Tuesday

Today is the kids last day at home before school starts. My son talked me into staying at home and doing nothing. Apparently, staying home and playing all day is his idea of summer vacation and he has been sadly missing out. (And me with all those summer activities planned!) When I'm off work I don't generally like to stay home all day. I usually do something in the morning and then return home for the afternoon. My son has outgrown the age where he enjoys going just to go. He is a real homebody. So although I will miss the time we have spent together this summer, I am looking forward to having some days to myself again. When I stay home I usually feel I need to be doing something constructive like cleaning out closets or organizing the pantry. But today I am taking the kids attitude and concentrating on doing nothing. We will see how it goes.

Manners

How have you done a good job teaching your children manners? I think I have failed at this (at least with one of my children). I was not insistent on teaching these skills when my son was younger and at 9 he seems reluctant to learn. My parents raised me using ma'am and sir to answer when called or just to be courteous and it has stuck with me. Saying thank you, please and excuse me are important, too. I know there is a trend toward lack of manners. I see it every day in the young people I come into contact with. I really want my children to have good manners, though. My daughter (age 6) seems to have caught on mostly because of an eagerness to please. She has started answering with yes ma'am. I suggested a competition in which we reward them for being caught using good manners. Have you any other suggestions? His table manners aren't that great either but I don't want to get started on that. He doesn't talk on the phone yet, so no worry about phone manners. Overall, he is a well-behaved child and his transgressions mostly deal with sibling stuff. He goes to bed without problem and cooperates in getting out the door in the mornings. He is starting to do some chores around the house. I assume he behaves better out of sight like most children. So it is just the manners I think we need to work on.

Way Back Machine

Yesterday I took the kids to Chuck E Cheese for an hour (they managed to redeem 50 tokens a piece in that time) after lunch. I ran in to someone from high school. This girl was not someone I was good friends with but probably one of the more popular girls. I didn't recognize her and it even took a few seconds after she said her name for me to make the connection. The years and pounds had changed her quite a lot. Her husband (also a classmate) looked more familiar but I'm not sure I could have placed him, either, without help. I live about 70 miles from my old high school and have had very few opportunites in the last 18 years to run into anyone. They still lived in the area and had a son who played ball. So she spent a few minutes telling me of various classmates who still resided in the area and what everyone was up to. It wasn't a large class (about 90 graduates) but most of her friends were not my friends and although the names were familiar they were people I hadn't given much thought to in a long time. It was kind of fun to talk for a few minutes and we talked about the possibilities for a reunion in another two years. I didn't hear about my 10 year reunion until after the fact and I think I would like to attend the 20 year if only to see some old friends. I am told by some friends of mine that at the 20 year reunion everyone is pretty much over themselves and the old bitterness and rivalries are long forgotten in the commonalities of growing old and having children. Now I am ready to dig out my senior year book and take a stroll down memory lane.

Harry

I finished The Deathly Hallows last night. I'm not going to attempt to review it. Other people will do a much better job then me. I do want to give some thoughts on it, though, without any spoilers.

The book is missing the enchantment I found in the first 4 (or 6) books about life at Hogswarts. I remember when I read those books I would imagine it like it really exists. The book is also missing the innocence of the particular srapes and adventures the young characters experienced in those first few years. But Harry, Hermione and Ron have grown up now. Rowlings is no longer writing children's books.

I was not dissapointed in the book. I was not shocked at a death like in book 6. I think Rowlings wrote an excellent coming of age book, wizard style. I am sad that this is the final installment. I hope that Rowlings writes for us some other great adventures. However, I realize nothing will ever quite compare to the world she created with Harry Potter.

Tuesday

When we arrived home from Atlanta shortly before noon on Sunday hubby headed off for a nap. He had driven the entire trip home. The kids had been couped up in the car for 4 hours and so went off to renew their "animal" game. (It is an elaborate game involving a lot of stuffed animals, and various props, and often takes place in multiple rooms.) The kids had gotten very silly and loud during the last 1 & 1/2 hours of our journey. The DVD players no longer seeming to entertain them. I was appreciative of the fact that they were off amusing themselves but feeling a little sad about being left with the post-trip work. After starting the laundry (I had to do 6 loads), unpacking and eating some lunch I decided I deserved a nap, too.

