yeah, you're at the right place

I've been thinking about the name of my blog lately...Mom of a Redhead. Sure, its cute, but does it have that certain "je ne sais quoi"? (Bet you didn't know I spoke French). I do write about the redhead - some (and will continue) - but mostly its about my musings and thoughts about various and sundry material.

In talking with one of my friends - I'm gonna go ahead and call you out Mrs. Noonzie - get a frickin' blog already! - I think I want to do a little changing before I achieve celebrity status (insert sarcastic laugh). My title was going to be something derived from Princess Bride (cause that movie is the best ever), but then I thought of Loose Change. Turns out, someone else's blog (which is a tad more popular than mine) already has that name. I thought about Loose Screws, but then Mr. Baseball (my hubby's new blog name) came up with Pocket Change. Thanks honey...home run (tee hee)! Make sure you check out the tag line. Oh, and leave me a comment and let me know what you think. If you really like it and you're somebody that does blog design, give me your email and we'll chat. My birthday is coming up and I might have some money for a re-do - if I don't go shopping at Ann Taylor first!

P.S. If I'm on your blog roll, please go ahead and "change" the name so people will be even more confused.

sleep in heavenly ... cheese?

What do you get when you cross lunchtime (i.e. sitting still) with a toddler who has woken up at 6:15am the past three mornings?



(make sure you watch to the end - and btw, the weird sounds you hear are my stifled laughs)

an urgent plea to ann taylor

Dear Ann,

Where do I even begin? Tuesday, I really needed you Ann. I needed your encouragement - how you always make me look good and feel good, no matter what size I am. Its therapy for me to be in your presence. Just to breathe in the smell of quality apparel, experience customer service at its best, and have outfits already placed together lovingly. When I'm with you, I don't have to worry if one red will match another, or if a certain jacket will match a pair of pants -you have done all the work for me. For that I am truly grateful. Ann- girl - you've always been there for me. Remember when we met for the first time. It was May 2002. I had just broken up with Blonde Guy and I felt so lost. He had burned a hole in my heart and at the same time, my income tax return was burning a hole in my pocket. A woman scorned + disposable income = major emotional spending spree. Oh Ann, the moment I walked in the doors I knew we would be BFF's. We spent hours (I can't even remember how long I was in there, but it was a long time) together. I couldn't decide what to get, but don't for one minute think it was because you lacked anything. You simply had so much to offer I couldn't decide. You should know by now that I'm just indecisive. You could never be anything less than perfect Ann Taylor. Don't let anyone ever tell you any differently either. You made spending $330 in one pop so easy I knew that we would be together forever. You do remember the time I was singing in Brian and Vicky's wedding and needed a dress don't you? Who did I run straight to for guidance? It was you Ann who showed me the perfect dress for the occasion. A hot little turquoise number and it was even a size smaller than I normally wore! You even had a pair of heels with turquoise accents that complimented the dress ever so delightfully. I just had to get them. A moment of weakness I guess. I'll never forget how much they cost. $75.00. The most I had ever spent on a pair of shoes. Remember, hubby (when he wasn't hubby yet) was with me and tried to talk me out of buying the shoes. What does he know? I am still a smidge disappointed that you sold my dress to that other girl at the wedding. She didn't look halfway as lovely as I. I told myself that everyone would see my dress first since I was singing and that that other girl was just making a concerted effort to steal my BFF for herself. Ann, I'm so glad you weren't deceived by her hijinks. I forgive you. You are such a faithful friend Ann. I'm afraid I have to ask your forgiveness for not coming to visit you. Its not because I don't love you - in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Unfortunately, something is trying to compete for your BFF status. That something is (cue evil music)...Wal-Mart. Their plan is to launch an coup effort to overthrow the world and I can see straight through it. Kathie Lee may have been hypnotized by their oozing sentiments, but not me. No siree, not me.

I write all this to say...Ann, for the love of a dear and faithful friend, please lower your prices so that I can hang out with you more. I've had to make friends with the likes of JCPenney, Sears, and New York & Co. - don't get me wrong, they are great girls - but they don't hold a candle to you. These girls let me down on Tuesday though Ann. As I strolled through Po-Dunk Mall looking at all the cheap imitations, I couldn't help but mourn your absence. Ann, I am dying a slow death.

