Fridaylicious

• The PT did some crazy stuff yesterday that helped. I am still not well, though.
• Maybe wine at wine club will help.
• I found a babysitter for Sunday night. And after that one accepted, so did two others. It figures. But better that than no one at all!
• C-man starts Cub Scouts tonight. Beerman was hoping he would want to quit, but he is so thrilled to be a Wolf, there is no chance at that.
• Ahhh... I am so glad for the weekend.

Painful

I have been in such excruciating pain. It has been a long time since I have been this miserable. Thank God for Vicodin at night. On a good note, the evenings have given the most beautiful light during my walks to try to feel better. At least there is that.

Randomly hump day-ish

I'm so thankful C-man is doing so well in school this year. Last year was a nightmare. This year, a total non-event. Thank God.

My work has been kind of crazy busy lately. And between my life getting in the way of work (physical therapy, Harry needs a groom, kid has parent-teacher night, I can't sit because my back $#@* hurts so bad), I've been ornery. I don't know how I'm going to fly to Newark next week.

If an unknown filmmaker makes a crazy film nobody even knows exists, will all of Libya riot? And will a crazy pastor in Florida get on that bandwagon and get lots of press about it? The answer is apparently yes on both accounts. The world confounds me.

I still don't have a babysitter for Sunday night. Stupid Sunday school night event. Argh.

C-man starts football season next weekend. I can't believe it's starting already. He is thrilled, of course. Except for the part about not being able to hit people. That part disappoints him.

I've been on the Vicodin lately for my back. Just change my middle name to Favre.

I finished the first 4 seasons of True Blood. Season 5 doesn't come out on demand until next year. I need a new obsession.

Today

I have to work a full 5-day week this week. It's been a while since I've done that. I'm hoping that yesterday took the yuk of the whole week (Harry was sick all over the carpet, a mouse died somewhere in our laundry chute area and we can't get at it without ripping the wall apart, and my shoulder has started hurting again), and that it is headed up from here.

We have two Oktoberfest parties this weekend. My, how I miss the real Oktoberfest. I never did get good pictures of it when we were there. I was too new to my camera, and probably had too many of those tasty steins to make any of it work out well. Just one more reason to go back, I guess. Well, that, and the fact that I should have bought that dirndl I really liked but didn't think I'd have a use for. I'd totally wear it now.

Someone brought in donuts today to celebrate the September birthdays. I really have no willpower when it comes to donuts. Now I have a sugar headache. Someday I'll learn. Today, not so much.

Fortunately

This weekend, I re-planted our geocache in the park because the container got stolen. (Who steals a container but leaves all the stuff on the ground behind?!) It was a beautiful opportunity to walk along the beach, since Beerman was working on the fish tank and C-man was at a birthday party. It was just me and the sand and the waves. And my camera, of course. I live a fortunate life. Sometimes, it's good to take a moment to remember that.

Hey, what's up?

Oh yeah. Chicken butt.

Fun stuff like that

Some days we ride the sky gliders and box each other's shadow. I love stupid fun like that.

Da doo doo doo. Da dah dah dah.

•  I'm told I have disc problems in my back. Something I kind of knew but was ignoring. I'm going to keep ignoring it, because that's sure to make it go away.
• Well, I'm not totally ignoring it. I am getting physical therapy to try to figure out how to mitigate the pain.
• Papaya seeds taste like, well, let's just say they taste really bad. Worse even the second day. I'm going to try to make a smoothie with them in to see if it helps diminish the nasty.
• Not having a vacation day scheduled for almost 3 months is kind of depressing. I may have to do something about that on one of C-man's Fridays off school for a teacher something-or-other.
• I have a haircut appointment for later today. Ahhh, that's exciting. C-man's school photos aren't until next month, so I'll wait until then to force him go. The bangs, at least, have to get trimmed.
• In the meantime, I've ordered his Thor Halloween costume. He's so proud that he doesn't even need a wig.
• The Fall Fest game is going to be 'capture the flag' this year. C-man thinks he should have swords for it. I ordered foam ones to test. We'll see...
• I thought we were going to have First Communion prep all year, but I guess it doesn't start until December. That's a bit of a relief, at least.
• Kind of a bummer that First Communion will be on my birthday.
• The local frozen yogurt shop opened Tuesday. We've been twice. Any bets on whether we'll go for the trifecta tonight?
• While quite left-leaning political, I just have to... Because THIS VIDEO is too depressingly funny not to share.

