my boys to try on a dress that I was making because for whatever reason their sister wasn't available. Guess what? They would have NO part of it. And I would never have forced them. . . . . . like I could have anyway. My point here being, that if a mom is painting her sweet little guy's toenails pink it must be because he wants to have her do it. He IS smiling and having a great time after all. Isn't he?!? Now who knows, this little boy may very well have gone off and pounded rocks together and filled up his Tonka trucks with them after his one on one time with mom. Or her may have followed her into the kitchen and helped her make cookies. He may have gone into the family room and watched Disney's Little Mermaid, for the 50th time that month. WHO CARES? What this says to me is that here is a little boy who is right with the world. Here is a child who is safe and cherished and most of all loved and accepted for exactly who he is. Too bad that every child can't find this kind of acceptance from what should be their very first completely safe place. Their home and family. Who knows if the little guy is gay, if he just loves the color pink and is simply too young to know people's prejudices. For whatever reason we do know that he wanted those cute little toenails painted pink. There is absolutely NO shame in that. He may grow up to be absolutely "Straight" in every way. Or he may figure out that along with liking pink toenails he also really likes boys. You know, like as in more than just friends? This brings me to my second point. People can't help but be who they are meant to be. So why on earth do we have to make life so hard for them if they find out that they are different than what society considers NORMAL? I have yet to meet a gay person who I haven't considered normal. They generally want the same things we all do. They want to be loved. They want to enjoy life. They want to have a home and someone to be with. Or maybe they just want to be off exploring the world and it's many wonders. Either by themselves. . . or with a friend. . . . or a partner. Who is anybody to tell them that they need to change? Who has the right to say that a gay or lesbian couple can't enjoy all of the things in life that make life so rewarding? I think it's far more important to work on yourself and becoming the kind of person you want to be than to worry about others that may have different feelings than you do. As a final thought, they were talking about the little boy with his pretty pink toenails today on the Today show. Apparently, the polls are divided 50/50 of people who find it harmless, sweet and cute and people who find it shocking and horrible and how dare J Crew display something so depraved. Some idiot from the latter group was quoted saying that the "poor kid is going to end up needing counseling and intense therapy when he is older" What a bunch of HOGWASH! I think it's just the opposite. Here is a child who is loved and fully accepted for just who he is. How can anybody feel anything but good about that? I'm sure I'm not the only one who has seen the statistics on the high rate of teenage, gay, lesbian and transgendered suicides. Is that actually considered preferable to the alternative of loving and accepting each and every person for who they truly are? If so, then this really is a sad, sad world, and I want to make sure my voice is heard on the side of LOVE and ACCEPTANCE. I accept that many people don't share my beliefs but I hope you will at least give mine a little bit of consideration. Who knows, you may end up with someone you love facing these same challenges. Thanks for reading and I would love comments as long as they aren't nasty.

My camera My enemy?

