Okay, Enough Is Enough

It’s my corner of the internet and I shall use it as I wish.
 

 

Okay…I tried. I am still trying.

I’m trying to be gracious in the face of adversity. I’m trying to be calm in the storm. I’m trying to be patient with circumstances that are not under my control.

BUT I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE! It was 101 degrees F yesterday!

We are in the midst of a heat wave here in the Mid-Atlantic states. The temperatures are in the  high 90’s during the day and in the mid 70’s at night. The humidity has been in the 90% percentile.

Our air conditioner has been out since Monday. MONDAY!

The husband was home Monday and he was his optimistic self.  “We can swim in the pool to stay cool.” Okay!

Then he leaves for his trip early Tuesday morning and his optimism doesn’t carry long distance. I’m sure his hotel rooms are temperature controlled.

It was 105 degrees Fahrenheit today when I got in the car to take the kids home at about 1 pm. Here’s the proof.

I’m going to throw in some political statements here. Guard your ears if you are easily offended (like I am at times) or if you don’t want to hear any political ranting (like I don’t at times) then stop here. Don’t read anymore.

But if you are a brave soul and not easily offended then feel free to bring your open mindedness to this one-sided conversation.

I’m really taking this photo, I am.

Since this whole global warming “debate” started I have been very cynical about the science leading up to it. As a former scientist myself (loosely speaking) I will tell you that scientists are human too. Just sayin’.

So all thinking human beings have biases and opionions no matter how much they deny it, because they are human, they do.

So what does this have to do with my air conditioning? It doesn’t.

Except for this.

It’s easy to say that Global Warming doesn’t exist when you have regulated temperature control that works in your house. It’s easy to say that Climate Change isn’t real because, well, it’s called the weather. It’s easy to poo poo the argument that we’re all going to die because of man’s inhumane (ironic statement) indifference to his environment for pure capital gain. It’s easy to say that climate change has always existed (anyone heard of the Ice Age?) before we came to this earth and think that the history of earth evolution and revolution began when we first started remembering weather (I remember when it snowed all the time.)

But when one’s air conditioner is out for a week and it’s horridly hot with 100% humidity, the only thing I can say is this…

Global Warming is REAL! And it’s happening right NOW!

For those of you who I offended with this post, I truly apologize. I’ll be back to my old sort-of-happy self when the air conditioner gets fixed tomorrow.

Where Does The Time Go?

I know it’s cliche but it’s so true.

Where does the time go?

My little girl is starting high school next year. I knew it was the end of middle school when I realized that this was my sixth and final middle school assembly. The girl tried talking me out of going.

“Why do you want to go? It’ll be boring.”

“Not everyone gets recognized. I’m not getting anything.”

None of these arguments did anything to sway me. I was going period!

And here she is getting her award for making honor roll for the year. She always puts her hands to her face for some reason.

And here she being recognized as a Presidential Award winner.

And here she is…being herself at RainbowLand Week this week.

I hope I survive high school.

Dad’s Day

The husband is a pilot. It’s what he does for a living.

But he wants to be a soccer player when he grows up:)

He played for a couple of years in college and the game still has a special place in his heart.

The World Cup has both him and the boy glued to the tele…go USA!

I had planned to take him out for dinner on Father’s Day. Neighbor Yvonne told me about a great place that I wanted him to see.  But the husband seemed less than enthusiastic. I asked him what he wanted to do and he said he wanted to stay at home. And eat my cooking. And swim in our pool. And kick the ball around with the kids.

I was so touched.

For you see, it seems that spending another afternoon away from home didn’t seem all that appealing to him.

Sometimes he feels that he doesn’t spend enough time with the kids, and as far as “traditional” dads go, I’d say that’s probably true. I do end up taking the kids to most of their events, driving them around the county to their activities, and doing most of the school sports and etc. I’m not complaining about my circumstances, I know that there are many single moms out there who do the same thing and more. The difference is, I have an emotional partner I can turn to, someone who can still help me parent, even if he’s not always physically here.

