One is an OK number

I had lunch today at Olive Garden.

By myself.

And read a book.

Would you believe that that is the first time I've eaten by myself in public since I can remember? Even in college when I went to the caf, there was always someone to sit down with!

Man, I can certainly work myself up into a panic attack if I really try! Thankfully it didn't get that far, though.

I do have occasional anxiety issues and this one started last night. I woke up at 1AM with the most horrendous stomach ache. And I could tell it was a worry-ache. I think I was all worked up about having to go out to lunch by myself today. The hotel restaurant doesn't serve lunch, so that was out of the question. I didn't want to eat 7-11 food (or whatever that convenience store is right next to the hotel) so that was out, too. All I had to do was get in the (rental) car, take a left out of the hotel lot and then a right on the next main street, drive a few blocks and there's the OG. I was (mostly) ok with driving myself. I put the GPS in my purse just in case I needed it, but I didn't plan to go off the beaten path at all because I HATE being lost! That'll work me into a dither quicker than just about anything!

This morning I felt much better and considered just getting something to go and eating it in my room. But if I did that, the room attendant wouldn't be able to get in here and clean up. So I just said to myself, "Suck it up and go! You'll be fine!!" And I was. I sat in a nice little booth and read my book (the first in the Sookie Stackhouse books...Death in the Dark or something like that). I ate, slowly and relaxed and only once felt a panic attack creeping on. I was able to talk myself out of it, so that's good. And it allowed me to enjoy my gelato. The waitress was so nice she got a 20%+ tip!

Tomorrow, TC has to work again (yes, he's working for two days while we're on vacation...the meeting up here is why we decided to make a vacation out of it!) and I'm going to meet an online friend for lunch! We first met in a group on a mommy board (that my friend ^starshine invited me to). I keep up with her on facebook now and on her blog. She's got the most adorable two little boys and an awesome photography business!

Here's to no panic attacks at lunch and none in the projections for tomorrow!

I'm off to nap. This hanging out by myself has worn me out.

Up

Today we took the kids to see Up. I was pretty sure X-man could handle it, but I wasn't sure Buttercup would. I would have bet money that I'd miss the last half of the movie due to having to walk Buttercup around outside the theatre.

They both surprised me.

With about 15 minutes of the movie left Buttercup started to get antsy. But I was able to appease her by standing in the hallway so I could see about half the movie screen and still hear it. Both of the kids LOVED the popcorn!

The movie was really good. I was really amazed at how much I was "into" the Carl/Ellie relationship when all we really got was a combination of sceens with no talking. I just about lost it when Ellie and Carl were in the doctor's office (after they looked at cloud shapes...don't want to give away all the stuff!). I loved Dug, the dog and Russell, the little boy, was adorable!!

Anyway, I've been seeing other people's Photo 365 projects on the net and decided that today I would start My Adventure Book and do my own Project 365. I'm probably not going to Venezuela or anything terribly exotic, but I do have my own little adventure right here in my house...and they're not getting any younger (but they are getting cuter!).

I'm nowhere near a professional photographer. I don't even have a fancy-schmancy camera...just my little point and shoot. But at some level, pictures are pictures and I'm looking forward to this!

The flower

After a bit of research (using Google's image search), I think this flower is a poppy and not a hibiscus.

Gotta love Spring!

Like the new blog background? I took this picture last weekend at the zoo. I believe it's a hibiscus.

Pretty, huh? It just makes me happy to look at it!

Take on me...

Have you ever been in a situation where someone did something that was so perfect and so smart that you can't believe you didn't think of it yourself? That happens to me quite frequently.

Case in point, my sister and her to-go salads. She came to visit a few months ago and she was with me for a Target run. We ended up going to Super Target (maybe to pick up some portraits we had done?) and we got two salads from the deli. After we got home and got lunch ready for the kids, we were ready to dig into our salads. And my sister did the most amazing thing: she poured the dressing on her salad, closed the lid of the container and then SHOOK her salad! She got that thing nicely tossed in the dressing. I mean, how awesome is that? Of course, every to-go salad I've gotten since then gets the same shake-shake treatment.

