My daughter called to remind me...

... that my driver's license was expired.

Duh. It's been a frequent discussion topic. It expired May 31. We have not one but TWO teens with permits. Every time I tag along as the licensed driver, SOMEONE mentions the expired status of my license.

So... DD called last night. She said, "Hey Mom. I just got pulled over by a cop. He told me to remind you that your driver's license is expired."

She swears she was going 29 in a 25 - on a road notorious for the frequent presence of police officers. I don't even speed on that road; that means I keep it at 30 or less. So I believe her.

The officer approached the car, and said, "This is your mother's car, isn't it?" [yes] "Well, tell your mother her license is expired."

um, thankyouverymuch officer.

Yes, I renewed my license today. It took about 20 minutes to gather the required 6 points of acceptable identification AND a proper proof of address. I grabbed my Mustang registration form, due this month - it was sent by the state government in the last six months. Well, they assumed I was taking care of that too -- so, one line, two transactions! woohoo.

Now I have to remember to get the car inspected in August. Wish me luck. A few years ago, I thought I was getting it inspected two months late. Um, no - it was fourteen months overdue. I like skipping a year - but it does make it harder to remember when inspections are due!

I've got Stealth Technology!

A friend just got a speeding ticket on her way to work; day six of a new job. Hearing this made me stop and think.

I have a sparkling shiny clean record. Really. Laugh if you wish, but this habitual speeder has a pristine record.

I have an invisibility shield!Really.How else do you explain driving a Mustang or a flame red SUV w/o getting stopped??

I have not been pulled over in more than TEN YEARS.(that's a l-o-n-g time, says the woman whose two youngest JUST got their permits....)

I didn't get a ticket either of the last two times I was stopped. Most recently [ha! 1998] I got a ticket for 'failing to promptly show registration on request' - after HE rushed away.

Duh, that was the ploy so if I had a clean record, he didn't have to write me up for speeding. Not that I cared too much - out of state, no reciprocal agreement and all that jazz. But the fine was lower - low enough I didn't have to report it at work...

{That photo up there? That's the view through my Mustang's dirty windshield.}

A tale of unhelpful help...

So, I needed to get my yogurt and wanted another cup of tea. But I had to play queen first. I left my mug w/ tea bag on the break room [makes it sound so grant… it’s just an office] table. When I came back, my mug was gone. Ok, I know I can be forgetful, but I knew I’d put my mug on that table.
I walked down to my office, hoping to find my mug. My lights were out, so that meant nobody had been there in awhile [motion sensors]. Yup, there was my mug, sitting on my table. I know the walk between my office and the break room isn’t long. It’s just aggravating to know that someone felt they had to return my mug, instead of leaving it where it was.

And that’s my tale of unhelpful help.

The Pandemonium du Wedding Begins

My Dlilsis is getting married Friday evening. Everyone except my family and my parents live out of state. We've got people flying in by plane and by car. Mayhem is to be avoided, but pandemonium is a certainty.

My schedule through Sunday:

Thursday:

• Make Sat dinner reservations
• Order sheet cake for Sat dessert
• Go out w/ DB2, 16 yr old nephew, my DSs and possibly 2 yr old nephew. Tasks: get tuxes, buy khaki pants for the 16 yrolds.
• Do some cleaning - giggle. straightening and 2 yr old proofing MAY get done.
• Get DD to nail place; maybe DSIL will be going.
• Get ring, etc cleaned.
• Try to find my reading for wedding one last time.
• Figure out rehearsal attire, make sure wedding outfit fits.
• DH has to pick up suit - 3rd attempt. Turns out he can't wear double vented jackets so they're removig the vents tomorrow.
• Find time to visit with friend {lilsis' boss}
• Rehearsal is 6:30 IIRC.
• Dinner is 7:30.
• Set VCR for CSI!
• Come home whenever dinner is over.

Friday:

• Be at hair salon by 12:15 with DSILs for hair care.
  (Hopefully check out DD's marcel waves if our paths cross.)
• GET GAS at the cheapo place near the salon.
• Home ~2pm.
• Feed the gang: 7 of 8 grands, 3 moms, 1 DH.
• Get everyone dressed - DH gets to tie four ties!
• Put clips in boxwood girls' hair.
• Get moms moving; as DS1 said, we're the slow ones.
• Take photos of the three ushers and three boxwood girls and three moms - oh and one 2 yr old and one DH too.
• Leave by 3:45 for church; family photos.
• Wedding at 5pm.
• MORE photos - why?
• Reception until 11 pm.
• If someone wants to gather afterwards, it isn't going to be HERE.