About 2:30 or so my son (age 9) realized that he hadn't had any lunch. (What was that mom of his thinking, anyway.) So he fixed himself and his sister some Easy-Mac and made himself a corndog. I think they augmented the lunch with applesauce. I'm proud of him for fixing his own lunch but mostly proud that he was considerate to his sister. Now I just need to work on getting him to fold his own laundry.

Monday

I'm picking up my copy of the new Harry Potter book this morning so everyone else has a two day head start on me. I may not read any blogs until I've finished. So I'll be back in a few days.

Update: Worked 10 hours, read 150 pages.

Book Update

I just read two good books that I want to tell you about. The first one was Keeping Faith by Jodi Piccoult. I've read several of Piccoult's books so far (Mercy, Tenth Circle, My Sister's Keeper) and this is by far my favorite. The story centers around 7 year old Faith who starts seeing visions of God after her parents divorce. Her mother takes her to a psychiatrist and word gets out. Soon news people, cults and people just wanting help are camped outside her door. Naturally, Faith's father rethinks his decision to grant full custody of Faith to her mother and a bitter custody battle begins. I grew concerned about the direction the book was taking halfway through but was not dissapointed in the way the novel turned out. I think this was a good book, regardless of your beliefs or feelings about God.

The second book I read was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. This book is narrated by Christopher, a 15 year-old autistic boy. Christopher discovers his neighbor's dog murdered and sets out to solve the mystery. He writes his story in a book for us to read. It is a short book but I found it delightful and refreshing. I first read about this on a blog somewhere and am glad that I found it.

I recently joined Bookins at the suggestion of one of my readers and it is really going well. I am sending my books (which I normally just donate to the library) off to other readers and receiving books in the mail (for only 3.99 shipping for each book I receive). Check it out if you are intersted.

Weekend

We had a pretty good weekend. On Friday morning we drove over to Marietta, Georgia to go to Whitewater. We met my SIL at the Steak N Shake to eat lunch before heading on to the park. Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating and we had to change our plans. We headed South to the town of Newnan and checked in at our hotel (Country Inns & Suites). SIL and I took the kids swimming while hubby napped and then we went to see Nancy Drew. We ate dinner at a local Mexican place in Newnan.

Saturday morning (after a lovely breakfast at our hotel) we went into Atlanta to visit the Georgia Aquarium. When we first arrived the aquarium was not yet overcrowded and the first part of our visit was pleasant. However, after about an hour the aquarium became too crowded to enjoy. We proceeded to try and see the remaining exhibits despite the crowds but everyone was starting to get cranky and hungry. The crowds around Centennial Park and the Coca-Cola Museum were also ridiculous and so we headed back out of town. I know that the Georgia Aquarium is described as the largest in the U.S. but I did not enjoy it as much as the one Chattanooga or Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Even without the crowds the viewing areas of the aquarium were small and the actual number of exhibits seemed smaller.

We headed North to Gwinnett County and spent a few hours at Dave and Buster's enjoying their various games. That night we sampled the local favorite, Sprayberry's Barbecue. We enjoyed spending time with SIL and seeing her "office" and apartment. Sunday morning we headed home.

The kids were disappointed about missing Whitewater (can't say the same for myself) but overall it was a good trip.

Edit: To see pictures visit my SIL's post.

Friday

I have big plans this weekend. I'll tell you all about later. For now, enjoy the fun meme below.

Moaning Meme

5 people who will be annoyed you tagged them.

* Terry
* Mom
* Mike
* Gina
* Autumn's Mom

4 things that should go into room 101 and be removed from the face of the earth.
* shorts with words written on the buttocks
* child abuse
* long lines at the check-out
* Timmy Turner

3 things people do that make you want to shake them violently.
* allow their children to ride in a car unrestrained
* allow their (small) children to trail behind them several yards in stores
* allow their young girls to wear such provocative clothing

2 things you find yourself moaning about.
* the lengths television will go to boost their ratings
* the lack of any good candidates for upcoming elections

1 thing the above answers tell you about yourself.
*Some things I just should keep to myself.

RULES
• Link to the original meme at freelancecynic.com so people know what it's all about!• Be as honest as possible. This is about letting people get to know the real you!• Try not to insult anyone - unless they really deserve it or are very, very ugly!• Post these rules at the end of every meme!