With the price of gas and food on the rise, relief has to come from somewhere.

Please come through for me Ann Taylor. You're my only hope.

I

Yours truly,

Caroline

kind acts of randomness - vol. 13

I don't even want to know what their secret ingredients are. Maybe they should throw in some Preparation H for good measure.

the reason God invented caller id

Telemarketers. Most likely you have spoken with one at some point in your life. You know its a telemarketer because a) there is a long pause, after which you say hello four times, they launch into their schpiel (sp?), or b) they totally mispronounce your name at which point their cover is blown. Telemarketers usually call armed with some great offer to reduce your student loan payment, fit your home with new windows (tell them you're renting and they'll leave you alone), or tell you that because you own a Visa card, you are entered to win a sweepstakes.

The latter was the reason I received the telemarketing call to beat all telemarketing calls. She politely introduced herself and said the name of the company she worked for. It had to do something with reading, but as soon as I knew she was a telemarketer, my defenses were at the ready. The exchange went something like this...

Tele-witch: Hi, my name is Tele-witch and I am with "such and such" company. Because you possess a Visa card, you have been automatically entered to win a $50,000 sweepstakes.

Me: (in a sarcastic, annoyed tone)How do you know I have a Visa card?

Tele-witch: Its just what my notes here say. Anyway, you've been entered to win a $50,000 sweepstakes.

Me: I really don't want to be entered in a sweepstakes, I don't care about sweepstakes.

Tele-witch: Well...okay, but you are still elegible for three free magazine subscriptions for one year.

Okay, stop here for a second. Let me tell you what was going on in my life at this point. I was single and living in a different city in NC, commuting 40 minutes each way to work, and had just gotten a promotion to the Executive Director position of the non-profit I worked for (i.e. spent most of my time at work trying to figure out this new job and when I wasn't working, I was driving to and from work, and when I wasn't working or driving, I was eating or sleeping.). With that said..

Me: Three magazine subscriptions? I really don't read magazines.

TW: Well, surely there are things that you are interested in. For instance, I'm interested in gardening, history, etc.

Me: (she just upped the level of my annoyance - what part of I don't read magazines did she not understand?) That's great for you, but I really don't have time to read magazines right now.

TW: Everybody has time to read magazines or do something with their spare time. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Me: (At this point, I was getting really flustered and almost yelling at her) I do.... stuff. Look lady, I just got a new job and I really don't have time to read anything. And by the way, why am I telling you this? Its none of your business what I do or don't do with my spare time!

TW: (in an almost inaudible voice) ...you're a loser....(**click**).

Me: Hello? Hello? OH, NO SHE DI'INT!!!!!

At this point, I think I ran through the house screaming. I was hurt, no I was ANGRY that anyone would call me a loser, but a TELEMARKETER calling me a loser?!...OH, IT WAS ON! I tried to sift through the collection of furious, sinful thoughts in my head and find one that would be somewhat constructive and not land me in the slamma' with all the she-brutes.

I mashed re-dial, but the number was unavailable. *%&?! I tried to remember what the name of the company she said she worked for was. I thought I recalled it, but when I called information, there was no such company available. I was really veklempt in a not so good way by this point. I didn't have the presence of mind to search the internet for this company. I really wanted to talk to her supervisor and give him/her a piece of my mind about what that tele-witch had said to me. I wanted revenge. I never got it.

I figure, if she's still a telemarketer after all these years, then there's my revenge. I'm sorry- who did you call a loser?

choosing to trust

Lately, there has been so much going on in my head and heart that I feel like I just need to write. I realize that this is much deeper than the silliness that usually makes up my posts, but this too is a part of me and I feel I should share it (without going into too much detail). Someone else out there probably needs to hear it too.

There is a major area of my life where I am failing to trust God. In reality, there is probably more than one, but this is the biggest. Its the area where He most wants to teach me and yet I am most fearful to let Him because I don't think He really wants the best for me.

A few months ago God opened my eyes to this issue and I was impacted then, but I went back and read my journal entries and the Bible Study I was doing at the time and man...WHAM!...it hit me to the core - again. Here are some of the quotes that really spoke to me:

He (God) knows when something glorious in the future necessitates
something difficult in the present.

