Attitude

Sometimes going to school can make a day better.

Especially when there are people in the world who have a bad attitude..

Do you have days that you are surrounded by people with attitude? Do you feel the urge to smack them?

Somehow, and I really don't understand HOW this happens, there are people around me who often forget and mistake my patience for acceptance. Or understanding.

That can be a dangerous thing to do.

Because, after encountering these bad moods for a time, it ALMOST always results in the offenders seeing MY attitude which DOES always put their attitude to utter shame.

But then, a thought pops into my head of something a student said during the school year...something that is hysterical. Like one day during the last month of school---

Student: Mrs. Librarian, I know what it is!

Mrs. Librarian: You know what what is?

Student: It's your hair!

Mrs. Librarian: Oh, I got a hair cut yesterday.

Student: I like it! It makes you look almost pretty!

Mrs. Librarian: Why, thank you, sweetie.

And then I start laughing.

Yep, kids. You just never know!

How nice to be reminded that life is just too short to let the bad attitude of others ruin your day. I just hope I remember that as I venture out to Wally World this morning. Ha!

Chitty Chattin'

Summer temps have, as usual, preceded the official beginning of summer around here. Luckily, this year, we've been getting some nice rain so the garden is very happy. I am too. As long as the AC keeps working!

Of course, not even heat can stand in the way of sitting on a porch and enjoying the company of good friends. Pull up a rocker and join Patrice and friends for a little porch chattin'!

QUESTIONS

1. Is there a friend or relative who has been on your mind a lot lately? Yes. Patrice and all the chattin' participants! I've been MIA for so long and I've missed chatting with y'all!
2. Do you sunburn? Not really. Whenever I do, it turns to tan by the next day. I've always been like that. Now, unfortunately, when I get sun, I only get splotchy. Ain't aging grand...
3. If you were visiting my farm for a week (or weekend) would you want to cook with me, pick veggies or pull weeds with the farm crew, or just feed Wendell carrots until he outgrew his horse suit? Sorry Patrice, but Wendell wins out on this one! Break out the carrots! 
4. Do you like to tell jokes or hear them? I used to like to hear them...though I don't care for distasteful ones. You know, the ones that are insensitive to race, religion or those that are belittling to anyone/anything.  
5. Do you wear sunglasses often? Yes. Every time I go outside. I have extreme sensitivity to bright lights, sounds and smells. If I don't wear my shades, I have to close my eyes. That makes getting around somewhat difficult. Especially when getting around involves driving. 

Have a fantastic Tuesday, y'all!

Lawd, It's Hawt

Anything related to running is not conducive to low-country summer temps. (Yes, I'm quite aware that summer is still 6 days away but try telling that to the thermometer.) Not the running itself nor thinking about it; watching someone else do it; see someone doing it in a movie; reading about it online or in a magazine. NOTHING about running is conducive to low-country summer temps. NOTHING.

Knowing this as I do, why is it, you ask, would I venture out late Friday morning around 11:00 to attempt a run? 

Stupidity. 

I see other people doing it all the time. From morning through afternoon into the evening. They seem to be ok. And they're not all young. There are a few out there older than me and Methuselah.  

But I'm not doing that anymore. From now on, if I don't get out there to run before 6:30 A.M., I am NOT going. 

Thus was born my great idea. I call it My Great Idea of the Summer of 2013. 

Three mornings each week of the summer, I will go up to school and run my Sprint 8s up and down the stairs. Oh yeah. My brilliance is astounding, eh? 

It's not that bad really. I've done it once already and I not only survived, I made it through all 8 rotations! And so, when I took that late Friday morning run, I was able to do it. It was hot, but I was able to get through the whole thing AND felt like I could have gone further. I didn't because I also don't like throwing up and going too much more would have resulted in that very act. Because it was hot.

Here's my point- Sprint 8 is fantastic for improving your fitness level. It works. It's for real. 

Go to Dr. Mercola's site HERE, if you're interested to learn more about Sprint 8. Mercola's site is the first place I learned about it. And I've seen the results- improved level of fitness. 

What improves your fitness level?

Wedding Hell...I Mean Planning

The wedding business is a racket. A scam.