Thirteen Things to Do in Huntsville and surrounding Area

1. Visit the US Space and Rocket Center complete with a full-size Saturn V replica and Harry Potter on IMAX.

2. Visit Early Works Children's History Museum with among other things, a talking tree.

3. Visit the Huntsville Botanical Gardens - there is always something going on there.

4. Visit Sci-Quest Hands on Science Museum. I haven't visited this one, but the kids seem to enjoy it.

5. Harmony Animal Reserve. I haven't seen this one either but there are supposed to be many exotic animals. The closest Huntsville comes to having an actual zoo.

6. Take in a Huntsville Stars (minor league) baseball game.

7. Ice skating

8. Point Mallard Water Park

9. Cathedral Caverns

10. Burritt on the Mountain - a living, history museum

11. Southern Adventures - family amusement park

12. Enjoy one of our many parks and kids play areas such as Kids Space & Kids Kingdom

13. Enjoy a bike ride on one of our many greenways.

I only chose kid friendly activities. This would make an interesting meme. I challenge anyone reading this to list activities in your city (or the surrounding area).

Harry Potter

Have you been to see the new movie yet? Our children aren't quite big enough for this one (although they enjoyed the first two on DVD) so we will have to wait for the opportunity to go alone. The big news to Potter fans of course is the upcoming release of the new book. Are you going out to purchase it at midnight? A number of bookstores in our area (and across the nation, I imagine) are having Harry parties leading up to the release at midnight. When the two previous books were released I had to work at Wal-Mart on that Saturday morning and so purchased them when I arrived at work. I read through the last one in only a couple of days. Because, although it is quite a long book page-wise it was really a quick read. I am considering not purchasing the new book until I get to work Monday morning. I don't think I have to be among the first to read the already best seller (based on presales) but I do not like hearing people discuss the book (or indeed, a movie I haven't seen) before I've had the chance to read it. This morning the radio dj's were discussing the upcoming book with call-in listeners and there is a lot of speculation.

Do I think the Harry Potter craze is a little crazy? Well, yeah. But they are good books. The fantasy world Rowlings has created is fascinating and the books easy to read. I am looking forward to reading the new one (and will mourn the end (if it is the end) of the series) but may have to stay away from blogland until I'm finished.

Scavenger Hunt

Yesterday the kids and I went on a scavenger hunt for school supplies. Have you had to do this? (Mike, just wait.) School starts here in only 2 weeks (Aug 2). We are starting at a new school this year and having to purchase (directly)more school supplies then before. The school posts a list of supplies on their website complete with the brand they want (not prefer, mind you, but the brand they expect you to bring in). This list includes Elmer Glue Sticks and Crayola Crayons & Mead brand binders. We were able to get most of these supplies at Wal-Mart (and at very good prices). But we needed two different types of construction paper not carried at Wal-Mart and a special type of writing tablet. Why would a school post such a specific list and not specify where these items might be found? A call to the school suggests Off Campus Books so off we went. The Off Campus store had the construction paper but not the writing tablets (Grade 3, horizontal and vertical) so we had to venture further away to Burkett School Supply. The owner there was most helpful, calling the school to inform them that indeed the Grade 3 tablets had been discontinued and inquiring what size tablet was required. It seems this is the same list year after year and no one has updated the fact that there is only Grade 1 & 2 in this particular brand. We still have to pick up some loose leaf paper (WM was out of wide ruled) paper towels (8 rolls total) and new backpacks. The new school requires the clear plastic backpacks.

We also went to the library to check out some DVD's and out to eat at Olive Garden yesterday. So quite a productive day we had. I'm going to miss (a little) these fun adventures with the kids in tow once school starts.

Kid Nation

Just when I thought that reality television had finally scraped the bottom with Age of Love(NBC), CBS reveals that there might be something even lower then the bottom with the new series Kid Nation. The premise is to take 40 children (ages from 8 to 15) put them in a deserted town out west and see how well they can govern and take care of themselves. Now while I'll admit this sounds like an interesting show if it were drama (ie, Lord of the Flies) I am appalled at the idea as a reality show. First off, what self-respecting parent would send their children off to do this show? Oh, I'm sure there are lots of waivers of liability signed. And we must not forget all the crew (producers, cameraman, etc) that will be hidden from the television viewers. Second, the reward for the children who prove themselves? $20,000. What? Why not the million promised to the first Survivor contestants or even $100,000? I can see a parent in a desperate situation pimping (and lets not lose sight of the truth here) their children out for larger sums but $20,000 will not even pay for a college education much less the therapy the children might require following the show. Am I being a bit to dramatic? Perhaps. We do not know what goes on when the cameras are not showing us and I'm sure the children are all safe. But the desperateness of television sinking to this level is disgusting to me.

