Over the last 64 days since I last posted, I have heard a wide range of questions: Is your blog dead?, Why aren't you blogging anymore?, When are you going to post again? I am bored at work/home (mostly from bankers, accountants, stay at home moms, teachers on summer breaks and building suppliers - they seem to have a lot of extra time of their hands each day)
To be honest (I was caught up in the rapture...speaking of the rapture - if didn't happen, we in a heap of a mess), I took the last 64 days off blogging as unpaid, unscheduled vacation days. It just happened. I got busy and wasn't feeling it to take the time to blog. This stuff just doesn't appear magically. I would like to have a voice to blog translation device and add the option for thought to blog translation (trust me a lot of very good topics have come and gone as a result of me just forgetting). I had an offer to "ghost" write for me but I turned it down. It was tempting because I am sure it would have been better than what you are getting ready to read. Thanks for being loyal, at least, the ones who are now reading this. I know who you are. I am back and we all survived the extended vacation. Some of us better than others, Aubrey and Wyatt's fish (all but one) have died. I will have to see about getting some new fish for the tank. A lot has happened the past 62 days, let me catch up you:
It's Not My...
So, one Saturday morning, LA and I were at the house playing indoors with the kids. LA looked out the living room window and told me “someone is coming to the door, must be about the darn dog again”. It seems like a weekly event that our neighbors (more on that concept later) dog is aimlessly walking around in the road and cars are honking horns and some get out of the car and pick the dog up and bring him to our door asking “Is this your dog?”. I go to the door with my answer prepared “No, it’s not my dog” but I got caught off guard when the lady asked “Is that you child? He was standing in the road and I almost hit him." (pointing to the corner of the street, with her truck parked in the road and other cars parked where LA and I park). I briefly paused looking at the boy who was around 2 or 3 and in his pjs. I began to think to myself “Is that one of mind?” which is weird because I know that Aubrey is inside with LA and Wyatt is upstairs sleeping. I tell her “No” and walk outside. After 3 other people ask me if he is mine, they ask me the next questions – “Do you know who he is or where he lives?” and my response is “No” which then gets me the “you don’t know your neighbors looks” from everyone. We don’t exactly live in a neighborhood/subdivision where “everyone knows your name” but I do know that immediately around us the only places a kid could come from is directly across the street or the apartments behind us. I don’t know who they are or what goes on across the street but I know that there is a herd of kids of a variety of ages and they have friends who come over and it is like a big house party most days. I know they have a sprinter van to haul everyone around and that just confirms they have a herd of kids. You don’t buy one of those for a family of four or five (a mini-van will work for that many). I decided to go across the street and a couple of other people went to the apartments. I knocked on the door and I am greeted by two kids who were playing video games. I asked for their mommy and the boy goes upstairs to get her. He returns telling me that “mommy will be here in a minute”. I asked him if he had a younger brother and at about the time he was going to answer the mother doesn’t appear but an older boy (15 or 16) greets me and I goes through the who I am and why I am here and ask him “if that is his younger brother (pointing to the lost child)?” He hits about one step out of the 15 and is down the steps and runs down the walkway. Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner – we have found the boys home…the best part is cooler heads prevailed and no one called the cops because that would have gotten messy. The mother came over a few minutes later and talked to LA, a little shaken which is understandable since she lost one of her kids on her watch - hubby isn't going to be too happy about that I am sure. It seems the older boy was playing with his younger brother on the porch and both had gone inside but the younger one figured out how to open the door and got outside and followed the dog into the street and that's where I got involved in the story. So the moral of the story is never assume why someone is knocking at your door and keep track of your kids.
I'm Just Sayin...Top 1,081 Songs Of All Time
It started on May 1 and went until May 31. I'm Just Sayin posted for 31 consecutive days (which is a record in my book that I promise I will never beat) and counted down HIS top 1,081 songs. It began here with this post and ended here with his number 1 song. He even let the reader(s) have a say in the list for any song that he might have omitted that they liked by giving them spot 1,081. I will be honest and say I was looking forward to the final 100 and what song would be number 1. There were a lot of comments and talk about where Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit (40) and Lynyrd Skynyrd's Freebird (3) would be on the list. He might have hurt some feelings with that ranking but I am in total agreement. I could listen to Freebird all day and Smells Like Teen Spirit maybe 3 or 4 times. Freebird is the National Anthem of the South (along with "Sweet Home Alabama"). But before I get any further in this discussion, I am not going to critique any songs placement on the list. Greg made the list, posted the list (with lyrics on most songs) and I couldn't have done it better (Well, I could but let's be honest. I just took 62 days off from blogging. The chances of me doing something like that are slim and none and slim just left town).
I hope I can talk him into doing something for ROCKTOBER. Maybe we can collaborate on something....just a thought
Good Job, Greg!
