Los Lonely Boys: Always

December 3, 2008 | Family,Los Lonely Boys,Music,Stuff

After listening to Superman, oh, 5,394 times, the kids were finally interested in hearing what else is on LLB’s Forgiven CD. I picked Always, my favorite, and now they call it “Mommy’s song.” They like it because the tune reminds them of the Curious George song. But my son also listens to the lyrics and realizes it’s a love song.

“Is this the song at your wedding, Mommy?”

“No, but it would have been a good one, huh?”

All together now: Awwwwwww.

You oughta be in pictures

Stuff

My son just discovered the video function on the camera he got for Christmas last year. I heard him doing a step-by-step documentary-style of “how to wash your hands.” Then I heard him tell one of his sisters, “Be quiet! I’m making a movie!”

As much as I want to support the arts and foster his creativity, the minute he records me snoring sleeping, that thing is outta here. I will so not be ready for my close-up.

Seeing snow: It’s all a matter of perspective

November 7, 2008 | Family,Stuff,Weather

Today’s weather in Tampa: Sunny, high of 80 degrees, low of 61 degrees, current temperature 73 degrees, feels like 75 degrees

Today’s weather here: Snow, high of 36 degrees, low of 29 degrees, current temperature 32 degrees, feels like 32 degrees

40-year-old: “What have we done?”

6-year-old: “This is the BEST DAY EVER!”

Apple and sausage pie?

October 22, 2008 | Apples,Food,Stuff

Yummy.

“Apples? Well, that’s weird.”

[Bite]

“But, mmm, that’s good.”

Thanks, Simply Recipes!

Next up: Norsk eplekake, by special request.

Good news / bad news

October 9, 2008 | Stuff

The good news is the heater in the house works.

The bad news is I seem to be missing a box of clothes for the girls … the one with all the long-sleeve shirts in it.

I need turtlenecks. Size 5.

Note to self: Close the garage door at night

September 26, 2008 | Stuff

When I stepped into the garage last night to take the dog out, I saw a flash of hind legs of some critter. A rabbit? Dog? Cat? The legs were white. I’m thinking it was a rabbit. All I know is I have to remember to close the garage door after dark unless I want critters to walk in the back door and cozy up to a night of Animal Planet on the tube. Or … maybe they like Project Runway?

It’s time to close the windows …

Stuff

… turn off all the lights … and run for cover.

The bugs, good grief, the bugs!

If I don’t gulp my wine (or chug it from the bottle), I get to fish out a half dozen tiny but happily drunk bugs from the glass. And those are the ones that found the wine. The others hover around the bananas, the lights, the trash … well, everywhere.

Anyone have a beekeeper getup I can borrow until the snow comes?

What do they do at a co-op meeting?

September 25, 2008 | Stuff

Why, they play the banjo, of course!

Since moving here, I’ve joined two cooperatives: one for my electricity and the other for my telephone and Internet. One of them held its annual meeting tonight, and we went (hoping to win one of the 32-inch flat-screen televisions they were giving away, natch). I’d never been to a cooperative annual meeting before, so I didn’t really know what to expect … you know, singing in rounds and eating potluck? Seriously, I had no idea.

But it was your typical meeting, with minutes, reports and elections. And, oh yeah, the banjo-playing.

Tired of the sunrise?

September 22, 2008 | Stuff

Here’s another one. I can’t help it. Now I see it every morning because I have to take the dog out.

Exactly what I was looking for

Stuff

I spent eight hours at an estate auction Saturday to get this. I’ve been looking for something for this space in my kitchen. I had something in mind but couldn’t explain it. I looked at a few things, and they weren’t quite right.

This? Perfect.

Since it was furniture, though, it was one of the very last things sold at the sale. I had all day to think about it, and I wasn’t about to go home without it.

That’s one thing I’ve missed about living in these parts — a good auction. I love the banter and standing across from someone who wants the same thing you do — bidding, nodding and mulling it over. (Not to mention wondering, “How on earth can I explain spending $150 on a hand-painted Italian coffee set?” Usually, I can’t.)

An auction is often bittersweet. It’s usually a sale of the belongings of someone who died. The woman who owned this cabinet was 97 when she died. I met someone who was her neighbor for almost 50 years. Many of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were at the sale. They actually helped me load the cabinet into my truck at the end of the day. After looking at the massive amount of belongings for sale, I got to thinking about the things the family did not sell — photos and family heirlooms — and all the things we accumulate in a lifetime.

I hope this cabinet has some happy memories attached to it. I hope to add to them over the years.