Well, another Christmas is over now. I don't really enjoy the next few months in general. The month of November you have Thanksgiving to look foward to and you still have some fall color and December you have all the parties and get togethers and Christmas festivities and then after New Year's Eve, you are kind of slapped in the face with the reality of winter. No leaves, just gray and cold. The fact that it gets dark so early is another bummer.

I trudge thru January, February, and March and then about April there is a glimmer of hope. Usually we will get some warm days and you know the end is near. I am an outdoors type person and so are my kids, so we don't really do well with soggy, cold winter days.

But enough complaining about cold weather.... We had a great Christmas. I like all the traditions that go with Christmas. I had fun reading the "baby Jesus story" to the Banimal. It was more fun this year because he can communicate better and can understand the story. I also had fun making and eating tons of cookies with him. And I can't leave out watching all those old clay mation Rudolph movies.

This year was also the first year the Banimal has been able to understand Santa. I have debated about doing the santa thing, but I am glad I did. When he saw the crumbs on the plate and the half empty milk glass his mouth hit the floor. He didn't even notice the presents.

I was also so pleased with how he handled it all. My Christmas present was seeing him be so appreciative of everything he got and saying 'Thank you' without being prompted. As a mom, those moments are what I enjoy most. About two weeks ago he blurted out the blessing we say before meals on his own. I was surprised and pleased. Now he insists on saying it. And of course, I just radiate when he does.

Little Pteradactyl boy had no clue about any of it. He is so laid back anyway. He never blinked an eye at any of the presents or the lights. He was fascinated with ornaments. He is only 8 mos. Next year he'll be able to get into it all more.

I have had bronchitis and my father in law had a stroke on Christmas day (but is doing well). So I have been neglecting my blogger duties. But I am planning to start back full steam New Year's Day. I have missed keeping up with all my blogging buddies. I have noticed that I wasn't the only one who got scarce during the holidays.

I hope everyone has a great New Year!!!!!!

Thinking back on past Christmases

I was thinking about the Banimal getting a bike this Christmas and it made me think about a Christmas when I was a kid. I was probably in the 2nd grade, maybe 3rd and all I wanted for Christmas was a blue and white BMX bike, just like all the boys in my neighborhood had. It had orange writing on it and knobby tires. I just thought I couldn't live without it. And sure enough, Christmas morning there it was under the tree. ( I was so scared that my mom might buy me a pink 10 speed, because she thought it was more appropriate.)

I also remember that we had bad weather that year on Christmas. Not snow, but sleety, slushy, icey precip. But Christmas morning I bundled up and went outside and rode my bike.

I think I enjoyed that bike better than anything I ever got. I could ride with all the boys and jump dirt piles just like they did. I fit right in. I don't know how many miles I put on that bike.

Hopefully, since the Banimal is not quite 3 and his little bike has training wheels, he won't be jumping any dirt piles or ramps when he gets it this year. Thinking about stuff like that makes me anxious for the future. I can't wait to see my boys get big and see them doing things that I did when I was a kid..... wait a minute.... after giving this some careful consideration and recalling some of the things I did as a kid....maybe I'll just savor these moments while they are little.

The cat is out of the bag now.

We have asked the Banimal several times over the last few months what he wants for Christmas only to have him say, 'nothing' in response. I am convinced that he has some faulty wiring. God forgot to connect the toy-wanting wires. But anyway, we decided to get him a little 12 inch bicycle. So to pump him up every time we went to Wally World we would take him back and let him sit on it. So now he is pretty excited about the prospect.

Well, today I had the kids in the minivan headed to the grocery store and who should pull up next to us at the redlight.....why, it was Mr. Clean in his red dump truck. The Banimal was all excited. He was yelling and waving at his dad. And then he got quiet for a minute and then he screamed, "MOM LOOK LOOK LLLLLLOOOOOOKKKKKKK!!!!! There is my bicycle!!!!!" And sure enough sitting on the seat next to Mr. Clean was the bicycle.

I have tried to convince him that Mr. Clean was taking it to some poor, under priviledged child, but he is having no part of it. He just looks at me and smiles and says that he knows that its for him. He is way to smart for his on good. He is not even 3 yet. I should be able to make up a lame lie and have him believe it. But no...

So, I guess Santa made his stop at our house a little early this year. (He still doesn't get to ride it until Christmas... I am such a meanie.)

Well, I didn't make good on my promise. I have been a terrible blogger for another week. I have had little to no free time here lately and I just have not felt that inspired.

But here we go anyhow....

I met a girl a couple of weeks ago who was pregnant with her third baby and was having problems that caused her to not be able to work. Times were hard for her and her husband and she was worried that she wasn't going to be able to do anything for her kids for Christmas. After I talked to her I couldn't get her off my mind. But it was kind of depressing because I felt pretty helpless. Being a stay at home mom myself we keep a tight budget and don't do big Christmas ourselves. But I just kept thinking about her and her kids.

Well, I mentioned it to few people and I guess I mentioned it to the right ones. Actually, I really do believe that it was just a God thing. He planted a seed in my heart and I in turn planted a few. But long story short.... Some people got involved and they brought in food and presents for the kids and some cash for them.

The girl called my mother in law in tears ( My mil was who introduced us). She couldn't believe that strangers were so generous to her and her family. It just made me feel so good. She didn't have any idea who got the whole thing rolling. It felt so good to be a secret Santa's helper.

I think it was a good lesson for me. Sometimes I am hesitant to get involved because I think I won't be able to do what needs to be done. But I think it helped me to realize that just because I can't contribute financially like I want does not mean that I can't contribute in some meaningful way.

So I guess the moral is I need to get up off my apathetic bow-hunkus (My grandpa's word for butt) and do something more often.

I'm back...

I have been a bad blogger for the last week. I have been reading alot and doing my usual duties (mom, maid, etc..). I am addicting to civil war novels. I read the Truest Pleasure a long time ago. It is not really a civil war novel. It is mainly after the war, it got me interested in North Carolina fiction. Alot of the NC fiction books take place during the Civil War or shortly there after.

My absolute favorites are Truest Pleasure and Cold Mountain. I could read those over and over again. This weekend I broke down after much deliberation and rented the movie Cold Mountain from the library. I wish that I had not. I hated it. I think on the movie they should say 'Very Loosely based on the book by Charles Frazier' instead.

I thought Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger were ill suited for their parts and their accents were terrible. I was just so dissappointed. I know that the movie never usually lives up to the book, but I just didn't expect that much of a letdown.

The characters in the book were so real and interesting. It seemed like the movie's characters were just flat, little shells. yuck. yuck. yuck.

Well, enough moaning about Cold Mountain.

I am going to try to put my book down this week long enough to blog some. So I promise to try to be a better blogger. I have so many fave blogs that I like to read it will take me a week to get caught back up.