Arthur Ravenel Bridge
Probably one of the top 10 Bridges in the United States. For some reason, LA and I decided to take the kids on a walk (translation - they each rode in a stroller that LA and I pushed as WE walked up the bridge) up the bridge to look out over the harbor and enjoy the fantastic view. We started on the Mt. Pleasant side and began our journey. I don't know how far it is to the top of the tower before the down hill starts (we only went to the top and back) but it was far enough to know that I am out of shape and I need not consider attempting to run the bridge run any time soon (and realized why I probably walked a bit on the uphill and agreed with my justification at the time "why are you running, this is stupid, you know you can walk"). But that's not the point of this post. While in the "observation area", 186 feet in the air to be exact, which might as well be 500 feet because it makes me a little nervous - not scared or terrified but let's say careful and especially when I have my two kids (2.5 and 15 months old with me). LA and I are being the cautious parents and keep Aubrey and Wyatt in their strollers. While we were taking pictures a mother with a child Wyatt's age is up there with us. However, her child is free of the stroller and is crawling and walking and holding onto the rails, hands through them, trying to wiggle through them...etc - the very rails that are the only thing between you and a 186 feet fall into the water below. I looked at LA and she at me and decided this lady is crazy. Does she not know that this bridge was built by the lowest bidder and the workers that built the bridge are no longer in town. The rail seems sturdy but guess what I am not letting me, my kids or anyone I love test out the installation and maintenance of them. For all I know the day the guys were installing the rail, their supervisor was goofing off somewhere reading I'm Just Sayin, Our Life and Courtyard. We had to leave the area before I had to tell her my thoughts or call DSS. The down hill was better but keeping the stroller from grape aping down the hill was a workout. Our conversation on the downhill was focused on "What would you do, if your child fell through?"
LA: Jump in after them
KC: Don't think that would be too smart and now I am left without a child and a wife. Would you reconsider?
LA: Your right but I don't know if I could live after that happened
KC: I know...lets just not walk the bridge anymore and do what we do best, vegg out on the sofa
LA: Deal
KC: Good talk
You've been warned about walking the bridge with your kids - Do So At Your Own Risk.
The Rock
This goes back to near the end of the school year while Aubrey was still in Day Care and SBC. As a parent, each day when you pick up your child a range of thoughts go through your head as you approach the classroom door - What did they do today? Were they good today? Did anything happen? You enter and as your signing them out you see the envelope with your child's name on it or see an injury report OR the teacher come up to you and tells you what happened OR the teacher asks your child to tell you what happened today.
Ms. Kathy asked Aubrey to tell LA what happen on the playground today.
Aubrey: I got a rock in my nose?
LA: WHAT?!
Aubrey: I got a rock in my nose?
LA: How did that happen?
(The background for the rest of this story - for weeks/months Aubrey has been picking up rocks and we tell her to put them down. She is very curious about them. We have even found them in bags in her book bag, like it was some special rock. Maybe she going to be a geologist. I'd be fine with that, especially if she could fine some gold) Ms. Kathy said the kids were playing on the playground and Aubrey came running up to her telling her she had a rock in her nose and sure enough Aubrey had taken a rock and shoved it up her nose as far as her finger would push it. Fortunately, Ms. Kathy was experienced with this situation and was able to extract the rock without too much problem. Aubrey was a trooper while she got it out but I am pretty sure we don't have to worry about that happening again - fingers, yes but no more rocks.
Playgrounds
Most playgrounds have signs for recommended ages for the equipment and most are like 2 - 5 and 5 -12 and to be honest no one follows the recommendation (except for the obvious stuff - monkey bars for a two year old are not a good idea, not going to hold on very long - trust me I tried). If your child is 2 - 5, they want to play on the 5 - 12 stuff. It's just how it works (its' funner in the 5 -12 area for them and you (but remember it's not about you, parents)) and for the most part if a parent is close by to watch and help or even follow your child it's fine.
However, I would like to issue a specific warning about the playground at James Island County Park for the 5 -12 year olds. The climbing wall part of the playground that is about 8 feet high is probably not a good idea for your 2 year old to climb. Aubrey was determined to do in and I was there watching and helping her. The problem was when she still was not at the top and I was only holding onto her ankles. All I could think about was this wasn't a good idea, this is the part that makes it for kids 5 years and older, if she falls backward that is going to hurt. I gave her one last push and she made it safely to the top and slid down the slide and was ready to do it again. I suggested that we find a different route. No need to temp fate.
Questions
Aubrey has entered into the questions stage and without a doubt it could be the end of LA and I. She can ask the most questions of anyone child I know or have known. It goes something like this...
While reading a book...
Aubrey: Awe, he's got a boo boo like me. How did he get a boo boo?
Me: He Fell
Aubrey: Why did he fall?
Me: He was riding his skateboard and fell
Aubrey: What's a skateboard?
Me: It's right there (pointing to the picture of it) with wheels on it
Aubrey: Why does it have wheels?