And no, I've never been a big fan of reality television. I did watch RealWorld in the early years (before it became so much staged drama) and I do enjoy the Apprentice. But I never understood how you could create an artificial reality such as Survivor with all the people that would be required to produce such a show just on the other side of the island (taking baths and eating real food.) I understand the attraction of these early reality shows to the viewer and the contestants but I think they have finally gone too far. This is from a network that cancelled Jericho after all, though, so I really shouldn't be all that surprised.

For another blogger's thoughts on this show see Gray Matter Matters.

Harry Potter

What Harry Potter Character are You? Hermione Granger You are a smart and intelligent person. You use your smarts to help out friends. You can be emotional at times but you always seem to be in the mood to help someone out. Click Here to Take This Quiz

Quizzes and Personality Tests I'm pleased with this result as I've always admired Hermione. She's muggle-born but doesn't let that get in her way. She is a great friend and keeps her head in a crisis.

Saturday

Hubby has taken the turnip truck to a car show today. I think perhaps he is becoming rather fond of it, which might make it difficult for him to part with it.

I've killed the ants with a lovely ant spray (odorless) from Lowe's. No more have come in since I sprayed so word must have gotten out.

Yesterday, I made a lovely chocolate chip mint ice cream in my ice cream attachment for my mixer.

Easy Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups 2% milk (I used skim)
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used 1/2 tsp)
1 teaspoon peppermint extract (I used 3/4 tsp)
3 drops green food coloring
(optional)
1 cup miniature semisweet (I used shavings from 1&1/2 Hershey bar)
chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS:
1.
In a large bowl, stir together the milk, cream, sugar, salt, vanilla extract and peppermint extract until the sugar has dissolved. Color to your liking with the green food coloring.
2.
Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker, and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. After about 10 minutes into the freezing, add the chocolate chips. After the ice cream has thickened, about 30 minutes later, spoon into a container, and freeze for 2 hours.

Mists of Avalon

I just (finally) finished reading Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. (This was another book on that infamous list of 100 Books everyone should read or whatever that circulated in blogland a few months back. I don't know what the source is but the list leaves something to be desired. Nonetheless, my goal-oriented personality has compelled me to become well-read and tackle more of the books on the list.) This book certainly qualifies as an epic tale with over 800 pages. (And not the large type or mostly dialogue either like the Harry Potter books. This book was a chunkster!) It took me over a week to read it as I was unable to even read 100 pages per day. I don't think I can recommend it to anyone so you might not want to read any further. But here I go anyway.



Mists is a different take on the tales of King Arthur and Camelot. The central character is a female, Morgaine, priestess of Avalon. The love triangle (or square really) between the characters is a bit scandolous. The storyline tramples somewhat on my Christian sensibilities, too. But overall it was a good book. I became totally immersed in the story as I sometims do with stories set in another time period. I believe the same story could have been told (and told well) in about 3 or 4oo fewer pages, though. But at least I have crossed another book off that darn list!

Friday 13th

I just realized today was Friday the 13th, not that I am in the least bit superstitious (was that a black cat running by?). It's still raining here so I guess the drought is finally over. We're going out to run errands and to an ice skating birthday party later. Mother left this morning, our visit having been shortened by my having to work yesterday. She is visiting her sisters in Boaz and driving back to Memphis tomorrow. I hope it doesn't rain on her way home. She really doesn't like to drive in the rain.

Happy Friday the 13th!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things I miss in the summer
(or Thirteen things I love about winter)

1. Big comfy Sweatshirts
2. Hot drinks on cold afternoons
3. Relaxing in my hot tub
4. Chili (although I have been known to eat it year round)
5. Boots
6. Snuggling under multiple quilts
7. Short days (ie the sun coming up at a decent hour and having the decency to "set already"
8. Blue jeans
9. Pecan Pie
10. Cute sweaters
11. Snow (yeah, like it ever snows here. But it could.)
12. New episodes of favorite shows
13. Woodburning fireplaces or heaters

Edit: Friday afternoon I was able to experience a little winter at the skating rink, complete with a gas fireplace. If only I had a warm drink.

