Diss'd in the Malibu

I have been seeing my old car in numerous places these days.  The Malibu Chevelle is making a comeback!

I have seen it featured in all the advertising of the show, Memphis Beat,  That show has been on cable this summer so often, and his car is also the original color of my old car.  It is also in the movie, The Other Guys.  I've even seen it on the streets of the Atlanta area.

Every time I see it, I have to smile.  It was the car on which I learned to drive. No power steering, practically no air, regular gasoline, it could easily seat six ( which would happen once I was in college.)  I never wanted to drive it to school because these guys would look at it, and they were not the guys I felt comfortable looking at, much less joining in their conversation.  But once I went to college, it became a thing of character for me.

It built my character on a regular basis.  I broke down in the car all over the place.  It once stopped running due to extreme cold, leaving me stranded out in rural Oklahoma where the block froze on it and it ruined all the houseplants I was "babysitting" over Christmas break.  It was never a thing of beauty until we had it painted I-ROC blue, which is my favorite cobalt-type color, and then the guys remembered the girl in that old car.  I would get phone numbers left on the car, from guys that noticed me in it and wanted me to call them.  I would get notes about how they loved my car.  They probably wanted to buy it, but it made me feel appreciated anyway.

So now, I find myself sentimental about my old car and my 20 year old self and all the friends I drove around in the car.  Those were the days...

And a 1, and a 2

So, my girl is a big 1-2.  Twelve years ago, after great anticipation, we brought the little thing home today and reality set in - what on God's green earth were we going to do with her?  She had already had a showdown with her daddy on day one, where she gave him the stink eye at 2 a.m. and wailed her lungs off (and I lay passed out from birth exhaustion and heard not a word.)  And, she had a massive amount of unmanageable curls and she was a night owl who slept significantly less than every infant mentioned in every doctor's publication, birthing book, and parenting magazine.

We soon discovered that yes, some things you learn about your child on day one will last a lifetime, or at least through year 12 and beyond.  Scott and I soon learned that this girl would amaze us, leave us baffled and speechless, and think far, far deeper thoughts and have far, far greater understanding of numerous subjects than we could even imagine.  And she is so photogenic, she rules every photo she is in.

But as for the curly hair, it is still unmanageable, but with massive amounts of money, even straight hair is possible...for a day...Happy birthday to my amazing daughter.

The Perks of Dog Ownership

Roxy was emotionally ready to take the dog back, but when we refused to keep the kennel for her to play in, I was worried about her losing it.  On the other hand, I was not emotionally ready to continually find my daughter camped out in the dog's kennel.  So glad to have moved on.  Now, if only she would not act like a dog...

Say Hello/Goodbye to the Dog

Introducing our newly departed family pet - Biscuits Johanson, a rescue Shih Tzu that was fully potty trained, not a picky eater, took little naps at your feet, loved to walk, practically never barked, loved to play ball, never shed a hair, and fulfilled Roxy's dreams of owning a dog.

For about a week, I should say.

The dog was a good dog, would stay in his kennel when needed, and absolutely loved our Alpha Male, Scott.  Scott would have preferred a less prissy-type dog, but oh well.  Roxy chose Biscuits, the entire family approved, but after three days Roxy just could not cope with having a dog in the house.  This dog is a true companion and loved having people around, but suddenly the role of owner because a little difficult for the Rock Star.  It was her dog, her responsibility, but her fears and sensory issues won out in the battle of Child versus Dog.  Roxy did not like the dog rubbing against her legs, she didn't know how to react when the dog got excited, and she never got comfortable picking up the dog and grooming the dog.  Too much fear.

Scott and I kept our commitment to her and we got her a dog.  We were good dutiful parents.  And now, Biscuits is happily back a resident of the "Hotel for Dogs" in Atlanta.  And we got a refund.  Whew!

The Cousin Photo

It was almost like a mirage - all the cousins, together, for approximately 10 seconds.  Too bad we can't figure out how to get them looking all the same direction.  We did not have any bribes/currency with us, which explains the lack of focus issue.  Sigh.

Strange Statue

There is a beautiful yet strange statue that stands in Chattanooga, TN.  When I saw it a few weeks ago, I remembered that I always found it funny - the statue looks like it needs to go to the bathroom.  So, because we were celebrating my birthday, I managed to talk my daughters into standing beside it for a photo.  They know that I love statues and can get very fixated on taking photos of them, with them imitating the statue's pose.  This thing I have with statues - beautiful yet strange as well.  Based on the attached photo, this may be the last time a statue photo takes place - ever again.  Poor me :(

The Mountaintop Experience

...that is, the Montana experience.  This is why I did not post for a couple of weeks - I was too busy breathing the thin, cool Montana air.  I spent a couple of hours laying on a huge flat boulder, resting by a crystal clear lake, looking at the huge Montana sky, listening to my daughters catch a bunch of brook trout, getting eaten alive by mosquitoes.  I read seven novels over the course of two weeks.  I walked twice a day through a small town.  I saw three movies.  I saw the prettiest parts of Yellowstone, plus lots of wild animals.  I rested.  I hiked.  I thought I was going to die, hiking back from that fishing trip, but I didn't.  I gained no weight.  I shopped my absolute, number one favorite downtown Main Street AND my husband came with me.  He bought me polenta with the luscious sauce and asparagus for my date night meal.  I saw a lot of cowboy boots, snow, baby piglets, Harleys, and wildflowers.  I was not a preacher's wife for two weeks.

Mission accomplished.

Say Hello to the School Girls

No angst this morning, just two pretty girls with lots of hopes and dreams.  Roxy came home with hopes and dreams intact.  But Darby, well, we'll see how middle school treated her...