And I would have to mention the smart idea my dad had after I mentioned to him that I really didn't like liquid laundry soap because the lid that you used to measure and dispense the liquid was always mucky and I didn't like (or was too lazy) to rinse it out in the kitchen sink. "Well, why don't you just throw it in the washing machine?" Sometimes his matter-of-factness is freaky...

Have an a-ha moment you'd like to share?

Would you believe...

So, some of you might remember my music note necklace that I wear all the time. (For those that don't know, I got this necklace in the 2nd grade for getting straight A's)

I've only had to replace the chain once on it and that was back in middle school, I think.

And I'll have to replace it today. Buttercup got ahold of it as she fell down this morning and it snapped.

A Bummer...

I'm really upset that I can't get Kraft Deluxe American Cheese (that would be the stuff in the blue box...NOT Velveeta) around here. I've been to 6 (!!!) area grocery stores and none of them carry it. I even contacted Kraft to find out where I might be able to get it, and they told me there wasn't a store in my area that carried it.

Before I met TC, I would tell you that there was no difference in the two (not that I really ate either one of them). But now, there is definitely a difference and the blue box cheese tastes MUCHO better!

My parents brought me four boxes of the stuff the last time they were through here (was that only a week ago?)...I'm running low!

The perils of social networking

You might think you know what I'm going to talk about here: online predators, people leaving their current significant others for old flames fanned on by FaceBook...

Nope.

How about "finding" someone you once knew maybe back as far as elementary school. You knew that person through high school. You've got a really good idea of what kind of person they are.

And then they go and post something horribly offensive for their FaceBook status.

I'm all about letting people express themselves how they want and if FB allows curse words to be used on their site, then that is their call. And while I don't use them and certainly don't want my kids to use them, I know people do...I don't have my head in the sand. I know that friends and family use curse words (in fact, I even joke everytime one of my parents or sister lets on slip around the kids that they owe a dollar to the jar!) and I don't think any less of people that use them (unless that is seriously all the vocabulary they have).

But this person I have always thought of as an always-play-by-the-rules kind of person. And the status that was posted was not just alluding to something, but was flat out TMI. While it was quite descriptive and very well written, I actually thought someone had hacked their account!

I can't shake it. I don't see the same goody-goody person anymore when I see their profile picture. Maybe that's what they want...

Something random this way comes...

So, this morning was another difficult one with X-man. I don't know if he's not getting enough sleep, I'm expect too much in the morning or what, but some days he's just so difficult. I've got a giant scratch on my finger (it's a 1/2 inch gash that I did with my own fingernail) from the morning I literally had to sit on him to get him dressed! Yeesh!

Anyway, this morning he barely ate any breakfast. He kept fussing and whining and I told him that there would be no Curious George after breakfast if he kept it up. Well, you know how little ones are...sometimes they just get to going and can't stop! He finally calmed down a bit while I was talking to my sis and started to eat a (dry) frosted mini wheat. Then something got him going again and he started crying/fussing...thus aspirating some mini wheats down his throat...down the wrong pipe! Good gravy. My sister got to hear me in near panic mode. X-man was coughing and trying to catch a good breath and he was looking at me...with what looked like panic...but I may have read into that due to my own feelings at the time. He finally got his breath and got all of that out of there, but yikes. That was my cardio workout for the morning!

And I figured out the reason that Buttercup was awake at 3am and cried for an hour. There's a little tooth trying to poke through on the bottom. I knew they were on their way! She's starting about 5 months earlier than her brother did with teeth! She knows that the only way she's going to get all the table food is to get teeth!

In other news, I'm in love with Muncy Winds, Target, Tetris for the Wii (you should try to play it with the balance board!) and Papertrey Ink. I am NOT in love with Woodwinds & Brasswinds, my microwave (which is 10 years old), bad instrumentalists and stupid people. Apparently I'm in that kind of mood today!

Alright, off to get a cup of hot tea. I love that, too!

I am on a roll!

Last weekend I told you about the blog contest I won where I won all the stamps and paper released this month.

Today I got this adorable sparkly pink rubber ducky with a note saying "Thanks for taking our survey." That's the problem with taking so many surveys and filling out forms for freebies is that I sometimes forget what's from what!