A good friend told me recently that she believed God had great things in store for me and I do get small glimpses of that in the future. However, I tend to get discouraged easily when I don't see the manifestation of God's work in the present.

If our trust is in manifestations of God's favor rather than God Himself, we will crumble like dry clay when He calls us to walk a distance of our journeys entirely by faith and not by sight.

Can I get an AMEN? This is me. My journey right now is by faith, but DAILY I look for visible, tangible signs. In Sunday School, we talked about viewing God as a cosmic vending machine. We ask for what we want and put our "money" (prayers) in, but if we don't get what we want, we have a temper tantrum and demand our dollar back and turn our backs on God.

God is with us and for us even when His face and favor seem hidden. Mountain-like security only comes from trusting God, not what He's done for us or given us, however glorious and eternal those things may be.

I have been praying for something specific for a while now and my specific prayer was for God to do "whatever it takes" to answer that prayer. What I realized after talking with my friend was that my prayer had been conditional - "God, do whatever it takes to answer this prayer, but just don't mess with what I've got going on." I see that the difficulty I'm going through right now - all the changes going on in my heart as well as the testing of my faith - may very well be part of the "whatever it takes".

Yesterday I was reading a devotion from a book that I have . This particular devotion was called "In the Storm" - hello, is this for me or what? Here are some excerpts from the devotional.

God is always working for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). However, our definition of good and God's definition of good may be completely different and may collide head-on in hard times. Our definition of good usually equates to happiness. We want (and even expect) God to make us happy. But what's good for God? Good for God is when He's working for His glory, or when He's working to make us holy.

...God cares more about our character than He does about our carefree lives. We may not be able to figure out what God is doing in the hard times of life. Those answers may not come this side of heaven, but we know God can use the tough times in our lives to help us grow. Giving God our lives during hard times means trusting that He's working for good no matter what - or walking through the process with Him until He brings us to the point where we can believe that. That means being where we are with Him - crying, mourning, even being angry, and discussing that with Him. Over time, as we continue to seek Him, He'll align our hearts with His by changing our definition of what's good, or He'll teach us something about Himself, or He'll simply give us what we need to trust Him even though we don't understand.

May it be so, Lord.

**Excerpts taken from April 17, 2008 devotion; Journey: A Woman's Guide to Intimacy with God; April 2008;

say hello to my leetle friend

Meet the bouncity-bounce house I am going to win for my leetle redhead...


I know I just posted about SITS, but I have to give another shout out to their awesomeness. Not only do they give mucho comment love-o, but they also give away prizes like the aforementioned bounce house. By commenting on their site that I want this and now doing a post about it, I am entered to win this great thing for my bouncing baby boy who by the way loves to "ba-ba" (bounce-bounce). He and five other friends (weighing no more than 100 lbs. each) can bounce their brains out. Sooooooo, if you too want to enter to win this and you happen to not be a SITSta (OHHHH for shame!!!!), I'll tell you what you need to do.

1) Go to the SITS site and leave a comment that you're new to SITS and you want to win the bounce house. Don't forget to tell them Caroline at www.momofaredhead.blogspot.com referred you.

2) Put their "button" on your site. You can do this by copying their HTML code and adding it as a page element in your layout section

3) Write a short and sweet posts about the contest and the bounce house.

4) In case you need more detailed instructions, check the SITS site! Happy bouncing!

and the winner is...

Today I won something. Well, not as in a tangible something. Actually I didn't even really win. I was acknowledged. But not just acknowledged anywhere. I was acknowledged here...



First of all, I would like to thank God. Without him, I might not have appendages with digits to type with!

I have to also thank my sister (Sprout Cultivator). If not for her, I wouldn't even have a blog!

Thank you Heather and Tiffany for believing in me in enough to feature me as a "Saucy Blog".

Thank you to my agent, my stylist, my makeup artist, my manager, my maid, my nanny, my chef, my personal shopper, and my driver, without you I don't know how I would have the time to blog!

I also have to shout out to the 9 other "Saucy Blogs" that I'm sharing space with. Congratulations on your win too!

Thank you to all of you who give me comment love. I need you, I love you, and I try to get back to each of you and personally leave a little comment love for you too!

Finally, I have to thank my baby daddy and my redhead, because without them I wouldn't have much to post about.

