Personal Foul

I've had it up to here with being the referee. If you are looking to me to mediate or listen to your tattling or whining or catagorically side with you because you are older or give you a free pass because you didn't hit him last time, be prepared to be disappointed. Your brother pretending to be a cat (and sounding like he's in heat) for 18 hours/day isn't working in your favor either.

They're known by their lines

In this part of the world, everyone gets tan lines of some sort. My left arm gets tan just from running around in the car in the summer. People get swimsuit lines. Golfer's get sock lines. Farmer's get...well, a farmer's tan. I submit that there should be a new offical line - the suburban housewife line.

Random Product Review

Egg Beaters - Ham & Cheese Variety

Holy Gross! I've had Egg Beaters more times than I can count and they've always been good. I thought this might be a good morning short cut. I'd rather be hungry. I'm imagining that these taste similar to pouring 1/2 a bottle of 409 on an omlet. I'm not sure that I could taste ham or cheese in any form. I did see pink chunks that I'm assuming were "ham" but the optical illusion did nothing for my taste buds.

Jacob's Tip Of The Day: Culture is good. Explore abstract art by emptying single serve containers of strawberry and orange jello on the kitchen floor. Swirl and add shredded co-jack cheese until the desired affect is achieved.

Splurge

I haven't had a functioning camera (other than a disposable) for about 3 months now. It was killing me. So after a budget check, I splurged today. While our previous Cannon PowerShot Elph S100 (yes, that's 2.1 mp) was great in it's day when Michael and I got it as a birthday present almost 6 years ago, there have been improvements in technology. While I'm sad it's gone, I'm super excited to have this new one.

I like that it's bigger. I really don't get this age of smaller, smaller, smaller. I like to hold my phone with my shoulder and I like my camera big enough that I can get more than 2 fingers from each hand on it.

I like that I don't have the leeennnggggtttthhhhy pause between when I push the button and when the picture is taken and then again before I can take the next picture. I'm sure Alissa knows the technical term for it but I just call it annoying. This camera still has a little pause but its a gigantic improvement over what we had.

I like that it can take AA batteries. It can take rechargable and batteries made for electronics are better but coming from a special (expensive) recharge only battery that was a pain in the rear on vacations, camping, etc. I'm calling this a selling feature.

And finally, I like the zoom. When coupled with the action shot feature, I'm giddy for Kate's basketball game tomorrow and even more excited for spring football to start in 2 weeks!

Back on the bike...

I can't seem to get over my blog slump. I'm not sure what my deal is, but in an effort to get over it, I'm just going to throw some (not interesting or entertaining) stuff out there.

1. I'm reading Anna Karenina. It's a freaking long book. In and of itself, that is not a bad thing but I've had a difficult time getting into the Anna/Alexy/Vronsky story. It was just getting in the way of me wondering what would happen with Levin and Kitty. Well, here I am on page 384 of 736 and I hear the angels sing! Alexy has found forgiveness and I love him. I connect to him and I can't wait to find out what happens to him. Anna? Vronsky? Eh. They are human. Stuff happens but I'm just not all that into them. I'm drawn in more and more by the Levin/Kitty story with every page. I love a good mushy story. Ahhh...twitterpated.
2. I've never really been much of a fan of American Idol. I watched a little bit of the first season. I've watched 5-10 min. here and there of the seasons since. I like music but I've never really been the throw-my-panties-onstage kind of fan. Maybe that's it? Last week(ish, I have little concept of passing time), the try outs were on in the background and I was half-heartedly watching pieces. I'm sure it's on there for people's amusement but I found myself getting more and more disgusted. These people come to try out and put their hearts and self-worth into it. No one deserves to be told they look like a monkey on national tv. This is just wrong.
3. It makes the hours spent helping with science fair projects so much more worth it when your child places. Out of 6 science fair projects, we've placed in 3 with one still to be determined. I go pretty far with a pat on the head. Oh yeah, and the kids like it too.
4. There's still a Christmas tree up in my kids' room.
5. I can't seem to figure out what to do with my time when all my kids are at their respective schools. It's only 2 days. 12 hours/week. It reminds me of when I was first separated and the kids would go to David's for the weekend. I'd wander the house. Restless and unable to focus. What do you do with yourself when you can get in the car without helping someone with their belt? How do you potty without an audience? Apparently, it isn't taking down a Christmas tree.
6. Kate is kicking some butt at basketball. Literally. She doesn't seem to get the message that it's not a full contact sport. Fortunately, she's only had a few fouls this year but she definately falls into the aggressive catagory which makes me giggle a little since she is quiet and reserved most of the time. Her team is undefeated and she's had a big role in that. She scored the game winning basket with 2 seconds on the clock. The final was 12-10. I predict that she will grow up and invent a sport called basketrugby.
7. RPR - Simply Sleep from the makers of Tylenol (tm?) My sleep is so screwed up - I feel like a newborn. The problem is that anything that helps me get to sleep also leaves me hungover. I've always had problems with pain killers and sleeping pills. It's just not worth taking something if you are going to feel like crap anyway the next day. I believe this is a new product (at least new to me) and I am singing it's praises!! Totally helped me go to sleep, but not in a falling-over-in-less-than-5-minutes way and absolutely no hangover at all. 2 thumbs (or eyelids) way up for me on this one.

When there are no words...

Nothing can clear my mind of the things that don't really matter like the grief of someone I care about.

This afternoon, I learned that someone I care about is suffering. Life will be forever changed for her and her family. I can't seem to find words and no matter how hard I try, my brain just can't seem to process what is happening. What I do know is that my heart is aching. There isn't room in my chest for all of the sorrow and compassion I have for them. And so tonight, I am on my knees for you. Praying for peace and for miracles.

Happy New Year

Not sure what's up but I don't seem to have much to blog about - at least nothing more exciting than sick kids and toy packaging everywhere. I'll work on it.