Christmas parade

Well, I had the pleasure of attending two Christmas parades this weekend. A town about 10 miles away had one yesterday and the little town that we live in had theirs today. Our little town is much smaller, but I thought our parade was much better.

We kind of have a little bet that goes on each year. My friends and I try to guess how many 4-wheelers will be in the parade ever year. All you win is bragging rites, but its still fun. This year was a dissappointment though. There were only a couple.

But just as always there was a ton of candy. Its like Halloween backwards. You don't have to dress up and go door to door. You just stand on the sidewalk while people who are dressed up throw candy toward you. (or in the case of the little smart aleck boys...throw candy at you at high rates of speed. Every year there are always one or two little mischievious boys hurling candy at unsuspecting onlookers.)

I think Santa had given into the whole Atkin's or South Beach diet craze, because he was noticeably thinner. He was teetering on the edge of what my grandmother would call "poor".

I have decided that kids today definately have too much candy. I watched little boys and girls run out to pick up candy and look at it and decide it was not what they wanted and throw it back down on the ground. I couldn't believe it. When we were kids we would race out for any little piece on the ground. We'd risk life and limb by running out in front of the next float just to save a piece from getting run over. I was also surprised at all the candy wrappers on the ground afterward too. My parents would have smacked me upside my head if they had caught me throwing down candy wrappers.

Not parade related, but funny none the less..... I was in Kmart yesterday with the Banimal and we rounded a corner only to be met with a mounted deer head singing 'Sweet Home Alabama.' You know the whole world has gone mad. If that is not enough to entice you, BUCK (he has a name ), also sings "On the road again." The kicker is the price tag. You can have this redneck singing deer head for the low, low price of $119. I would love to know how many of those are bought this season.

Happy Birthday, Mr Clean

Happy Birthday, Mr. Clean!!!! 


This is my wonderful hubby, Mr Clean, and the barn on our 'farm'. (We just have fields, no animals.) But we have always called it the farm.

Mr. Clean and I used to sit at the barn when we were dating and talk about what our future would be like. We wanted to be together and have a couple or more kids and to live near the barn and the fields. Not long after we to married a house and some property that was next to the fields came up for sale and we bought it. So now we live at the farm.

Its a wonderful feeling to be living a life that you have dreamed of. We have what we wanted from the start.... each other, a couple of kids, and the farm.

Mr. Clean is edging ever so closely to the BIG 50. But fortunate for him, men don't get old, they just get more distinguished. HEEHEEE!!!! You just keep telling yourself that.

Isleep deprived mother syndrome

I haven't slept the night thru in a very long time. I have a seven month old who didn't get the memo. You know the one that said, "at seven months you should most certainly be sleeping thru the night and giving your poor rundown mother a break." I need to find out who is in charge of sending those out and let them know that Pteradactyl boy was left off the list. (Actually I do feel sorry for the little guy his teeth are killing him. He has three already.)

I guess I'd love to blame my sleep deprivation completely on him, but I have to shoulder my part of the blame....which happens to be about 99.9%. I have lead him to believe that I am a 24 hr milk machine. It started out so simply. He was hungry in the middle of the night so I would bring him to bed to nurse and fall asleep in the process. Well, know he thinks he needs me, the human pacifier, to put him back to sleep. (My neighbor says who can blame him. He is after all of the male persuasion and what man could pass up the oppertunity to lay next to a warm, soft woman with a boob in his face while he is going to sleep. He wants to know where he can sign up. He also attributes breastfed babies being the happiest to this theory.)

I have thought about letting him cry it out. But there are several problems with this. First and most importantly, I have an uncontrollable urge to make everything ok for my kids and I can't stand the thoughts of him crying in the middle of the night. Second, I have the Banimal sleeping in the next room. You absolutely DO NOT under ANY circumstances want to wake that child up in the middle of the night....especially in an unpleasant way. If he got roused up, we would all be crying. (I think he gets that from me.)

I need the "easy button" like in those Staples commercials. I just keeping hoping that the situation will resolve itself with little or no effort on my part. And I am sure that it will...about 5 mos or so from now when the little booger weans... but I can't make it that much longer.

Christmas shopping

I actually went shopping the day after Thanksgiving this year. Well, actually that is a lie. I went to the mall the day after Thanksgiving with absolutely no intentions of buying anything. My mother, who is a huge shopaholic, convinced me to go.

Its about an hour drive for us to the closest city with a mall. Needless to say, I hardly ever go there. Occasionally, I'll need something at Babys-R-Us and so I'll make the trek. But in general, I hate shopping. And now that I stay at home its pretty much pointless to look at things you are not going to be buying. I'd rather take the kids to the library or the park.

Anyhow.... I agreed to go because I needed something from Babys-R-us. But first we went to the mall. I loaded the kids in the double stroller and gave the almost 3 yr old Banimal the "mommy's expectations about your behavior" talk and then we entered the labyrinth of insanity.

First of all.... they need a bigger mall. The stores had merchandise stuck in every conceivable hole in the joint. Just tons and tons of junk. Lots of stuff stuck in the isles. You know the kind of cheap stuff that looks kind of neat that you get that kind of hard to shop for person.

The people were a whole nother story. Women carrying more than their body weight in Dillard's bags. People making their kids get out of the stroller to put bags into the stroller. And there was so much plastic flying at the registers. The credit card companies are going to have another great year.

We spent most of our time following my material crazed mother around as she looked for the 'perfect gift' for everyone down to the preacher's first cousins' sister in law. But the kids enjoyed it. They like all the lights and the Christmas trees. I don't get them out much so its a new adventure when we do the mall. About half way thru the trip, as a surprise to the Banimal, I whipped out what we affectionately call "the Leash." He was happy. I wait until he is figgety and then I let him walk around kind of as a treat. Aren't I terrible?

Oh yeah... and for the icing on the cake three layers thick.... he got to ride a train in the mall, meet Ol Kris Kringle himself (although we opted out on the pic... they wanted nearly $15 for a mug with Santa), and Chick-fil-a was the the cherry on top. They had a man dressed up in a huge cow suit handing out free waffle fry cards. The Banimal was way more impressed with the cow dude.

Well... that was my mall excitement for the year. Hope its at least another year before I have to go back.

Tom Cruise Rant.

I used to be huge Tom Cruise fan. I remember when I was a teenager how we used to watch all of his movies over and over and just salivate over him. We would do marathons where we would sit and stare at the tv for hours just watching Top Gun or Days of Thunder. He was the best.

But now I can't even stand the site of him. After the whole Brooke Sheilds debacle I just hate to even see his face on tv. I wouldn't watch one of his movies if you gave me a free ticket. Who does he think he is???? Maybe he is a little confused. I don't think he has ever recieved any degree in medicine to my knowledge. And further more unless he is a really convincing cross dresser he has never had any experience with being pregnant or any of the stuff that comes with it.