Weddings seem to have become a competition of who can throw the showiest event. It's about showing off and drinking and partying and spending money.

I'm not a fan. I wasn't a fan while planning Breezy's (though her's was easier--she knew exactly what she wanted) wedding and, while planning Birdie's, I've found that I am still not a fan.

It's like dragging me kicking and screaming all the way. And you can't even imagine how much restraint it takes on my part to keep my trap shut when a vendor utters something like, "You can do anything you like at our venue to make your love story YOURS." Gag.

But we mothers do things for our kids, don't we?

The last 4 Saturdays have found me doing something wedding related---bridesmaids dress shopping, venue touring, wedding dress shopping, florist consultation, DJ/photobooth meeting, caterer tasting, the cake....it's never ending.

And, while most of the people with whom we meet are very nice, I can't stand it when they spout stupid, rehearsed phrases that they use on everyone. Drives. Me. Nuts. ESPECIALLY when they make such a big deal out of it and then FAIL TO EMAIL YOU THAT CONTRACT INFORMATION.

Which really doesn't matter so much since the kids have changed their minds about the venue. Again.

And then there was the trip to Mens Warehouse to check out the tuxes. Which we found. We also found the PERFECT bow ties to accompany said tuxes which the groom purchased for groomsman gifts. And promptly received a call from the idiot clerk at Mens Warehouse the next day to inform us that the ties weren't available. WTH? HOW did he not have this information when we were in the store????

One of the best things about wedding planning in an empty nest? There aren't any little kids around to hear the words that are coming out of my mouth. Ha!

Oh and then there are  all the vendors you've contacted and set up appointments  with and given the date of the wedding which has now changed back to the original date which had to be changed when two of the venues were not available on the original date. Which means the vendors might not be available now. Good thing no contracts have been signed.

The husband? He's so helpful and supportive.

Him: What are y'all doing today?
Me: Shopping for bridesmaids dresses.
Him: Oh, well I heard on the news that Target is selling bridesmaids dresses and are offering really good deals on them.

Yep. Target. I've seen the dresses. They look like they're from Target. And then, on GMA this week, I saw that Target is offering wedding dresses as well. They showed pictures of designer gowns and then had models come out with the Target equivalents. These dresses were NOTHING alike and the Target ones looked like they were from Target.

Not that I am a supporter of designer brands, but I'm also not a fan of wearing a wedding gown that looks like something K-Mart threw up. It's a wedding NOT prom night.

We do have Birdie's dress. It was created by a designer and it did cost more than the Target dresses. Though is was under $500. Woot!

At this point in time I'm thinking that, since she has procured the dress, they could very well elope.

Or else someone needs to share their Valium prescription.

I'll keep y'all posted.

The Hodge Podge

It's the first Hodge Podge of my summuh vacay! I dig summuh vacay and the Hodge Podge!

All you have to do to join in the fun is click on that button right down there!

1. What do you think makes a good dad? Patience, understanding, ability to listen and love unconditionally all wrapped up in a good sense of humor.

2.  What's something you learned from your own father? It's never too late to learn.

3. It's your birthday-what kind of cake will we be having? That will totally depend on my mood at the time.

4. When you're faced with a big decision are you more of a go with your gut type of person, or are you someone who reasons it all out, weighing the pros and cons? I've been known to go both ways---it just depends on the situation.

5. June is National Dairy Month. What's your favorite dairy item? Most often purchased dairy item? Cheese. LOVE me some cheese!

6. Explorer Jacques Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910....what's something you've recently discovered or something you'd like to explore? I have recently discovered that I am still NOT a fan of wedding planning and I'd love to explore ways to avoid dealing with people who take advantage of those planning a wedding and of ways to smack the next person who says something like, "This is a great place to consider while planning your love story" without being arrested. 

7. Are you typical of your generation? I'm not sure. What's the typical person of my generation like, exactly?

8.  Insert your own random thought here. I'm putting Paris, Part 2 of DoodleBug's European tour here for my random thought today. Mostly because I just don't have any random thoughts running around in my head today.  Go figure.

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Have a great rest of the week!