Oh, the stupid things I do...

So, a few days ago I had to stop at the bank, so I pulled up into a parking spot right in front and went inside. When I got out, I noticed a woman, standing behind my car lighting a cigarette with several shopping bags and her purse sitting on top of my trunk. I have to admit, I thought that was a little ballsy, but I ignored it, walked to the door and pulled it open only to realize...it wasn't my car! In fact, I even exclaimed, "Holy shit! This isn't my car!"

The woman didn't say, "Duh!" But she didn't have to. It was all over her face. I apologized profusely, while quickly walking to my own car which was parked next to it. She muttered. A lot. I'm not exactly sure what she said. I'm not sure I want to know.

In my defense, her car was a gray four-door. However, it wasn't even close to the same shade of gray, nor was it the same make and model. Hell, it wasn't even really the same shape. Oh well, at least I didn't get in it. That counts for something. Right?

Being Thankful

I'll be making my famous (read the only thing my family trusts me to bring) green bean casserole in a few hours and trundling off to my cousins for Thanksgiving. Holidays with my family involve anywhere from 40-70 of us cramming into one of our houses, (darn...ours is too small) eating all our favorite foods, laughing until we cry and loud, lively conversation. I'm looking forward to it. My family can be a little crazy at times, but I wouldn't trade them.

I'm sure my cousin will think it's a great idea to go around the room and talk about what we're thankful for. There are far too many things to list at the supper table, but I'll tackle them here.

Let's see...

My kids - I never knew it was possible to love anyone so much.
My hubby - He makes me laugh, pisses me off and I'm more in love with him than ever.
My family - The epitome of unconditional love - no matter what.
My friends - See above. I truly have the best friends in the world.
My kitties - Comfort, amusement and love - wrapped up in a furry purry package.
My jobs - I'm lucky enough to get to do what I love.

Those are the big ones. Then there are the other random bits I'm thankful for - in no particular order:

Baby belly laughs, dark chocolate, Starbucks, riding in cars with boys, computers, books, e-books, music, Supernatural, (no really) squirrels, Coke, baklava, JoAnn Fabrics, my favorite authors, my favorite bloggers, LOLcats, thunderstorms, my sewing machine, ren faires, wind chimes, hot tea and Welsh cakes, snuggling, sleeping in, daffodils, violets, lilacs, kitty purrs, sinks that drain, all four seasons, the internet, bats, cwtching up under a blanket, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, Squishy, my crockpot, lakes, trees, rocks, peace, acceptance and love.

This is by no means an exhaustive list - just the things that are rattling around in my brain at the moment. I hope you all are able to enjoy all of the things you're thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Riding in Cars with Boys - Part Eight

Yesterday was crazy weather wise. On my way out to school to pick up the boys, there was sleet, thunder and lightning, sunshine, torrential rain and hail. This was in the course of fifteen minutes. But, I actually managed to get to school early which was good since it was pouring rain by the time I pulled into the parking lot and hailing like mad when the kids came out of the building.

Killian: Oh my god, you're actually here early.

Not Kevin: Good timing since it seems the Apocalypse is upon us.

Me: I think I deserve a reward.

Justin: You'll get a reward when you're consistent.

Sigh. Sadly, I deserved that.

Killian: (in an abrupt change of topic) Hey lady, did you know fuck is the most versatile word ever?

Me: It is useful.

Justin: No really. We figured it out at lunch.

Killian: It can be a noun.

Justin: Or a verb.

Killian: And an adjective, like "you fucking asshat." (Yeah...that apple didn't fall far from the tree...)

Justin: Or an adverb.

Killian: Can it be a modifier?

Me and Justin: And adjective is a modifier.

Justin: Dumbass.

Killian: Derp! I knew that.

Me: It can also be an exclamation...and probably a question too, if you put enough inflection in it.

Justin: I knew your mom would be able to add to our list!

Killian: Dude, my mom's awesome. You know...sometimes.

I'm weirdly delighted that their lunchtime conversation ended up being about grammar. Also, my kid called me awesome. In public.

Weirdass Dream and Interview

Yes...I'm afraid it's that time again. Time for another unfortunate journey into Bron's subconscious.

So I woke up completely pissed off this morning, and here's why.

I dreamt that I was cleaning our ginormous walk-in closet. This thing was as big as a freaking room. I needed to hurry, because I had to be on time for a meeting with the Department of Social Services (DSS). It seems we were without insurance and I had to go down and apply.

I made it there (in time) with my carload of donations for Goodwill (I guess that's why I was cleaning out the closet) and I was told I couldn't meet with the people about getting insurance because one of the children was having a birthday party, but I could go have cake while I waited.

Never being one to turn down cake...even in my dreams...sigh...I followed the party noises into a large room. There were kids on one side of the room, very well dressed jumping on silk upholstered furniture and drinking juice out of wine and martini shaped juice-glasses and opening super expensive (and apparently unneeded - "I already have three x-boxes, mommy!") gifts.

I sat down awkwardly with some of the moms and listened to conversations about holiday vacations while everyone stared at their cake, refusing to eat it because they were too full from their cob salads. Whatevs. I ate the damn cake. While they were all discussing their vacations and the upcoming holidays, there was another group of moms and kids who were all standing outside the building in the snow and sleet watching the kids playing at the birthday party waiting for their turn to come in and apply for assistance. The non-cake eating moms sat and made snide comments while the caseworkers played on Facebook instead of letting them come in from the cold and helping them.