Monday night I decided that we needed to get a new camera, we've had our old one for at least 6 years. It's a nice little digital number. Digital seemed like such a big deal at the time. We payed a little over 200 for it and that seemed like a real bargain. For Christmas I got a really nice little Fugi for my daughter Courtney. It was just under 100 dollars and she loves it. So I was thinking it was time for us to get something that had more mega pixels. And maybe, just maybe, instead of losing the manual, this time, we would actually keep it and read it and for once. . . . figure out just how to use the silly thing. I ran it past Don when he got home Monday evening and he was up for it. I had thought about going to Target since that was where I got Courtney's camera. Don thought that Costco would be a better choice. At first I objected. I had in mind a nice inexpensive, easy to use, little Point and Shoot picture taker, that for all intents and purposes would be pretty much. . . . . umm. . . Idiot Proof? Don won out and Costco it was. I walked right past the BIG cameras. You know, the ones for people that take classes. No, no. None of that for us. I didn't want to end up with a 700 dollar camera that we would need extensive college training just to take a simple birthday picture of someone blowing out their candles. I had to interrupt these two Costco employees who were standing around chatting. (I mean that's not what they are paid for, and I refuse to wait for two employees to finish a conversation so that I can get some help) The guy that stayed to help was actually pretty good. He knew quite a lot about cameras. And got the jest of what we were looking for in no time. I was most interested in the little Cannon Sure Shot Point n Shoot. Unfortunately they were out of stock at the moment. By the time he had finished showing me just how simple a little camera that old P&S was, wouldn't ya know it, Don had turned the corner, and, was looking at the more expensive, tons of features, instruction book an inch and a half thick, gotta have cameras. Crap. I knew that would happen! And right on his heels, is the helpful Costco employee who just seconds before had been showing me that nice little Cannon Point n Shoot Sure Shot, following Don, and saying to him, "now this one is really great!" Great. I speak up and remind everyone concerned that my whole idea, really, was to buy a camera that we don't need to take a math class and pass a written exam to be able to operate. "Oh no. No, no, no, no, NO!" (says the Costco guy) "trust me, this camera has so many great features and one of them is even a Point and Shoot mode". I have to admit, it is a pretty cool camera. In fact that camera does so many wonderful things I'm still not completely sure if we even have to be there. Not only that, it was normally 189.00 with an in store, instant rebate, coupon type thingy that means it's actually only 159.99. How do I argue with that? Don looks at me and says "Well what do you think? I think we should get this one?!?" Notice how he makes it sound like it's up to me? Sure why not. I do stick in the idea that I can always come back later and get myself that little Sure Shot when they get more of them. An hour later. . . . . there I am. . . . in my bedroom. . . . . opening up the new camera. It looks friendly enough. I take out the manual. The first four pages are all of the things that you SHOULD NOT DO. Now I'm almost afraid to even touch the silly thing. I do put the batteries in it. I turn it on. Everything in our room in the view screen looks dark yellow. I knew it. I KNEW IT! Just like that, I know that this camera and I will most likely NEVER be friends. Don comes in and I show the greatly exaggerated yellowness to him. Is he upset? Is he worried? No. But he is also completely fooled by this new (has it in for me already) camera. "Well of course that's how it looks" he says "because our walls have a yellowish tint and everything in here is yellowish like that". Don is one of the biggest, advanced technology enablers I have ever known. If it does something he doesn't understand then he just figures it's doing what it's supposed to and we just don't get it. I'm just the opposite. I know perfectly well that the picture in the viewing window should look just exactly like what the room looks like. I think Don figures that WE are the ones not seeing the great yellowness of our surroundings, that this superior piece of technology can see with one arm tied behind it's stupid back. He decided to look over the manual and figure it all out. I decided to watch TV. Every once in a while he will speak up and say things like. . . "Hey, this is really cool" "You know, I think you are really going to like this camera" "This looks like it will be pretty easy to use. I don't think we'll have any problems with it at all." Ummhmm. Yeah, that's nice. I made a mental note to look into local college courses for Engineering and Pre-Calculus, I think we're going to need them.

Next Stop Carnegie Hall

I have GOT to share this!

These are my two grandaughters Alexandra and Lorelai.

They are incredibly musically talented, but even I was blown away when I saw this on my daughter in law's blog.
Now I have been lucky enough to be the special guest at many of their little spontaneous concerts.
Lex plays the violin, (she's somewhat of a prodigy like her mama) and Miss Lori has been playing the piano for less than two years and at six years old is already in a quite advanced book that kids several years older have trouble with.

The bells were a Christmas present for their sister my youngest grandaughter Elisabeth, who as most of you know is profoundly mentally retarded even though she is a complete joy to all who know her.

So without further adieu, this proud Grandmother presents two of her darling talented little grandbabies!

P.S. I don't know how many remember me pointing this out before but my little Lorelai is the spitting image of that cute little Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame.
Okay, enough grandma bragging for one day.

ENJOY!

Good bye etsy

As most of my long time readers know I am a seamstress, and I have a shop on etsy. You can go see for yourself. TwiddleSticks
I'm afraid though that etsy, while still unknown to a lot of people has strayed away from it's original intent of being a place for individuals (as in ONE person ONE shop) to sell what they make with their own hands.

At least as far as children's clothing is concerned.

When I first joined in Spring of 2008, I had modest success and sold 6 dresses. I kind of lost interest though and let my store fade away. I tried to resurrect it last summer with new dresses but. . .