Thank you so much SITS. I'm here all week (literally).

why don't you set a spell

I am a GRITS (Girl Raised in the South). I grew up in the beautiful Queen City (Charlotte, NC). For obvious reasons, I can't tell you where I live now, but I can say that I'm still in NC. Contrary to news reports and movie roles of people from NC, we are not all mullett-rocking, accent-possessing morons with no education who live in small shacks and poop in the woods.

I actually don't consider NC completely southern. After all, the state does have the word "North" in it and that should count for something right? When I think of true "southern" charm, images of large, welcoming front porches complete with ferns and rocking chairs come to mind. Every evening around sunset, the porch beckons the owner (along with the glass of sweet tea or lemonade) outside to watch the Creator paint the sky with the most beautiful hues of purple, pink, and orange. Once the sun has gone down, the lightning bugs flicker and dance and a gentle breeze ushers in the evening.

No matter where in the south you live (if in fact you do), you can probably agree with me on this one thing - your mama or your grandmother taught you some manners proper for a young lady. I can still hear my grandmother saying in her sweet, lilting voice, "Sit up straight at the table, its impolite and unhealthy to slouch." She would also tell us, "Be polite to everyone you meet." My "Nana" was a southern lady to the core and was incredibly hospitable and kind, welcoming anyone to come visit.

So, in the spirit of all that is southern, I welcome you to my front porch - figuratively speaking. If this is your first time, sit down relax, and stay a while. If its not your first time, then welcome back! The more on the porch, the merrier - and I have a glass of lemonade or sweet tea for each of you! I'll even make unsweet tea for you non-southerners.

Oh, and I would love to know those of you who stopped by...feel free to leave a comment. There's no such thing as lurkers - lurkers schmurkers - only friends!

(photo from hgtv.com)

kind acts of randomness - vol. 12

Oh, this is rich!


As found on www.inventorspot.com , the merchant for Pooper Scooper Barbie says,

"Finally, Barbie has a dog that eats and makes a mess! Tanner the dog is soft and fuzzy and her mouth, ears, head and tail really move! You can open Tanner dog's mouth and "feed" her dog biscuits. Comes with a dog bone and chew toys that Tanner can hold in her mouth, too. When Tanner has to go to the bathroom, Barbie doll cleans up with her special magnetic scooper and trash can. Poseable Barbie doll included."

Are you kidding me?

As usual, Barbie looks so chic with her hair perfectly coiffed and sporting a hip new outfit. As I was looking at all the accesories that come along with Super Pooper Barbie (or whatever her name is), I took a second look at the food and the poo. Hmmmm...an eery similarity. I don't know about you, but what I eat and how it comes out look and smell totally different. Clearly God knew what he was doing - this way we wouldn't get confused about what we're not supposed to eat! Since Tanner's food and poo have the same look about them, Barbie better be careful about receiving those puppy kisses! I also think its great that she puts the poo in a can. Maybe she got tired of poo-steppin' when she went out to swim in her pool. Oh, and don't you love the fact that her pooper scooper is magnetic. What is she feeding that dog that she can attract poo with a magnet?

Anyway, I can't wait to see what they come out with next. Will it be Lactose Intolerant Barbie, Bodily Fluids Barbie, or maybe even the Super Pooper Barbie, complete with tiny toilet!

excuse me, but you're rude

It's amazing the gumption that some people have. This past weekend, hubby, redhead, and I went to visit my parents for Father's Day weekend. Mom, the redhead, and I went to a grocery store to pick up a few items. On our way into the store, we stopped to put the redhead in a shopping cart. This store has anti-bacterial wipes right next to the carts (that's my kind of thinkin'!), so we stopped to wipe down the cart before inserting the redhead. Now, my mama always said you gotta be considerate of other folks around you. Remembering these words, I was careful to move out of the way while we were getting the redhead situated - there was a couple behind us, but clearly they had enough room to move around us. Once settled, we headed into the store. The couple was still behind us and mom gently tugged on my sleeve and said (in a loud voice) - Let's let them pass, I think she'll be much happier if she can get by!" I moved over and they walked by us. It was then that mom told me that while we were wiping down the cart and getting the redhead in, the woman said in an irritated voice..."Any day now!".