Schtuff

• C-man adored day 1 of 2nd grade and earned a "point". Apparently this teacher isn't punitive in her punishment, but heavy on praising the good stuff. It seems like a good fit for C-man.
• Let's hope the next 179 days go as well.
• We celebrated by getting frozen yogurt at the newest shop by the house. Yum!
• A friend of ours told me they have plans over Fall Fest this year but is going to change them so he can come. It's official. The party has turned into a can't-miss event of the season.
• Beerman had to fly to Colorado and back today. I had to buy him Carhartt shirts for him to go. Don't ask.
• I watched Dr. Oz the other day. I shouldn't do that. It was a show on fatigue being commonly caused by parasites. The solution is to eat 1/4 C of papaya seeds with a teaspoon of honey every day for a week. I've convinced myself I need to try this.
• Papaya seeds are disgusting, awful, and bitter.
• I'm getting pressured to support the Komen walk through work. I have no interest in supporting the foundation, but it's becoming a political nightmare to say that. I keep avoiding the questions. It'll be nice when September is done.
• I've taken to checking the major news networks on their reporting of both conventions. The differences in headlines alone is really entertaining.
• Someone mentioned pancakes today. Now I can't stop thinking about pancakes. Breakfast for dinner!

Unbelievable.

This morning I waved goodbye to my kid as he left home to be a 2nd grader. He made his bed, brushed his teeth, got dressed (even tucked in his shirt) with no reminders. It's hard to believe my kid's in 2nd grade. (This kid will make his first communion this year already! How is that even possible?)

It's such a difference from the very first day of K4 when he was scared out of his mind to get on the bus and wasn't sure if he'd make any friends. Now he races to the bus where he's got a whole gaggle of friends waiting for him with their own big Chiclet-toothed smiles, saving him a seat.

I am more blessed than I ever thought possible with this child.

9 days off

After 9 days off, I've decided that I could really get used to this life of leisure. But alas, today is the end of that, and it's time to go back and pay for the next one. Tomorrow, I will have a 2nd grader. How the time does fly when you're having fun.

Boring stuff

I've been doing laundry and pulling weeds and making new yogurt and unpacking and driving to Target to buy gym shoes for the kid. (Side rant - This child needs gym shoes that aren't worn outside. All said and done, I have to buy this kid a brand new pair of shoes that he will wear and then outgrow at some point before the end of the year. All before he wears them a grand total of 40 hours!) At least I got to listen to a fun Brewers game while doing it. The good news is it's giving Harry time to recover. The poor old dog hasn't moved much today, he's so hungover. (He's also still stinky in spite of taking him directly to the dog wash yesterday and their having used the extra deodorant shampoo on him!) Anyhow, that's a lot of nothing to tell you that I'm not lakeside pre-s'mores fire anymore. Thankfully, there's still one more day left of this bliss.

Home again

With a stinky, wet dog and a happy kid who is ready to play with kids his own age in tow, we are headed home. Somewhere within the unpacking and laundry and getting Harry bathed, we need to try on last year's school uniforms to see if they still fit after the summer growth spurt. My goodness, it is hard to believe summer is truly at an end. We have so much to be thankful for, though, so it is hard to be sad about anything right now. Maybe just a little wistful. Yes, let's go with wistful.

Thirty-one

Once in a blue moon, I get to sit down and do nothing. Or kayak with the loons. Or fish for bluegills. Or go into "town" and get chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream cones. Or invent new games like frisbee-football. Or gather blue eggs from the chickens. Or shoot a .22 in a gravel pit. Once in a blue moon, it all shuts down for a bit, and my mind is happier for it.

Thirty

Happy birthday, Mom!

Twenty-Nine

It's times like these that I question why we have to live at such a frenetic pace when there is a perfectly good hammock to swing in.

Twenty-Eight

So many frogs and toads to catch. So many chicken eggs to gather. So many waves to kayak through. So many s'mores to eat. So much amazingness.

Twenty-Seven

This child loves his Red Ryder. Until he was too close to the tree and it ricocheted back and hit him. How long will he be in school before he tells everyone he got shot?

Twenty-Six

Fishing, shooting, and playing games. Ahhh, vacation, I love you.

