When the World Stops

Friday Funny

It's been awhile since I've posted one of these. I don't know about you all, but I could definitely use a little more humor in my life these days

Cat owners ... I know you can appreciate this as much as I can!

You gotta get it right while you got the time ...

Michael Jackson, The Man in the Mirror.

I was not a lifelong fan of Michael Jackson. But as a kid growing up in the '80s, I couldn't help but be taken in by his music and his dancing when he burst into superstardom during that decade. And now as an adult, I can't help but be awed by how gifted he was.

Thriller was the first cassette tape I ever owned. My mom bought it for me when she bought me my first stereo with a cassette deck. I felt so grown up that day, happy that I could finally put away my kiddie record player. I knew the words to every song on that album by heart within a week, and I eventually wore that tape out from playing it so much--over, and over, and over again.

Michael Jackson was a phenomenal talent. I think it will be a long time before another performer comes along who captures the imagination of the entire world like he did.

Howdy, pardners!

Hello!!! Anybody out there?

Beauregard and Scout here. We've been holdin' down the fort while that lady who feeds us has been off gallivantin' through the South. We hear she'll be back soon to thrill you with the details of her oh-so-excitin' life. Until then, we'll be waitin' and hopin' that she brings us a souvenir from her trip. Oatmeal raisin cookies would be delightful!

Hee Haw! Hee Haw!

I'm Really NOT Too Old For This ...

Spousal Disclaimer: Dear husband, don't bother to read this post. I am talking about the Twilight series, which I know you think is a complete joke. In my defense, I am not the only grown woman who has been hooked by the books and movie. We are legion. If I could explain it to you, I would. ;-)

Okay. On to the post ... 

I didn't watch the MTV Movie Award last night. I was too busy clearing all of our beauty products out of the bathroom in advance of today's big demolition. Can I just say that I could probably finance a pretty awesome vacation with all of the money spent on facial and hair concoctions in that bathroom cabinet? I'm one of these girls who has to try all of the new products. This cream is gonna erase my crow's feet? I need some of that! That lotion is better than Botox? Bring it! This serum will make my naturally curly frizz look smooth, straight, and sleek like Jennifer Aniston's hair? Give it to me! I'm a sucker for beauty buzz despite the fact that I'm almost always disappointed and end up going back to my tried-and-true favorites. You'd think I'd learn.

Anywho ... I digress! Even if I wasn't busy last night, I don't know if I could've watched because I have a difficult time stomaching anything that comes on MTV these days. I knew that the New Moon trailer was scheduled to debut during the awards, so I logged in to YouTube this morning to check it out. I have to say that I'm a little disappointed by what I saw. Granted it's only a minute-and-a-half sneak peek, but the acting just seems "off," especially between the characters of Bella and Edward--or the actors KStew and RPatz for those who are obsessed, which I'm totally not!

Watching this trailer, I couldn't blame my husband--or anyone else who isn't a fan of Twilight--for cringing and wondering what the big deal is.

Regardless, I'll be at the theater on November 20 with all of the screaming teen fan girls, money in hand. Who am I kidding? I'm sure I'll see just as many women my age or older than girls who are younger. Like I've tried to explain to Rob, there's just something about this story line that appeals to almost any person with estrogen flowing through her veins. Age doesn't matter!

For those who haven't seen it, here it is. What do you think? Are you cringing just a little, too?

Big News At The Little House

I am SO excited, ya'll! Today the demolition begins on our bathroom, and the remodel begins. We're gutting the thing from top to bottom and starting fresh. I couldn't be happier and can't wait to see what it looks like after our wonderful remodeler works his magic!

