Proof Positive...

that I can't talk on the phone and do anything else.

Indiana doesn't have talking while driving laws. Yet. So I spend a lot of time talking while driving, usually on my drive home from school. Inevitably, I will get absorbed into the conversation and miss my turn. I don't think I make driving mistakes, per se. I follow the speed limit (well, as much as I do when I am not on the phone), stop at lights, etc. But I often miss my turn or forget where in the world I was going.

I had to stop at Wal-Mart today on my way home from school. I was on the phone when I parked, on the phone all the way through the store, and finally hung up when I got to the check-out lane. As I made my way out to the parking lot, I headed to Row 3...my usual spot. I walked. And walked. And walked. I finally got my keys out and hit the door lock button a few times, hoping to hear the "beep" sound.

No beep.

I turned and headed the other way. Still no beeps. By this time, I am freezing. It dropped like 25 degrees today and I was not prepared for another 30 degree day.

Finally, I made my way to the OPPOSITE entrance and found my car in row 8. 8, people. Not 3. And wouldn't you know? I had a kick-ass parking spot in row 8...right up front...right in front of the grocery entrance. If only I hadn't been on the phone, I might have actually NOTICED where I was parking and saved myself a lot of walking in heels in the cold, cursing under my breath.

Wordless Wednesday

Daddy's Home

Blogger and other things annoying me

I hate to complain, I really do. I make an effort to stay positive and focus on happy things...BUT there are a few things bugging me and I need to vent.

1. Blogger. I have been trying for DAYS to change my look. I made a new header with a cute coordinating background. But Blogger is NOT letting me change it. I get the same flippin' error message each time. Apparently this has been a problem for the past week with others as well. Blogger, if you're reading this, would you PLEASE FIX THE PROBLEM?!

2. Blogger. Why yes...I did just complain about them. Did any of you lose followers overnight? When I went to bed last night, I had 137 followers. I lost 5 today. Does that really matter? No. But, I was starting to question my last post. I was beginning to think I really offended a bunch of people with my supermarket makeout session. Surely my mom was the only person truly bothered by this. But, when I made my blog rounds this evening, I discovered I am not the only one with this problem. It seems that Blogger got up last night for a midnight snack and ate a bunch of followers. Rudeness.

3. Cavities. We discovered Cole had a cavity at his last cleaning. That was annoying in and of itself. We had it filled today. He did amazingly well, but when he came out all groggy-like and saw me, he broke down. Big tears. Lots of drooling. Very confused about why he couldn't feel half of his face. He has bitten his tongue about 32 times. Every time I look at him, he's got more fresh blood on his lip. The advice the hygienist gave me, "Watch him to make sure he doesn't bite his tongue." Um, I can watch him all freaking night...it's not going to stop him from accidentally biting his big ol' numb tongue!

4. Little Miss. I know it's shocking that such a sweet faced little girl could be on my list of annoying things...but I gotta tell ya. She's wearing.me.out. Aside from her normal bossy, demanding, difficult self, she's been waking up at 2 a.m. fussing and then up for the day at 5:00. The main problem with this (aside from the fact that I would LIKE to sleep in a little bit on the weekends) is that it interferes with my trying to get ready for school. I like quiet mornings with no one bugging me or demanding 27 things from me all the while I scramble to get dressed.

5. My hair. It's long. It's unruly. It's in major need of some color. Blick.

This is the nightly "choosing of the pajamas" ritual. You would be surprised at just how long one Little Miss can take to lay those clothes out JUST RIGHT in order to make her decision.

6. The news. If you know me, you know I don't watch the news. It's sad. It's depressing. And inevitably there's some tragic story about child abuse or murder and I just.can't.take.it. So, I don't watch. But on the rare days when my husband is home in time to watch TV, he turns right to Nightly News. I can't imagine how ANYONE wants to listen to the same freaking thing every night. The economy, unemployment, economy, economy, economy. I understand it's bad. I really do. But I also believe that the media is doing nothing but making it worse. Just SHUT UP about it. Talking incessantly about it is making people even more scared. They are freaking out and not spending any money. How is that helping? I just don't get it.

Ah. I feel much better. Thanks for listening. Now I am off to bed. Yes, I realize it's only 9:00 but I need to finish my book and am barely keeping my eyes open as it is.

And now...your moment of zen.

What's bugging you?

Ten for Tuesday...posted on Wednesday cause that's how I roll

1. What is UP with Bloglines? I was all ready to post about how great it is and how I am so glad to be using something to keep track of all my favorite blogs...and then it lets me down. If you posted something new today...I probably haven't seen it! Poo.

2. American Idol is on. The show isn't going very well tonight. Even the camera angles, interviews...all very awkward. But, my fave of the night? Anoope Dog. I mostly like saying his name. But I do NOT enjoy his eyebrows. And who does Kara look like? She looks like someone and it has been driving.me.crazy. Please advise.