OH NO SHE DI'INT!

This was no time to be considerate of others...

So, I said in a loud voice... "What is her problem? That is so rude!" (How lame)

This really got to me. Of course, I always think of really creative things to say after the fact, and never in the middle of a situation. What I really wanted to do was go up to her and ask her if she has children and if so then does she remember how difficult it is to go anywhere with even one child. Then I was going to tell her that I feel sorry for her children and grandchildren if their mother and grandmother is so impatient that she can't wait less than one minute for another person. THEN, I wanted to follow her all over the store and sing "The Patience Song" in her ear the whole time she shopped. It goes like this...

Have patience, have patience, don't be in such a hurry
When you get impatient, you only start to worry
Remember, Remember that God is patient to
And think of all the times that others have to wait for you

So, rude woman, if you're reading this, I think you're...well, rude. I could say that I hope you didn't wipe down your cart good enough and that you get a cold or e-coli, or sudden explosive diarrhea, but as mama also said..."If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all."

'Nuff said.

daddy's day

to my husband and the redhead's "dah" on father's day...

you are such a special part of our lives
and we are incredibly thankful for the gift that God has given us in you
thank you for being a man of integrity and such a wonderful provider
you make us so proud
we love you bunches and bunches

love, caroline and wesley

caro's cuisine

Alright my saucy friends, here's a recipe sure to satisfy the hungry men (and women) in your lives! In my bloggy travels, I've noticed that all the cool people are posting their recipes. Since I only aspire to be cool, I'm going to attempt a recipe too. This is not just any recipe though, this is...LL's Meatloaf.

Lindsey Lohan? She cooks? Well, my guess is no, and this meatloaf is about twice her size. But my friend Liz does cook and this is her meatloaf recipe (it's really easy).

First, start out with around a pound of ground beef.

Add to the beef these ingredients:

1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
3-4 oz. cheese, shredded (I use cheddar)
1/3 c. shredded carrots
1 medium onion, chopped (or 1/2 lg. onion)
1/4 c. milk
3 T. breadcrumbs
1/2 pkg. Onion Soup Mix



Once added to the meat, take off your bling that yo' baby daddy gave you and mush and smush all ingredients together with your hands.



then, form into a giant meatloaf.



At this point, it looks like a chunky turd, but please, for the love of all that is good, stay with me!

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. While baking, prepare the glaze.

1/3 c. brown sugar
ketchup
BBQ sauce
**I usually just mix to taste.



Pour glaze over baked meatloaf and put back in oven for 20 minutes.



The finished product!



Voila! I also fixed garlic/cheese mashed potatoes and sauteed some squash/zucchini/onions in a little butta and BAM!

The hubby said, and I quote, "I LOVE this meatloaf."

I just about fell over backward in my chair. He never complains about my cooking and will eat almost anything I put in front of him, but he has NEVER as best I can remember said that he LOVED anything I cooked. Said that it was good, maybe. Really good, maybe that too, but LOVE? Never. That was major! So, its sure to be a winner at your house. The redhead even partook of the loaf that was meat.

Sadly, it was so good that it didn't last long at all. The potatoes, well, there's another story. I made enough to feed us until the redhead goes to college. Good thing they are tasty.

i will always love you

On Tuesday, the redhead and I were working on the hubby's Father's Day gift (I'll show you after Father's Day what I did - he does read my blog). I was doing most of the work - what good are 20 month olds with craft projects? - and I guess the redhead felt neglected since all my attentions were upon the project at hand because he got really whiny. Once I got to a stopping point, he said "up" and held his hands up to me. I scooped him and bear blanket (the all important security item) into my arms. Recently the redhead and I have done all kinds of dancing, so I started to sway to the music with him. The Whitney Houston version of "I Will Always Love You" began playing on the radio and we continued to sway. He laid his head on my shoulder while Whitney serenaded us with her ever so fantastic voice. I was singing quietly to him (he likes that) and looking into his sweet little face when Whit started singing this verse:

I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you dream of
And I wish to you joy and happiness
But above all this, I wish you love...

Needless to say, I couldn't hold back the tears. I kept on singing until the end of the song when I quietly said "I love you", to which he responded in the cutest 20 month old voice possible..."yah".
I did have the presence of mind to grab the camera while the song was still playing and snap a picture to commemorate this "one moment in time". Here we are...

