I need an easy post. Can't get much easier than stream of consciousness, huh?
1) I sleep like a baby. Contrary to the romantic and idyllic image of a newborn snuggled under her covers with cartoon sugar plums dancing happily above a downy head, IN REAL LIFE this means waking up several times a night. I've enjoyed bouts of insomnia over the past few years, so when I get a complete night's sleep (at least 6 1/2 hours…), I'm ecstatic. Last night was GREAT…and this morning when I woke up the birdies in my yard were singing a cheery tune, my adorable Australian shepherd greeted me with her typical full body I'M-SO-HAPPY-TO-SEE-YOU dance, my children were perfectly behaved–not a grouch or whiner in the bunch, and we hit EVERY GREEN LIGHT on our way to school. Even THEY noticed what a smooth morning it was. A perfect cup of coffee, reading some practical and penetrating words, all is well.
2) The thieves who stole my pocketbook charged $428 at a local grocery store minutes after they shattered my car window. We aren't responsible for the charge, at least while it's under investigation (and definitely not for the full amount), but wow, they were fast :/. My first reaction (and interestingly, Rachel's was similar) was they must be pretty desperate and HUNGRY to do this (as evidenced by charging something at a grocery store). Tad figured they bought 40 cases of
beer…and then I wondered if they bought whatever's necessary to produce meth (except that's kind of hard because TN has the "ingredients" under lock and key now).
3) Have you ever used Shout Color Catchers? You should…they really work! You know how colors can bleed onto lighter or white fabric from the same garment? Color Catchers trap the dye, essentially preventing, or at least reducing, bleed. This would've saved several of my kids' outfits when they were younger; seems like a lot of their stuff was ruined from a print bleeding (even when I followed the care instructions on the label). Then again, sometimes the "bleeding" was from a skinned knee or elbow and Color Catchers wouldn't have helped a bit.
4) The interior of our house is being painted. Our house is around 20 years old, so it's due. There are several ramifications to this: a) I have had to choose paint colors…DO YOU KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THAT IS FOR A CHOCOLATE/STRAWBERRY/VANILLA GIRL???! The short answer is "extremely"; not just wall colors, mind you, but ceiling colors as well…and trim. Thank God (and yes, that is a sincere praise) my new friend Jennifer is helping, and my painters are patient and accommodating; b) I am discombobulated. There have been people in my house for over a week now. That becomes wearying. Because I have a shy bladder (don't even mention shy bowel!), I haven't been able to "go" for over a week…I should be exploding momentarily; c) we didn't take before pictures…1) have I mentioned our camera is lemon? and 2) no one thought of it til after. Can you see me banging my head against the wall? Ooops! Now I have some shade of red I can't remember …or navajo white…or cay…or commodore blue…or morning fog paint in my hair…:/ d) I got BLACK paint on one of my favorite pairs of pants this morning. Unfortunately the Color Catcher mentioned above won't help me. But because of #1 above, I am not going to let that ruin my day, nope, PollyAnna is still in the house. e) We're getting someone else to paint it because 1) Tad HATES to paint and 2) I am SLOW and BAD at it. It'd be one thing if I was slow and GOOD, another if I was fast and BAD, but we've learned the hard way it was worth paying someone else to get it done without Tad having a coronary and so it didn't look like we let the kids loose with paint brushes.
5) What are two of my favorite things? The beach and chocolate!!! Author and blogger Julie Carobini has just published her freshman novel Chocolate Beach. With a title like that, it HAS to be good! To whet your appetite, check out Amy Wallace's blog interview with Julie.
6) I'll upload a video blog of the polyphon soon…with painters invading my personal space in my "blogging environment" I haven't been able to get to it. If you're interested…:).
That's all…that's enough!
That much money at a grocery store? Indeed that’s a very odd place to spend one’s stolen plastic.
And Shout Color Catchers, eh? Have to give it a shot (or a shout).
Much better posting than Willowtree here. I think I may switch my loyalties.
I bought some Musinex several weeks ago and I had to show my license. I’d rather be sick.
Thanks for the shout out and link, Robin. And thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a post. I love your writing voice, very engaging even in stream of consciousness. Made me laugh. Hope the painting is done well and soon!
Amy
So much to digest, I’ve read it, but I’ll have to come back later absorb it and then comment.
James, I know…I’ve never spent that much at a grocery store, not even when I was trying to shop for the month and had two carts :/. Hey, go crazy, wash your whites with a red shirt and let me know how that turns out for ya…or not, lol.
Oooo, Brian, now THAT kind of sweet talk will get me to visit your blog ;)…”hummingbunny” doesn’t sound nearly as ominous as “dirtyunclemark” and he was better than okay :).
Amy, glad you made the reciprocal trip…it might have been my first visit to your site, but it won’t be the last. Don’tcha just lurve the surprise hat tip?
Willowtree-JINX! You were reading while I was commenting. Uh, oh…reading, digesting, absorbing…THEN commenting? I’m in trouble. Rolaids?
I’m stuck on your shy bladder thing. Didn’t know one of those existed. Is that emotional baggage from having to pee on stage when you tried out for a play in junior high?
I guess the shyness also prevents you from going to a local restaurant or the public library while the painters are in the house… you MUST be bursting.
