30 Day Challenge: Day 14 - A Non-Fiction Book

I just love the Best American Series, both fiction and non-fiction: each year amazing guest editors cull and select the very best of the best of North American published works and put it all together in a fabulous paperback package.  The series includes Best Mystery Storeis, Best Short Stories, Best Spiritual Writing, Best Travel Writing, etc. 

The Best American Science and Nature Writing is my absolute favorite for non-fiction...

30 Day Challenge: Day 13- A Fiction Book

There are just sooo many good books out there: I really loved Sena Jeter Naslund's book Ahab's Wife. .....probably my favorite book for this, the 40's, decade of my life.

When I was a teen it was Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes.

In my early 20's it was anything by Stephen King (pick one, any one...)

In my 30's I was hooked on short fiction: Best American Short Stories.

Now, in my 40's, my tastes are fairly eclectic. Ahab's Wife, though, was a lovely read, and a book I am certain will be picked up again.

Oh My Stars

Crazy disregulated kids this afternoon had me calling the neighbors for some emergency emotional support.   Today, the Littles were in a constant state of tears, rage and disappointment. In.con.sol.a.ble. The Littles have been having a tough time of things lately and are taking no prisoners.  Lately, as in, since they spoke to Mommy last night.  We are along for the ride.  Lucky us.

Thankfully the neighbors invited us over for an evening of chicken parm and joyful spontaneity... YUMMERS.  We brought the pasta and sauce (which had 2 eggplants and 4 cups of zucchini hiding in it!) and lemon pound cake and 4 cups of the 26 POUNDS of blueberries we picked this summer.... They supplied the chicken parm (so delish) and salad and WINE!!!!  The kids ate at the kitchen table and the big people ate in the dining room. A great dinner with great neighbors.

30 Day Challenge: Day 12-Something I Am OCD About

Day 12-Something I am OCD about  - hmmmmm.  Where to begin? I asked The Other Mother for some ideas and she, in her usual politically astute manner, said "I am sorry dear...did you say something? I didn't quite hear you..."

This time she understood I needed real blogging advice and threw caution to the wind and answered "buying stuff" then quickly edited and said "toilet paper and hiding paper towels."

True. I buy Scott Toilet Tissue in the big packages when it goes on sale and we must have 10 rolls under each bathroom sink and two new packages in the Little Boys' huge, huge closet. To which I reply to her "What? Do you plan on not ever using the bathroom again???"

I admit to buying Paper Towels and not leaving them out on the counter where the kids will use them needlessly.  I keep them under the 3 bathroom sinks, kitchen sink and one in the basement laundry room.  The Other Mother says I buy paper towels but we can't use them.  The Other Mother says I hide them where no one can find them.  Whatever.

But she was kind enough not to wade into the whole shopping thing.  She's so smart that way. One of the many, many reasons why I love her. Previous shopping complusions include, but are not limited to: perrenial plants, quilting fabric, beading supplies, antiques for resale, books, scrap booking supplies, etc. I generally get into a hobby/interest and exhaust it and move on.

The latest shopping compulsion was stocking up on nursey/baby stuff after we discovered we enjoyed fostering infants. Craigslist, Freecycle, Salvation Army, Thrift Stores...cheap, on clearance or free was how I accumulated the stuff. I have enough baby stuff now to foster infants until I collect Social Security.



The good news is that I am over my Ten Dollar Weekly Wednesday Salvation Army Half Price Day Baby Clothes Shopping Spree.  The last baby cured me of my need for adequate newborn clothes for my fostering stockpile.....this chunka-munka baby was 7 month and was wearing 12 and 18 month tops and 9 month and 12 month bottoms....I realize now that the whole correlation between clothing size to actual age is just a suggestion....so since I have accumulated a few clothes for each gender and in each size (0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 12 mo, 18 mo.) I should be good to go as a well stocked foster mommy.

Hmmmmm.  So if I'm over the baby clothes thing...

I guess that just means I'm ready for a new compulsion....

Blogging??????????????

Feeble Friday Fragments

I got my haircut twice this week.  The first was awful and needed some serious repairs...I feel a little hipper and less frumpy, dumpy and fifty....so I guess it is a good cut. No pics yet.

The Littles are settling in and we have managed to rein in most of the rages. Either that or we are just building up a tolerance level.

They have quietly declared a truce. There has been a lull in decorating the house with body flu*ids. Just in time.  I was running low on bleach spray cleanser.

However, in light of recent events: My new twist on the Alphabet Song. I'm pretty sure some of my readers are familiar with the tune....

"A-B-See Pee*
E- EFF Pee*
H-I-J- OKAY What's with the Pee*?
Hell... M-N-
NO-More-Pee*
Q-R-S-Is that Pee* by the T-V?
W-X
Y-Me? and Z."

Biggie Small (the older Little) started Kindergarten this week. Too cute.  He has his backpack with his writing books and folders....so very sweet!

My oldest son calls me just to say "hi" and it totally makes my day...of course today I was in the psychiatrist's waiting room with the four amped up kids...so my end of the conversation was a little light, but he understood. Bless his heart.

One of Bobby's 3 older sisters gave birth this morning to a baby girl. My little boy is an uncle!  Another older sister is due end of Dec.

I sent in my money for ORLANDO....Yeah. We are soooooo looking forward to hanging with some wonderful Moms who parent their hearts out. Are you going? You should.  You are worth it and then some.

We are groovin on this "grown up time" thing : Going to a Regional Foster Parent Conference  in New England this Fall and flying to Texas for a Women of Faith gathering in October. Heck, I'm gonna need a social secretary before the year is out!

Then again, maybe I won't need a social secretary as we have cancelled our babysitter the last 3 times in a row because we don't think it is fair or safe to leave her at the mercy of these four yahoos. Seriously.  We are going to do several practice runs where she babysits while we are home...the sad part is...she is really skilled, but, but there is just ONE of her...and four of them.  The Other Mother and I have a hard enough time with the meltdowns at bedtimes with the crew and there are TWO of us....

James informed us he is on both the JV and Varsity teams and has a game on Saturday and Sunday this weekend.  Huh? I get to go to TWO football games each weekend in addition to the scrimages thrice weekly on school nights.  Wow. Have I mentioned I hate football????

Oh and the best:  Tonight the police came a looking in our neighborhood for a partially dressed guest of the local jail who found an opportunity to, how shall I say???? ESCAPE. Yeah. Escape. A blond caucasian male in his 20's wearing a t-shirt and boxer shorts....ummmm No....Not here.  But can I interest you in four kids to take back instead??????

That's all.

30 Day Challenge: Day 11: A Photo of Me Taken Recently

This was harder than it sounds as I am more often taking the photographs these days instead of the subject of the photo. Seems like I'm always lugging something around, though.

30 Day Challenge: Day 10-A Photo taken over ten years ago of you

This was harder than it sounds because I don't have any photos loaded on the computer before the summer of 1999. So: June of 1999. Alex's Baptism Day. After Church my Ex-husband hosted a lovely barbeque for Alex's whole family. My parents, The Other Mother's parents, her 2 brothers and their families, The new wife's mother and 2 sisters and brother and their families, Brian's parents and most of his six siblings and their families....  It was a great day to have all of Alex's people together.  When Alex was little (4-5) he said he wanted to be a bus driver when he grew up so his whole family could be together.  I just love that kid!

Left to right: Rima, married to Brandon (the Godfather), Alex, The Other Mother (the Godmother),  My Ex-husband Brian, Me, my Ex-husband's wife Betsy.