Twenty-Five

We're heading into the wild woods. After a stop by to see Mom and Dad, of course. Ahhh, vacation. Bring it.

Twenty-Four

Only one more day until we shoot some chickens go on vacation. Which means I need to get the laundry washed and Harry's food gathered and all the electronics charged up! Ahh, the list is long. It's also a process that is pointing out that C-man has grown. A lot. He needs pants and sweatshirts for nighttime, and they all look so little now! The good news is we can wear the same thing every day and it won't matter. Because we'll be on vacation, baby!

Twenty three

Beerman: "C-man, Next week (at the place we're staying) there will be free range chickens running around so we can..."
C-man: "Shoot 'em?"
Beerman: "Um, I was going to say gather the eggs and make omelets"
C-man: "Oh. Well, can I still shoot them?"

Twenty-two

• It's incredibly hard not to think about our impending vacation. Stupid work getting in the way of my life again.
• C-man is much happier at camp this week. It's still a camp run through the JCC, but not at the spot out in the woods. He's still vowing never to do this again, though. At least he's ending on a better note.
• I've had a mad sweet tooth lately. Combined with an extraordinary desire not to work out, this could be tragic.
• I've also been incredibly tired lately. As in, I can't keep my eyes open during meetings tired. Something's not entirely right.
• C-man conned me into ordering him custom Reebok Zig Tech shoes. We have to go try some on tonight to know the right size to order. If I'm going to be blood-let for a pair of shoes, he's at least going to be able to wear them for a long time!
• Have I mentioned we're going on vacation next week? One whole week of zero commitments, a fishing pole, a book, and some s'mores. Ahhhhhhh...

Twenty-One

• We finally made it to the Estabrook beer garden this weekend. A little slice of Munich's bounty in the North Shore of Milwaukee. Not to mention, it's right next to a beautiful playground. Double win.
• I had a massage last night. Mondays should always end with a massage.
• Physical therapy starts on Thursday. I've never had very good luck with PT, but since I haven't been able to walk straight lately, I figured it can't hurt.
• Harry is incredibly overdue on a shave-down and can't get in for 8 more weeks. Dang, dog groomers are hard to come by.
• C-man is getting his hair cut on Thursday. Trimmed, to be more accurate. I didn't ask permission this time, but just told him. I can't stand to look at it in his eyes anymore.
• C-man is going to be Thor for Halloween. His hair still isn't long enough, but I'm not pointing that out.
• We are firming up plans for our annual Fall Fest party - Percy Jackson, Greek food, ouzo, and maybe a bouncy house. We're reading the 2nd Percy Jackson book at nights now to get in the mood.
• Next week is vacation time. Ahhhh... my mind can't wait. I just hope it doesn't get too cold by then.

Twenty

I don't relish these summer days winding down into a cooler fall. There's something about the spirit of summer that is fun and lighthearted and goofy, whereas fall starts to button up and hunker down and lose its fun. I like the goofiness. I like the hat. I like the giggles. I like the bike rides to the ice cream store. I like the festivals. I love you, summer. Don't leave yet...

Eighteen and Nineteen

Irish Fest and beer gardens and cleaning the house and mowing the lawn and enjoying the weekend, oh my.

Seventeen

I am so incredibly happy that it's Friday. Between traveling this week and the rainy weather and work being frenetic and knowing C-man is not happy at camp, I'm drained. Last night was parent packet pickup at school, which is the back to school event where you put money in your accounts and buy new spirit wear and get your bus stake. C-man scored himself a play date for the night within 5 minutes of being there. Which was kind of nice because Beerman was in Chicago until super late, so I got the night to lay on the couch like a lump.

Which was good for the mind to be brain dead, but bad because I haven't been doing much in the way of physical activity lately. I'm trying to figure out a way to get to the gym regularly. I think spin may end up being my answer. (Barf) My rheumatologist is sending me to a physical therapist because of some funky stuff going on with my hip. I've never had a whole lot of luck with that stuff, but selfishly, I have decided maybe it'll help me workout more, so accepted the referral.

Irish Fest is this weekend, which means it's the annual Arthritis Walk tomorrow morning. Apparently everyone (of age) gets free beer at the end of the walk this year. Yes, please.