Saturday:

• DD has dentist appt at 8:45am; she must have a really sore tooth!
• Brunch at my parents' starts at 10am. {MORE people than their 50th anniv party last year!}
• DD thought she had to dress nicely. I told her I was wearing jeans. she was aghast - until I told her the next agenda item:
• Wander a local downtown Autumn Day and make a scarecrow with the kids.
• Car show there and at a local airport.
• Find time to pick up cake.
• five of us - out to dinner for our anniv
• Everyone - immediate family, sibs, etc - at our house for cake, for anniversary.

Sunday:

• recover?!

TODAY was the day... 25 years and counting

On this day twenty-five years ago, I married my love in St Louis, MO. We've been blessed with a good life so far - and I pray that our good fortune continues.

What happened today?

• DH went to work,
• I don't know where the hours went.
• DD got sick at work, so she hopped an earlier train.
• I picked her up after scrambling to take a shower, get dressed, eat -- all after 2:30 pm. sigh.
• DH had filet mignon thawing for dinner.
• We decided to go to Ruby Tuesday/
• DS1 never likes sudden plans so he grumped.
• DH & I realized we didn't want to go out so we ordered Italian.
• They screwed up one item - shrimp with butter/garlic sauce instead of clams & shrimp with rosa cream sauce.
• I called, they sent the right thing.
• DH picked up his new suit for the wedding.
• NOT, he can't wear double side vent jackets so now they're removing the vents.
• We watched TV.
• He went to bed.
• I'm following.

Gifts??

• I got a 5 diamond 'journey' pendant on a gold chain.
• DH got a plaque with a folk art castle and the saying 'they lived happily ever after'; I bought it at MOA, MN in May.
• We got a Waterford votive holder and PF Chang gift card from my parents.
  

And there you have it, folks: Proof that life goes on just like usual when a big milestone is in the middle of the week, especially two days before a sibling's wedding.

Woohoo, aren't WE the exciting couple??
Wouldn't you like to know?

The Weekend

Saturday and Sunday were, well, Saturday and Sunday.

Nothing special, really.

Breakfast: French toast and sausage Saturday and pancakes and bacon Sunday.

Lunch? what's that?

Dinner: hot dog Saturday and meatloaf with noodles [ick; potatoes were rotten] Sunday.

more cookies than I'm willing to admit.

I never left the house on Saturday.

So Sunday I HAD to get out.

Ready to snooze?

I went to:

• Starbucks for a grande no-fat no-whip mocha and no lemon pound cake - go me
• Staples to get my corporate discount and Staple Rewards;
  the network was dead last Sunday when I bought things.
• Staples again {{I didn't even get to the car!}}
  for something to hold 6 x 6 and 8 x 8 paper pads upright
• Borders for "any magazine with an article about biology" for DS1.
  {{Luckily Scientific American has a special issue on cancer available.
  Science is NOT a popular magazine focus, let me tell ya.}}
  -- I also bought
  Arts & Crafts Homes, American Bungalow,
  {{and my favorite style of architecture and home decor is??}}
  Cloth, Paper, Scissors, and Artful Blogging
  {{and my favorite hobby is??}}
• JoAnn's to return an Ott lampbulb and a thread organizer.
  My light decided to work again, and the organizer just didn't organize my Adirondack alcohol ink
  -- and to buy keep-up-the-strapless-clothing tape,
  Scotchgard to protect the show dye,
  ten of those photo albums that hold 36 4 x 6 photos
  and more, but I sure can't remember what!
  {{Can I blame my forgetfulness on age yet??}}

Ok - WAKE UP.

I'm done.

My Role as a Villager

I was reminded 'it takes a village' today. I went for an xray appt. While I waited, a young 30s guy was told his appt was cancelled because he had his baby son. The worker was robotic as she told him that there had to be a responsible adult to watch the baby.

Do you want to reschedule for evening? - "I work nights", weekend? - "I work".

When are you going to reschedule this? gee - those listening knew he had no clue! I wanted to say I'd watch the baby, but I had an appt too. What were we going to do? Pass him between waiting patients? sigh.

Dejected, he left, pushing the stroller. I was next. Uh oh; my appt is for tomorrow, Friday; and she had no idea how long I'd wait if I just stayed. ICK.
I walked out quickly, debating with myself. Dad was just getting in the car. I offered to watch the baby, assuring him that I wouldn't mind. His smile was worth it!

