The Night Of The Cheap Motel

We worked a music festival a little over an hour away in April. We usally don't go in for a hotel room but we were slated to work until 11pm both nights and we did not have the travel in us. We were kind of desperate and delirious by the night's end. So where did we go? Where they always leave the light on for ya. Literally. We pulled up to our room and Leah immediately became suspicious because the light was on in our room. But I was so tired, I was willing to chance it.

There were no monsters waiting on us but there was a wallowed out bed to rival all other wallowed out things. I took it because it was closest to the air conditioner. I felt as though I was sliding down a hill with no end in sight all night long. Unfortunately, there was no way to escape the quilts on the beds.

Or the shower that bore a strange resemblance to the Orgasmatron (but none of the benefits) from my favorite movie, Sleeper.

But the bathroom fan may have been the best element of the entire $58 room. You decide!

Fun, huh?

Head Out On The Highway

Good friends up and moved out of town. Way out of town. After years of talking about it they finally did it. From Georgia to Wisconsin in one fell swoop. We all headed over the last night they were in their apartment and those of us who didn't help move furniture, told funny stories, drank beer, ate granola rice cripsy treats and laughed laughed laughed. They will be sorely missed and I hope they ease the pain of their absence by sending us lots of cheese.


And now to set up one of the best stories of the night - A guy is hanging out with friends, drinking and becomes convinced pouring gasoline out of a cup into the top of a chiminea is a good idea:

Hard Bits To Swallow

My thirteen year old tells me he doesn't want to come for Christmas.
First conversation since Halloween and I initiated it.
And he says, "Yeah, I don't think I'll come for Christmas soooo,
you can just put my $200 in the mail."

I was shocked and I was cooking supper.
I burned the pancakes on the virgin griddle.
Joe hugged me a lot and nuzzled my neck.
Then I took to my bed.

Upon awakening, I learned Willie had also had a turn of bad luck.
I hope we get our respective problems ironed out.
::Fist pump::

Christmas = Crazy

The holiday season does a number on me. I try to prepare myself for the insanity and all the trimmings but it never goes as planned.

Our birthdays are three days apart, a week before Christmas. Joe could care less but I always felt like I was competing with Jesus for some birthday recognition when I was younger. Now that I'll be 36 this year, Jesus can have it! I've gone all secular anyway. As evidenced by this...

That's right. I'm on the other team. I'm all about helping Santa this year. I know I appear to be despondent in the photo but I was just embarrassed to be wearing velour knee pants. I tried to get the red and white horizontally striped knee socks in there too but I did not succeed. It's just as well. They did nothing for my meaty elf calves.

It's also the time of year to visit with my eldest. He'll be here on Christmas this year and since he skipped his summer visit (Did I mention he's 13?), I can't wait to see him. I worry over him and our relationship. It feels nonexistent at times. I fret he feels I've abandoned him even though he chose the change. It's going on three years he's been with his Dad. I wonder if he'll have issues with women based on how he feels about me. Joe tells me I romanticize it. He reminds me he's a 13 yr old boy. He reminds me that I, of all people, should be able to relate to how much he is not relating. He accuses me of being a 13 yr old boy. Or thinking like one at times. Then he points out how "deep" a 13 year old is in general. And I get that funny look on my face and he says, "Exactly."

And there you have it. It's been sitting in DRAFTS for exactly four days. It's unedited and unfinished. Much like my life.

Vacation Mode

We'll be leaving in a couple of hours for our very first family vacation! The kids have no idea what to expect. I can't wait to see their reactions, see them enjoy themselves.

I hope to log our activities on the blog each day. It will be a good way to record our fun and share it with you. Until then, keeps your prayer bonnets on and say a good word for me. Or cast a spell. Whichever you prefer. I'll need all the help I can get during the five hour mini-van ordeal.

Now, where's my martini?
I am on vacation.

Thirteen

My eldest turned thirteen during the wee hours of this morning. It's official and surreal. He's a teenager. I'm the Mother of a teenage male. He's physically five hundred miles away from me but I am with him in spirit. Whether he appreciates it or not.

I'll keep loving him and he'll keep having birthdays and we'll hope that one day, when we're both old enough, we'll find ourselves once again at ease in our relationship. I pray the time and opportunity are afforded to us.

Happy Birthday, Hoagie. I love you.

Get Your Motor Runnin'

We left the country.

We headed for the city.

We parked by the Llama Man's van.

He thought we were clowns because we "looked so happy!"
We were happy and we were also heady from Leah's tropical scented cologne.
She borrowed it from Bullet.

We learned many things during this event.
We learned ponies are afraid of llamas.
The woman in pink told us it's the neck that freaks them out.
I'm not sure if I believe that but those poor ponies were looking over their shoulders all morning!

I was sure to show off my easy bunny ideas.
You just flip the heart over, stamp it on a cheek, add ears and some eyes and whiskers and...
VOILA!

And then... they converged.

When we made it back to Atlanta, we visited with some friends.
I met this new guy behind the apartments.

You really never know what you might discover on any given day...
Do you?


I'd like for you to discover the Kransky Sisters today: