Hey all, obviously I'm not updating this blog - like ever. I think about it, but I just never have the time. I'm also having significantly more fun posting on my other blog. It's very therapeutic. I'm addicted to internet shopping, but I have no more money. So, I post the deals that I would buy if I could. It's almost like shopping! I still get to look for them, think about them, and post them for others to have consumer temptations - I just don't get to have them come to the house anymore. It's kind of fun. You can check it out if y'all want - it's www.bargainshoppingmama.com

May - Seriously???

Good land time flies!!! After being asked what I wanted for Mother's Day, I realized that it must be May already, which means that it has been over 2 months since I've posted! These last couple months have been kind of a whirlwind. I won't go into too much detail because it's one of those deals where I can't imagine anything more compelling and interesting, but when I start filling people in, their eyes glaze over and they stifle yawns. So rather than have anyone fall asleep and accidentally electrocute themselves drooling on the keyboard, let's just sum it up with - I've been busy. Hopefully, now with some up in the air things falling in place and school starting to wrap up, I'll be able to post a little more faithfully.

My Valentine's/Birthday/Christmas Gift!!!

I had a fun Saturday! For the holidays and my birthday, I had asked for a jewelry armoire thingy and had not been able to find one that I liked. Well, that changed on Saturday. We went to an Amish furniture shop and found one I'm really happy with. Those who know me well may wonder why someone who has no jewelry would need a big old jewelry box, but I must confess to harboring jewelry armoire envy for awhile now. Plus, I have some nice jewelry that I inherited from my cousin Helen this last year and it's had to sit in a bag on the dresser. It deserves a classier environment and since I don't intend to give it away, this is the best I can do =)

The Amish store was really cool - a big warehouse with no electricity - it was heated by a potbelly stove in the center and lighted by sky lights. The primitive effect was thrown off a bit by the cordless drill I saw in the corner - so they have power somewhere - sneaky Amish. Regardless, they had a ton of stuff and it was all beautiful. It was hard to choose. The one I picked is a little smaller than I originally thought I'd get, but the ones that sit on the floor were $800, too much and too big for me. This one is about 20" x 20" and about a foot deep, and it sits on my dresser. I really like it. It's red oak in a honey colored stain and it's lined in purple velvet. It's got 6 drawers plus the two on the side that swing out for necklaces. Paul was laughing at me because I was hanging my macaroni and bead necklaces the kids have made me over the years. I realize that the jewelry box is probably not supposed to cost more than the jewelry inside, but that's how it be =) Besides, I love my pasta and bead necklaces. The kids were flattered that their creations had a place of honor. I even had room for the kids' plastic rings, though it does look a little funny to see them lined up on the velvet ring roll - especially the black spider ring, that one looks a little freaky. I did draw the line at Chasquida's bottle cap collection, but I surrendered my old jewelry box for that purpose. All in all, everyone (most of all me) is a happy camper.

Kids in Church

For the last 10 years or so, my church experiences have centered around "oh no, what are those kids doing now". We've been attending our church since Chasquida was 2. When we first started going there, we sat behind a very refined elderly couple thinking that they might be grandparently types who would tolerate some of Chasquida's less desirable behaviors. At that time, the church had nursery for only babies up to 2. I never understood that, because at 2, they're just getting started with naughtyness. After 3 of my kids, the church now strongly recommends, in fact stops just shy of demanding, that children stay in the nursery at least till 3 and preferably 4. The refined elderly couple stopped attending just a couple weeks after I caught Chasquida flicking the lady's dangling earrings and making them swing. Coincidence? I think not.

I could write a book on the my kids' misadventures in church. The dear lady who teaches the 3-6 yr old Sunday School has had at least one of my angels in class for the last 7 years. She recently told me that she was pretty sure she knew more about our family than anyone. If she weren't so kind, I'd swear I heard a blackmail threat in there. Apparently, the kids really enjoy confessing mommy and daddy's sins.

Last Sunday, Gimli had two separate incidents both involving the bathroom. He's recently been baptized and we now allow him to participate in communion which has fast become his favorite part of church. We only do communion once a month and he's only gotten to take it twice so far so it's a pretty big deal to him. Right before communion this last Sunday, he had to go to the bathroom so went by himself - he's a big boy now you know. Well, he heard the communion music from the potty and was so afraid he'd miss out that he came tearing out of the bathroom and running down the center aisle of the church (we sit near the front) with his shirt untucked, his zipper down, and carrying his belt in his hand.

His second incident of the day came that evening during the Bible study service (by the way, this is a study for the adults, we just don't have anywhere else to send the kids). He left for a few minutes to go to the bathroom and we were just finishing up when he returned. The pastor was taking a few last questions and he asked if anyone else had anything to ask. Gimli raised his hand (I always cringe when our kids do that) and asked very politely, "Could you please tell me what I missed while I was in the bathroom?" Sigh...

I don't even want to think about Huck's exploits right now. There's only so much one can take.

Calling For Huckabee Part II

I decided I was being a little premature to retire from the political scene so early, so I dug out the microphone and head set and dialed up Skype. After calling the Skype people and being assured they could hear me, I fired up the call sheet for Huck's campaign. The first few calls went fine, mainly because none of them answered and I could just leave messages. Of the 15 people I called, only two answered the phone. The first lady was awesome! I asked her if I could take a moment to tell her why I supported Huckabee and she very sweetly said that I could, but that she was already on her way to vote for him and taking a caravan of her retirement home friends with her. We ended up talking for 10 minutes about where we were from and why we liked Huckabee and what we were doing today, and then I remembered that the calls are taped and that we're supposed to follow the script. Apparently, I'm not any good at following the script because the next live caller I got went nothing like the script. As soon as I introduced myself, she went into a minute long rant about how she would have voted for Huckabee, but now she wasn't voting for anyone because she was so sick of all the phone calls. Uh-oh. I told her that I was sorry for bothering her, that the system was supposed to be set up so that you were only called once by a Huckabee supporter. She then admitted that I was the first Huckabee caller and the only live political caller. Apparently, she'd been bombarded by recordings from Romney and McCain and getting angrier and angrier when there wasn't anyone live to tell off. That's when I called. I told her that I couldn't really apologize for their campaign tactics but that I was sorry I had upset her. She said it wasn't really my fault she guessed, and she was right across the street from the polling place, but she was not about to go over there. I told her that I understood the fallout from the political mudslinging and pressure tactics and that was one of the reasons I had caucused for Huck in Iowa and was making the phone calls, because I really feel Huckabee is different. She started talking about how surprised she was that he had won in Iowa. I told her it was because a lot of folks felt just like she did and that they were sick of the status quo politician too. I could tell she was starting to feel guilty, because she kept saying well, I would go vote if I weren't so mad, but I don't suppose that's your fault, I probably shouldn't have been so frustrated with you, I guess the Huckabee campaign hasn't really done anything that's upset me, I just hate politics.... I just said that I was really sorry she'd been upset by all the phone calls and that I hate that I had contributed to her distress and that I hoped she didn't let this darken her day. She said it was okay, and she really should go vote she guessed, but she wasn't saying for sure she'd go. I just said that we understand her reasons for being upset with the political arena and that if she changed her mind we would be grateful. What an emotional call! I felt like I needed to eat afterwards. If I blow my diet today, it is all Mike Huckabee's fault.

Ardent Supporter or Campaign Menace?

Last night, while checking out the Mike Huckabee website, I came across a sign up sheet for volunteers to make phone calls to the Sunshine state on his behalf. Immediately I signed up. I figured this was a great way to help out the campaign without having to actually give money (something a little in short supply at the moment). We have a skype account where we can make long distance calls from our computer for like $3 a month, so we're not out the cost of the call. Unfortunately, the call quality isn't as good as a phone and you have to use the microphone. Nonetheless, I'm all excited to be able to help the cause and get all signed up and have my list of names to call. The first phone call is an elderly gentleman who absolutely cannot hear me. It goes something like this.

Me : Hello, My name is Dixie and I'm a volunteer for the
Him : Hello
Me: My name is Dixie and
Him: HELLO
Me: I said my name
Him: HELLO!!
Me: Excuse me, can you hear
Him: Stupid telemarketers... *slam* hangs up the phone.

Okay - so not totally discouraged, I go on to the next name. I'm rolling through my list, leaving messages, doing my patriotic duty, but every time I get a live caller (and they are all elderly folks - everyone must retire to FL, except my grandparents who actually left FL and retired to southern IL) the same little shouting and hang up scenario repeats itself. After about five of these, I am convinced that everyone in Florida is deaf. That's when I notice a little graphic in my call screen - a microphone with a slash through it. Curious, I clicked on it and the following appeared "Microphone is muted. Skype cannot hear you." Oops. For 45 minutes, I have been leaving messages and calling folks all with my microphone turned off. And thus ended my glorious political advocate career. If Huck loses by less than 15 votes, I will feel very personally responsible.

The Blog Has Paid Off!!!

At last!! All my tireless toiling and blogging effort has reaped a reward. Yesterday, I received not one but TWO boxes of Weight Watchers Peanut Butter Bliss in the mail!! A kind soul has read of my scotcheroo struggles and has planned an intervention to tempt me away from the dark side and back into the Weight Watchers fold. And it is working! These little (and unfortunately I must stress the word little) candy bars are amazing. They have a crunchy bottom layer of chocolately goodness topped with a peanut buttery cream layer, and then the whole thing is dipped in a peanut buttersctochy candy coating. They are so good! And get this - each little (and again, I do mean little) bar is only 1 point! There are less points in the entire box of 12 than in 1 decent sized hunk of scotcheroo. Thanks Mom - you rock!! And tell stepdaddy thank you for mailing them!

This blogger is not a paid advertiser for Weight Watchers and does not receive any compensation for Weight Watcher endorsements. If Weight Watchers feels compensation is due, a lifetime supply of Peanut Butter Bliss would not be unwelcome.