Father's Day gift: $18.99
Time spent on Father's Day gift: 1 1/2 hours
Calories burned while dancing with 27lb 20 mo. old: 50
This moment: Priceless

kind acts of randomness - vol. 11

During a moment void of all parental supervision, little Suzie seized the opportunity to get back at her baby sister for for being born.

dear nkotb,

When I first heard you were reuniting I'll admit my heart did a little flutter. Thoughts of you in your ripped jeans, topless hats, and batman shirts flooded my mind. Our first meeting was at Carowinds in 1989. I got the ticket for my 12th birthday. My friend Jenny went with me and even though we were on the 54th row, I felt like you were singing just to me. Some girl name Tiffany opened up for you, and although I liked her music, I could have done without her. My focus was on the five of you, and thankfully, you never even noticed that I maimed another fan while doing the arm swing to Hangin' Tough. Jon, you were my favorite. My sister liked you Donnie. And Joey, Jenny liked you the best, with your piercing blue eyes and all.

I knew every word to every song on the Hangin' Tough album. I tried to dance the way you did in the You Got It (the Right Stuff) video and wanted to be the cute girl in the dark skirt that runs through what looks like a old cemetary in New Orleans. Anyway, I'm digressing.

I saw your new video "Summertime" yesterday and I have to say, boys - um, I mean men, I was clearly disappointed in what I saw. Its been 14 years since we said good-bye and since then the world has seen the rise of The Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, and Il Divo (we have Simon Cowell to thank for that one). What I saw yesterday was a meager attempt to regain your fame of days gone by. The song...well, it didn't really have legs to stand on. Your legs, however, can still do some dancin', but I can tell you're getting older, as you don't move quite as gracefully. Thank you though that you can still dance, cause its really obvious now that you can't sing. I was blind to this fact when I was younger, but now, the truth can't be denied. It's amazing what digital recording and voice enhancement can do for a recording artist. All this to say - I just see us moving in different directions. I think we need to see other people and clearly your contingent will probably be under 15 - with a few stragglers leftover from my generation. I would say it's not you, its me, but clearly, it's you - sorry.

I guess we'll always have the memories NKOTB. Unfortunately for you, your tour ends here. Parting is such sweet sorrow. However, I will bestow upon you one parting gift. Please use as needed.





Sincerely,
Caroline

P.S. Go ahead...sing "Please Don't Go Girl"...just for kicks.

lyrical misinterpretation

Music. Its one of a few things that is understood worldwide. The styles may vary between cultures, but I would almost bet that every person on earth has heard at least one melodic tone before. Music can invoke deep emotions (ex. Held by Natalie Grant - its on my playlist). Music can unite people (We Are the World). Music can empower us (Nothin's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship) =).

Lyrics. Lyrics are a whole different ballgame. Lyrics can divide. Case in point: The song that you're listening to - Edge of Seventeen - done originally by Stevie Nicks (I think) - was long a point of contention at our house.

My sweet husband loves music and could whip my tail in music trivia. However, he tends to get a little confused with lyrics. Fortunately for him, he has me. I actually listen to the lyrics and more times than not have to set him straight about song lyrics.

***His interpretation of what Stevie Nicks is singing - "Just like the one-winged dove..."

My interpretation/what she is really singing - "Just like the white-winged dove..."


I did look this one up online after he almost convinced me he was right. I soon realized that his way made no sense. A dove is white. A dove has wings. Thus...a white-winged dove!

While I type this, he's looking over my shoulder still not convinced of the right lyrics. Gotta love him!

***I will take responsibility for misquoting lyrics to a particularly popular Bee Gees song. Its the second one on my playlist.

We (my man and I) were sitting in Arby's one night when aforementioned song came on. He commented on liking the song and I listened to the lyrics. I asked him innocently why they were singing...

Bald-Headed Woman

He immediately began cracking up and corrected me. " 'Its More Than a Woman' goofball"! I know he's right, but listen to the song and you'll hear how I so easily misconstrued the lyrics!

***My girlfriends and I were once talking about how easily we confuse lyrics and my friend shared one of her husband's most hysterical lyrical interpretations of a Chris Rice song.