Well, now I read that he is giving poor little gullable Katie Holmes (or Kate as he calls her) regular check ups on his on personal sonagram machine. Hello!!!! You are not a doctor and you haven't even played one on tv. He has gone over the deep end.

I think maybe he should spend a little less time with his Scientology-nutty buddies at the center and rejoin the rest of us here on earth.

100 things about MOUNTAIN GIRL

After much thought and deliberation.....here is my list. This was hard.

1. I am a Christian. (I thank God for His grace and patience.)

2. I am a work in progress.

3. My father is one of the greatest influences on my life.

4. I was a tomboy growing up. Still am in many ways.

5. I was extremely rebellious thru my teenage years. I got involved in alot of things that I am not to proud of.

6. I love to learn.

7. I love to read self-help type stuff and bio and autobiographical stuff.

8. I am blessed to have a several really good friends. One I have known since kindergarten, one since seventh grade, and one I met on the first day of college. I still talk to all of them on a weekly basis.

9. I barely graduated from high school but I graduated from college with a 3.85 gpa. Its amazing what a difference paying for your education makes.

10. I usually feel more comfortable around guys. I grew up with all boys and was always just treated like one of the guys.

11. I am learning how to hang out with women, but it is different and difficult at times.

12. I have worked at a rock quarry and doing construction.

13. My first marriage was a disaster from the start.

14. The years I spent with my ex-husband were the lonliest and most difficult years of my life so far.

15. I went on a cruise with my ex husband (we were still married at the time) and really seriously contemplated pushing him off the boat one night when he was drunk. But I didn't.

16. Instead I came home and filed my divorce papers. One of the best decisions I have ever made.

17. I miss working from time to time.

18. I love giving the perfect gift. (doesn't have to cost alot. I just love it when you are able to give someone something they absolutely love.)

19. There is something that I like about working outside and doing physically difficult work and even being dirty at the end of the day.

20. The day that I married my now husband was one of the happiest days of my life. When I met him I knew I had found "home."

21. The days that my boys were born are my other happiest days.

22. My husband is 17 yrs and 11 mos older than me. He graduated high school the year I was born.

23. I almost let him slip thru my fingers because I didn't know if I wanted to date someone that much older than me. Boy would I have missed out.

24. I like getting older (the alternative sucks) I learn so much every year.

25. My children have brought great joy and alot of hard work.

26. Before I had the Banimal I had never fed a baby or changed a baby.

27. I have always been afraid of the dark.

28. I played piano well enough to get a partial college scholarship but now I can barely read music or play 'Twinkle, twinkle, little star.'

29. My mother forced me to play and my rebellion was to stop once I turned 18 and never touch the keys again.

30. Lately I have toyed with the idea of picking it back up again.

31. I love anything that is artistic. music. painting. drawing. crafting. even play dough.

32. I was a member of NOW when I was in college.

33. They would be so disappointed in my outcome. Stay at home, mother of two, submissive little housewifey.

34. I feel like the little domestic housewifey suites me way better than the hostile man hater.

35. My husband says that I have "Little Red Hen Syndrome" from time to time.

36. I thoroughly enjoy my little domesticated life.

37. I worked for most of my twenties and don't have a penny to show for it.

38. I have less and spend less now, but I am so much more satisfied.

39. I absolutely love Blues. especially Buddy Guy and BB King.

40. I also love classic rock and southern rock. (I had written old rock at first, but my sweet hubby explained that its called 'classic' not 'old'.) I think that's how he chooses to look at himself as well.

41. I love doing service/volunteer work.

42. I don't drink caffiene.

43. I love chocolate. (kind of a double standard... I'll eat caffiene but not drink it.)

44. I make a mean pan of biscuits. Just the way my Grandma used to in a cast iron skillet.

45. I love to cook

46. I have a huge recipe collection.

47. My graduating class only had 51 people in it.

48. I loved college because there were so many different kinds of people there with so many different points of view.

49. I love to talk to people that I have nothing in common with.

50. I talk way too much. Always have.

51. I open my mouth and speak without thinking. A habit that I have been working on.

52. I love to play sports.

53. I used to love to lie when I was a kid. It was like a challenge to try to get them to believe you.

54. I have a really hard time telling people "no". But my husband has helped me to stand my ground more.

55. I seem really tough on the outside but I am really a big mush pot on the inside.

56. Having kids has made me even mushier. I cry about all kinds of crazy things.

57. I am extremely sentimental. I keep all of the cards that my husband and kids give me.

58. I am obsessed with pictures. I have lots of pictures of my family and friends.

59. When I was in the sixth grade my mom would not let me shave my legs and a boy in my class called me 'cow legs'. I have shaved my legs nearly ever day of my life since my mother finally let me. I can't stand to have hairy legs.

60. People always comment on my smile.

61. I think that my green eyes are my best attribute.

62. I had an aunt that used to babysit me when I was about 7 and she would close the blinds and turn off the lights and turn her disco ball on and play Rod Stewart's 'If you want my body' and 'abracadabra'. I thought I was at the club and I used to dance for hours to those 45's. that was one of my fave memories

63. I love to read quotes.

64. I can memorize the words to a song after hearing it once.

65. Unfortunately I am a terrible singer.

66. My favorite color is red.

67. I am a dreamer.

68. I resist change (according to Mr Clean, resist don't quite cover it).

69. I have always wanted to do something artistic for a living.

70. My dream job would be to have a shop and make custom cabinetry and small furniture.

71. I love Seagrams Ginger Ale.

72. From time to time I watch General Hospital.

73. I would never admit it to my friends.

74. I was born almost 7 1/2 mos after my parents married. I was 8lbs. You do the math. My mother still to this day, 30 yrs later, will not admit to anything.

75. I don't get along with my mother. (that's a blog of its own)

76. I enjoying blogging very much.

77. I did natural childbirth.

78. I feel like I can do anything after that.

79. I LOVE pizza and macaroni. Not necessarily together. I am carb crazy.

80. I love to be outdoors.

81. When I was pregnant, I secretly wished for boys.

82. I hope to maybe have a little girl someday.

83. If money was not a consideration, I would love to have alot more kids.

84. I never wanted kids at all, until I met Mr Clean.

85. I think sometimes I might have adult ADD. Mr Clean reaaures me its just having kids.

86. Sometimes I think parts of my brain are turning to mush. (from lack of use)

87. I am great at dreaming up ideas and things to do.

88. I have a hard time following thru with things.

89. I don't really believe in horoscopes, but I am exactly how they describe libras.

90. The chinese horoscope thing that's on the placemats at all Chinese restaurants says that Mr Clean and I should never be together. What does a placemat know?

