Delurking time! And you know who you are...

I've heard about you. You read my blog. You might even check it daily. And you're slightly disappointed if there's no new content here; because, hey, even inane content is still content. So you take the 15 seconds or so to read it and then you move on to more important things like People or not doing your day job or ignoring your clawing two-year-old (just before giving him a big ol' kiss!).

Well, it's time to come out of the shadows and show yourself!

It's not that hard, really. Just leave a comment and let me know I'm not the only person reading my blog. It'd be really nice if I knew I was wasting someone else's time besides just mine.

And let me know what state you're in. That'd be like a little assignment just in case you don't know what to write. See? It's not that hard at all. And probably only took you another 15 seconds or so to do. Took me longer to upload the photo of the cat!

Many thanks, and please, come out of the shadows more often. It's really quite fun out here!

As promised, a few pics from our getaway to Connecticut

Last weekend Pete and I escaped. Like, six states away escaped. "Fun" is not enough to describe this trip. We had so many uninterrupted conversations it was like we were dating again. We even took an unplanned side trip to the beach and didn't even look at our watches the whole time!

And the other thing that made it so much fun? My boys were in heaven, a.k.a. my mom's and sister's homes. Having the time of their lives. According to mom and sis, they never cried once and bedtimes went smoothly and no whining for mom and dad.

(Little do they know this bit of information just bought our boys a few more vacations at Grandma/Aunt Camp.)

Anyway, our trip took us to a wedding in Connecticut. We stayed in picturesque Mystic, home of the famed Mystic Pizza (rent it tonight, the volume of Julia Roberts hair back then is worth another look).

These signs were everywhere upon our arrival in New York City. However, I want to know if "suspicious activity" includes the guy next to me on the plane watching Looney Tunes cartoons on his DVD player for two hours solid. Freakazoid...

Apparently we stopped at the safest beach in Connecticut.

The Mystic River was quaint, boats were quaint, homes along the river were quaint. I think I could have written poetry or a romance novel right then and there.

Hindsight's 20/20: I should have told Pete to call me "Daisy" while we were ordering our pizza...

A beautiful venue to attend a wedding...

...but this looked like a lot more fun.

Overheard: On eating chicken soup for dinner

Mickey: "Mom, there's dead chicken in my soup..."

Me: (uuuuuuhhhhhh)

...and so I said nothing. NO THING. For the first time I was at a complete loss for words to my three-year-old. Any suggestions? Anyone??

Hyperventilating..because of Eric Clapton

I...just...realized...that...yesterday...I...was...on...the...same...flight...as...Eric Clapton. The one and only...Mr. Layla himself.

We were boarding our going-home flight from La Guardia in NYC. You know how you pass through all the first class seats and try not to make eye contact? Well, I was doing that, only I looked up for just a second at the first row. I noticed a man in the aisle seat: white shirt, graying hair, glasses. I thought, wow, he looks like Eric Clapton. (And now, I'm not kidding, I think I remember hearing him speaking British!!) It was so fleeting, you know, one of those, could be but, naaaahhhhh. And Pete was in front of me, and Pete, well, he's not exactly up on late-70s rock stars so I didn't think to get his opinion, and anyway by the time we made it back to the cheap seats the thought was out of my head.

Until tonight.

Flipping through MSNBC.com, I saw that he played Bryant Park with John Mayer for Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series. Friday, July 20.

Pete just asked the question: what is he doing flying commercial? Good question. Maybe his private jet had issues with the ongoing rainstorm?

I prefer to believe that, however fleeting, I was in the presence of musical greatness for a brief moment.

It's probably a good thing I didn't think much more about it on the plane. I would have probably broken something or been escorted from the plane trying to get his autograph...or a lock of hair...or a used drinking glass...

I'm back!

We're back home now after a three-day getaway without Mickey and Alex. Yes, you read that right: we left our angel boys voluntarily. I know...I'm still getting over the guilt.

But we had a wonderful time and the boys did, too. In fact they are probably wondering why I have been holding them hostage in our house all this time when there was so much fun to be had at my mom's and sister's (who are next-door neighbors).

More trip reporting to come later, with pictures!

Taking a break...

...'cause blogging is hard work, ya know. I won't be posting for a few days, but I'll be back next Tuesday ready to continue my blathering. Ya'll have a good weekend!

I can't go to the party, but ya'll are invited anyway!

My friend Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer is hosting A Very Bloggy Giveaway on Monday (does anyone else think her mind was on "A Very Brady Christmas"?). I will be out of town so I can't participate (Blogger doesn't allow future posting). But I wanted to let my readers know about it so maybe someone I know can win a coffeepot or a used book or something. A lot of her readers are also seamstresses and crafty types, so you may hit the jackpot with something unique.