I couldn't find it, otherwise I would have put it on the playlist, but go with me anyway. The song is "Deep Enough to Dream" and in the original version it says:

Deep enough to dream in brilliant colors I have never seen
Deep enough to join a million people at the wedding feast
Deep enough to reach out and touch the face of the one who made me

Lyrical interpretation by my friend's husband:

Deep enough to dream in brilliant colors I have never seen
Deep enough to join a million people at the wedding feast
Deep enough to reach out and touch the face of a wandering baby

I about peed my pants when she shared that! That's the best one yet!

So, I want to know your experiences with misinterpreting lyrics. Share...Share...Share!

redheaded fun

Here are some recent pictures of our redhead - for family and friends...

Cousin Katherine and Aunt Emy

He looks like he's seizing in this picture. Good thing the insurance card is under his foot - we might need it. Actually, he was doing the "bridge", but I didn't catch it in time.

Just being a wild n' crazy boy

Thanks for the hand-me-downs Jonathan and Jacob!

friday night follies

Before you get any big ideas about what I might mean by "follies", please know that our Friday nights are usually spent at home. After the redhead goes to bed at 7:30, We usually get wild and crazy and...play games, watch tv, or put in a movie (in which case I always fall asleep before it ends). This particular Friday, we went channel surfing and came up with some real gems.

First, we landed on Discovery Channel's Man vs. Wild. If you're not familiar with this show, it features Bear Grylls, a Brit, and a survivalist who's done just about anything there is to do - summit Everest, drink his own urine, almost get attacked by a lion, eat scorpions and lots of other repulsive fare in an attempt to survive in different climates and environments.



In this particular episode, Bear was in Siberia. If you've watched the show before, I could just end here, but I know some of you would be mad, so I'll keep going. Bear was bundled up real nice, head to toe, when he came upon a river. Now, any sensible person would turn around and go back to a nice warm shelter. Wait...any sensible person wouldn't find themselves stuck in the boonies of Siberia! So, like I said, Bear came to a river. This river was not very wide, but it had a strong current. He might have been able to make a jump for it, but remember, this is Man vs. Wild. It wouldn't be tv worthy if he jumped fully clothed to the other side. So, what does Bear do? He proceeds to take off all his clothes, stuff them in his ruck sack (which he then throws across the river to the other side), and prepare himself to jump in the freezing cold Siberian river. He does explain that once he jumps into the river, he's only got seconds to swim across and get out before his body systems completely stop. I was hoping for his sake, he wouldn't die. Imagine coming across a frozen, naked, man...DOWN BY THE RIVER! Sorry, I couldn't resist.

See Bear jump. See Bear swim. See Bear climb out of freezing river. See Bear jump up and down to get warm (thank you little fuzzy box for not revealing Bear's cubs).

My man and I both looked at each other and I could tell we were thinking the same thing...

SHRINKAGE!! YIKES!

Bear does recover from his chilly swim and moves on to a place where he meets some villagers. They all go out and kill a yak. As Bear explains, its part of their livelihood. They happen to leave this yak for Bear to use in his survival game. Bear first cuts the coat off the yak and wraps it around himself to get warm. Next, he goes for the liver and eats it raw...ick. Then he goes for the eyeball, which he then proceeds to eat. I won't describe what happened when he bit into the eyeball. I will say that it was about enough to make me yak (no pun intended)!

After surfing some more, we found the great 80's flick Can't Buy Me Love starring Patrick Dempsey. I know he's McDreamy now, but back then, he was definitely McDorky. What a great movie though. I love me some 80's!

Next, we came across America's Funniest Videos. This is one of the only shows that can actually get me to laugh out loud. The particular video I loved was of a raccoon. For the record may I just say that raccoons are creepy little burglars. The raccoon in the video was sneaking through a pet door ever so stealthily. Was it going to steal some dog food? Cat food maybe? Oh no, it was more interested in interior design. It actually stole the doormat. Yup, took it right back through the pet door. Hilarious!

