The Bird of Paradise. . .

This song just makes me smile. It's the perfect song for when a day isn't quiet going your way and you just want to stomp and scream.  It's the perfect insult to sing when someone cuts you off in traffic.

It's a classic from Jimmy Dickens.  You'll be toe-tapping right along with it.  And I bet the next time someone pulls a dumb move you'll catch yourself thinking of this song.

Happy Saturday!

May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose

That Darn Cat!

I am not a cat fan.  My sister was terribly allergic when we were kids and now that I am older, it seems I don't tolerate cat fur very well.

But I can enjoy a cat movie--especially a Disney movie from back in the day with Hayley Mills and Dean Jones.

It's the story of DC, a cat that is carrying a message. . .on a wristwatch (see how dated it is?  Who wears a watch anymore?)  And DC just might have the clues to solve a series of ban robberies.

Enjoy the ride!

That Darn Cat!

Good morning! Today we have a very special guest!

Eleanor.  Eleanor actually arrived on Tuesday (which means that just like the Mickey Mouse Club used to have special guest starts on Tuesday, well, I got my Eleanor on a Tuesday. . .come to think of it, my sister and I were both born on Tuesdays.  As well as two of my children, except they don't really count since I ended up having a great deal of say so about when they arrived.)

I digress.

Welcome dear Eleanor.  It's been a bit of a wait but I have to say, I do believe it was worth it!

Eleanor is my new computer.  She arrived just in time for me to write my 501st blog post.  She's so special. 

Pure excitement! 

I haven't had a new computer in 9.5 years.  Yes, that's how long it has been since I had a computer of "my own" arrive.  My desktop is doing fine by the way but with so many people needing access to a computer these days, it was time for a new member of the family.

Enter Eleanor.  (And give props to my parents for recognizing the need and helping bring Eleanor home.)

To some, Eleanor isn't super fancy.  But she is going to be able to do what I need and she is mine so that's pretty special.

Why Eleanor?    Well, it is a good name. . .solid, strong and elegant.  Eleanor Roosevelt was a strong woman--champion of others and outspoken when she needed to be. 

So Eleanor will help me speak.  And she is beautiful.

Good stuff.

Just like a baby

Apologies.  It seems that I am just like a baby right now. . .my days and nights are somewhat confused.  I can't seem to get my posting on time anymore.  I will work on that.  I promise.

Funny how when my kids were babies, I just thought that when they got older--could talk, move on their own, feed themselves, etc--life would be easier.

For all you young people out there~~it doesn't get easier!  Nooo, quite the contrary.  They get older and the problems get bigger.  The scheduling becomes more difficult.  It's entirely normal to have at least 3 different required events after school (2 of them will always happen at the same time but in different locations) with the third event happening just after the other two conclude.

This means your days become busy in an entirely different way.

Do not get me wrong.  I don't want to give up what I have now.  The kids are great and I love that they each have their own thing.

I just need to do a better job of figuring out how to get us all where we need to be (on time) while I manage to keep serving healthy family style meals and keep us in clean clothes in a relatively happy and clean(ish) home and all the while plan my new class and make the necessary changes to my previous courses.

Oh, and I need to learn to utilize/implement new technology too.

And figure out a sleep pattern that fits the work schedule.

Hmmm.  Never a dull moment.

Thankfully, there are plenty of fun times mixed in with stories from the kids about their days as well as big hugs and giggles.  Because without those, I don't know how I'd get up ever morning. . .since I'd rather sleep all day anyway.

Crabby earrings

I was out shopping the other day because I felt like my closet wasn't jammed packed with things already and maybe I should fill the void.

OK, not really.  There isn't a void.  I just like getting deals on my clothes.  I lost enough weight for my dr to congratulate me and use me as an example of "well done" to others.  So now it's fun to go shopping for clothes.

We were dangerously close to spending enough money at Kohl's to get some extra Kohl's cash so we hit the clearance accessories.

And there they were.

Silver Crab Earrings

Go ahead.  Look at them.

Don't they make you smile?

They made me smile.

Thusly, they came home with us.  And I told my oldest daughter that they will be our "warning sign."

Yup, on a crabby kind of day, you wear the crabby earrings.

Because what could be better?

I think I'm going to need a giant chocolate chip cookie to go with my crabby earrings tomorrow.  It was just that kind of day today.

Kodachrome!!!!

Oh how I loved this song.  Several years ago my sister spent a summer away for school/work and when she came home she had all kinds of new music, much of which wasn't really new except now we had copies of it.

This one was one of my favorites from her collection of "new to us" songs.

When I hear it I'm just a teenager again.  Makes me happy.

This of course makes it a perfect Saturday song :-)

Concert in the Park "Kodachrome/Maybelline"

The Miracle Woman

The title itself just jumped out at me since I feel like it's a miracle I make it through each day anymore.  We're so busy.  They tell me it gets easier as the kids get older.  I don't agree.  New ages, new worries.

Anyway, today's film is from Frank Capra, 1931 . . . and you can't go wrong when you watch a Frank Capra film.

Barbara Stanwyk.  (My mom always loved a good Barbara Stanwyk movie!) Just watch

The Miracle Woman