It’s a huge blessing to be able to call him and say, “Do you think I should punish her? And for how long?” hehehe….

There are times the boy would ask if a friend can take him home and the husband would have to ask, “Who’s Steven? Do we know his parents?”

Why yes we do honey, don’t worry.

Our situation may be very different from other families but I can truly say from my heart that I would never trade it, and it’s all because of the man he is.

So he didn’t want to drive an hour to the fancy restaurant. Instead, he played soccer in the yard with the kids.

I think the boy has some natural ability.

He hasn’t been on a team since he was about ten.

But all boys love balls…anything they can kick or punt or throw.

Now we’re getting a little fancy.

But girls like to play too.

And sometimes they can look balletic.

And sometimes they can look balletic as they bean their dads.

Sorry dad!

But does my hair look okay?

Not even the dog is immuned from soccer tricks.

Happy Father’s Day honey. Thanks for being the man that you are.

Separation Anxiety

When I pick up the girl at the farm, I usually sit in my car and text her, “I’m here.”

Since she’s such a big girl now, I don’t stay at the farm with her anymore and thank goodness. I don’t have the time or the patience to stay there for hours…and hours…and hours…

But on this day, I was a little early so I wandered down to the main barn, right smack into Operation Separation. It seems that in order for Limerick to be ridden again, she has to be separated from her baby. It was the first time the girls tried it.

There was a lot of crying on the baby’s part. It literally sounded like a human baby saying, “Mama, mama don’t leave me!” It cuts to the heart of you.

Limerick found it very difficult to walk away. She kept turning around and refusing to go forward.

Finally the girls brought Limerick back to the stall. Kelly girl said they would try it again later that day. I hope it’s not as traumatic as this first time.

It reminded me of the first time we left the boy with a sitter other than his mama-san. Some friends of our insisted we go out to dinner and they would watch him. We were gone exactly one hour. Nothing against our friends and the boy was fine.

But I know how Limerick feels…

This Day In History

When it comes to school, I would categorize the husband and I as “average” when it comes to expectations about grades. We have our ups and downs and frustrations with our children just like any parent.

I mean, what parent hasn’t asked their little girl, “Why do you have a C in gym?”

“Because I keep forgetting to bring my sneakers.”

It’s not frustrating at all by any means.

The boy - now the boy - I would put in the bright and charismatic category. Notice I didn’t say the “studious” category. Mind you, in spite of taking honors courses and an AP course, he continues to make the honor roll every quarter so why study?

Anyway, I was helping him with a little history project last week. Because he is under the impression that I ask a little too often about how school is going, he tends to not ask for my help for fear it might turn into a lecture or life lesson.

I have no idea why he would think that.

So this was a rare and welcome turn of events. And in spite of the fact I kept calling Rosa Parks, Rosanne Parker (Mom, really!), I think it went pretty well.

Kudos to all you home schoolers out there!

So in this exercise, he wrote a poem and after each stanza he would ask me what period of history he is talking about. So you guess along with me okay?

Here we are,
Home is so far
Half a world away
We arrive in Vietnam today
Here in the cockpit of my F-4
I’m here to fight a war
and I don’t even know what it’s for

Answer: Vietname Era. Okay, the next one is harder

I have no job, I have no money
I don’t have the simple things, like milk or honey
Thank God for Franklin’s New Deal
now we can all start to heal

Answer: The Great Depression

Okay, it wasn’t harder but hold on…

I’m not from around here
They say all I do is drink whisky and beer
but in reality
I work hard and am proud of my Irish nationality

Answer: I forgot what he said the answer was for this one…something about immigration? And Ellis Island perhaps.

