Monthly Archives: August 2012

Like Me, Friend Me, Burn Me

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No, this is not a manifesto on how to go through an ugly friendship break-up. Yes, it probably is more like an open letter to The Nana. For those who found this post by searching for stories on friendships-gone-wrong, I’m sorry.

 

I’m hoping that if you haven’t already, you will take the time to “be my friend” on Facebook and “follow me” on Twitter, and all them good thangs.  And… if you haven’t signed up to get my posts sent to you automatically by email, did you know you can? (A word to The Nana – I’m talkin’ to you!  You don’t have to hunt around on that pesky computer-desktop-white-bar thingy and punch in the name of my blog by hand. “Every. Single. Derned. Time!”  Nope, you don’t!)

 

So, here ya go.  Easy peazy:

Click here to go like my Missindeedy Facebook Page.

 

Click here to go follow me on Twitter.

 

 

And, lastly, because I’m ultra tech-saavy, look to the right of this post.  See all the green boxes with labels like “Recent Posts”, and “Archives”, and things like that?  There’s a box that says “Follow Missindeedy Via Email”.  Click that one.  (Yes, Nana, that one!) Click it and then type in your email address.  Voila`!  You are signed up to get new posts as soon as they come out.  (Yes, Nana, you may attempt a “fist pump thingy”.  You’ve earned it!)  Or, if you are so inclined, click the “Feed Me” green box to do that burny thing with your RSS Feed.  (I totally don’t get that whole process – but hey, some of you do, so kudos to you!)

 

And if you, Sweet Reader, just did any of those things?  Thank you loads!  (Virtual Fist Bump or High Five to you. Whichevs.)

I Should Probably

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Today, we went to Sweetboy’s school to take part in “Meet and Greet”.  This takes place the day before school starts each year.  It’s an event where students drag in all of the new schools supplies their parents have dropped a quarter of their monthly wages on and the parents clamor for the ear of their child’s newest teacher.  Or, in my case, I clamored for the exit door.  y’all! It was stinkin’ hot in there and I felt  my face melting right off of my body at an alarming rate.  (I should probably get that poor dear Teacher a fan for the classroom!) Sweetboy was also clamoring for the door because… Well, I think we’ve established that he despises school. And, the end of summer.  Also? School.

 

As we were leaving,  I was reminded of a life lesson that I’ve had to learn in many different ways and at many different times over the years.  You see, in my attempt to find something to brighten Sweetboy’s outlook on tomorrow’s start in the great grade of Three, I noticed that his teacher had a book out about a particular state, with a little sticky note attached telling everyone that this was where she grew up.  I thought, “Surely! Surely, this will grab the heart of my child.  My child who loves states and maps and geography.”  I pointed it out to him and encouraged him to ask his teacher about it.  He wouldn’t.

 

Me: “Sweetboy, isn’t that so cool that Mrs. Third Grade is from Overthere?”

Sweetboy: “Mama, everyone is from somewhere.  If I had to get excited about every place that every person is from, I’d have to be excited all the time!”

 

Indeed. I should probably stop trying so hard to turn that frown upside down.  And, I should probably remember that some are Tiggers and some are Eeyores.  And I should probably remember that it takes both kinds (and all sorts in between) to make the world go round. Oh, yes it does.

Five Minute Friday: Join

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Oh. My. Word. Of. Mercy.  I’m linking up for the first time ever with anyone about anything anywhere.  Ya still with me?  I’ve been reading the writings over at The Gypsy Mama‘s blog for a few years. And I have been so blessed by her “Five Minute Friday” writing prompts and the places it took me.  Today, after Ever So Much chewing of nails and promises to myself and others to just do it, I am.  Hold me…

 

 

Join…

 

I am a joiner by nature.  I’m outgoing and get jazzed up by meeting new people.  Sometimes, without any consideration, I join a person, group, or activity that I had no business joining.  And it’s often there, in that messy moment of, “What exactly was I thinking?”, that I find something out about myself that I had not known before.  Or, at other times, by joining and realizing later that I didn’t really belong, I was finally able to acknowledge something about myself that I hadn’t before.

 

And it’s in the acknowledgement or the knowing that I’m able to learn a lesson.  It’s then that the joining makes sense as a lesson to be learned.  That jumping in and then feeling all wrong in my skin?  It feels like God’s way of revealing something of Himself in me, to me. And if I am honest, sometimes, I join things for all the right reasons and still feel all wrong in my skin.  It’s in those moments of, “Why isn’t this working?”, that I am able to see God’s love for me poured out in ways I wouldn’t have been able to recognize had I not joined in the first place.

 

I’m keenly aware that there are moments when my joining in proves detrimental to my health (like the time I tried to join a Running Club, HA!), or detrimental to my relationships (joining an outwardly Christian group or organization can be off-putting to those who aren’t).  But, inevitably, if I keep my eyes and heart open to what is being revealed to me, I will see the bigger purpose in my desire to join.  And that is worth it indeed!

