This is only a test....beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

Technology has delayed posts. I've written two posts that have been eaten by the internet...so, hold that thought....I'll post again today HOPEFULLY. Fingers crossed that this works.

Gratitude X 10

1. Non eventful flights to DC
2. Sleeping kids on flight
3. Lorzapam (to deal with fear of flying)
4. Country Club pool to escape heat and humidity (thanks grandma and grandpa)
5. J-Man turned 9 years old
6. A night away without kids
7. A great evening with college friends
8. Belgian French fries for dinner at Brasserie Beck
9. Air conditioning
10. Ice cold water on a HOT

Make New Friends but Keep the Old

Who's old?! Nothing beats an old friend according to many a Hallmark card. They should make a card for the day I've had with my "old" friends Chief and Aimster. But how can you make a pithy, quipy card that captures the essence of three cool chicks and rapid fire dialogue about the purple pill, the blue pill but not that blue pill (!), Britney and K-Fed, 'uplifting' bra shopping, kidney stones, Brangelina, darling offspring, Lewisburg's dire need for better shopping, soul searching, moisturizer, hats and the environment.

You don't capture that in words. You capture it in your heart.

And then you critique other old friends pictures on Facebook. Because we're still us and we're most definitely not old.

Chief's Guest Blogger Friend - Verde

Oh the humanity

Really I mean oh the humidity. "Out West" it isn't at all as humid and so 80 degrees means something totally different. I went for a walk with my mother-in-law this morning to get some exercise while also doing it before the 'real' heat and humidity began...yeah right? I was a big pool of sweat by the end of my short 1.5 mile walk. We didn't even go that far. This humidity thing won't stop me, just making an observation.

No picture for this post...the computer I'm on has a pop up blocker...and I am not tech savvy enough to switch it...so imagine me as a big sweaty mess...appetizing right?

Let the fun begin

Thanks to some happy pills (Lorzapam), a cranberry cocktail, good kids and smooth flights, we made it to Baltimore on time, unharmed and VERY TIRED. The adventure begins with a nap, a pool visit and a home cooked meal. All is good!

I hope to post regularly, but please don't hold me to it.

Fast forward this part

Tonight at 10:10pm the kids and I start our journey "back East" for our month-long adventure. Today is going to be a looooong day. The kids have been so excited for this trip and so I'm sure the day will drag for them, AND THEN, we get to take the red eye AND we have to change planes in Detroit at 6am, AND I'm traveling alone with the kids AND I am not the best flier (just call me Nervous Nelly). So it would be so convenient to be Barbara Eden today.

The other day Monkey asked, "Mommy, how does the plane make our eye red and which eye is it?". He has been full of these types of questions. About three weeks ago he asked why Pirates wear a patch on one eye. I really didn't know so I just said that they probably got them poked out in fights. Well, coincidentally (I'm having many coincidences lately), in a book I'm reading for my coaching class, Martha Beck describes why pirates wear patches. It is because in a fight on a ship they are often required to fight outside in the daylight and then move inside the boat and it takes time for eyes to adjust to the dark, so they always have one eye ready for the darkness...who knew?

On a totally different note, whenever I say "back East" it gets me to wondering. Why do people who have never lived on the East coast still call it "back East"...they wouldn't be 'back' if they hadn't even been. Maybe its a throw back from Lewis and Clark? Just curious that's all! Off to pack for a month...thank goodness for washing machines.

This one goes out...

My brother starts his journey BACK to his temporary digs in Afghanistan. He was able to enjoy 2 weeks home with his family and friends. He also was able to take a family trip to Puerto Rico which, from the pictures, looks like they had fun...even his 16 year old daughter had a few smiles in the picture. The journey back to whence he came seems to be very involved, lengthy, and uncertain...in that he doesn't know when the next 'flight out' is when he gets closer to his destination. So, I wish him speedy, safe and uneventful (unless the events are cool like meeting a celebrity) travels.

I need to get my care package skills back up to par. I think we'll have to send him some sand and salt water from our Beachweek in Bethany...oh but wait, he'll have enough sand. Oh yeah, and they always ask if there is anything 'liquid' in the package...hmmm, maybe we'll just send salt water taffy. My daughter will miss her Uncle's help in playing poker (yes she is 8 and likes poker), Monkey will miss his big arms to help him navigate the waves of the ocean, and I of course will miss hanging with my brother (if this could be tear stained...it would be). We love you man!