Yawn.....stuff to do, people to see..

I promised Sonja I would put this photo on here. She took this while on a hike around her house. Cool huh? Very rain forest-y.

Any way, I'm off to enjoy the Rhododendron Festival in nearby Florence, which is also a big biker rally. !00th anniversary blah, blah, blah. No just kidding. It should be wonderful. I'll post pictures later when we get back.

I Wised up.

Here is the obligatory Mother's Day post. I've been sitting here thinking about what I want to say and I am drawing a blank. What can I say that hasn't already been said? Oh I know...

Why aren't mom's appreciated this much every day? I don't mean we should get cards, flowers, and presents everyday, but the thoughts, hugs and thanks would be great. I would love to wake up every morning or walk in the door each night and be the recipient of a hug and a "thanks Mom, your the best."

Or to have your kids do all the things in those little homemade coupon books they give you. But do them all the time, without the need for the coupon. You know, the one's filled with little scraps of paper that say, "Good for one free hug." Or "Redeem for one free car wash." I don't remember the last time I got a spontaneous hug from my son.

My son last night said something that made everything clear. At that moment I just had to stare at him with my mouth open. Nothing would come out. I had so many ways to respond to his question, it's like I had a traffic jam in my mouth.

He had just finished unloading the dishwasher and he put a few things in the sink that didn't quite come clean, finished putting everything else away and went a started watching television. I told him that next time he needs to put the ones that were still dirty back in the dishwasher instead of leaving them in the sink. He says, "We've ran them through like, a zillion times. They should be washed by hand and be done with it." I said, "Great, why don't you do that?" He's says, "Why do I have to do it?" This is where my tongue got stuck in my mouth and wouldn't move.

Many things ran through my head:

• "Why not?"


• "Because I said so."


• "Because it was your idea."

These statements were among the contenders. My friend Sonja would of probably just given him an "Act right!" smack upside the back of his head, and he would have sullenly got up and washed them. End of story. My methods are slightly different.

What finally came out of my mouth was, "Are you serious?" (I know, soooo smooth.) And I just walked away. But I think my son is slightly psychic, or he just knows me well, because about ten minutes later I heard him in the kitchen washing up those few things.

It takes him a few moments to think about things. Things like the stupid man thoughts that form into words and pop outta his mouth. He wises up eventually. I'm glad my son can think for himself, even if it takes him longer than the average female.

So what became clear was that if the world worked the way we mom's think it should, their would be chaos. There would be no reason to especially appreciate anybody, let alone your mom, because everyone would be pulling their own weight. The words, "I appreciate you" would become boring and with no meaning because it's hard to appreciate something that is commonplace.

So I guess all is right with the world when on this Mother's Day I am enjoying my chocolates, my new kitchen knife set, and anticipating the Harry Connick Jr. concert I received tickets for. All the while, I am waiting for the second load of laundry to finish drying, waiting for my floor to dry that I just mopped, and thinking about giving the dogs a bath. Because sometimes it's just easier to do it myself than asking someone else to do it. Happy Mother's Day All!

I shall overcome...with the help of chocolate.

OK, so I had a really crappy day, but no one wants to hear my sad, long and pathetic story so I will skip it. But I will say one thing. OK, maybe one thing said in a few different ways.

1. What goes around, comes around.
2. Everyone gets what they deserve. Eventually. When you aren't expecting it. Possibly with flaming arrows and lava.
3. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap St Paul, Galatians 6-7
4. Do unto others as you would have others do unto you Matthew 7-120
5. I know people. Some mildly crazy.

So, that said and done, I hope everyone else had a great day. Mine started getting better after I got off work. My hubby called me just as I was getting off work and met me at the nearby watering hole for a beverage. I ranted and raved about my day. He attentively listened. Or at least he's getting better at faking it. I frankly don't care. At least not today. As long as I feel better, at that time that's what I needed.

So I was dreading going grocery shopping tonight, but...what's this? He found my list? And went shopping!?! Wow. My night just keeps getting better and better. Then I get home and what do I find? A box addressed to me from Harry & David's. I was praying for an entire cheesecake, but I got even better. An entire box of assorted chocolates and various chocolate covered fruit or something. I don't care, it could be chocolate covered socks at this point. Yummo!

Chocolate. Chocolate. Mmmmm......and it was sent to me for Mother's Day so I can eat the whole darn thing by myself without guilt. Well, mostly. Ingrid, Sandy I love you. Thank you, thank you! May the god's of richness, gorgeous mute men with money to lavish on you, and chocolate chip pancakes, smile on you! See above rules. ;-) Goes both ways, didn't you know?

Oh and thank you Sonja for my various and at odd times random phone calls, whenever I could spare a minute to bitch about my day. I might save you a chocolate covered something.

*Perseverance, a virtue, implies persistence, endurance, hardiness, fortitude, stamina, robustness and tolerance. It is constant persistence in a course of action, purpose, or state, steadfast pursuit of an aim, tenacious assiduity or endeavor, continuance in a state of grace leading finally to a state of glory. Your Ascension work must equal the Power moving through you, and you must back it with persistence, perseverance and a continuous soul-need to move higher, reach higher, understand more, comprehend more. All obstacles become a challenge for the initiate to practice steadfastness and perseverance. Persevere in standing under the Light, which will shine on your path to the goal.