Last Night at Dinner

We started talking about Dave being president of the United States - I'm not sure how this started. So Sam asks, "Will you make me in charge of Mars?" I tell him that he probably came from there anyway so it would be like sending him home. Then Becca asks, "Can I be in charge of Pluto?" and I say, "Why do you want to be in charge of Pluto? Pluto is in danger of losing it's planet status. Do you want to be in charge of a planet that might be on the downswing?" She says, "I will make it good again, if I'm in charge." "How you gonna do that?" I ask She says, "I will tell everyone to come to Pluto!" I say that Pluto has no way to sustain an economy. She says if they don't have enough money she will just get it from Earth. Hmmmm.

Why Not Me?

I started and finished "Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows" on Saturday. It was the perfect weekend for it to come out because the kids were at their mom's house, Dave had a test that he had to take in Southfield and I was laid up with a nasty cold. I got through it even quicker than I expected. I'm a pretty quick reader as it is, but I sailed right through it in about 7 hours or so. I took a few breaks to fold laundry and that was about it.

I know these are technically children's books, but if you enjoy fantasy, you will enjoy these books no matter what your age is. It's fun to be excited about reading again. Not to mention the fact that TV is so horrific, unoriginal, and detestable right now that it's good to have something else to do. I'm so green with envy of J.K. Rowling/I want to be J.K. Rowling. But that's another post.

Anyway, don't worry if you haven't read it yet, I won't say anything about the plot or how it ends. I'm kind of sad that it's over, but I will say that the book is very satisfying and does not really leave you wanting. I can't help but reflect on how different my life is since I first met Harry Potter......

My mom bought me books 1-4 for Christmas about 6 years ago and devoured all four of them in about a week's time (like I said, fast reader). I was still living with my parents at the time. Then I waited, like everyone else, for book 5 to come out. Book 5 I pre-ordered and it arrived on my doorstep with a thump from the Fed-ex man early that Saturday morning. I was living in my sweet little condo at the time. I read that one in a day too, but I was up late into the night finishing it. Book 6's release is hazy. I think I was in the throes of new love with my now husband then long distance boyfriend. I didn't pre-order it. I just went to the bookstore and purchased it. It was divine. (Books 4 and 6 remain my favorites) And now Book 7, again, not pre-ordered. I just got up on Saturday and went and bought it. I may be all grown up now, but at heart I'm still the little girl who spent a lot of her time reading every book she could get her hands on. I'm still the same little girl who's friends were Larua Ingalls Wilder, Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield, The Girls of Canby Hall, Superfudge, The Girl with Silver Eyes (and all of her telekinetic friends), Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout, and countless other characters in countless other books that I read over and over and over again. I was more comfortable with them than I was with the girl who lived down the street (I said down the street - not across the street Val). And I appreciate the fact that J.K. Rowling could create a story that captivated not only childen, but adults as well. It has re-kindled my love of reading.

If you haven't read these books, you should. The movies don't do them justice.

Now I'm off to write my own best seller. If I can just find what I did with my creativity, because I seem to have misplaced it.

Same Old Same Old

I know I'm a weenie about keeping up with this thing. There just doesn't seem to be much to tell right now. My life consists of working, making lunches, making dinners, watching a few minutes of tv and going to bed. And before I know it, it's been a week and I haven't posted. Again.

Dave's outside killing bees and I'm in here trying to think of something interesting to blog about. I've been blog surfing lately. Two years ago I didn't even know what a blog was, now I'm looking at people's blogs who I don't know from a chick pea. It's fun to start at a blog you know, look at one of my friend's blogs. Click on one of her links, then click on one of that person's links, and so on. It's fun to see where you end up. I want to put links to all my buddies blogs on my page, but so far I haven't been able to figure out how.

I promise to work on that so you can look at my friend Katie's most adorable daughter, Molly. Or see Mandy's (you have to call her Miranda) brand spanking new baby, Max. I haven't even see him yet he's so new. Or visit the Nuthouse and hear all about Val's two little nips who keep her on her toes every day. So there, you have something to look forward to beyond my boring posts!

The Wild Goose Inn

As I mentioned, Dave and I stayed at a Bed and Breakfast last weekend to celebrate our 1st anniversary. The first night was a surprise gift from my bridesmaids and my good friend Katie. We decided to splurge and stay an extra night. We stayed at The Wild Goose Inn in East Lansing. It was right in downtown East Lansing and we arrived on Saturday afternoon, parked the car and didn't move it again until we left on Monday.

We stayed in two different suites which was cool because they all have a different theme. The first night we were in "Summer Safari" Sorry, I forgot to take the pictures right when we got there so the room was already "lived in" before I got the camera out. But you can also go the website to see their professional pictures!

The second night, we were in the "Great Lakes" suite. I felt like we were up on Mackinaw Island and this suite took up the entire second floor of the second buildings. It was very private. And it had it's own private deck where we spent much of Sunday lounging and reading which is something I have not had the luxury to do in quite some time.