Nuclear war
Is it necessary?
With the threat of total destruction
The world is its own adversary

Answer: Cold war…I lived through this, I remember…

Don’t tread on me
that is the cry
we will fight for independence
or we will die

Answer: Revolutionary War

The dream of space
has turned into a race
to reach the stars
“We will do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” – JFK

Answer: The Space Race (we won it by the way)

I may never again see my wife
I may never again see my kids
I may never again see my mother
but the worst part is that I’m fighting my brother

Answer: The Civil War

Is the Red Scare
from the Communist Regime
but I don’t care
because capitalism reigns supreme

Answer: McCarthy Era – but it really could apply to many other periods of history yes?

I will protest
putting my limited rights to the test
I will march, I will dance, I will sing
and I will follow Dr. King

Answer: Civil Rights Era – kinda self-evident but maybe not for 10th grade kids

Here I stand all alone
staring at this sea of stone
here it lies, wide and tall
from this side of the Berlin wall

Answer: Cold War – I remember the Berlin Wall coming down…it was an amazing sight on tv

Almost done…

I help set them free
you don’t want to be me
I carry such a heavy load
working on the Underground Railroad

Answer: Civil War  – of course

Thirteen days
that’s all it takes
Thirteen days
Til the whole world breaks

Answer: Cuban Missile Crisis – way to go JFK

Really almost done now!

As the bombs fall
I can’t help but wonder
how many die
in every boom of thunder
with all the ships caught on fire
Pearl Harbor looks like a funeral pyre (he actually spelled pyre correctly)

Answer: Pearl Harbor

The 30s were dominated by filth and greed
which caused the economy to bleed
this could have led us all
to an economic downfall

Answer: I think he meant to write about the Great Depression here

Last one,

Mandela spent his years in prison
but now he has re-risen
to lead his nation
beyond everyone’s expectations

Answer: Fall of Apartheid

I certainly didn’t expect you to make it this far, but thank you! If you did, you will see that the boy is just brilliant! I wanted to keep this poem so I scanned it and now it’s also on my blog forever and ever.

I don’t know how the kids will do guessing the answers but I’ll find out today when he gets home because he is presenting it today. He finished this project a week early because he didn’t want to have to work on it over the weekend. The husband nearly fell over when he found out.

Sniff, my boy is really growing up!

What’s Happening In Southern Maryland?

It’s Saturday…

Ahhhhh…

As the dog and I came back from our walk today, we stopped at the mailbox because I knew the paper was there. In the weekend section is a story on my favorite local band, Scattered Leaves.

Isn’t their photographer fantastic?

I’m so proud of them and proud to know them. You have not lived until you hear Daniel sing. Or until you hear Dana sing. Or until you hear them sing together.

The online article is here.

They did a little gig at J Pink’s Meet the Artist event that I dragged the husband to last week.

Here’s my friend Tom, of DNA Diagnostics (if you need DNA of your kids, he’s the man to go to) taking the theme literally.

Tell me, isn’t his site fantastic? He must have a great webmaster…

But enough about Tom.

J Pink is a boutique store, about the size of the girl’s bedroom. It’s stocked full of really cute girly things. Perfect for me and for you. My next giveaway will be from this store…I have the perfect thing.

What’s with the title of this post? Well, there’s a lot going on in our neck of the woods and I’m going to start a category named What’s Happening In Southern Maryland. I’m not always in the know, but I like trying:)

Love that Scattered Leaves.

It’s Saturday…ahhhhh…

Visit me, please, at Vision and Verb today. Posted on SOOC Saturday. All photos are SOOC except for the second fantastic photo of Scattered Leaves. But enough about them:)

Executive Decision Onboard Air Force II

Actually it’s not Air Force II unless the Vice-President is on the airplane. So technically any airplane that flies him or the President is called Air Force I and II no matter which airplane it is.

Anyway, this is one of the planes in the fleet that flies very important persons like the Vice on a regular basis. Last week, Little Miss Viv and LCAT Kegan, one of the boy’s friends, were on board and in charge.

I wanted to show you how decisions are made on this aircraft.

Rock…

Paper…

Scissors…

Then they decided to make a few phone calls.

And I told them they just launched a nuclear missile.

For a split second, I think they believed me.

Posted on my3boybarians for Sweet Shot Tuesday and…

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Hello Gorgeous!