The Ants Go Marching

I'm at work today. I was supposed to be off and go to a luncheon. I had even booked a baby-sitter for the few hours I would need to be away. But as plans sometimes do, things went amiss. My partner's little girl is sick and we swapped today and Friday. This means my son can go to an ice-skating birthday party on Friday, though. But my second day to spend with my mom is lost. She is leaving in the morning. I'm busy squashing ants right now, but later I'll try to do a Thursday Thirteen.

Edit: Although the ants are still coming in and marching across the floor, word must have gotten out about the massacre. They are staying away from me and my computer now.

Tuesday

It's raining now and it looks like a good steady rain that might last a while. We really need a good rain.

My mother is visiting and tomorrow we are going to have an entire day to ourselves. We will shop and eat lunch out and have a good time. Today she is spending with my kids while I am at work. They are going out to lunch and perhaps, bowling.

I am so tired today after working 13 hours yesterday almost entirely on my feet. After work (at 9pm) I bought groceries. I know it is foolish to do this when I can barely walk to my car but I have started hating going back to WM except on the days that I work there. It took me 25 minutes to check out and it was after 10:30pm when I arrived home. I would have like to sleep in today but I kwow that I have the next two days off now. Today I am happy to sit here at my regular job and catch up on my blog friends.

Weekend

We had a really good weekend. Friday hubby and I drove up to Nashville. We checked in to the Country Inns & Suites and had a nap. That evening we drove over to the Opryland Hotel. (We stayed there during our honeymoon and I have since decided it is better to stay elsewhere and visit. The rooms are overpriced and small and not altogether fitting a hotel of that level. You pay for the elegance and ambiance of the grand hotel which you can experience by visiting.) We walked around in the gardens inside the atrium and then had dinner at the Cascades restaurant. It was like dining outside only with air conditioning. The waterfalls made excellent background buffering and we also enjoyed some instrumental music. We had an excellent dinner. (The highlight for me was the Crab Soup.) After dinner we strolled the gardens some more and took a flatboat ride on the "Delta River" inside the hotel. We drove over to the Opry Mills Mall and I was very disappointed. The mall was warm and very crowded and filled mostly with the upscale stores of which I rarely visit. But now I've been to the well-known shopping destination and know that I'm not missing anything.

Saturday we visited the Lane Motor Museum. It is a large collection of mostly foreign cars including an impressive amount of micro-cars. We returned home Saturday in time for a nap before the kids arrived home.

Thursday

We had a somewhat relaxing holiday. It felt so much like a Saturday tucked in the middle of the week. We went to a friend of Hubby's for a cook-out and swimming. The kids swam for hours and were disappointed when time to leave. The food was excellent - pork ribs, barbecue chicken and smoked pork with all the fixings. Sitting out in the sun all day is somewhat exhausting, though.

We have an unexpected treat this weekend. My MIL called and asked for the kids for TWO nights. They are leaving tonight and will not be back until Saturday evening. I'm trying to remember what we did before kids. I'm sure it will come back to me. So we have two chances to dine out alone and whatever mischief we can get ourselves up to. I suggested hubby take Fri afternoon off and he ended up taking Thurs and Fri off. I admit I am jealous because I couldn't work that out for myself. So I'm stuck at work today but my weekend begins at 6:30pm.

I probably won't post this weekend. So I hope everyone has a good one. Remember Saturday is 07/07/07 and supposed to be a lucky day.

Vacation

Oh, I need a vacation. I need a week at the beach with absolutely nothing to do. I want to sit on the beach with my book and feel the cool breezes blowing and hear the gentle surf. I want this vacation to be at an uncrowded beach with good restaraunts. I'll have to wait until Fall Break in October, I know. School starts Aug 2 and the kids are too old to pull out of school for a week now. We used to take our beach vacation after Labor Day and that was about perfect. October is almost too cool to swim in the ocean and the usually unheated pools. What I need is a good Holodeck program. If you are off in bloggy land enjoying a nice, relaxing vacation (not one of those do everything or die ones) then wish me there with you. Fall Break is still 3 months away.