There is also a nice patio connecting the two building together where you could sit and have breakfast or just hang out and relax.

Sunday we walked around the Michigan State Campus and looked at the botanical gardens. This is my reflection in the little pond. It was a very clear and still day.

We had an absolutley wonderful time. The bed and breakfast was so nice and relaxing. Thank you so much to my girls for being so amazing and thoughtful. I really feel so undeserving!

Is it just me?

I had to go to the doctor on Monday. My appointment was at 4:15. I signed in at 4:10. They did not call me back to the room until 5:00 and I did not see the doctor until 5:20. That in and of itself is bad enough, but while I was sitting in the room waiting for the doctor, his staff was standing in the hallway having the loudest and most obnoxious conversation I have ever heard. I sort of felt like I was in the mall and being how I was already a little irritated due to the fact that my time is so precious and the last thing I feel like doing is spending an hour and a half for an appointment that literally takes about 10 minutes. Fortunately, I was there for something rather minor and mostly cosmetic because I cannot imagine if I was there for a serious health issue. How would I feel to be sitting in a room alone waiting for the doctor while four overgrown teenagers stand around in the hall and gossip? Am I over-reacting or is the doctor's office another place that customer service has gone by the wayside?

A Slip of the Tongue

I'm Sorry. I know I have been blog slacking for the past couple of weeks. Work became insane and my only comfort the thought of the upcoming vacation. And now it's here! We stayed Saturday and Sunday night at the B&B. Thank you Donna, Alison, Mandy and Katie - it was wonderful. I still need to transfer the pictures from my camera so expect a post in the next couple days detailing everything.

I am actually running out the door in a few minutes but I wanted to share a little "kid" tidbit you might find amusing.

I took Rebecca shopping a couple weeks ago to get her some new shorts for camp. We were wandering around Kohl's and it was the typical mother-daughter shopping experience. I would pick up something and she would say it was boring. She would pick something up and I would fall on the floor and need to be revived. I don't know if you have seen some of the horrifying things they have out for little girls right now, but I am not dressing my 7 year old like Brittny Spears. Ain't happening. But those are the things she picks up. Sequins, ruffled, pink camoflauge, etc. It's all tacky and ugly. So I tell her, "Becca, you have trailer trash taste. And I don't know where you got it, but it certainly wasn't from me." Probably not the best thing to say to your 7 year old, but I slipped.

Fast forward a week. We're out trying to find a dress for me to wear to an upcoming wedding. Becca is in the dressing room with me. So I try on this dress and before I get it zipped I can tell it looks very bad on me. Becca wrinkles up her nose and says, "I don't like that." I say, "Me either, it looks bad on me." And she says, "My mommy would like that dress." Of course I think nothing of it. "Why would she like it?" Her adorable 7 year old response " Because she doesn't know what taste is. That's what you said."

Oh my God.

Wussy Girl

So as most of you know, Dave and I took the kids to Disney World back in January. It was their Christmas present. They have been wanting to go since Dave and I first started dating and we finally bit the bullet and did it. We spent a week staying on the Disney property at the Wilderness Lodge and we ran the kids ragged trying to make sure they saw as much as we could squeeze in. They were awesome and we had an awesome time.

As most of you also know, I am a Disney freak. I've been there many many times and have enjoyed every trip. Well, this time I found out that my age is catching up with me. I've never been a thrill ride fan, but I always enjoyed mild thrill rides. So while you won't see me on the Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, I always make it a point to go on the Matterhorn, the Calypso and the Scrambler. At Disney, I would tolerate Space Mountain, but It's a Small World and The Haunted Mansion were more my speed.

So this year I had the joy of discovering that not only can I not tolerate the roller coasters, I now have the pleasure of being claustrophobic. I discovered this on Mission Space with my 7 year old daughter. If you haven't been on Misson Space, let me explain. It is designed to make you feel like you are on the space shuttle during a mission to Mars and there are two different rides you can choose from. One makes you feel like you are actually experiencing lift off and actual G's. It's intense. I went on it with my mom last time I was there and almost lost my lunch, but the confined space didn't bother me. The other option is more like a simulator. So you can close your eyes and you're fine. So Becca and I are went on Mission Space (the wussy version). And as soon as the restraints came over my shoulders, the control panel moves forward toward you face leaving about 6 inches of space between you and it and the door shut, I freaked. Wanted out. Looking for an emergency exit button. Started to hyper-ventilate. Becca's asking me why I'm closing my eyes and I'm about to cry. Thank God the ride only lasts two minutes. I'll never go on it again. Becca, on the other hand, didn't think it was intense enough and insisted on going on the other Mission Space no less than five times. She also rode the Tower of Terror (her brother wouldn't even go), Expedition Everest, and Space Mountain.

I also freaked out on Stitch's Alien Encounter. I don't even want to talk about that.

I can't believe I'm posting this information on the internet so the whole world can know that I am a certified wussy girl.