Sixteen

• I'm back home again. Tonight is the back-to-school packet pickup. It's so hard to believe it's that time again.
• I'm not feeling great. It could be the travel. It could be the violent storms. It could be the high mold counts. It could be a virus. Hard to tell.
• At least it's good I have an excuse to bug out of work early. I need it today.
• Yesterday, Harry refused to go on a walk with the dog walker because our road was getting paved and he was afraid of the trucks. Today, it's pouring and lightning and thundering. My money is on Harry refusing to walk again.
• C-man is not enjoying camp. I don't know if it's because it is a sucky experience or because it's a Jewish camp and so much is in Hebrew or within the context of Judaism that he doesn't understand it. Regardless, we are going to have to figure out something different for next summer because it's torture leaving him there in the morning.
• I woke up last night dreaming about Oklahoma Joe's BBQ. Damn, that was good. I need to go through a barbecue detox.

Fifteen

I am in Kansas City this week. A decent place to be if you have to be somewhere. Last night I wanted to go to the Royals game, but my coworkers weren't into it. Instead, we went for BBQ at a place called Oklahoma Joe's. It was on the Kansas side, inside a gas station, and ahhhhmazing.  We all moaned throughout dinner. Best barbecue ever. Hands down. God, I'll be dreaming about it for ages.

After, we went to the Kansas City Library, so I could see the wall of giant books I vowed to see. It was very cool.

And now, I finish my day here and head home.

Fourteen

Thirteen

Something has happened to me this summer. I have never really liked raw tomatoes or avocados. And yet, this summer, I can't get enough of them. Is it my age? My meds? The blue moon? I'm not sure what it is, but I am kind of liking it.

I dropped C-man off at early care before camp. He was sad like he used to be when he had separation anxiety at daycare as a two year old. Man, that tugs on the ol' heart strings.

My homemade yogurt experiment continues. I screwed it up the other day and ended up with a grainy batch so had to start over. But I'm back at it, and loving it. Especially since my rheumatologist gave me the bone density lecture the other day, I figure it's a good way to introduce calcium without drinking milk. (gag) Plus, it's deeee-licious.

I've been trying to avoid a lot of sugar. I even turned down getting a donut the other day with C-man. And drove right past my favorite Krispy Kreme on Sunday without stopping. Surely there's a medal in this for me somewhere.

Speaking of medals, that closing ceremony of the Olympics sucked. It was harder to top being weirder than the opening, but they did it. (THIS is seriously hilarious) I am so looking forward to Rio's.

And, of course, a giant happy birthday to my dad!

Twelve

Last night, Beerman came home after working at a Madison beer festival. It was just in time to hang out in the back yard with us on a beautiful night and watch the meteor shower. It was so beautiful! Even better, the bats were flying high in the air, so weren't interested in attacking me.

Now today, it is more low-key fun. C-man wants new flip flops, I need toothpaste, and Harry needs a walk. I love summer.

Eleven - or the day the bats attacked me

I started this beautiful morning by taking my breakfast into the back patio, opening the umbrella, and freaking out as 3 bats swooped out at me amidst a rain of bat guano. AHHHHHHHH! I hate bats. Ever since I was a kid and they'd be in my bedroom in the middle of the night, I've had an irrational fear of them. Yuk!

But we recovered by taking advantage of the amazing day and took a trip to the zoo. (C-man was on the hunt for some new squished pennies - a Mandrill and a Lion this time.) Of course, our first visit was to the small mammal house. You know, where the bats live. Dear God, I hate bats.

We were home all of 60 seconds when a friend called, so C-man headed over there while I mowed the lawn, did the laundry, and said goodbye to the Avenger. My very first car, 13 years later, headed out of our driveway, leaving us with nothing but an oil spot. It was more than time, I guess.

But now, my friends, it's Miller Time.

Ten

As summer winds down, our schedule seems to get crazier. But inside, I feel myself aching to slow down a bit. We had the opportunity to spend this weekend out of town with Beerman, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. And last night, I was at a friend's for happy "hour" (or four). And while it was nice to see everyone and meet a few new people, it was just too loud. I'd taken my Humira shot in the morning and knew I was up for a chemo infusion later today, which curbs my alcohol interest. But even without that, it just wasn't all that appealing to me to be out and about.