So, after some detective work (with the help of Google) I found out that I had filled out a survey on rookiemoms.com. And there were 50 second-place prizes of a limited edition pink rubber ducky!

Go me!

Now Buttercup has a new bathtoy (which I'm sure will be shared with her big brother!).

I'm still shaking I'm so excited!

From Nichole Heady's blog, owner of Papertreyink.com (only the cutest clear acrylic stamps out there!):

Release Party Contest Winner
Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

27 Timestamp: 2008-11-15 04:36:15 UTC

Comment #27 belongs to...

I've had many wonderful teachers throughout my years in school, but my favorite would have to be Mr. Nall, my high school band director. I was the ultimate band nerd and even went on to major in flute performance in college. Mr. Nall, though tough, was a great man and truly loved his job and his students. And his best advice..."If you're going to mess up, do it big!!"

Posted by: snarflemarfle | November 14, 2008 at 09:34 PM

Congratulations, snarflemarfle! Please contact Customer Service with your shipping information so we can get your package out to you! And thank you for all the heartfelt stories from everyone regarding the special teachers from your childhood. I highly recommend the comments as good reading material, so be sure to go check them out!

What does this mean? I just won the entire package of stamp sets, paper, ink and ribbon that she released this month!! $176 worth of stamping stuff!!

TC thought I had totally flipped my lid when I went to the computer this morning to see which stamp sets I wanted to order (she releases new ones on the 15th of every month) and I thought I would check her blog to see if by some crazy stroke of luck I won. Good gravy, I nearly wet my pants when I saw my name on her blog as the winner!!

Give me a break!

I'll be the first to tell you I love Christmas music. One of the radio stations here in town plays Christmas music 24/7 starting the day after Thanksgiving. I love it!

However, last night TC and I climbed into bed and TC turned on his radio. We were listening to a regular 'ole song and at the end, they had added Auld Lang Syne. TC said, "They're not playing Christmas music already, are they?" I told him of course not and that Delilah (the national show) had probably just picked a goofy song. The next song was clearly a Christmas song. Ugh. Apparently Delilah decided she wanted to play Christmas music last night. I'm glad that I fell asleep quickly...I'm just not ready for Christmas music yet!

Buttercup has her 9 month check up this morning and both she and X-man are getting a flu shot. Hopefully all will go well!

Demon-Child

No, not either one of my kids. They are both angels.

It's me. I'm the demon-child. Just look into my eyes.

They are both blood-shot. And making eye goop.

The eye doc didn't say that I had pink eye, but I definitely have some kind of infection. I woke up with it yesterday just in the left eye and went to see the doc. He gave me some antibiotic eye drops. And I've been very careful not to touch my eyes and I've been extra vigilent about washing my hands.

I'm also wearing my glasses instead of contacts. Not that I really mind wearing the glasses, it's just that I've gotten used to being able to see without the glasses on my face!

Anyway, the infection spread and I called the doc today. Since the doc only gave me a sample of the eye drops, I asked if I could get another sample or if the doc wanted to see me again. The receptionist came back and said, "Just come in and get another sample. He said he knew he should have told you to use the drops in both eyes!"

So, I'll be changing my washcloth and pillowcase every day.

And only tonight did Buttercup start reaching for my glasses. I wouldn't have guessed it would have taken two days for her to do that!

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Isn't this an absolutely breathtaking gown?!?

It's just a jump to left...

...and then a step to the riiiiight!

TC and I went out on a date last night. We had tickets for an on-stage showing of Rocky Horror Show. It was hilarious! I grinned like an idiot through the whole thing.

No, we didn't dress up.

No, we didn't buy a prop bag.

I'd been telling X-man that Ms. K was coming to play with him and every time he'd say, "Cause mommy and daddy goin' ona date!" Very cute!

Ms. K finally got to the house and poor X-man got that little frowny face and his chin started quivering like he was holding back a flood of tears. He never did cry, but TC and I both got really sweet kisses and hugs. It was just too pitiful.

Now, how long do you think you'll have that song in your head?

Birthday Party Etiquette

X-man got his first invitation to a birthday party. It's going to be at this place that looks like one giant bouncy castle. Should be fun! But, taped to the invitation was a "registry" card that said the little girl had a "wish wagon" of toys at a local toy store. What? Are we supposed to have gift registries for our birthdays? Weird. I won't get into what I think about that...