NO LUCK.

So I kind of lost interest again.

Then I went to a small neighborhood craft show with my little dresses and had a fairly successful time with that, so I decided to try etsy again.

Crickets. . . .

Yup that's right. NOTHING.

I think that the problem is that etsy now belongs to a few large concerns who seem to have the market cornered as far as children's fashions go. Shops that sell and have sold thousands of items.

Now tell me does that sound possible for one person and her sewing machine?

No. I don't think so either.

In the meantime I have been approached by a friend of my daughter-in-law Lisa. Her name is Nancy and she also knows the frustration of competing against the BIG GUYS. So she has gone and made her very own Internet store and wants to sell my dresses.

I figure, why not?

So very soon I will most likely be taking everything off etsy and moving them to Nancy's site. I'm also on the lookout for local craft fairs and bazaars.
In the meantime, I'm just going to keep on making the little girls dresses and tops that I love to make. Some for my beautiful little grandaughters and some to sell.
Will I be successful at last?

We'll see.

Lucky for me, I'm not in a position where I really need the money.
It's just my little hobby and making money is simply a lovely side benefit.
Here are some pictures of some of my latest creations.

Enjoy!

This darling little lady is my 8 year old grandaughter Alexandra.
This is my friend Charlene's daughter Lilly modeling a dress I made for her.
I call this one the Birdcage Dress. Charlene is buying this one for her youngest daughter Tessa.

And here is my beautiful little 6 year old grandaughter Lorelai modeling this sweet little blue and white checkered top I made a few days ago.

I'll put up a link to Nancy's shop when my dresses are on there for sale.

My American Idol Favorite

Even though I'm really enjoying the new judges on this Season of American Idol, I'm not into many of the contestants. Lisa and I have the same number one favorite


James Durbin

He is not only a completely adorable young Kurt Russell look-alike, he is as real and likable as any contestant has ever been.

He has Tourette Syndrome as well as Aspergers, which makes him seem a bit twitchy and jerky but I think that is a big part of what makes him completely genuine and unguarded in a way that few people in the spotlight ever are.

This week he gave an incredible performance and Jennifer mentioned that he was going to have girls swooning all over him.

Without even a second to think about it, he simply pointed to his Wedding Band.
Now with some of the contestants that would be more for show than anything,
but for James it was a completely spontaneous reaction that was so sweet and unconscious that you know this is a guy who would never even consider any other woman than the (in his words) "Angel" that he is married to.

I hope he makes it through to the very end. I predict that it will end up with him and Lauren as the final two.


I hope that's how it works out. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if the judges are saving their one save on the horrible chance that either James or Lauren get voted off.

If I was a judge that's what I would do.

Who knows though. Who do you like so far?

The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of

What does one do at 3:30 in the morning when one can't sleep?

Why gets up and writes a new post for her poor neglected little blog of course.
This is one I've wanted to do for a while and kept forgetting about.

When I'm in my sewing room, well, sewing, I almost always have my stereo on listening to music. That's where my stereo lives, as well as my (also neglected) iPod.

I have a pretty wide range of music that I enjoy.

The other day I was listening to my Carly Simon compilation cd that I burned for myself several years ago. You know? Carly Simon?

You're So Vain

Anticipation ( no, it's not just a ketchup commercial song)

Nobody Does It Better (James Bond. The Spy Who Loved Me)

That Carly Simon. I love her. It's one of my go to cds for when I don't know what I want to listen to.
Anyway, to get to my point. One of my most favorite of her songs is titled,

The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of

I LOVE this song. It's about fidelity. It's about long time love. It's a reminder that even though the grass may look greener on the other side of the hill. . . .

That when you get there you will find that what you thought was a lot of green are actually a ton of weeds.

I can't usually listen to this one just once, I usually hit replay. There aren't a lot of songs out there that speak to the beauty of being in a long steady solid marriage. That at times may seem old and boring, when in reality is safe, and warm and comforting. With a long history of shared memories.

Shared experiences.

Shared hardships.

Shared joys.

I guess you would have to say that it's. . . . . .

The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of

I can't hear this song without thinking of my husband Don and how much I love him, and all the things we've been through together in our 34 1/2 years of marriage.