Me: So he can ride it instead of walking?
Aubrey: Why can't he walk?
Me: Get me another book...
Or before saying prayers...
Aubrey: You have a mole on your face. Why?
Me: I don't know
Aubrey: Why don't you know? It right there (touching it)
Me: God made me this way?
Aubrey: Why did God make you with it?
Me: Because we are all different
Aubrey: Why are we all different?
Me: Because God didn't want us all to look alike
Aubrey: Why?
Me: Dear God thank you for this day...
You can put any other topic you can think of...wish us luck on surviving this stage.
Space Shuttle
An era has ended with the landing of the Atlantis Space Shuttle ending the Space Shuttle Program. The Space Shuttle program shows what we can do when we put our mind and dollars behind it...too be able to design and successfully launch and land and aircraft like the Space Shuttle show that we can do anything we (The greatest nation in the world - The United States) want to when there is a desire and dollars to fund it. If your not impressed that we could design something that big and put it into space, you need to get your impressive meter checked out. As you all are aware, I am old enough to remember the beginning of this program (from the test flights to the first launch, the fascination and intrigue this nation had with it, our lackadaisical attitude after so many successful launches, to the crashes, to the last launches and landings) and it is sad to see it come to an end. Fortunately, I got to see a launch as a kid and I will never forget it. I don't remember which space shuttle it was but pretty sure it was Columbia since Challenger didn't launch until 1983. I remember the numerous times during the week we were on vacation that we traveled to see the launch and it would be cancelled. We made one final journey back for the launch and it launched and I will always remember the power from liftoff. We were not anywhere close and I remember my pants shaking from it taking off. I am anxious to see what is next for the US space program.
Here's a couple of videos from the last launch:
and landing:
If you've got 17 minutes and have any interest in the space shuttle, this video is worth your while...enjoy
Camping
We have friends(who have kids our age) that have invited us to join them camping and we have politely declined. We both know what it would be like and we would never get to sleep. The other night as a "reward" for being a good girl and getting 5 big stickers we went camping KC style - inside in our living room with A/C, TV, drinks, power, lights...etc. We set up our 8 person tent in living room - we set up most of it. It was a little big and much bigger than I remembered when I last used it about 8 years ago. The evening in the tent went just about as LA and I expected. Aubrey had to explore every inch of it and try to sleep in as many different positions as she could fine and play with every zipper on the tent and her sleeping bag. She played with the doggie door. Told me not to touch her while she was going to sleep. She crawled over me. She laid down with LA. After an hour of her refusing to sit still long enough to go to sleep it was upstairs and in her bed. LA and I both laughed and thought it went about as expected. I asked LA to sleep in the tent with me but she refused and we both went upstairs to bed.
JULY 4th
Nannie had a July 4th celebration at our house complete with fried chicken and all the fix'ens. All the grandkids and Uncle Scott got their bikes decorated in red, white and blue and we all walked to the town square for the 4th of July non-motorized parade. We didn't win but we had fun.
-If your not happy with your current cable provider - check out Direct TV. We switched from Dish to Direct and our bill dropped from $90 to $55 (with all the taxes) for the same service and is even cheaper now because of the "Refer a Friend Program" (paying about $35 a month). The person that referred me and I each get $10 off our bills for 10 months ($100). If your thinking about changing let me know and I can save us both an additional $100 (all you need is my account number when you sign up) over whatever kind of deal you get when you signup.
-The SC baseball team repeated as National Champs. Along the way they set a least one record that I know will never be broken because I don't that I have ever seen it happen in any level of baseball beyond high school. Two victories where the winning run was scored by the ball being thrown or ending up in the stands.
-In the category of A Fool and His Money Are Soon Parted - Did you see the dummies that actually bet Michael Jordan that he wouldn't hit the green in last weeks celebrity golf tournament. He's never not come through in the clutch. That's just throwing money down the drain.
-Best marketing idea - KFC offering D Wade his old job back since the NBA is in a lockout...promote whoever thought of the idea
-Wyatt loves Aubrey's baby dolls, purses, necklaces, stroller. He plays with more than Aubrey. I will have to get him some more tractors, baseballs, and trucks.
- A cage match AUBREY vs WYATT
Aubrey has a pretty good reverse choke hold that Wyatt hates and generally taps out from
-Dallas Mavericks won the NBA Championship - Sorry, Jeremy. I think it is inevitable that Lebron will get his ring(s) but now, I have hope someone will step up each year to deny him.
Did you see this from the Tour De France? What the...
-Aubrey told LA one day "Don't be so rude, mommy?"
-Ladies, It's not learned it's genetic. God made us this way. I can't explain it.
-When it's quite in the house. You need to start looking to find out what they are into. This time they found mommy's purse.
-Wyatt got his first haircut by Aunt Brenda- July 13, 2011
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