This weekend, I'm vowing for us to do some fun, low-tech kind of fun. And I'm vowing to get some good exercise in, too, because as the days get shorter, so does my mood. Time to get in the habit now!

Nine

Sometimes it's incredibly embarrassing to be me. Like this morning. They're re-doing our road, so it's graded below our driveway, and it's now gravelly and unpaved. Since we have a semi-circle drive, and still haven't junked the Avenger, it's been sitting on one leg of the driveway. This morning I went to move the Avenger from one leg to the next to block the higher lip side so we could drive in and out on the lower lip side. I turned the corner, went to do a Y-turn to back it up to turn around, but didn't lock it in the right gear, and went forward instead. Right over the giant driveway lip, which left me suspended over the culvert with only one wheel touching the ground.

Honestly. I am an idiot. And the whole neighborhood came out to look at my idiocrisy.

Thankfully, I have a really nice husband who stayed with me to deal with the tow truck while I went inside to hang my head in shame. My neighbor said I should take a picture because I'd think it was really funny later. I didn't because I was just too mortified. I should have taken a picture. Because now I do think it's kind of funny. Even funnier - Beerman made a deal with the tow truck driver to buy it for $150 over what the junk yard will give us, making the tow free and earning us an additional $100 in the deal.

I swear I'm a really smart person. Just not today.

Eight

Introducing Mr. Crabby Pants, our newest household addition. Beerman acquired a new fish (Foo) from a co-worker. In doing so, we also acquired two cute little crabs, who have since been named Mr. Crabby Pants and Bob. Bob is a wily one, so I haven't gotten a good shot of him yet.

Seven

There and back again without losing a single kid. Mostly. There were those 30 minutes in City Museum when we had absolutely NO idea where the kids were. (Coming down the 10 story slide, duh!) Harry was happy to have us back. Sort of. (I think he kind of missed heading to the neighbor's house for the evening to chew a rawhide on the couch last night.) And the fish (C-man named him Foo because he's a fighter) is still alive. I haven't been feeling all that well. I was a bit weak while in St. Louis, but mostly stayed in denial to not drag the trip down. The thought of food really makes me ill today, which means I can't deny it any longer. I'm blaming Busch Stadium. (Beerman told me it came on too close to Busch Stadium for it to be its fault. I told him to shut it. Everything bad that happens to me is now the Cardinals' fault. I feel it's a good system.) Overall, the trip was a pretty good success. But my favorite moment? During the ride home, I asked the boys what their favorite part of the trip was, and they answered, "Swimming."

So there you have it. The next long weekend - we're heading to the local Radisson.

Six

25 years ago, I road tripped to Texas for a gymnastics camp. We stopped in St. Louis on the way to see some stuff, including going up the arch. 25 years later, I went up that thing again. It was almost as thrilling the second time. Almost. Can't you tell by my expression?

Less thrilling was the 6.5 hour ride home. But to their credit, the boys were fantastic. And now, it's time to get back into the swing of it.

Five

We spent the day at City Museum. On the way there, the kids were saying kind of unenthusiastically, "What's City Museum?" And then the cab pulled up. And they went wild. Wire tunnels stories above the city to crawl through up and up and up, with the summiting reward being a multi-story slide to come screaming down. There was a magic show, a non-skate skate park to run around, tubes and passages, mock caves, rope swings, and the ultimate 10-story spiral slide. I'm exhausted. If only these kids were, too!

Four

A day at the caves, a Brewers loss, and a bacon-wrapped hot dog. Because that is how we roll.

Three

Who was the idiot who wanted to get in a car for 6 hours with not just one kid, but the neighbor's kid, too? Oh, right... me... Well, St. Louis or bust! The Brewers fans cometh.

Two

In an exciting turn of events, the house has a salt water fish tank up and running and are putting a fish in it. At the risk of overexciting you, it isn't the main tank but the quarrantine tank. (Let's count them together, that's our 4th tank) But it's tangible progress, which means I won't have to say, "Hey look, I think I saw the eel hiding in the corner! Oh, nope. I was mistaken." And Beerman won't have to call me rude, but deserved names, after I do so.

One

Tired after long days at camp and work, these latest cooler summer evenings have been so perfect. Filled with flowers and bees and soccer and made-up games, I am making good on my mission to enjoy each precious moment with my family.

Wordless Wednesday: Where Everyone Knows Your Name