If you've never heard the song or have forgotten about it here are the lyrics.



Take a look around now

Change the direction

Adjust the tuning

Try a new translation

Don't look at your man in the same old way

Take a new picture

Just because you don't see shooting stars

Doesn't mean it isn't perfect

can't you see...

It's the stuff that dreams are made of

It's the slow and steady fire

It's the stuff that dreams are made of

It's your heart and soul's desire

It's the stuff that dreams are made of

So what's this about your best friend?

She's got a brand new shiny boy

And they're moving out to Malibu

To play with all his pretty toys

And you feel closed in by the same four walls

The same old conversation

With the same old guy you've know for years

But use your imagination

And you will see....

It's the stuff that dreams are made of

It's the slow and steady fire

It's the stuff that dreams are made of

It's your heart and soul's desire

It's the stuff that dreams are made of

What if the Prince on the horse in your fairytale

Is right here in disguise

And what if the stars you've been reaching so high for

Are shining in his eyes

Don't look at yourself in the same old way

Take another picture

Shoot the stars off in your own backyard

Don't look any further

And you will see It's the stuff that dreams are made of....

Aaaaah. Perfection. An ode to real love. Real, long lasting love. There just plain isn't anything better.
And since I can't possibly improve on ( and wouldn't even try) what Carly has so beautifully put into words. . . and song, I will close out this post by putting the spot light where it belongs. . . .

Note : Apparently, there isn't an official video of this song but this one is really nice.
Enjoy!

A Helpful Little Tid Bit (of the breakfast kind)

In the interest of making my blog an all purpose, well rounded, little Slice Of Heaven. . . .
I am offering this nice little tip to all my friends out there in Blog Land.

I know, I know, could Non Linear Thinking possibly get any better.

Well check this out and then You tell Me.

How often do you have Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat for breakfast?

I am going to share my favorite way to enjoy hot cereal.

Instead of buying flavored instant Oatmeal, or GAG, that crime against nature known as Instant Cream of Wheat, Here is what I do:

I buy those tasty little, flavored non-dairy creamers. French Vanilla, Irish Cream, Sweet Italian Cream, Caramel Vanilla Cream. . . . You get the picture.

And then I mix a couple of tablespoons into my hot cereal along with the milk. Most of the time you don't even need any sugar.

I never knew that Oatmeal could taste so good.

And, my all time favorite hot cereal, Cream Of Wheat (not the icky instant kind of course) is even creamier and more delicious than I ever thought possible.

Try it. And then let me know what you think.

The Curious Case of the Jumbo Bag of Peanut M&MS

It's no big secret that I am a candy lover.

(Something I'm trying to conquer btw)

I enjoy a wide variety of sweets, but chocolate has been a favorite indulgence my entire life. Nothing ground breaking there of course, who doesn't love chocolate?

Umm, my daughter Courtney for one. But, I digress.

A few weeks ago we received the latest Costco Coupon book in the mail. It didn't have a coupon for the 8-pack-of-300-count-box-of-Kleenex I was hoping for (hopefully next time) but it did have another one of my favorite and most highly valued coupons I've come to expect every third time or so.

2.50 off a bag of M&Ms limit 2

Ahh yes. Nothing like saving five bucks on approximately 120 ounces of sweet, crunchy, candy coated, chocolate heaven.
I got one bag of peanut and one of plain.
I tend to favor peanut slightly more, I have to admit, but sometimes the simplicity of a handful of plain M&Ms can fulfill that craving for chocolate like nothing else on Earth.

Okay, 10:26 that evening.

Two, as yet unopened, nicely discounted, jumbo sized, bags of M&Ms sitting there on my dresser.

Were they calling my name?

Of course they were. And the fact that I was headed in to my bathroom to brush my teeth before hitting the sheets did not escape my mind. I decided that a small handful of Peanut M&Ms before I brushed my teeth wouldn't really hurt anything.

I opened the big, yellow, bag. I took probably 7 umm, fine, 12 of those tasty little morsels.

Chew, chew. . chew. . . . chew?

What the . . . . . .

Something was not right with those Peanut M&Ms.