Here's how it works: Tons of people are going to be providing links to their blogs where they are holding giveaways! Free stuff! Sent to you! F-R-E-E. Purely a way for people to have fun and generate a little traffic at their site. And you don't have to blog to enter!

Here are all the details... Hope you can have a good time without me. (And I better get a comment here if one of my readers wins something.)

And you shall never mow alone

Nearing the end of our playtime outdoors the other night, we decided to load up Alex and Mickey and take them to the park. As we backed out of the driveway, Pete and I noticed our lawn, creeping higher and higher by the minute. Staring at it, we both knew what had to be done. Given our upcoming schedule, it was mow it now or wait five days. By then we'd need to rent a brushhog.

So, with the motor still running, Pete got out of the car and prepared to mow. Mickey was more than a little confused by the whole thing. One minute we're on a family outing and the next it's just Mom, like any old day.

"Mom, what's Daddy doing?"

"He has to mow the lawn since there's no other time..."

"Well that's not right..."

"Why isn't it right?"

"Because he shouldn't be mowing by himself."

"Why?"

"Because he should have friends with him. It doesn't make sense to me."

Me neither, Mickey. One should always have a friend to mow the lawn.

YouTube: Danny Wilson - Mary's Prayer

Who needs to slog through YouTube for quality videos when I have a sister doing it for me?

Overheards at Vacation Bible School

...and it's just Wednesday. (I'm volunteering as chief Snackerator for 80+ kids at our church's Vacation Bible School this week.)

"I need to go to the bathroom..."

"I need to go to the bathroom..."

"I need to go to the bathroom..."

"Are you a teacher?"

"I don't like (choose one) muffins, cheese, crackers, yogurt, bananas, raisins..."

"Can I have another (choose one) muffin, piece of cheese, banana, cookie..."

...and from Mickey:

"Mom, this muffin is cold, can you microwave it?"

Does a mom proud, doesn't he?

Might be scarce this week, and where's my cake?!

Bloggin' this week might be a little lean for me this week since I'm volunteering at my church's Vacation Bible School. This means I have to be somewhere with both boys at 9:00 a.m. every day and all three of us have to be in something besides pajamas. And the other kids might appreciate a little makeup on my part.

Also, can you hear the theme from "2001: A Space Odyssey"? Yes, that's it playing for me, since this is my 100th post in bloggityville. I think I'm supposed to get a football-field sized sheet cake with long skinny candles on it. Or is that just for 100th episodes of sit-coms? Whatever. Keep watching for the next 100!

In case you need a new guilty pleasure...

Apparently this is the same guy who saved Sean Preston's life when Britney almost dropped him about a year ago. Although considering this is Britney Spears, saving Sean Preston's life probably isn't that big a deal. The 7-Eleven guy who found him in the hot dog case has saved his life. As has the cabbie who noticed him on the hood of the car. I saved his life twice this morning on my way to get coffee.

If you've laid awake nights wondering what the Home Team considers quality humor, this would be an example. Now I've never been one to by a Star magazine or any other rag at the checkout stand, lord, someone might see me! And those mags cost money!

But I do visit daily the site where I got this little excerpt about Britney "I-only-exist-for-the-rags" Spears. In fact, most of the stories there are about her and Lindsay Lohan and Kim Kardashian (only because of her enormous backside). This week they did post some very adorable pics of Suri Cruise (could she be anything but?).

WARNING: the site is not for the faint of heart or easily offended. This guy sprinkles in innuendo with almost every post and some photos are NSFW (not suitable for work and/or kids' computers). But he always warns you about those first...

Okay, so I know you're dying to not go there, so don't.

P.S. My excuse for wanting to keep up with Britney Spears so much is that her older baby, Sean Preston, is two days older than Alex. Maybe I feel I must be there in spirit for the poor child...

"Son 2," "Son 1," and "Husband"...be gone!

Since I started this blog I've been a little timid with posting any personal information. I understand there are wackos, sickos, freakos, etc. all over the internet, and my job as a mom is to forever keep them away from me and my family.

Because of that I haven't called my boys or my husband by anything but these inane terms:

husband
Son 1
Son 2

Can you stand the creativity? Me neither. So as of today, these most-important people in my life will have names. They will be "for fun" names, mind you. So if your a wacko, sicko, or freako, close that Google map window this instant.