We’ve Got High Hopes

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Oh yes, yes we do!  And those hopes started soaring around the end of July. In an effort to encourage some independent reading on the part of our reluctant reader (Sweetboy), Sweetman downloaded an adapted version of “The Swiss Family Robinson” onto the iPad.   We took a small gamble that the ultimate family adventure story would be up Sweetboy’s alley, since he doesn’t enjoy reading much of anything.  Other than maps. Oh, how he loves his maps.  He also has a little love affair with the iPad, so there was that in our corner, too. Y’all?  It. Is. Awesome.  We had forgotten how engrossing that story is!

 

Sweetboy also adores snuggling in with me or Sweetman to read at night.  For that, we are so thankful.   And on that, we decided to capitalize.  When father and son got to the part that referenced the rubber tree plant, Sweetman started singing the song. These are the moments that Sweetboy’s Autism bares itself clothed only in hilarity.  He quite simply informed him that, “Now is not the time for singing. It’s the time for reading, Daddy.”  Alrighty then.

 

When Sweetman came downstairs and relayed the story to me, I didn’t know what in the blue blazes the “Rubber Tree Plant Song” was, that he was referring to.  So, I did what any Reference Librarian worth their salt would surely suggest: I asked the YouTube.  And here’s what I heard:

 

And I instantly remembered hearing the song from somewhere in my memory.  Where or under what circumstances? Who in tarnation knows. My brain is fuzzy enough just trying to recall what I told Sweetman we’d have for dinner tonight!  But, it reminded me that next week begins a new year of school.  A new year of opportunities for growth.  A new year of possibilities! And, as Sweetboy prepares to enter the Third Grade next week, that, my Sweetfriends?  That gives me high hopes indeed!

So, what gives ya’ll high hopes?  Do tell!

What I Learned On Vacation

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On vacation, I learned a few things.  Try, just try, I ask you, not to be impressed.

  1. Family time is precious, indeed. (In a related lesson, cousins sleeping in the same room after being apart for 6 months? No sleeping in. Ever.)
  2. Brushing your teeth in the morning as you listen the ocean lap the sandy shore? Blissful. (Hazelnut coffee after a Listerine rinse, however? Not so blissful.)
  3. Sheets that smell of the beach and have a bit more sand in them every day? The best! (Washing said sheets a couple of times each when you get home to rid them of said sand? Not so much.)
  4. Thank you God for inventing shrimp!  And, no, as it turns out, you can not over-shrimp yourself.  Just ask my family. (I think my new peachy-pink skin color suits me just fine, thankyouverymuch.)
  5. Being unplugged for the week is quite a feat. (If you don’t count the 2 iPads, 3 DS’s, and 4 iPod Touch’s that were necessary to allow the adults to enjoy adult conversation. We don’t count those, right?)
  6. Margaritas taste better when shared over a rousing game of Spades. (And apparently, my spades game improves with each new pour. Especially considering we narrowly averted a lost “nil” due to dealer error.  Let no more be said on the matter.)
  7. Moments like this make it worth every cent of the grocery bill that somehow triples when away from home:

    Footloose and fancy-free… just the way I like ‘em.

In other news, I went on vacation and all I got were these lousy mountains of laundry.

The majesty of these mountains escape me…

“Why, that’s only 5 loads!”, you may be tempted to say.  No, no, my friend.  That was simply as many loads as I could get into one shot without revealing the disaster zone that is my house right now. And, although I have no problem what-so-ever sharing pictures of my dirty unmentionables with you, I simply must draw the line at pictures of the dust bunnies and toy box that looks like it vomited all over the floor.  Of every. Single. Room.  I’m off in a cloud of turtle dust to vacuum some sand and ponder my lessons learned. Oh, yes indeedy.

A Wee Bit O’ Packing

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Because I am certain that you were all stupefied by my photography skillz in yesterday’s post, I thought to myself, “Self, what do my 7 friends and 8 family members want to see next on my blog?”  And you know what my self told me?  More pictures!  That’s right.  But, before you run screaming get too overly excited, I’ll give you a moment to decide whether you really want to waste 5 minutes reading on.  You do?  Fantastic.  I can count you as one more odd fig in our bunch. God sure does know how to make em’, doesn’t He?

We are leaving on Sunday for our Official Vacation.  Yes.  While The Nana and Captain Ahab are just dee-lightful to visit down in sunny F.L.A., we rent a beach house for a week with my in-laws for our actual “unplug and chillax” vacation.  And so, I will be gone all of next week.  Try to contain your enthusiasm sorrow.  And I will write about it. Oh yes, I will. I may even pop in here once or twice while I’m gone.  Since I’ll be vacationing with just about half of my Sweet Readers, I’ll be curious what the other half of ya’ll are up to.

So, let’s talk packing. I’ve been doing a wee bit of it and I gots to tell ya – I. Are. Tired.  Is anyone else exhausted after packing for a long-ish trip? I seriously feel like I could take a 3 day snooze after all of The Rounding Up.  True story.