3. Ulysses S. Grant is just that. S. Many of you thought Simpson, which is a common belief. His mother's maiden name was Simpson, but the S doesn't actually stand for anything...just like Harry S. Truman.

4. My head has hurt all.day.long. Tylenol, ibuprofen, water, extra caffeine, chocolate, contacts out/glasses on. Nothing has helped. The only thing left to blame is the weather. Well, and the kids.

5. Cole had his first fire drill today. Hil.ar.i.ous. Do you know what he expected? A drill. A tool. Made for putting out fires. That he got to handle. Imagine his disappointment when he had to stand outside in a single file line. With no drill.

6. We watched Amazing Race for the first time last night. So exciting. I don't know how we didn't jump onto this show before, but I am glad we did. Loving the deaf guy with his mom. SO glad the bitchy couple is gone. I think the little stunt guys will do a good job. And the cheese wheels? Now that is entertainment.

7. I am SO in need of a hair cut. And color. I don't know how many more days I can take without hacking on it myself. I would post a pic but I hate to run you all off.

8. Today, Wednesday, my head has hurt even more than yesterday. So much so that I had to call my principal in at 2 to take over my class while I went crying to the nurse's office. I've never been diagnosed as having migraines, but if that wasn't a migraine...I would hate to experience one. I am feeling somewhat better now but can't get rid of the ache and pain from the base of my neck to my eyes. Time to see the chiropractor and/or eye doctor.

9. Today was Parents' Day at preschool. I hadn't told Cole anything about it in case we couldn't be there. I couldn't get off, so the husband was going to try. It ended up that he was the only one at the shop and couldn't leave. The first thing Cole told me when I picked him up, "Today was mudder's day at school and I was the only kid with no mudder there. I was sad all day long."
Insert knife. Twist. Repeat.

10. I think it's going to be early bedtimes all around. Thankfully I planned for yet another headache and have a take and bake pizza ready to pop in the oven. Here's to a better day tomorrow!

And now your moment of zen...

In honor of Presidents' Day...or what I like to call a waste of a holiday if I still have schoool

Many of you will be enjoying tomorrow off thanks to Presidents' Day. Me? Notsomuch. I thought I'd give you some presidential fun facts to read at your leisure. You.are.welcome.

James A. Garfield could write with both hands. Sometimes he amused people by writing Greek with one hand and Latin with the other!

Herbert C. Hoover was the first president to be born west of the Mississippi River.



William Henry Harrison was president only 32 days. He caught pneumonia and died after standing outside for hours during his inauguration.


James Madison was 5'4" tall, and weighed 98 pounds.

Andrew Jackson was a chronic drooler, and suffered from hives. He was orphaned at age 13. Early in life he had smallpox and dysentery. Later in life he had tuberculosis and dropsy. His wife had a nervous breakdown.He was shot in a duel (he killed the guy who shot him), and since the bullet wasn't able to be removed, he had an infection for the rest of his life.

Only five presidents have ever worn facial hair when they sought the office. The last was over a century ago, in 1889; Benjamin Harrison.

William Taft, 27th president of the United States, weighed more than 300 pounds and had a special oversized bathtub installed in the White House.



In warm weather, 6th president of the United States John Quincy Adams customarily went skinny-dipping in the Potomac River before dawn.

And now a quiz. What does the S stand for in Ulysses S. Grant? No googling or it's detention for you!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

The winner of the $25 movie gift card is...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

31

Timestamp: 2009-02-14 13:35:41 UTC

Who's number 31? It's TERI from Let Me Think On It! Congrats, Teri! Email me with your address and I will drop the gift card in the mail ASAP!

Valentine's Day is pretty much just like any other day around the John Deere Mom house. Although I did get an early gift last night.


Seriously.

The husband was at a farm show yesterday. He stood and watched the entire Sham Wow demonstration and was enraptured, I tell you. The 3 guys that went together walked away with a total of 6 Sham Wows. Who says men aren't romantic?

Now if you will excuse me I have to go wash, dry, and polish up to 12 times its weight in liquid.

Remember me?

Remember the good old days when I could post something and visit my bloggy friends every day? You know...during those snow days? When I could sit in my jammies and chat with you good people all day? That was the life, man.

Then someone had to go and clear the roads of the snow and ice and I had to *gasp* teach!

So what have we been up to? Besides getting up at the crack of dawn, getting 2 kids to daycare, teaching all day, grocery shopping, doing dishes, laundry, picking up toys, cooking dinner, bathing kids, reading stories, putting kids to bed, eating my dinner, doing a bit more laundry, grading papers, and drinking wine?

There's been a good deal of twirling and posing since receiving new skirts from Grandma.

Another present from Grandma?

Hello, lover.

