thankful thoughts

Resurrection Lilly- Elizabeth's favorite flower

I have this friend, she's amazing, my Elizabeth- she was like my umbrella that I held tight to through my own personal hurricane.

A counselor, and consoler- she listened, and taught me to really listen, not just hear. She taught me about being a good mom, and how to love people- flaws and all. She taught me how to make, and properly enjoy, jambalaya and et-tu-fe, and beignets

Then she moved, and I cried. But I still remember all that she taught me, and I still call her for advice.

Elizabeth is who I want to be like when I grow up someday.

false finishes

The three musketeers

The cousins are the siblings she's always wanted. They're her "BFF's forever"- somehow I think the 'BFF' was lost in translation. And they're having a sleepover in a tent in their backyard- the last of the season, also the first- but who's counting. I'm not so sure that any of them will last the whole night outside, as we've had 3 near abandonments of the tent already, we'll see.

Cautiously optimistic, that's where I stand for now.

dx & rx

We, and when I say we- it really means I'm the intermediary and that is all, are helping some neighbors diagnose the problem with their swamp cooler. I'm much better at humans you know.

Just ask Dr. K, who now knows exactly how to prescribe valtrex for shingles, it's all in my little head you know. I mean, sure it's in the special physician's desk reference book too, but my head is much gray-matterier anyway. It's a good thing I filled in today.

Anyway back to the swamp cooler, the thing must be fixed. I don't know how they survived today- as it's edging toward 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Popsicles can only take you so far, cold air is essential I tell you. Otherwise the alternative is wallowing in pools of your own sweat, and that is just gross. and smelly. and not very cool either.

Dx: broken fan belt thingy.

Rx: get a new one stat.

home-work

The Schroeder has an "office" at home- the problem with the home office is that he's home. I know, obvious right, but I didn't take into account the hang out factor. see when we're both home we like to hang out and talk. Which is fantastic and wonderful- when all of the work is done, but the talking gets in the way of me getting the stuff done that I need to. So the home office had to be closed during the day, and basically I had to kick him out.


-Sorry Schroeder but the laundry doesn't do itself- and I like you too much to do it when you're here- you're way too fun to hang out with. at least we know what to expect when it's retirement time right?

I think it should be turned into a den type room, or move the wood stove down stairs and make a great mud room out of the entry and turn this into another bed room- I'll draw up the plans and you can let me know.

Letter to The Schroeder

Dear Schroeder,

Thanks for doing the dishes after the party with the P's and Q's last night, that was great of you. Also those steaks were cooked to perfection-way to be the grill master. I must admit though, I am kind of jealous that you won nearly every game we played, whonu, then *chaps and spurs too. I am slightly competitive as you know, and that was a difficult blow to take, that whole not winning a single game thing-oh I know the girls team won at sequence and all, but somehow that doesn't count, at least not for my gigantic game playing ego. But seriously way to go on the awesome game night winnings. I think you're fun to hang out with, we should do it more often.

Love,
Smarty Pants

p.s. even though my love letter to you is laced with satyr and a hint of sarcasm, please note that it is all self deprecating, and not directed at you in any way- the compliments are genuine

*real name of game-hand and foot or boot and glove

pink and gushy babies

I'm throwing one of my great friends a baby shower-she's having a girl can you tell? At first I thought it would be an exercise in self torture, all in the name of friendship you know. But actually I'm really having fun, and I don't even secretly envy her pregnant state, my green with envy self told her- so it's no secret. she gets it though, having been there too.

Back to the point of the story... I'm really getting excited, the pink decorations and food ideas are coming to me in the night. the invitations are going out soon. and I'm happy. Not just happy for Em, cause I am, but really just happy- I think I found that good place I've been hoping I would be at. I knew this baby shower idea was a good one.