I had so much fun watching this adorable 14 month old boy! He sat on my lap, just looking at everything that moved or made a sound. Dad was taken in right away for his xray; baby watched him go through the door. I thought "Oh no, here it comes. He's going to run for the door or cry." Nope.
Finally he got down, and looked at an old magazine, with Shiloh Jolie/Pitt on the cover. I asked him where the baby was, and he pointed at each photo. He figured out how to run a circle around the chairs, turned a trunk into a drum, and smiled at everyone. Thankfully, those waiting were older grandparents, and they smiled at his antics. There was plenty of space, which also helped.
When Dad returned, baby looked at him like "oh there you are!" Dad was so thankful, I don't think he believed me when I said I enjoyed it.

I guess I was supposed to be there this morning. I saw and heard the bells ring at Ground Zero to mark the first plane crash. The GMA show cut away and/or I stopped noticing. Seven years later, I spent that horrible first hour with living proof that the world will go on: a sweet innocent baby boy.
I am so glad I screwed up my xray appt date. I am grateful I was the helpful villager.

It always happens!

The phone rarely rings. I sat down at the puter and the phone rang. DD is going to be at the train station at 4pm; could I pick her up? I'd rather not drive that far, and DH can get there w/out even leaving work early.

Hung up, pondered taking phone w/ me to PC. Didn't bother. Of course - it rang again.

This time it was DS1, done early w/ swim practice, wondering if I was going to pick up him [and bike] - I'd told him I might before he left. Sure, why not?

Yes I left the phone in its cradle again.

Will pick up DS1, go get gas and some lunch, then come home. Can you tell I'm having difficulty containing my enthusiasm??

I'm betting DH will leave work early so he can come home and change before picking up DD. ooooh - maybe not. He went to work in jeans and sneaks today!! {Like he's normally stuffed in a suit w/ tie - not. Casual pants, shirt w/ open collar, 'real' shoes.}
Just realized DD talks to me in the car. Did she want me to pick her up for a reason? sigh.

I'm going to run out of here before the phone rings again!

Original profile...

Geez, my original profile was way too long. I said I ramble... I shortened it, but thought I'd preserve the original as a post.

I read some other profiles and decided mine wasn't so long after all. So, what was my profile moved here, and now it's moved back there.

not too confusing.

No pandemonium; just s-l-o-w

My blog isn't off to an auspicious start, is it?? Not one word for two entire days! I haven't accomplished much -- I suffered through almost two hours of physical torture {AKA therapy} on Wednesday, then talked to my BFF for over an hour.

OH - before PT, in 90 mins, I got a gift card Visa to thanks my chauffeurs {Mom & Dad} for six weeks of getting me from home to PT and back. I asked the magic money machine for money and it spit some $20s out. I bought a grande mocha frappucino light, no whipped cream, and a pumpkin loaf slice; breakfast at 12:20 pm. I slipped into the no-appt nail place and had my polish changed. I love the color but forgot to check the name! THEN no - I didn't go to PT. I toured JoAnn's; I left w/ Archival Mist, which neutralizes acid in paper; TWO issues of Cloth, Paper, Scissors, someday I want to be published in a mag; and some odds, no ends though. Everything was on sale or I had a coupon. I love it when I don't pay full price. Once I left JoAnn's, I zipped to PT.


I noticed about a week ago that ever since i started one-handed typing seven weeks ago, i mispell words with double letters - mispell ends up mispeel, letter is leeter. I double the letter before the real double. totally odd. One handed typing is not enjoyable.


I take three Rx meds each day after I brush my teeth. I tired of opening five bottles every single morning, day after day, with no end in sight. So years ago I bought a weekly pill keeper. I only have to open bottles once every eight days.

Today started w/ a quick toss on of clothes and dropping off my DSs at the pool for swim practice. I only had ~90 mins so I visited two craft stores - Michael's and AC Moore. I only spent about $30 and paid full price for nothing. Then I hung out in Barnes & Noble, consuming a bagel and mocha light, no whipped cream.

Once we got home, I did my PT exercises, showered, etc. After brushing my teeth, I opened the cabinet to get Thurs' pills. UH OH; Friday's stash is gone - in addition to the days that should be gone. I have no idea when I took them.

I checked the 3 Rx drugs on line. I OD'd on two. But I didn't take all three doses together - well, I don't think so. The recommended action in both cases is to watch. I slept for 2 hrs and feel much better. I'm just hoping that I didn't Ambien-sleep take a day's dose. [Ambien-sleep-eating is a documented side effect; I've never had any problems.


It is time for me to get some sleep. Tomorrow is another pain & torture day. I PAY for this!