I am a former band "fag", "geek", "insert insult here". I haven't played since I left high school. I played some scales on my tarnished old flute last night and not only was I surprised I still could, but my boys were ecstatic! They said "Mommy, we didn't know you could do that!" Mommy has hidden talents So I ordered some Christmas music from flutestop.com and might try to impress them with some Christmas solos. I would love to play with an orchestra some day. Not a big one, something...

I thought we would check out how much it would cost to have our Christmas lights put up by a service this year since our house is really tall and I am really afraid of heights. Our neighbor had the same thought and just called to let me know what their estimate was. Brace yourself.....$2000! Oh, but that is okay because that is just the initial expense. It will only be half that in the years to follow. That is only...$1000! That's right, three zeros! These people wouldn't even itemize o...

Once you have been married a decade or so, you start to show your love in new ways. Sad thing is, your wife appreciates it! Examples: Then- Cook dinner for your love Now- Eat at work and not ask her to cook for you at 9PM Then- Dinner at a fancy restaurant Now- Put your plate next to the sink (rather than leaving on the table) after dinner Then- Write her a poem Now- Leave her a note that your Mom called (rather than forgetting) Then- Dress up for a date Now- Put dirty cloth...

More weird ideas passing through my diseased mind The worst Christmas Album Ever: Roseanne sings "Oh Holy Night" Bob Dylan sings "Silent Night" Sinead O'Connor sings "Jingle Bells" Josh Groban sings "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" Courtney Love sings "White Christmas" and Eminem performs his rendition of "Santa Clause is Coming to Town"

As I was cooking this evening I had an idea for a new diet plan. I have to work the kinks out but here is the basic idea: You can eat anything that takes 2 or more steps to prepare. Fruits and veggies would be the only exception to the rule. Of course drink 6-8 glasses of water and exercise as much as you can. Stay away from the TV. Distract yourself during your main munchie hours. Just think, you wouldn't be eating candy, no cans of pop, no fast food. Preparing food takes time and e...

We got a gas log set for our two way fireplace yesterday. I just can't believe how real it looks! I grew up with wood burning stoves and fireplaces. I remember seeing gas logs and thinking how incredibly fake they looked. This new one has a regular grate, "magic embers" that burn just like wood embers, about 7 very real looking logs. The boys are mesmerized by the fire. The 3yr old has to point it out to everyone that comes over. I really enjoyed sitting near it and watching it during t...

Here I am, 33 yrs old. I can't seem to remember what I am doing at all anymore unless I make notes constantly. I blame all of the distractions of life (i.e. 3yr old son, phone calls, emails, etc). I start on one course and a phone call or interesting blog will take me right off track. I am now trying to get into the habit of making a bulleted list of accomplishments for the next day before I go to bed at night. That way, if I find myself wandering off, I refer to the list. Should I have ...

How sad is it that it is now noon and all I have accomplished is feeding my kids, then my son, straightened up in the basement (destroyed since by the boys) and reading blogs. I am sitting here in my nightgown. I know I need to do laundry (cringe), breakfast dishes, make beds, etc. I at least need to bathe and get dressed! My main activities today will be getting the house in order so I can go out this evening. Going to go see Revolutions (I know, it's crap) and have dinner with a group...

I am more than a little miffed with Weight Watchers right now. According to Entertainment Weekly, WW offered Renee Zellweger $3.2 million to lose her "Bridget Jones" weight with them. What are they thinking?! WW is all about making changes in your life style rather than just "dieting". It is supposed to be about dealing with why you have issues with food. Ms Zellweger doesn't have issues with food. She was payed to artifically change her body for a movie role. All she has to do to lose th...

Silly things I might like to recieve: The DVD set of "The Mupper Show" - LOVED them as kids and got a kick out of "Muppets 3-D" at Disney Any CD by Josh Grobin A chaffing dish - like to entertain Socks - I wear size 8.5 shoes Fondue Recipe book - again, like to entertain Coffee - always a winner with me Coupons for babysitting - gotta have date nights Chocolate - always a winner Gold and Diamonds - duh! Baskets - Pretty and functional Coupons for maid service - ...

When I was growing up (born in 1970) I knew only a couple of families that had 3 or more kids. My parents were both from bigger families but I have only one sister. Lately I have been meeting a lot of big families. My husband's cousin, for instance, has 5 kids. I met a family this evening with 5. Most of the families I see when picking my son up from school have at least 3. We have 2 and have been debating a 3rd. My baby is growing up (just turned 3) and I am heartbroken at the thought ...

Don't you hate it when: you are in the shower and realize you forgot to get a towel. you are in a public restroom, pull down your pants THEN realize there is no toilet paper. people say "irregardless" and "supposably" you reach the middle of a sentence and forget what you were saying and......anyway, what was I saying ? people tell you they bought something for you but can't tell you what it is because they want to surprise you later...much later. people rant on about things...

I just have to say, I hate laundry! It isn't difficult, it's just never done. I am convinced that towels multiply while in the hamper. The second you think, "ah, the last load" there are three more lurking in the closet. It seems like every single day of my life I am handling laundry. Put some in the dryer from the washer. Put more in the washer. Bring more down from the bedroom. Sort it. Fold what was in the dryer. Put it away. Repeat.....argh! I need a sense of accomplishment. M...

I seriously have a lot to be thankful for. This list is for fun: Top Ten Things to be Thankful for this Thanksgiving 1)Chocolate (we have a love hate relationship. love to eat it, hate to store it on my butt) 2)Coffee (Ah, the bleary eyed days you have come to my rescue) 3)TiVo (could never catch a whole program without it) 4)TVs and DVDs (make a nice tag-team babysitter) 5)email (new tool for avoiding long, boring conversations with people you still have to put up with) ...

Did you ever "brain storm" in school? I was in a group called "Challenge". It is comparable to what they now call TAD (talented and gifted). They had this silly exercise they called brainstorming where they give you subjects and you think of as many ideas regarding that subject as possible during a given amount of time. The fun part is you don't have to consider how to actually do the things you come up with. Ready, I'm going to give you some silly subjects, please make me laugh with your...