Little Miss got her thumb caught in a mouse trap last night. It was like a cartoon with a big, red, swollen thumb. I couldn't even get out the N of NO! before I heard the SNAP! Then there was a pause, followed by horrific screaming. What made it all better? Frozen cherries. :)

Cole loves to race through the house on his bike. The other night he said, "Watch this, Momma. I gonna go as fast as I can." He took off peddling yelling, "Look...I'm going HIGH SPEED INTERNET!"

Little Miss has mastered using the mouse and navigating through this website without any help whatsoever. She can choose her game, level, and exit back out to choose a new game all on her own. Thank you, Childtopia. You have made preparing dinner much easier while keeping a certain whiny boss occupied.
We had some crazy weather come through yesterday. It was windy, then rainy, sunny, and then even windier. I did manage to catch a piece of a rainbow. I love rainbows. They're so rare and beautiful.

That's about it. Super busy at home and school. One of these days it will slow down. I hope.

If you haven't entered, you still have 23 hours to enter the movie gift card giveaway!

Random drivel...and a giveaway!

The snow is melting! Can I get an amen?! Maybe we can actually get through an entire week of school without a delay or cancelation. My last full week of school? December 8th.

And while I do believe this will be a regular week with no weather issues...need I remind you about Friday? That's right...it's Friday the 13th. Not only that, but we will also be having our Valentine's Day party. I think it's safe to say we can write Friday off.

Grandma brought over this cutest little barn for Cole. He could not love it more (unless it had come equipped with a real calf and fresh manure.) It even has a separate little overhang with an attached fence for a separate little corral.

All was going well until he found one of those large, decorative straw bales I had gotten at Hobby Lobby on clearance for like 9 cents. Not only did he proceed to open the package and spread the straw all over the floor of the barn, but he piled it all over my carpet. It was an itchy, sneezy mess.

After a lot of sobbing (him) and vacuuming (me), I'm happy to report the straw is gone.

Meanwhile, Little Miss decided the house needed a little flare. She went to work putting Cinderella stickers on every glass surface she could find.

Pretty, no?

I submitted this picture in the Snapfish "What does love look like?" photo contest. It's one of my favorite pictures of the 2 monkeys.

I ordered this print in a 16 X 20 poster size from Snapfish for a blank wall in my dining room.
My sister drove 3 hours yesterday to baby-sit for her favorite niece and nephew. The husband and I? Are you ready for it?

We saw a movie!

The last movie we saw together was in 2003 when I was pregnant with Cole. Needless to say, we were big, excited dorks.

What did we see? What else would 2 big dorks see?

It was actually even funnier than I expected. It was great to laugh out loud throughout most of the movie. I love his stand-up, and he was equally funny in this movie. I definitely recommend it!

And I am even going to pay for you to see it! Well, one of you.

Remember a few weeks ago when I won this movie gift card from my IRLBFF who won it from Kat? You don't? Okay, then click here.

Since there are no Regal/United Artists/Edwards theaters around here...I am paying it forward.

If you would like to win this $25 gift card, just leave me a comment! That's all...easy like a zucchini martini!

You must leave a comment by 9:00 p.m. EST Friday, February 13. A random comment will be picked as the big winner!

Even if you don't have these theaters near you, you could still win and give it away on your blog!

Good luck and happy commenting!

I am going to stop using exclamation points now!

Did you hear the one about the lady with too much time on her hands?

No. Not me, sillies. I'm talking about the lady who did this.



We're not talking about dressing your dog up here. This is extreme dog grooming. You can read more about it here.

Is there really a need for such a thing? This dog actually had her fur dyed and sculpted.

And really...isn't being a poodle embarrassing enough without looking like a peacock?

What do you think? Funny? Mean? Crazy?

Discuss.

More freaking snow!

Edited to add: I made it home safe and sound. It was the worst drive I've ever had to make by myself. I was never so glad to be off the road and in my warm house.

This wreck happened about 3 miles north of where I was:
"According to Indiana State Police, 28 passenger vehicles, five semi trailers and a Fishers Fire Department truck were involved in the crash. Eleven people were taken to area hospitals. At least three vehicles had occupants entrapped. The two deaths were in a semi trailer.

Very scary...so glad I wasn't involved.

Good news: I am in a writing workshop all day with wirless internet. Yay me!

Bad news: I had to drive to this workshop (an hour away) driving about 15 mph on the interstate due to the SNOW we are getting yet again. Could someone please strangle that bloody groundhog?!

We are now under a winter weather advisory with blowing and drifting snow. Schools are closing, the interstate I need to get back on is closed due to multiple accidents, and here I sit sipping yet another cup of coffee feeling jittery and not even hearing this poor woman speak as I worry about driving home in this mess.

If I plan on getting home before dark, I will have to leave at lunch. Here's hoping the interstate is open and halfway decent.

We spent the weekend sledding and four-wheeling in the snow. Yes, it was fun. But I was really hoping that would be the end of the snow. *sigh*

I leave you with some pictures from our winter weather fun last weekend. God willing...this will be the last post with snow pictures.

Keep your fingers crossed.