91. I usually wear a tshirt, jeans and a pair of TEVA sandals.

92. When I was a kid I would cry until I was sick because my mom would make me wear frilly dresses and she would curl my hair.

93. I used to rock climb.

94. I rode a motorcycle for a couple of years. (I sold it when I married Mr Clean. He doesn't ride.)

95. I went gray prematurely. I have been dying my hair since I was 26.

96. I have good looking feet. ??? I asked my husband what he thought I should add and this was his contribution. He said, 'Beware of the woman with ugly feet.' He says all men know this. ???? I am confused.

97. I eat like a lumberjack and always have.

98. I have never ordered a salad and pushed it around on a plate to impress a man.

99. I like comedy. movies, tv, books.

100. This was the hardest thing I have done in a long time.

Just some random things that bug me

Directional poop.... I have a baby that can have poop all in his clothes, his carseat, on his back, in his hair but not have one drop in his diaper. Please tell me how does poop manage to come out of a kids butt and miss the diaper on his butt completely.

Quaker oats..... Why in the world does Quaker not give you 5 strawberry and 5 peach in the box. They give you six peach and four strawberry. It seems reasonable to me that if you buy a box with only two flavors that there would be an equal amount of each in the box. Who are they kidding... its not even like there is any real fruit. Most of that stuff is apples that are flavored to taste like strawberries and peaches. How much more could strawberry flavoring cost.

The reason I even care about this is that I have a toddler that loves strawberry oatmeal. I really wish they would save me a lot of trouble and make just a box of strawberry.

Traffic lights.... Our town just got a whole new traffic system. I am sure cost more money than I would care to know. Two things bug me about it. First, there are these big, black poles with arms that the lights hang on which that in its self is no problem. But the whole deal is that they are supposed to be more appealing to look at ( you know the whole tourist thing. Lights on wires aren't as cute?) But any who..... The thing is there are still power lines running everywhere. So now we have these monsterous poles and tons of wires.

Secondly, you'd think that a new computerized system would help traffic to move along...but you would be very, very wrong. Where there were no problems, there are now. And where there were short little waits now there are really long waits. I thought this morning that there was a wreck or something ahead of me, but it was just the poorly timed lights.

Sorry for the complaining... It won't happen next time.

Fightin'

I was reading a post today over on the

Pirate Journal

and it made me think about when I was growing up.

I grew up with all boys. And since we lived in a rural, not-so-good part of the county they were not sophisticated, sweet, bookworm boys. They were fighting, tree climbing, spitting, cursing boys. So I had quite a little mouth on me and could usually back most of it up.

Every day we'd all ride bikes and play in the woods. Sometimes we'd make us a pretend WWF wrestling ring and we'd just wrestle and horseplay. That never worked well though because someone always hit someone too hard or unfairly took a swing when they weren't looking and then it was pure mayhem until someone's mom came out of the house with the broom or a hickory. Pary over.

But anyway... I remember when I was in 5th grade this new kid named Brandon came to school. He sat near me and picked on me constantly. He would tell me how he was a karate master and how he was going to Japan or some place like that to study and how he was going to throw his chinese death star at me and kill me. Well, this built up day after day after day. Until one sunny day we were out on the playground for recess and he came up to me and started all his karate junk and I decided that enough was enough.

He jumped up on one foot with his hands posed high in the air. (I am sure in his mind he must have thought he was the karate kid.) All the kids started coming around as he started 'heeeing and hooing' and then out of the blue before he could do anything I kicked him right in the nuts. He immediately hit the ground thrashing around and gagging. And I just turned and walked away. OOOOHHHHH You have much to learn grasshopper.

Later that week the teacher called my mother and father in for a conference. In this conference she told my parents that I was too rough for the boys and that my parents should buy me Barbie dolls and other more feminine toys. Little did she know that I had a whole collection of Barbie's and that I played with them regularly.

This situation had nothing to do with Barbie and everything to do with a little boy who needed to shut his mouth and stop bullying. BTW, he never again mentioned anything about death stars or karate chopping me.

A few funny stories involving the Banimal

We gave my first born son the nickname 'the Banimal' when he was a tiny little baby, mainly because of all the funny animal-like noises he would make. Banimal is part baby, part animal. Little did we know how well it would suit him on into his toddler years.

Friday morning I got in the shower and about half way thru I heard the bathroom door open and the pitter patter of Banimal feet. I asked him if he was okay and he said "yes" and I asked him if he needed anything and he said "no". He was really quiet while he was in the bathroom.... and quiet is not a good thing at our house. When he gets quiet I start looking cause something is going down.

Anyway... I get out of the shower and I realize that I don't hear him so I go in the living room. He is sitting in the floor with something square looking held up to his mouth. Upon closer inspection I realize that it is my birth control pack. He had eaten two already and was trying to gnaw his way thru to another. I guess we want have to worry about any unplanned pregnancy, huh?

Saturday, I was in the home office and he came to the door and told me 'Mom, I peed in the other potty.' He has been potty trained for a few months now, so I said 'that's good. You peed in your potty.' Then he corrected me, 'NO, the other potty.' So I assumed that he had went to the big toilet. So I said, ' That's great. You peed in the big toilet like dad.' and again he said, 'No, the other potty.' Then I got a little worried, because there is no 'other potty' in our house. So I asked him to show me where. Well, to my great surprise and dismay he had urinated in a veggie steamer. I had put it on the floor next to the door because the neighbor wanted to use it.

I cleaned it and cloroxed it and later that evening while I was cooking dinner he went over and started playing with the timer on the veggie steamer. In a few minutes he came over to me and held up his hands and handed me a pretend bowl. I asked him what was in my pretend bowl and he looked at me with a huge grin on his face and said, "Pee soup."

Life with the Banimal is never boring. If I can remove myself from being so 'Mom' most of the things he does are really funny. He is my comic relief. He is a true boy thru and thru. He giggles when he passes gas and burps. He thinks its hillarious when I burp. He likes bugs, worms, and dirt. He likes to inspect his poop. Anything gross he thinks is great.

I have had to learn to loosen up especially since he has a brother that's two years younger. There is no end in sight. I am outnumbered. So I figure if you can't beat em, join em.

The Mousacre

Yesterday was a dark day in the Mountain girl house. I kept smelling something and it wasn't good. I kept trying to tell myself that it was just a dirty diaper that someone had tossed in the kitchen garbage, but down deep I knew that was not the case. So yesterday I asked Mr Clean to take all the canned food out of the lower pantry, because that was where the smell was coming from. There was no way I could do it.

After moving just a few cans we found our first victim. He was still fresh so we knew that we were going to have to go deeper. Sure enough, back in the deep, dark depths of the pantry there was the culprit.... in a flower vase I had stored there, no less. I decided that the flower vase wasn't worth the effort so we tossed the vase, mouse and all.