I was just over at Shutter Sisters and I was compelled to share another photo with you today. There is a photo contest going on this weekend. The theme?

“Hello Gorgeous.” How fun!

I had the real honor of attending a fantastic event yesterday morning with Miss Shannon’s family. However, I won’t have time until next week to show you all the fun goin’ ons but I wanted to share this, my favorite photo from the day.

Of all of the pomp and ceremony and getting on and off one of the Vice President’s airplane (really), it was Little Miss Viv who made the day for me. Isn’t she cute? She’s going to run the country one day!

So this is my submission to Shutter Sister’s “Hello Gorgeous” contest. If you are a photographer, you should check it out!

p.s. Miss Shannon’s mother is holding my Epiphanie bag…

Welcome To The Neighborhood Frau Greta

This is a sad story…so if you are feeling particularly tender today, don’t read anymore.

But for those of you tough folks with great intestinal fortitude…well, go ahead, live dangerously.

I was walking the dog as I am wont to do every morning that I’m semi-awake. Every morning I pass by Neighbor Vince’s house and on this particular morning he was outside with a wheelbarrow and shovel. He looked up as I walked by and he threw his shovel down and turned and walked about 20 paces away from me and started to sob.

These weren’t just tears, they were body racking sobs.

The dog started walking to him and I followed. I was greatly concerned and a little bit befuddled. After all I hadn’t had my tea yet (my compassion can be overwhelming at times.)

Neighbor Vince knelt down and hugged the dog and buried his head in hers. My thoughts immediately went to the worse case scenario. It’s the way I am.

“Is it Mikey ?” I ask. I immediately think of the kids…it’s my worse nightmare.

He chuckled/sobbed and said, “No it’s not Mikey.”

“Is it Teri?” I ask. I wasn’t leaving until I found out what it was, whether he wanted to tell me or not.

“You’re not a very good detective are you?” he says.

At which point, I looked at the ditch he was digging and I thought, “OMG, he’s going to bury a body.”

And right behind my fence too.

At which point, he put me out of my misery and said that Bubba, his Chesapeake Lab was in a bad way. And that he was going to bury him. I was alternately relieved and horrified…it’s wasn’t his kids or his wife, but it was his dog! There’s no love lost between Bubba and I but I have to say, I felt so badly for him.

I gave him a big hug and told him that I would get the husband to come out and help him dig. He said no.

I guess a man really has to do some things by himself.

The other night Neighbors Vince and Teri came by with this…their new puppy! She’s from the pound…and absolutely adorable! There’s no better way to heal than to pour your love into another being who needs it!

So now we – I mean they – have to name her…they want to give her a cute feminine German name. Does anyone know of one?

I think Greta…yeah, Greta. It’s a step up from Bubba I think.

Posted on Love Thursday. What a love story huh?

Take A Picture Of This!

If I had a dime for every time someone says to me, “This doesn’t go on your blog…”

I would always respect that, I mean who would want me to write about the time they backed their truck into their wife’s car and didn’t tell her until two days later?

Not me.

He owned up to it, but I wasn’t there for the telling so I don’t really know what happened.

Anywayssss…

I have this series of photos that I just can’t help but share because they are so funny. I don’t know what my unnamed friends are doing here.

In fact, anytime anyone says, “Take a picture of this Puna!”…well that’s fair game. For the record, I don’t know where the punctuation goes in the last sentence.

I really don’t know what they are doing here.

My unnamed friend does a great cannon ball doesn’t she?

Disclaimer: Okay for the record, I and my friend Neighbor John were the only two where were drinking wine. Neither of those two, Neighbor Kathleen, nor the husband were drinking anything. The husband had to drive home and he’s a Boy Scout that way.

In other words, I don’t know why they do what they do. High on life maybe?

But they sure have fun doing it.

Names are not used to protect the innocent pool jumpers.

The Russian judge gives this a perfect 10 by the way…

Hosted by Cecilyand Krista

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