Why, yes! That IS a garbage bag housing all of the linens and towels we are taking with us. We know how to keep it klassy.

I might be an odd fig, myself, because I like to lay items out as I think of them in an obvious location and then go back and organize them into the appropriate bags after I’ve piled them up in one location.  Does anyone else do this?  If not, I’m curious. How do you organize (or do you organize) your things for a trip?

I do, indeed, have a stragedy. It may not be a great one

Our bed, however, has paid the price for my “rounding up”.  I’m not quite sure where we’re going to sleep tonight.  Sweetman assures me the bed will cleared off.

Get the pukey bucket; our dressers threw up on the bed!

At the very least, by next week. Yes indeedy.  Next week, for sure.

I Also Took Some Pictures

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So, at BlogHer12, I did take some digital evidence of my involvement.  I shall commence with a little treatise on each picture’s necessity. And, please, stand in awe of my spectacular photog skillz.  No, really.  Some of you could take a page or two out of my picture-taking book.  Let me present you with Exhibit A, or, The Highpoint:

Whereby… I was able to meet a woman whose work I have been reading and following since it began in the P31 Woman magazine more than a decade ago!  Lysa Terkeurst has been writing about being a woman of faith for-evah.  And her insights into our days and issues is as engaging now as it was when I started reading her writing.  She has a new book out called “Unglued”.  Check it out here!

My Eyes! They are crying! See? See? No? Look deep into the glasses.

 

Exhibit B was the low point.  I don’t believe you need any further explanation.  And if you do, please go back to this post for an in-depth analysis of why horses and I?  We don’t mix.

Horror in the streets of NYC!

 

Remember when I told you in the previous post that bowling in a dress, late at night, after a wee glass of wine or three was tricky? I present the evidence:

And the “lesson” from the “Expert” on hand? Epic fail…

I would also kindly ask you to avert your eyes from my epic rear-endicus-maximus.  It’s a work in progress. Oh yes indeedy!

 

There was a keynote by none other than The Katie Couric.  She has a new afternoon show coming out called… “Katie”.  Brilliant title, no? She also affirmed that a lot of us are Lazy Bloggers.  We certainly are a talented group whose reputations have apparently preceded us.  Here she is. Just in case you think I jest. (And I do believe that she is wearing the very same dress that I was wearing while bowling, above.  However, I also believe I may look slightly better in it.  Yes?)

Katie, being mobbed by some not-so-lazy Bloggers, after all!

 

Remember when Sweetboy asked me to snap a pic of the Statue of Liberty for him?  Well, I think we can all agree that I nailed it.

Try not to envy my physique. It will be hard.

 

And, lastly, because I know you’re just bolted to your seats in awe of the beautiful and not-at-all-blurry-in-any-way photos I have presented thus far, let me present Exhibit Something-Or-Other.

Friendships were formed. Some might even survive despite the desire to wear a bag on one’s head.  Maybe.

Bags on heads and Funny Face Paraphernalia. The stuff that friendships are made of. Can I get an Amen?

Yes, friends, let’s just say that fun was had by all. Mostly.  Mainly.

I Came, I Saw, I Got Some Things

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I’m back. BlogHer 2012 was this past weekend. I went.  I saw. I was completely overwhelmed.  That’s the short version.  Some of my ideas about how the conference would shake down were right on.  Some were way off.  NYC was a fantastic place be in for the conference because, hello? Hotel food?  No thank you!  NYC food, on the other hand?  Yes please!  In no particular order, (other than the fact that I’m choosing the ones that my brain can actually remember most accurately) here are my top 10 highlights from this past weekend’s blogging extravaganza:

  1. Having a great roommate is uber-helpful.
  2. A smile really is the best accessory.  Although, comfy shoes are imperative for All The Walking.
  3. It‘s a good idea to know what kind of blog you really intend to write before choosing which sessions to attend.
  4. Sleep is for sissies.  Hi. I’m Missindeedy and I am a sissy.
  5. The Halal Food Carts really are just as tasty as you’ve heard.
  6. Apparently, there really is some good spaghetti in Nevada.
  7. Katie Couric is on Weight Watchers!! It’s true! She said that each day she starts off on WW and by night she’s off.
  8. Bowling at 11:00 at night, in a dress, after a glass or two of wine?  That’s tricky.
  9. The Swag Exchange Suite was a brilliant idea. I got some things.  I left some other things.
  10. And, I have cemented in my mind how incredible a Mickey D’s cheeseburger can taste at midnight.  It’s even better when shared amidst blogging friends, new and old, who are just as loopy as you are.

Riveting information, I know.  I’m just hoping that I can get my act together and take it on the road in a couple of years when I’ll be brave enough to try this again! For now, though, I feel as though it was a huge learning experience.  And it’s going to take another couple of months days to process it all.  Cuz’ I’m fast like that.  Oh, yes indeedy!