Henry Ford

Sam just finished a big project for school. He researched and did a report on Henry Ford. As the culmination of the project, the students dressed as their subject and put on a "Living Museum."

Ana's new footwear

Ana left very early this morning (3 o'clock) for her class trip to Disneyland. This is her lovely new footwear. Seems boys with skate boarding shoes stepping on barefooted girls achilles tendons does a little damage. Who'da thunk it?

Cutest thing ever...

The family across the street from us has the most beautifully landscaped yard (for Southern Nevada) in the neighborhood. The fake riverbed had to be re-done by the landscape crew because it was originally "too deep." She has asked that we not let our dog anywhere NEAR her plants when he is marking territory. The rose bushes are meticulously groomed.

So today after school when the little boy from down the street jumped out of his car and picked a few of her flowers, my kids and I watched with gales of laughter hoping she was napping with the baby and not reloading.

Maybe she won't notice...

Amazing Science

Today I learned that women eating the highest levels of trans fats increase their risk of heart attack by 50%.

I also learned that "Folks who take regular naps lower their risk of dying from heart disease by 37%." *

So.....I've concluded that by napping after eating a bag of Oreos, my risk of heart disease only goes up a paltry 13%. Seems worth the risk to me!

* Reader's Digest - June 2007 - p. 67

Why I'm Happy Today

I'm happy today because:

• I dropped my children off at school this morning for their FREE public education


• I went to the Doctor's office and was treated by a highly educated woman doctor


• I stopped by Starbucks and grabbed a cold drink


• I went shopping in several stores and even spent a little money

If you're thinking, Big Deal, it IS a big deal.

I did all of these things while listening to the radio which is broadcast for free, without a male escort and, best of all, I did NOT have to wear a burka.

My heartfelt thanks to all our fine men and women serving and sacrificing in the United States military who defend my freedom and make these things possible.

HOOAH!!!

When I Was Little

I grew up in a small town at the base of this dam. It NEVER occured to me that the dam could break and I'd be washed away like Johnstown.

I thought all dogs were girls and cats were boys (don't ask me how we got MORE dogs and cats. I was LITTLE, remember?)

The Boogeyman lived in the closet at the back of the long hall in my grandmother's bedroom. I know this is true because my big brothers told me so!

I couldn't imagine why anyone would pay 25 cents for a Coke when you could get Shasta for 17 cents and still have enough allowance left over for some candy.

Was Burger King married to Dairy Queen?

I thought Elvis Presley and Evel Kneivel were the same person

We did a project in school where we created a candy bar and named it. We named ours "Afternoon Delight" and our theme song was the song by the same title by Starland Vocal Band. We had NO IDEA what the lyrics meant and our teacher didn't tell us.

My friends never talked about going to "Mom's house" or "Dad's house" because that was the same place: home.

There wasn't a daycare center in our town. I'd never heard of such a thing.

We played "Cops & Robbers" with the neighborhood kids (without parental supervision) and the cops ALWAYS won!

We were priveleged to be taken swimming at Lion Lake.

Oh yeah...I also walked to school uphill both ways in 4 feet of snow.

A Tribute to Dear Old Dad

I know Mother's Day is fast approaching, but this post is a special one for my dad.

When my family came to visit in March, my dear father

spent some time cleaning up my front yard and pruning

wayward trees and bushes. If you are unaware, purple

trailing Lantana goes dormant - and looks DEAD.

So....my dad pruned them back to tiny little stubs that

were barely visible. This was upsetting to me because

I was SURE he had killed them.

Well, FATHER KNOWS BEST.

My Lantana are blooming beautiful blooms and look terrific.

So a very public YOU WERE RIGHT and I'M SORRY I DOUBTED YOU.

Thanks Dad

note to self

When the choices are "hot" or "mild",

choose mild.

Field Day 2007

I enrolled Sam in public school just in time for Field Day.

The scooter relay - with a teacher standing by

to drench them with a hose.

The tall kid seems to be having a good time.

He REALLY can run! I'm amazed.

The best one was the next round (which I didn't
capture in a photo) where he had his drink with
him. He put the drink down, popped the ring and
caught it, picked up his drink, and ran back to
his line. Very funny to witness in person.

I didn't remember

Did you remember that legs came this skinny?

Why I miss Sam

So there I am at the gas station, lamenting the fact that gas is $3.10 a gallon, when I decide to wait in my car whilst the tank fills with oily goodness as the wind is blowing at around 25 mph. I push the button to open the door and there it sits, refusing to move. A quick glance at all four doors confirms it. They're all locked.

YOU KNOW WHERE THE KEYS ARE...they're in the ignition.

Now the last time this happened (not so long ago), I was at Odyssey Charter School waiting for Sam to finish a class. Not the most athletic kid in town but agile enough to climb through the open sunroof (remember this post?) and unlock the car. With no Sam at my disposal, I'm left with few options. I can call AAA and have them send someone in about 45 minutes, but alas, the phone is in the car, too. What to do, what to do. So I'm thinkin'...if Sam can do it, surely I can.

Up I go, over the hood, to where all of my worldly possessions await, and into the sunroof to the amused chuckles of the other patrons pumping gas.

And that, dear friends and family, is why I miss Sam.

Lunch

When both kids are enrolled in school

full time, this is what I eat for lunch. Grilled

Salmon and Tabbouleh. I like to wash it all

down with a Chai Tea Latte. This is the life!

Right up my alley

Chemistry wasn't my best subject but I liked it.

I would have liked it even better with this.