They were chewy. They were soggy. They were not the same chocolaty treat that I have been enjoying for most of my 53 years.

It was like someone had bag-jacked my newly acquired, jumbo bag of Peanut M&Ms and filled it with, what I can only guess. . . . generic, candy coated chocolate pieces, must taste like.

(I have always wondered about those strange imitators. Who on earth would buy fake M&Ms???????)

I went back to the bag and took out a few more. This time I dug to the bottom. (As if that would make any difference.) Yuck, yuck and

YUCK!!

Going against every natural instinct I've ever had, I threw that handful of those (so called) Peanut M&Ms AWAY.

Needless to say, sleep did NOT come easy that night. I couldn't stop thinking about what on earth had happened to M&Ms. Why would they change a formula that was perfect. Was the M&M/Mars company so hurt by the current economy that they had come up with a new recipe for M&Ms that saved money.

This isn't as ridiculous as it may sound.

I KNOW that the cream inside Oreos has been changed. The truly subversive thing is that it seems every other bag of Oreos I buy, the creamy white filling tastes pretty much like it always has. But then I will buy a bag and there is a definite difference in taste and texture.

I also know that my once loved JUJYFRUITS changed their formula several months ago. I can't describe the difference other than they now taste watery. Needless to say I've kicked my Jujyfruits habit.

Okay, back to my M&Ms problem.

Like I say, I did not sleep well that night. This is slightly embarrassing to admit to but hey, this is for posterity after all. I think I must have spent close to two hours coming up with a contingency plan. I was going to go to Walmart, Fred Meyer, Target and maybe even Walgreens and buy up as many bags of M&Ms as I could.

I figured that most stores had not yet been infiltrated by these new inedible M&Ms. I was going to secure for myself at least a year's supply of the old ones. I was even deliberating over the best methods to make them last. At one point I was almost ready to get up out of bed and draw up an M&Ms consumption chart.

I realized that I would most likely be called upon at some point to share.

I decided it would only be with immediate family. (Yes, of course that included my grandchildren. What kind of a monster do you think I am.)

I don't really remember when or how I fell asleep. But I know that my last conscious thought was that I would call the 800 number on the bag as soon as I woke up.

And I did.

As I sat there wading through all of the different options, (You know, that sweet computer voice that tries so hard to not let you talk to a REAL person) I reminded myself to stay calm. Funny how you can manage calm and rational much easier in the light of day than at 11:45 at night.

I actually got through to someone pretty quickly. A pleasant young woman named Angie. I was a little flustered at first. I realized that I should have planned my strategy before I got to a real person.

What to do? What to do?

Do I start out by demanding answers? Do I ask why on earth the M&M Mars Company has messed with perfection. Or do I take the sympathy, sob story route. Hmm.

I settled for middle ground.

I simply told Angie that I had been to Costco the night before and had bought 2 bags of M&Ms. I described their taste and texture. And then I ended with a short, heartfelt plea, to change the formula back to how it was.

I was asked if I had the bag close by.

I did.

I was asked to give her all of the pertinent numbers on said bag.

I did.

A few moments of silence followed.

Oh Please, Oh Please, Oh Please!

Angie got back to me a few minutes later. With some interesting news, AND some really good news. She gave me the interesting news first. Apparently, the bag of Peanut M&Ms I had in my possession should never have been sent out.

Yet.

They had only been manufactured the week before. They needed time to ripen. Yes you heard me right. THEY WERE NOT RIPE!

She promised me that the recipe for M&Ms had not been changed. There is however a ripening process that takes a couple of months before they are shipped out to stores all over America to be enjoyed by people like me. She told me the best thing to do with my, way too fresh, jumbo sized bags of M&Ms would be to put them somewhere preferrably cool and dark and let them sit for about 6 to 8 weeks.

Who KNEW!?!

Now for the really good news. She told me that she would be sending me several coupons to make it up to me for having been unfortunate enough to have gotten my hands on a couple of bags of unripe M&Ms. The coupons came less than a week later. There were two 5 dollar ones, good for any M&M/Mars products and then two 1 dollar ones.

WOW! Twelve dollars in coupons! Was it wrong of me to feel like I had just hit the M&Ms JACKPOT? I decided. . . .

absolutely not.