Anyway, is it totally rude if I just get the girl a book? That's what I would get anyway. Maybe I could put it in a little crocheted cupcake purse I made a while ago...

Got it!

So, my friend ^starshine got a little blog makeover. I checked out the site where she got her background and not only did they have really cute backgrounds, but they had directions on how to do your own.

So being the DIY-on-the-computer kinda person, I followed the little directions and lookey what I did!

It's X-man's first watercolor and I think it's loverly.

Yes, I know it's wonky

I'm working on it!

Can you say Health Department No-No?

We went out to dinner tonight. I had a meeting and didn't get home until about 5:45 so TC took us out. We went to a restaurant here in town that shall remain nameless and I was anxiously awaiting my dish (and X-man's because the kid's meal I get him is also pretty tasty and he shares a few bites with me!).

The waiter comes out and brings a kid's meal, but not the one we ordered. He has another plate with what I ordered, but the wrong side dish. "Oh, well," I think. It's ok and I can eat it. But when he said he'd be back with the third dish and it wasn't what TC ordered, I knew we had the wrong order.

I was being very careful not to touch the food at all. And we moved X-man's bowl back toward me so he wouldn't touch it either. I specifically didn't drink any of my water nor did I take a bite of my spring roll. Then I thought I was just being silly for being so careful. Based on my limited knowledge of restaurant food prep (which is really limited), I knew they weren't going to deliver the food that was sitting on our table to its proper table. That's just not right!

The waiter came back with "our" third dish and I told him about the mix-up. He picked up all three dishes, took them to the manager at the food prep area and then I watched him take the very same dishes and deliver them to a table just down from us. They had no idea their food had been sitting on our table! Yowza!

I wondered if I should mention something to the manager or just call them later tomorrow. I don't really like conflict, but I knew I should tell someone. And I was given the opportunity just a few short minutes later.

The manager came to our table to apologize for X-man's food being slow (TC and I had since been served the dishes we did order). X-man's chicken was a little overcooked so they remade it.

I decided to go ahead and ask the manager about what had happened to the plates. I said, "Our waiter brought us the wrong food. Did he really deliver the very same dishes to the proper table?" The manager made a strange, screwy face. I said, "I didn't touch the plates at all, so they're fine, but I watched the waiter take the plates, ask you a question, presumably where they were supposed to go, and then deliver them to that family right there." He assured me that that was not how things were supposed to happen and he thought the waiter just couldn't find the table. The waiter didn't tell him it had already been delivered somewhere.

Anyway, regardless of what the manager actually thought, I hope they have a quick refresher in what to do with food that is misdelivered.

Oh no!

I just loaded a new app to my itouch, Trism, and it is way addicting! I was going to get Tetris (for $10!!! Yikes!!) and read in the reviews that many people thought Trism (for only $4) was a better game. So, now I'm torn between doing anything else and playing this crazy game.

But I'll have to stop soon and have lunch.

Before I go to the glass repair place and fix the newly minted chip in my windshield.

That I got while taking X-man to mother's day out this morning!

X-man's been sleeping really well in his big boy bed and WITHOUT the gate on his door! We picked him up on Saturday from his grandparents and he has slept every night since then in his bed and hasn't really made use of the fact that there's not a gate. We put him to bed for a nap or for night time and he just sings himself to sleep. Now, he sleeps on every single part of the bed and most nights when I've checked on him he's sleeping either right up against the wall or right up against the mesh railing we put up on the open side of the bed. I think he must either really like the idea of being "enclosed" like in a crib, or he really likes knowing where the edge of the bed is.

He also picked up something while he was gone that I'm not sure I like. He asks for things by saying, "Read book right now" instead of "read book please." I think that these last few days I've gotten him out of that habit. And I don't think he's trying to be rude, he's just figuring out how all these crazy words we have work together!

One more night before daddy comes home. He's been in Seattle since Monday and we are all ready for him to be back. Thankfully, both kids have been absolute angels (with a few not-so-angel moments from X-man that were quickly cleared up).

Ok, Buttercup is awake so I must tear myself from the 'puter and my itouch and take care of her.