I ended up going home and admiring my lovely, clean, organized walk in closet and then the alarm rang. Sigh. I woke up pissed at the state of healthcare in our nation, pissed at the moms in my dream and pissed because not only do I not have a walk in closet, the one I do have isn't clean or organized. Grrrrrr.

If you've stayed with me this far, you should come and visit my kitties. Jody (aka Typing Slave) and Meankitty interviewed my cats over at their blog. I'd love it if you stopped by and said hi! :)

When the skies of November turn gloomy

In July, when we were on our family vacation in the Upper Peninsula, I drove up to one of my favorite spots on the planet - Whitefish Point. It's breathtakingly beautiful - rolling waves, seemingly endless expanses of sky and water and miles of rock covered sand.

I wandered along the beach for several hours shooting video, taking pictures and of course, picking up rocks and driftwood. As I was lugging my bag of treasures back up the beach, I stumbled across what I thought was a pile of stones and driftwood made by bored kids, but as I looked closer, I realized it was a makeshift memorial by the families of three of the sailors on the Edmund Fitzgerald - Ransom Cundy, Bruce Hudson and Thomas Bentsen.

I was a little kid when the ship sank, but I remember going to mass at my grandparents' church with my mom and gram and saying prayers for the sailors. When we moved to a city near Detroit a few years later, the radio stations would broadcast the ringing of the bells at the Mariners' Church (aka the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral) every November 10th. It was such a sad, mournful sound. Somehow, it sounded worse over late 1970s FM radio. When I came upon the memorial I stopped for a minute, the memory of those sad, static-y bells perfectly clear in my head. I added three rocks to the pile.

Even though it's been 35 years, these three men still have families that love and miss them. They don't have a grave to visit, but they have this gorgeous, peaceful spot. I'm guessing they must come to Whitefish Point fairly often since the memorial wasn't there when I was up there two years ago. I think it's a really beautiful testament to love and remembrance.

*facepalm*

So Caitlin, being the best little sister in the world, drove the boys to and from school yesterday so Matt and I could spend the day together. (Yes - he's finally home from Russia!)

The following conversation was had when she brought them home.

Cait: Well, have fun with your delinquent .

Me: Fwuh?

Cait: Corwin, tell your parents what you did at school today.

Me: Oh...god...what?

Corwin: I figured out a good way to make some extra cash.

Matt: Oh...god...how?

Corwin: Well, remember that chocolate muffin the principal gave me last week?

Me: Yeah-huh.

Corwin: And remember how I don't like chocolate Halloween candy?

Killian: Because you're a freak.

Corwin: Well, I sold it at school.

Me: You sold a week old chocolate muffin...and Halloween candy.

Corwin: And I made two dollars and twenty-five cents.

Me: *facepalm*

Killian: HA! I totally called it! I told you she'd facepalm and she just did!

Yep...those are the ones I have...

Teh random. I has it. Again.

Sooooooo, my brain has been whirling in a million different directions lately. There's been upheaval at the day job and hubby's been gone for nearly three freaking weeks! I know plenty of people who have to put up with spouses being away for way longer (I'm looking at two people in particular) but whiners gonna whine, so here I am...whining. But! He's coming home Saturday - I can't wait! :D

In school weirdness, Corwin's been working on Charles Darwin Project of Doom for weeks now. It's been dubbed the CDPoD because it's never freaking ending. He had to come up with 50 note cards all with facts to include in the term paper, and additional 15 note cards with different facts to use for his speech and Power Point presentation...which he needs to give in character and in costume. Frock coat and beard aside, the teacher informed them that she wants the paper to be a college level term paper. FWUH? These kids are in 7th grade! WTF?! Also, this project has been going on for over a month.

However, I did get a little giggle about the fact that he was assigned Charles Darwin as a topic. She confessed that all three seventh grade teachers met to assign the historical figures to the students, and they figured that we were the only family who wouldn't be gravely offended for religious reasons if Corwin got Darwin. I just don't even know what to do with that bit of info... Oh well, at least he got an A on the awful leaf project that gave us asthma attacks and gave me hives.

Trick or Treating was a great time. I continued my habit of giving extra candy to the older kids that are out trick or treating. I just think it's great that they're still out having fun. As it is they grow up way too fast and it always annoys me to hear neighbors tell them they're too old for Halloween. I call bullshit! You're never too old for Halloween. So I always tell them they're getting extra candy and why. The expression on their faces is worth buying an extra bag of candy - particularly when Betty the Biddy has already reamed them out. Screw you, Betty!

The best conversation I had was with a four year old little boy. He was trick or treating with his older sister and I'd complemented her dress. He poked his round little face around the door and the conversation went like this:

Little Boy: What about me? You like me? You like my costume?

Me: I do. It's great! I really like Dracula - he's scary!

Little Boy: Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I not Dracula!

Me: You're not?

Little Boy: No! I Cra-chunkula!

Me: You're who, now?

Little Boy: I said I Cra-chunkula!

Little Boy's Dad: (finally taking pity on me) He's Count Chocula.

Me: Ooooohhhhhh. I love Count Chocula. He's way better than Dracula any day.

Little Boy: Yes I am!

God, I love Halloween! :D