I reorganized the pantry and cloroxed everything including the outsides of the the cans. And while we were doing all this we decided to pull the fridge out to make sure that there wasn't one under there. Well, we pulled it out and sure enough there was one, but he was alive. At least for the time being. After we cleaned under the fridge we started to scoot it back and the mouse didn't run as fast as we were pushing the fridge so.... you guessed it. He bit the dust and the Banimal came in just in time to see the carnage. It was pretty disgusting. I will start saving for therapy for him now.

From now on I think we will use only traps under the house. No more poison. I can't take another round of that. I felt like I couldn't bathe enough after all that. I don't know why I am such a weiney when it comes to all that, but thank God for my husband. There is no way I could have done his job. I was freaked out just watching and cleaning up. I hope and pray that no more mice come in.

Mouse, mouse go away.

I live in the country and I have a huge field near my house. Every year when it starts to turn cold the teeny tiny little field mice come into my house seeking refuge from the cold... and food from the cabinets. This poses such a moral delimma for me and Mr Clean.

We are both animal lovers. Unlike alot of the men I know, my dear Mr Clean does not desire to be a great white hunter. All of our friends and relatives that are male pretty much kill everything the law allows them (which is fine for them). But we aren't like that.

Now, back to the mouse, or mice I should say. If they were ugly disease carrying city rats it would be no problem to snuff them out. But they are these insy-winsy, furry brown little things. Most of them are no bigger than a golf ball. They have these adorable little pink ears and these shiny little black eyes. They look like they should be a pet for someone.

Unfortunately for them I have two little boys in the house who spend most of the day crawling, rolling, and scooting across the floor. And I cannot bear the thoughts of my kids being where little mice have been. Or the little suckers getting into my cupboards and into my food.... so they gotta go.

I don't take any joy in this, but that's the way its gotta be. The upside to this is that my Mr Clean and I have a pretty traditional marriage. So killing little furry critters that are in our house clearly falls under his jurisdiction. tee-hee-hee. I can sleep good at night knowing that there will be no more little mice in the house and that I was not the one that had to snuff out the little boogers.

Here is another photo that I took. I don't remember the name of this waterfall, but it is beautiful. 

Looking Glass Rock

This is Looking Glass Rock. It is in the Pisgah National Forest.
I feel so blessed to live near such beautiful places. I think that Western NC is one of the most beautiful places in the world. (I guess that's why we are over run with retirees and tourists. I can't blame them. If I didn't live here I'd want to visit too.)  

Hiding... NO MORE

I think I may have made more progress in my life than I previously believed. I got up Thursday morning and decided that I was going to the grocery store in my glasses. I mainly kept my head down and try to avoid eye contact, but its still a big step.

This morning before my doc's appt, Mr. Clean offered to take us all to the bakery for breakfast. I thought about not going, but the promise of a hot, buttery scone won out over my embarrassment.

It is pretty funny. People who had never seen me in them were doing a double take. I could tell they wanted to ask about them, but I never said a word. I just kept talking like nothing was different.

I am very glad to be back in my contacts and my comfort zone, but I realized that wearing my glasses wasn't the end of the world. Of course, none of my "friends" saw me. You know how that would go... friend is code for someone who is comfortable enough with you to laugh and make fun of you in a moment of psuedo-crisis (such as having to wear your big thick glasses).

I guess I need a little ridicule so that I don't take this all too seriously. SO on that note..... at the request of OPIE OUTLAW.... I will post some glasses pics in a couple of days. I'll even go to my mom's and get the good stuff. You know, the middle school ones. glasses, braces, bad hair, and all.

If you are feeling like you need a good, hard belly laugh just come back in a few days.

Oh yeah, while I am embarrassing myself... why don't you all dig out one of your "awkward years" pics and post it as well. You know you've got them tucked away somewhere.

I am hiding out.

I went to the eye doctor the other day and he informed me that my contacts are shot. He also told me that I would have to wear my glasses for 3 days prior to my eye exam to get an accurate reading. I really would like to see out of my new contacts, but three days is a bit much.

So anyhow... today is the first day. I have cancelled all activities for the rest of the week. I will not even be stepping outside to take the garbage to the garage for fear of being spotted.

It has been 14 yrs and 1 month since anyone other than my husband (current and previous) have seen me with my glasses on. My new friends have never seen me and by now people who knew me back when I wore glasses have kind of forgotten about it. Just the way I like it.

It is so weird. Because usually I am not a vain person at all. It is just the glasses that bother me. I guess its probably from being made fun of in school. I looked like a normal kid other than the fact that I had glasses that made my eyes look 10 times bigger than they were. I looked like two big eyeballs coming at ya.

I realize in my head that glasses really don't change who I am at all. But I am still a big baby about the whole thing. It is retarded to think that a grown woman would stay in her house hiding out for days because she doesn't want to be seen with glasses on. Oh well.... I am retarded... There ain't no way I'm coming out.

I will rejoin the rest of the world at about 11 am on Friday morning. After the appointment I can put my contacts back in.

I thought about posting a picture from my glasses wearing days just for the amusement of those who might happen upon this blog, but after some thought...there ain't no way that I would even do that. Maybe one day I'll get over this silliness... but I doubt it.

How many times!!!????

How many times can a 2 yr old change his mind about what he wants to be for Halloween? I'll tell ya!!! Six times and counting. Thankfully it is noon on Halloween day so hopefully there is an end in sight.

I will take full blame for this one though. I think I started this all...unintentionally...of course...by letting him always choose his clothes. You think at the time 'No big deal'. Then with Halloween coming up I thought I'll ask him what he wants to be and let him pick that too. It seems so simple when you are thinking about it.

So I asked him what he wanted to be. 'Woody', he says. You know, the little cowboy from TOY STORY. I think wow that is simple enough. So I go to the Disney sight and we are looking together. I am about to click on Woody and then he sees Buzz Lightyear. 'No, mom. I want to be Buzz.' So I think we'll just give this a few more days and I'll feel him out some more before we order.

Well, after a few days of talking to him. I decide that he does seem to favor Buzz more so I go ahead and order it. I don't tell him, because silly me thought I would make it a GREAT SURPRISE. Well, it was a surprise alright. The package was delivered several days later. The Banimal was asleep, so I thought I'd go lay it out on the couch so he would see it first thing when he woke up.

He came into the living room and stopped and looked at it and then looked at me with little to no emotion on his face and said, 'It is to big. Send it back.' I was shocked. I tried to coax him into just trying it on but he wasn't having it. All he would say is that it was too big.

I just couldn't believe it. And stupid me kept the stinking Buzz costume thinking maybe he would change his mind last minute. But I should have known. He is a kid that doesn't really care for toys and really done up type stuff.