A little history ... the Little House didn't get indoor bathroom plumbing until some time in the late '40s or early '50s. Prior to that, the residents used a double-seated (that's two holes side by side) outhouse that was situated somewhere behind the house. I have no idea why the thing had two holes. I can't imagine two people using it at the same time. Maybe we've become more private in modern times, and bathroom etiquette has changed. Maybe the hearty farm folk of yesteryear had no need for modesty. I just don't know. If anyone out there is an expert on outhouse history and can shed a little light on this for me, please leave a comment! Anyway, we still had the original outhouse when we bought the Little Farm. It had been moved to our wood line, and we had plans to fix it up one day. (I imagined a little window box with flowers, a cheerful paint job, and a crescent moon in the door ... kind of like the Martha Stewart version of an outhouse!) Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. Last spring, we had a storm come through with 80-to-90 MPH straight line winds. The outhouse was picked up, tossed into the woods, and smashed into bits and pieces. So much for my "shabby chic" restoration of the outdoor john ...

When the bathroom was finally built in the Little House, it had all kinds of sweet features like a pink bathtub and pink tile. We're talking Pepto Bismol pink, which is what I need to take after looking at that color for too long. Between the couple who lived here before us and Rob and I, we have managed to update most of the house. But the bathroom has been neglected for too long. It needs serious attention--the kind of attention that Rob and I aren't capable of giving it despite how much we'd love to be handy around the house. So we hired a professional, and away we go!

Since the Little House is well over 100 years old, I wanted to go with an old-fashioned feel to the room. We bought a claw foot tub that I can't wait to soak in and a really cool vanity that looks like it has a wash basin on top of it. Even the new toilet has an antique look to it.

I'll be sure to post pictures when all of the work is done. I'm hoping that this time next week, the "pink Pepto nightmare" will be a distant memory!

I'm Another Sucker ...

... who's been pulled into the over hyped phenomenon that is Twitter.

It all started with a work assignment to investigate if this might be a viable way to reach our sales force. In the course of my "research" I discovered that it's pretty darn addictive ... and actually kinda fun. As if I need another thing to keep me tethered to this computer!

Do ya'll tweet? If so, what do you think about it? If not, what's holding you back?

I have added a widget that allows you to see my latest tweets. It's over there on the left side of my blog. I'm pretty boring in case you had any doubts! But with a trip to N'awlins in my very-near future, this might be a fun way to capture all of the details of the grand adventure. I can send tweets right from my handy-dandy Sprint phone! We'll see how it goes!

A Girl and Her Bear

Harper loves her bear. He is a tiny, soft, squeaky toy that she chews on, pushes around, cuddles with, and adores. The past couple of days, she's started crying the whole time she's chewing on him and making him squeak. It's the saddest, cutest, sweetest thing ...

(Forgive the quality of my PCS Phone pictures.)

'Til Summer Comes Around

Memorial Day weekend. Red, white, and blue. Ice cream evenings. Kids' laughter floating on the breeze. Shorts and flip flops. Sun dresses. BBQ. Cricket lullabies. Lightning bug illuminations. 

Summer.

I hope you all have a fabulous holiday weekend!

Family Ties

I mentioned yesterday that I recently returned from a trip to Nashville. I flew out on a Thursday morning and stayed through the following Monday. It was a great visit spent catching up with family. I hadn't seen some of my cousins, my aunts, or my uncle in more than 12 years. My two cousins have had children over the years whom I have never met. Just look how grown up these kiddos look in this picture! This was the first time I had actually seen any of them outside of the annual Christmas portraits.

12 years ...

You know how it is. You grow up, go away to college, start a career, get married, start families. Your extended family gets pushed further and further to the edges of your life. You come up with all kinds of excuses why you're too busy to make the time to go see them.

Friends come and go--some making graceful exits while others flat-out betray you. But your family remains ... just a phone call or an e-mail away, no matter how many years have passed. They're always there with open arms, more than willing to give you another chance, to offer an ear, to give you a shoulder.

One day, you wise up and refocus on the people who really matter in this world. I finally did.

Thank you so much for welcoming me back. I promise it won't be another 12 years!

Gaggle of Geese

I just returned from a trip to Nashville to visit my cousins. I'll post separately about all of the details. For now, I'll just say that I had an absolutely fabulous time, and I'll share some pictures I took during a stroll through Centennial Park in the West End/Vanderbilt University neighborhood. Gorgeous geese and one twisted tree ...