At this point, Adam and I had headed back to the bedroom to brush our teeth and finish finding random things on tv. I usually play Sudoku before bed while Adam channel surfs. Adam happened to find Steve Wilkos. For those of you who may not know, he was Jerry Springer's bodyguard - the guy who used to break up all those extremely real fights! His show is almost as bad as Springer's (which BTW, I never really watched). We didn't really watch the show, but we did get a good laugh at what the show was about. It was called:

I Left My Baby on a Train

Wait a minute....What? We watched it for like 5 minutes and it had absolutely NOTHING to do with leaving a baby on a train. It was basically Steve yelling in the face of this deadbeat dad.

So, there you have it...Friday Night Follies. Some of the most random tv I have ever seen in one night. Hope you enjoyed it.

they're calling to me...

I'm locked in a battle today - a battle of wills - and I'm losing. Of course it has to do with food. A bit of minty deliciousness...with a chocolate coating...and a shiny wrapper. You know the one. The York Peppermint Patty. Mmmmmm. I bought them at Bottom Dollar the other night in a moment of weakness. In my defense, I went there to get ketchup, but I couldn't just buy ketchup. It's forbidden to buy only one item at the grocery store. You didn't know that? Well then, consider yourself warned. Anyway, like I said, it was a moment of weakness where I had to have something sweet. But not just anything sweet. It had to be somewhat "good" for me.

I thought "Adam will help me eat them, that way I won't end up eating the whole bag". When I got home, I was so excited about my purchase, but Adam said, "Oh, I really don't like those all that much. Duh - I should have known. I'm the one who always gets Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream whenever I get the chance. His first choice is never mint. Oh well...more for me!

And therein lies the problem.

We don't ever keep sweets in the house, so when we happen to buy something, I don't EVER forget its there. Right now, the Peppermint Patties are sitting on the kitchen counter, next to the mangoes I bought yesterday in an attempt to expand my fruit palate. The mangoes aren't ripe yet, otherwise I might choose those over the patties. Wait, who am I kidding? Choose fruit over chocolate?...yah.

How many have I had today? Um.................I plead the 5th!

You would be happy to know though, that every morsel of pepperminty goodness that I ate yesterday and today has been documented in my food journal. I am keeping up with what I am eating. Its the only way I can lose the extra 10lbs I'm still carrying from pregnancy (I knew those Cheese Puffs would come back to bite me!).

Fortunately, or unfortunately, there are only 5 Yorkies left. I don't plan to finish them off tonight. For now they have been silenced and banished to the pantry where they will be out of sight, but not out of mind. I guess since I've already eaten dessert, I need to be a good girl and eat my dinner.

So York Peppermint Patties, until we meet again...

kind acts of randomness - volume 10

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

the secret is in the sauce

Okay, I'm going to try to get this right. There's an opportunity for all you bloggers out there to join this saucy community and receive support from our sisters in the bloggyland. This community is called The Secret is in the Sauce and here's the idea (hopefully I've read it enough times that I now "have" the jist of it):

To become a saucy sister, email them your three best posts and a description of your blog in 3 words. Each day they will spotlight a blog and the best posts from that blog will be featured on The Secret is in the Sauce. They ask that for each blog featured, you leave an affirming comment for the author on that person's blog.

The only way this saucy community will work is to check the site everyday to see who the spotlighted blogger is and then go comment on their blog. There's really no commitment other than checking the site daily and leaving a short comment for the featured blog. Easy peasy, less than 5 minutes. SITS also asks that you put their "button" on your blog so that others can check them out and join in the fun.

There are incentives too! When you check in each day (just typing "here" in the comment section), you are entered to win a weekly prize. If you check in five days, you have entered yourself five times!!!

So, if you're interested, join up at The Secret is in the Sauce

look up in the sky, it"s a...

It's a...

Actually, it's...

What the hay?

Yesterday, Adam was sitting at a stoplight waiting to turn onto a major thoroughfare in our town when all of a sudden, hay began falling from the heavens! This is totally true! The hay (or straw) was not in bales (of course) - I can only imagine the chaos that would ensue if bales of hay fell from the sky! The traffic stood still for about a minute as a hay swirled in a funnel, only to disappear as quickly as it came. Adam also said there was no truck from the which the hay might have come from.

It sounds like something from an M. Night Shyamalan movie.

Only in our town will you still encounter:

**mullets (a.k.a Camaro hair) - business in the front, party in the back**

**ground effects - you know, those colored fluorescent lights underneath cars**

and

**hay tornadoes**