So anyway. I asked him again what he wanted to be and he told me 'Nemo'. Then again a few days later and he told me 'Sully' from Monsters Inc. Then Saturday he told me that he just wanted to put on this bear mask that he has had for a year or so. So I said fine. Then good ole Grannie (do you sense the sarcasm) brought him a horse and cowboy hat and vest and the whole get-up on Sunday. He said that he wanted to wear that. You know what....okay.... that's fine with me....whatever....I give up.....white flag.

This morning I tried to get him to wear it and all I could get on him was jeans and a shirt. I am a tired, weary mother. So I took him on in what he was wearing. I remembered Mr. Clean's wise advise, 'Just go with the flow.' And when people asked me what he was..... I simply told them that he was a cowboy without a hat, without a vest, and without a horse.

Happy stinking HALLOWEEEN!!!!!!

Here's to you, Leonard.

I guess every small town has one. You know the lovable, old drunk guy. Our town drunk was Leonard. I hate to even call him the town drunk because it doesn't really appropriately sum up what he really was. I guess if you didn't know him and you just saw him on the roadside walking that would be what you would think. And to be truthful he was a bad alcoholic but there was so much more to him. He definately left an impression. Once you met him you would never forget it.

He had it hard growing up. I don't think he was terribly bright even before he was an alcoholic. His family was very poor. And as we say around here 'he didn't have much raisin'. ( Translated....he didn't really have anyone to teach him how to act appropriately. Believe it or not 'raisin' around here has nothing to do with sun dried grapes)

You could usually find him walking up and down the roads trying to get to town and back on a beer run. If you stopped and picked him up and gave him a ride to town, you could figure on your vehicle smelling pretty darn bad for at least a few days. It was nothing that febreeze could help. It just had to wear off.

Leonard was a character. He was a really short man, probably not much over 5 ft 3 in and he had a big bushy beard that was kind of salt and pepper. Actually the salt part was more yellow than white. I guess from nicotine. He always wore a ball cap. And on his ball cap he had tons of pins of all kinds. Some were more like an old ladies' broaches and he also usually had a chicken feather or some other type of feather hanging there too. Another interesting tidbit about his attire was that he liked ladies' blouses alot more than men's shirts.

He was like a local celebrity at my brother in law's body shop. All the guys would find funny pictures of stuff like Pres Bush with his arm around someone or the Pope and somebody and they would superimpose Leonard's face over the other person in the photo. So there was a whole wall of pictures of Leonard with the Pres and other prominent figures. He used to get such a kick out of it.

Leonard loved kids. He always wanted to see my boys when we stopped by the shop. He would make faces and entertain the baby. He also would ask for pictures of them. He carried them in his wallet.

Leonard definately had some flaws, but once you got to know him you started to look over them. His kindness and goodness showed thru despite his rough exterior.

He passes away this past week. He wasn't even 60 yrs old. I guess the lifestyle he chose takes a toll on your body. I know that there probably won't be a big deal made over his death. And most people won't even notice he is gone. But those of us who knew him will sure miss him.

I guess we will all have to raise our 40 oz beers high and drink one for Leonard.

oil companies are having a great year

This past quarter Exxon reported the highest profits ever made by a company in a quarter.

I should really hope so. They have lied about shortages and raised prices to ridiculous levels. Did anyone expect them not to have a great quarter?

I'd like to give a special shout-out to our good buddy, G.W. I hope the oil companies send him a really nice fruit basket this year for Christmas.

After the hurricanes I found it almost laughable that the gov was telling us to report any incidents of price gouging to the attourney general's office. I guess they meant mom and pop store owners not the whole entire oil industry.

It makes me want to go out and by a horse and cart.

Mom's Crack (Plumber's...you aren't alone)

When I take the kids to the park I see some fairly interesting and sometimes funny things from time to time. A couple of days ago I saw something at the park that was almost disturbing. Forget almost.... it was disturbing and funny too.

The Banimal was running wild like he normally does and I was chasing after him with Pterdactyl Boy on my hip when I saw this kid take a hard fall. I went over because I didn't see anyone around and tried to see if the little guy was okay. A few minutes later, here comes his mom.

She was a chunky little chickie in her early twenties. She was on her cell phone, still chatting. I am assuming that was the cause for the delay in her coming to help him out. I had seen her earlier over near the edge of the park talking.

Well, anyway.. I am not going to get off subject by ranting about cell phones.

I moved out of the way so that she could get down near him and comfort him. And that is when IT happened. She bent over.....in her ultra low rise jeans ....to reveal about 4 inches of butt crack. But that isn't even the funniest part. She was wearing a thong. And it was a good four or five inches above her jeans. WHOA!!

So many things ran thru my head like..... don't you know that ultra low rise are for people who haven't given birth... and don't you know that Victoria's Secret sells a low rise thong that you wear with low rise jeans if you are going to insist on wearing the ultra low rise jeans. My ultra low rise jeans and thong wearing days are well behind me and I know that.

People always make fun of the poor plumbers. But I can forgive the plumber for his crack. Plumbers are traditionally males. Men don't really give that much thought to their clothes and how they are hanging on their bodies. But I know that girl had to have known that would happen. Women put their clothes on and then proceed to strike every possible pose that they might find themselves in that day.

Anyway... I was trying to contain my laughter. But it was nearly impossible. As she stood up to walk away I noticed that even after giving her pants a nice, strong tug her butt crack was still partially exposed and you could still see her thong resting well above the top of her pants.

Poor girl...I am sure that she will give many others in the future a laugh or two as well. Because when you've got small kids you spend most of your day bent over.

I hate high heel shoes!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't use the word "hate" very much. It is a very strong word, but I feel that it is totally appropriate when talking about my feelings on the subject of high heels. Today I come to the conclusion that a man definately evented them, because they are so excrutiatingly painful. A woman would never cause herself that kind of pain on purpose.

I haven't worn any in about 8 mos or so. During the summer I usually sport a pair of flip-flops or Teva's. I guess it had been so long since I had worn a pair that I had forgotten really what they were like.

I got up this morning to get ready for church and decided that since I had bought a new outfit last week that I would wear it. (A new outfit is a pretty big deal for me, because I hate shopping for clothes. So I don't do it that often.) I bought a dressy pair of pants and a button up shirt. The shirt was a pretty orange shade, so I was thinking about how appropriate that would be since its fall.

Well, I got all my clothes on and realized that my pants were a little long. So I immediately thought of the brown high heel boots I had tucked away in the back of my closet. I have also been watching way too much WHAT NOT TO WEAR on TLC, so I automatically started thinking about how much skinnier I would look with the extra height. That was particularly alluring since I haven't quiet lossed my baby-fat after Pteradactyl boy.