Since I've chosen America's pastime as my bloggy theme, I'm going to stick with that for the names.

"Son 1" will now be Mickey. You'll know he's the older because Mickey Mantle is indeed an old baseball player (or dead?).

"Son 2" will now be Alex. I believe Alex Rodriguez is one of the hottest players going now and is heretofore controversy-free. If he does get accused of assault or doping or some other crime, I will have to go back to the drawing board for another name.

Now for the tough one: Husband. He will be "Pete." I struggled with what to call him, since anything other than his real name just seems silly. So the least "silly" I can come up with is the name of the manager of his favorite baseball team: the Cincinnati Reds. Welcome to the mommy blog, Pete!

(In spite of my family's stage names, my name on here is for real. So much for my safety measures!)

WFMW: breathable bumper pad

If you're in the market for crib bedding, try getting a much safer breathable bumper pad. It's a lot less expensive than traditional bumpers, matches everything, and you get peace of mind.



I love the breathable bumper pad I got when Son 2 was born. It was only $24.95 plus shipping from One Step Ahead, the place for all things innovative for baby (there's also a few things that should have left on the cutting room floor, but by-and-large OSA is a wonderful source).

The bumper pad isn't padded, which you might think would cause a lot of headaches for baby when he starts rolling. But Son 2 didn't seem to have a problem with that. I think it's something you need to start out with, instead of putting one in at four months and taking out the soft padded bumper.

This bumper pad also makes changing the crib sheet SO much easier. No bulky pads to maneuver.

The breathable bumper pad installed very easily and stays up, even with little arms and legs resting on it. It somehow bounces into shape. The breathable bumper pad Works for Son 2!

For more great Works for Me Wednesday tips, visit the queen of WFMW.

Christmas in July for the Home Team

Yes, I'm still here. Yes, I have a million excuses why no posting for a week. Sometimes the ol' creativity barrel just goes a little dry, plus a bunch of other stuff going on.

The fun news of the day for the Home Team? A slew of unexpected "gifts" to be unwrapped!

1. Rarely do I win anything, unless it is because of sheer comedic skill, like here. But the contest gods shined upon me this week, and a BOOK appeared on my doorstep. Compliments of Budget Travel, I'm now the proud owner of The Bad Girl's Guide to the Open Road.

I've only skimmed it and I've already laughed out loud. Unfortunately, I don't have any road trips planned with the girls. Yet.

2. My sister, in an effort to free space in her garage and take up space in mine, passed along a large four-wheel motorized vehicle that her son has outgrown. Sons 1 and 2 have not been injured yet, but just in case, I've memorized the hours of the after-hours clinic. And just for good measure, she also included a pedal-powered tractor. All three of my boys are in heaven...I'm in the wings with bandages.

3. Hubs broke his flip-flops and is getting some new ones by way of Austad's soon. This would not normally be news or Christmas-in-July worthy, EXCEPT when you consider that the broken pair is the ONLY pair of flip-flops hubs has owned since I've known him (going on six years). So, Christmas-in-July for him, too.

4. Sirius. Satellite. Radio. In the rental car while ours was being fixed after our fender bender. I nearly had several wrecks of my own as I blissfully flipped through 180 channels on the radio. Soooo sad to see the radio...er...rental van go last Friday. But we've got our own vehicle back, complete with a shiny new bumper.

So that's it...Santa July was very generous to us this year. Now if he could just make it stop raining...

Jimi Hendrix - Star Spangled Banner

Turn up your speakers and stand back.

Have a rockin' Fourth and GBA!

See? I wasn't just excessively whining. Although I'm capable of that.

From our local TV news station:

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Now that June is over, it's official, it was the wettest June in Oklahoma since the state began keeping records in 1895. The statewide average total of 9.15 inches for last month is almost double the usual average of 4.26 inches.

Central Oklahoma was the wettest part of the state, with 12.96 inches, while the Panhandle was the dryest, at 2.3 inches.

Among cities, Copan in northeastern Oklahoma was among the wettest, recording 18.45 inches. In southwestern Oklahoma, Walters received 12.13 inches.

Maybe now those in my family who just returned from the beach(es) will have a little sympathy...

It's official: I'm a Crazy Hip Blog Mama

Yay! I've convinced the folks over at Crazy Hip Blog Mamas that yes, indeed, I'm crazy, hip, a mama and a blogger. Finally some validation! Albeit from strangers. I really think it just means that with time and help from my friends I, too, can put buttons on the right-hand side of my blog.

If you're a CHBM or just want to gawk at those of us who are, check out Crazy Hip Blog Mamas now.