I had bought them from Costco in good faith. I had spent a sleepless night. Damn right I should get some kind of compensation.

So that's my story.

I hope that you will remember this if you ever end up with your own unripe bag of M&Ms. As for me, I am almost finished with my last big bag that I got with one of those 5 dollar coupons.

The (sweet) End

Ten Things

#1. Ya know it's not really do-able to eat an orange and type at the same time. Well at least not if you care about such things as avoiding a sticky, wet keyboard.

#2. Matt Damon. I've always found him adorable. All of a sudden though he has left cute behind and become just plain. . . . . .

HOT and SEXY

enough said.

#3. I seem to be on a DARK Chocolate kick right now. Ten thumbs up for Lindt Super Dark Chocolate Truffles.

Need I say more.

#4. I think maybe I complained too early. The Scotty kid on American Idol is actually showing a little bit of promise. It will be interesting to see how he does in other musical genres.

#5. Who in her right mind spends 250 bucks on an ipod classic with capacity for up to 60,000 songs and then stuffs it into a drawer in her sewing room because she has NO IDEA how to use the damn thing.

#6. Umm. . . That would be me.

#7. I still have the receipt. Do you think I should take it back?

#8. Will someone please come clean out the litter box. Because, no, I don't do cat s--t.

#9. Hey David, did you see that HGTV is now having an UGGHH

MANCAVE giveaway?!?

#10. Ya know the whole "Tree Falls In The Forest Philosophy Scenario"?
Well. . . . if I keep my bedroom door shut because I don't feel like making my bed does anyone CARE????

Sometimes it's good to be wrong

I've been an American Idol fan for, I think, the last four years. I had watched parts of the seasons before then but I never really got into it.

And then last year it was announced that Simon would be leaving the show.

Which means that Randy Jackson would be the only original judge left. I figured that the show would perhaps stagger through one more season as it gave into a slow, agonizing, when will they put it out of it's misery, death.
I definitely wasn't going to give it the honor of my viewership.

My how things can change.

Due to the fact that there are so few shows on that I want to watch anymore, I decided to tune in at least once to see how much of a travesty it had become. And guess what? I LIKED IT! Even though I've always been an Aerosmith fan, I didn't really have much exposure to Steven Tyler as a person. I always thought of him as a typical, egocentric, slightly sleazy, rock star who had only one thing on his mind. (Besides music that is)

I can't believe how completely wrong I was.

He is strong, caring, motivational, even, dare I say, paternal. He speaks his mind, letting those without a shred of talent know that they better have a good day job, without resorting to mean and nasty. As for those who have true talent, whether polished or diamond in the rough, he is very helpful and supportive.

Why on earth did I ever think that Simon had it right?

And then there is Jennifer Lopez. I've always liked her. And in this platform I absolutely LOVE her. She is every bit as kind and encouraging as Paula ever was, but in a more realistic way. She doesn't have Paula's "Flake Factor". She comes across as a really sweet, cool, nurturing, big sister.

All together, I feel that the show has a brand new energy, and promise.

It certainly doesn't feel old and stale anymore.

I also think that there are some really talented contestants as well. Hopefully they will be winnowed down appropriately this year. One in particular that I want to see shown the door, is this kid, with a deep baritone voice named Scotty (the kid not the voice) who has apparently perfected his imitation of Country singer Josh Turner's song "Be Your Man".

(I swear, if I have to hear. . . Baby lock the door and turn the lights down low, one more time.)

Talk about your One Trick Pony.

All in all though, I am so enjoying this season of American Idol. I hope that if any of you who used to watch the show but have given up on it due to the various lame strategies it has employed over the last few seasons, will give it another watch.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

Happy Birthday Kelly!!!!!

Quick!

Who is blonde. . .

Very good looking. . . .

A college student. . . .

Still living at home, but that's okay because he is after all. . . .

A college student. . .

Really smart and creative. . . .

A writer. . . .

Plans to spend the day at the movie theater watching at least three new films. . . .

And then later have a date with me for dinner at Red Lobster. . .

Because he turns 29 today. . . .

My son Kelly!!!!

Love you much you Middle Child you!!!!!!