I put on the boots and admired myself in the mirror for a few minutes and then off I went to church. My feet were hurting before I ever got in the doors. At first it was a little pinching discomfort... No big deal... I can handle that. But then by the time we were eating lunch after church it had turned into more of a burning/aching sort of feeling. Then Mr. Clean reminded me that we needed to stop at the grocery store on the way home. So after another 45 minutes in the store it had turned into a horrible stabbing pain. My feet were screaming for relief. I talked my husband into finishing the shopping trip alone and letting me go to the car with the kids. By the time I was leaving the store I was limping and wincing.

Its been several hours now since I have taken those boots off. And my feet still haven't recovered. God bless all you ladies that wear high heels all day at work. I would never make it.

Once you pop....you can't stop!!!!!!

(I think that's the Pringles jingle)
Even little squirrels can't resist.

It's me!! It's me!!! I'm a trying to figure out this whole photo thing. I am hopeless.

Fall is here!!!!

I love this time of year. After the muggy days in September the air seems so much cleaner and crisper. The haziness is gone from the sky and it is such a brilliant blue. The sun is much lower and it seems much brighter. You have to squinch your eyes to keep it out. And it feels cool out until you stand still but then it seems like the sun will burn a hole thru your shirt.

All the squirrels and critters are running around trying to get ready for winter. There are lots of birds and butterflies around this time of year. I have a butterfly bush outside my kitchen window and there are always a few there hanging out. And those pesky gnats and misquitoes know that their days are numbered.

The leaves are really starting to change here now. They aren't at their peak yet, but they are close. I can't wait until all the maples turn. They are my favorites. I have a favorite tree in the forest nearby and every year I go and take a look at it when its at its peak. It is such a beautiful tree. It is so big and old and full and it has such a breathtaking reddish-orange color.

A few of the trees have already lost their leaves. It is great to go for a walk and hear those leaves crunching under your feet. And when all the leaves are down and they have covered the ground completely it looks like a scene from a movie.

The big field in front of our house has lots of colors in it as well. The green is fading and the reds and yellows and browns are coming out as the grass and weeds change. Its almost time to cut the field and then for a few days there will be those big hay bales sitting out there. I love to see the field full of hay bales with the old red barn in the background.

People are putting out signs for corn mazes and hay rides. The apple orchards have special apple picking tours where you ride on trailer pulled by a tractor and have picnics. Not to mention everyone is starting to make pumpkin and apple recipes now. I guess that might be why I like fall the most. It seems like this time of the year is when everyone makes pumpkin pies and cooked apples and we drink apple cider. Yum.

I feel like I need to be outside all the time, because fall is over before you know it. It seems to go by faster than the other seasons and then winter is here. But I don't want to think about winter now. I just want to soak up as much of fall as I can.

that's for old people

Well, I finally did it. I have been putting off having a will drawn up since my first son was born. I've known down deep all this time that I needed to do it. I can't stand the thoughts of other people or the government making decisions for my kids. But there is something truly unnerving about signing your will.

At first I thought it was no big deal to figure everything out and put it on paper but then the inner control freak came out and I thought of thousands of possiblities of things that could come up. Thankfully, my husband let me know that I got to take a break. That if I were to die that I was relieved of my duties, so I didn't have to have an answer for everything. And that probably the people reading it would be happier if it wasn't as long as an epic novel.

I thought the hardest part was over (figuring out all the details) but boy was I wrong. Signing it proved to be almost traumatic. My nuerotic tendencies surfaced and I started to feel like maybe signing it was going to set off some horrible chain of events that would end with my untimely demise. I think the fact that I was turning 30 soon and that my husband was urging me to think about life insurance policies didn't really help either.

But its done and over with now. I can sleep easy now at least knowing that its taken care off and that if, God forbid, something did happen to me before my little boys are grown that they would be cared for. Ten years ago, I never would have believed that I would have a will at 30. That's for old people. Maybe I am old people now?

Thoughts about turning 30

Well, I am officially 30 now. I am not sure really what that means, if it means anything at all. I know that I grateful to be thru with my twenties, especially the early twenties.
My early twenties were not the greatest years of my life. By the end of my twenties things started looking up. And I ended up finishing it out with a bang. I married my wonderful husband (I'll just leave it at wonderful.. he reads the blog from time to time and I don't want him to get his ego over-inflated.) then 9 mos and 6 days later I gave birth to my first baby boy and then 2yrs later I gave birth to # 2.
So I figure my 30's are going to be my coasting years. Hopefully they will be filled with camping trips and finger painting and storytime and little league and bedtime stories. My kids will not have quiet reached their teen years and all that comes with it.
I am actually excited about starting a new decade. I have finished up with the 20's and now I have this clean slate where anything is possible. I have learned alot in my 20's too, so hopefully that will help my 30's be even better.
So here's to a new decade. Happy birthday to me!!!!!!!

Somebody just slap me

You know for a long time I have thought the things that I wrote about in the last post (God doesn't give you more than you can handle) but I had never actually written them down or said them out loud. Some how I just knew that if I ever was dumb enough to say how good my kids were out loud it would all come to a crashing halt. I was right. Obviously God must have read my post.
Almost immediately after clicking on publish my toddler got this kind of whine to his voice when he spoke. And a few days later he started pitching these toddler tantrums of epic proportions. Fits of screaming that would last for nearly 45 mins at a time over the fact his dad didn't properly kiss his elbows before he went to work or the fact that I wanted to brush his teeth once a day. He latches on to my leg and will not let go so the screaming follows me wherever I go. But I have to say, he does these fits only in the privacy of our home. My mother (She's a big outward appearances type of person. Who cares what the reality of your life is as long as everything looks pretty on the outside )would be so proud.
Then as if I wasn't already about to loose my mind with the tantrums, he also picked up a nasty little step throat bug and then some kind of croop (sp?) And the sweet little baby who never cries meanwhile got two teeth and is working on two more. So much for never crying.
So if my children ever do get back to their sweet little selves, I will NEVER say a word. I don't want to jinx myself.

Just because you have kids doesn't mean you enjoy everyone else's

Have you ever noticed how when you have kids other people assume you must enjoy all kids. I don't know how many times I have been asked to babysit or work with the two year olds in the church nursery.

Well, I have a confession. Actually, I will qualify the statement first. I love my children very much and really enjoy being with them...but I don't generally like hanging out with other people's kids. I mean they are alright to be around as long as their parents are there. But I have no desire to take care of them.

I have noticed that my kids body fluids, ei.. snot, throw up, etc., don't bother me or gross me out at all. But when someone else's kid sneezes and has the 4 ft long snot streamers hanging down I can't get to the hand sanitizer fast enough.

When I do nursery duty at church I just want to run home and shower in scalding hot water. The thought of being spit up on by a random baby gives me the heebie geebies big time.

Maybe I am weird. I don't know but just because I stay at home and take care of my own kids does not mean I want to do the same with somebody else's

God never gives you more than you can handle.

I have always heard the saying " God never gives you more than you can handle." I have decided after having kids that it must be true. And since its true, I have decided that God doesn't think I can handle very much.
I have friends who have babies that cry. And cry alot. But I have had two beautiful little boys, neither of which ever cry. I mean there have been times that I have wondered if they were okay. Shouldn't babies cry some? Mine very rarely ever do. But when they do I think 'man this is terrible. Who could deal with this all the time?' Obviously not me and God knows it.
I have also seen toddlers in stores lay down on the floor, flail and kick and scream bloody murder over a toy or a sucker. But my little boy will look at the toys and hop right back up in the buggy without a fuss or a toy and go on out of the store. I just look at him and wonder sometimes 'Is he normal? Whatever normal is. Don't you want to beg and plead for some cheap toy that you will have forgotten about before you even get home? Don't you want to see the pained look on my face while I run from the store praying that someone from church doesn't see this meltdown?' My brother was still laying down pitching temper tantrums in the sixth grade.
Please don't misunderstand this...I do not in any way think that I am some kind of super parent who knows magical secrets to childrearing. In fact, I am the opposite. Most of the time I feel hopelessly clueless about what to do. I have had no other experience with kids other than my own. My son's diaper was the first I've ever changed. My son was basically my teacher and my guinea pig, at times. I constantly wonder whether or not I am doing the right thing.
Also I decided not to have any epidural or pain meds when I gave birth to my second little boy. I practiced my breathing and meditating. And when time came my labor was over before it ever started. I had the fastest labor ever. I didn't really even get to put to use all that breathing I practiced. God must have known what a wimp I was and decided to spare me the pain of a long drawn out labor....( or maybe he just felt sorry for me because I pushed so long with the first one.)
All these things really just make me wonder if I should be offended in some way. "Hey God, I'm tough. I am not a wimp." Nah, nevermind... just kidding. God knows what He is doing. I am just so very grateful that for whatever reason He has blessed me, this imperfect person who fumbles awkwardly thru life just trying to do her best, with this wonderful family and life that I have.

thoughts about the hurricane

There are just a few things that I need to get off my chest about the whole Hurricane Katrina situation.
First and foremost... I am so sick and tired of certain people turning everything that happens in the world into something racial. What happened to those poor folks in New Orleans had to do with them being plain ole poor not black. Because they were poor they had to depend on the government for assistance in evacuating. And depending on the government for anything is not a great idea. I don't think that there was any intentional delays in relief. I just think that there is some serious incompetence going on. And I think that it would have been just as bad if it had been a democrat in office. The government is just not known for handling anything quickly or effeciently.
Second.... The rapper that made the comments about Bush has me a little confused. Both of the pictures and captions he refered to were written by separate newspapers....not George Bush. I think that the media should be ashamed. I think they like to stir the pot, so to speak. So that they can get great headlines. And I think they like to make it look like everyone is racist. Well its just not so. They should be careful about using the word "looting" with any situation that happened after this hurricane. Looting is running down the street with tv's and car stereos, not taking bread and diapers from a flooded grocery store when your family is literally starving... no matter what color you are.
Maybe I am niave and sheltered but I think that the response nationwide shows that Americans care about other Americans and that race does not come into play. People of all colors have come out in droves to donate money, blood, and supplies. Lots of people of all races have donated their time and services to help those people and I think that is the real story.
I hope that everyone continues to pray for the survivors and to donate whatever they can to help them out.

In praise of the bald headed man

I first have to say that I am somewhat biased when it comes to this subject. My husband is a bald headed man. Having said that up front.... here goes....
I never really had any idea the things a bald headed man might have to deal with until I married my husband. In fact, I don't think I ever really gave being bald much thought until then.
Have you ever watched any of those sad little commercials where you see this poor bald man and the announcer guy comes on and says "Do you get passed up for promotions at work? Do you have a hard time finding and keeping a girlfriend? Well Its because you are bald!!!! Buy our amazing product to grow hair and everything in your life will turn around."
I feel bad. Because there are probably some poor little bald guys out there that buy into that crap. If those things are happening to you chances are you are probably terrible at your job and have no personality. Bald has nothing to do with it.
When I met my husband he was pretty much completely bald, so he went ahead and shaved his head like Mr Clean. I couldn't clean the bathroom without thinking about him.( by the way, shaving bald is a great idea. Because with the comb over the only person you are fooling into thinking you have hair is you.)
Having your head shaved also helps out with the ladies at church too. One day this older lady came down from the choir and told my husband that he looked like a little angel sitting out there in the audience. Well, knowing my husband as personally as I do, I am sure he is not an angel so I had to investigate. So the next week I went and stood in the choir to see if I could figure out what was going on. It didn't take long to see what was happening. My husband was setting right below one of the reccessed lights and the glare off his shiny head gave the appearance of a halo.
So to all you baldies.... buff your bald noggins til they shine and be proud . Those guys with hair ain't got nuthin' on you.

10 yrs sure makes a huge difference

Wow! I have absolutely no idea what I am doing. But I have found that is how most good things in my life start out.
I am an almost 30 yr old stay at home mom. The 20 yr old me would fall over dead if she met the 30 yr old me. Its funny how you can change so much in 10 yrs.
The 20 yr old me was a redneck, risk- taker, rebel without a cause, always getting into trouble and speaking before she thought. The 30 yr old me is a kinder gentler person. I still have a horrible country accent but I think the redneck is gone. The risk taker has pretty much been snuffed out too... mostly by having kids. I used to ride motorcycles and now I probably wouldn't even ride in a convertible because I would constantly be thinking about what would happen if it rolled over. I think kids have made me just a touch nuerotic. Maybe it was there lurking silently all along. Who knows?
The 20 yr old me loved partying and being, in general, wild and crazy. Out all night dancing. The 30 yr old me can't even stay up passed 10 pm unless you can count nursing a baby in the wee hours. Speaking of nursing.... the 20 yr old me would absolutely have a heart attack over the whole nursing thing. At twenty I thought that nursing was weird and disgusting and abnormal.... I guess that kind of falls into the not thinking things thru category. I don't think back then I gave much thought to how people fed their babies for all the centuries before infamil was invented.
I ran into a high school aquaintaince a while back and we got to talking and hanging out. She hadn't talked to me since we graduated. We met up a few more times and then she said something to me that kind of sums this whole thing up. She said "I am surprised at how together you are about your life and just things in general and how good you are with your kids." I guess that is kind of a backhanded compliment but I knew how she meant it. She still had this idea that I was the 20 yr old me.
I can honestly say that I am very glad to be turning 30 this year and I would not want to go back and be 20 again for anything.
I've come a long way, baby!!!!!!