Ok, moving on to chocolate. 🙂 Somewhere around here I have an entire magazine devoted to chocolate in all it’s decadence. (No cheap dime store Easter bunnies in this bad boy!)
What in the world can you buy in a grocery store that costs that much?!?! Just for curiosity, I’d ask to see the itemized grocery bill.
I had those color catchers in my basket, then put them back, then read the box again and put them back in there and then ended up putting them back when I got to the counter. Okay so now I’ll go put them back in my basket. =)
Geesh…
I had the same reaction when I heard about that book. My two favorite things! In one! Sign me up.
Hey Robin, More than 400 bucks in groceries–I didn’t even spend that on my last Costco run. Yikes. (Did they at least get some designer chocolate?)
And I thank you from the bottom of my newbie writer’s heart for the book mention!!! (You rock 🙂
over $400 in groceries?? wow… any video surveillance from the grocery store? They might be able to find these guys (or am I watching too much tv???)
Easy post? Hello – this was a long complicated one. heh heh.
I fear aging, just because I hear from everyone that sleep starts becoming an issue. I LOVE my sleep. I need 8 hours a night. I fear insomnia with the core of my being.
My SIL and MIL SWEAR by those color catches. I’ve never used them, but If I get a random colored sock in with the whites, oh well. I don’t sweat that stuff too much. I’m more worried about losing sleep.
and yes, I want to see pictures of the new paint jobs. My family room needs a fresh coat of paint VERY BADLY…the white is starting to look grayish.
Thanks for the warning. We’ll be repainting the inside of our house soon. Right now every room in the house is the exact same color. I like consistency and all, but a little variety can be good too, no?
Send your friend!
Love the color catchers:)
Can’t wait to see the paint
I wish we could hire painters! My husband loves to paint, and won’t spend a dime on it. But does he have time… NO. So, you- know-who has been eying the walls and trim and wondering if I dare to attack it all. I hope you survive the ordeal… and do post some pics with your “lemon” camera!
Dear robin. I have bladder stage fright too. It can cause some painful times. It’s a curse.
My friend had the same thing happen.. plus they paid their phone bills and everything!!!
With credit card.
My friend knows whose bills were paid but the police don’t do antyhing.
blushing bladder eh? funny.
“Randomries” I love it. But, I can NOT believe that everywhere I go today, there is food posted. Not the Shout Color Catcher, the CHOCOLATE. After being on a liquid diet for 24 hours, and until I can go eat everything in my refrigerator, including the box of soda, I am not visiting any more blogs today.
$428 ? It takes me 3 hours to buy that many groceries. Oh, there we go again. FOOD !
I’m outta here.
Erin, after almost 20 years of marriage, I even hate for Tad to hear me! It’s ridiculous, I know, but guess what? After 8 days of these guys in my house, I’m finally tinkling again. With my bedroom door closed. And the bathroom door closed. And extremely thankful that down the hall there’s a radio playing VERY loudly :).
Please send me your chocolate magazine when you’re done with it. Or post it–that sounds like a DELICIOUS post to me!
You reminded me to call the grocery store to see if they have surveillance.
Vicki, I laughed when I read your comment, because I’ve “thought” about buying them ever since they were introduced. I’m not sure what finally prompted me to do so (probably something faded in our wash:/). Glad I helped you off the fence ;).
Heather, with a name like that, it HAS to be good!
Julie, I KNOW! Curiosity is killin’ me about as much as the whole theft itself.
It’s been fun catching your blog from time to time to watch this whole process unfold…my pleasure to give you a shout out!
Claudia, I wonder what I’d do if they were caught…I’d just like to sit across from them, face to face, and talk, I think.
Karmyn, I didn’t know insomnia was something to be feared, but I hear ya. You’ve got a few good years left…ask your mom :/.
Grayish??? Lawd, chile, it IS time to paint! I’ll take pictures soon (provided my camera cooperates :/).
Carol, a friend with a good eye covers a multitude of sins, lol. I recommend painted ceilings, too…it really is a COOL thing to do! I’m looking up at “nuthatch” (chocolate brown;) ) even as I type. And our playroom is Cay, think “robin’s egg blue” and the walls are a burnt orange. Doesn’t it sound wretched??? (but I LOVE it!)
Malissa, ah, yes, you know that of which I speak (ahem, blog). 🙂
E-mom…the last room Tad painted…is soon to be wallpapered. He did fine, but he HATED every minute of it, and let’s just say there’s a difference with people who do this for a living. I admire you for even thinking about the trim! The last time I painted, I ended up with as much on me as I did on the wall. <--- that is NOT an exaggeration 🙁 (lol). Finally! Someone who feels my shy-bladder-pain!! Thank you, thank you, Little Miss Moi! 🙂 Pamela, I do not understand how come nothing was done if they know "who" did it! Grrrr, the injustice :(. Glad YOU think my blushin' bladder is funny...I had the funniest line right there, but totally backspaced over it for decency's sake, lol. Let your mind wander...;). Swampy, why the liquid diet? I must've missed something...
That has to be the most intricate weaving of nested lists I’ve ever seen. There number lists within numbered lists within numbered lists, very impressive.
$400 worth of groceries isn’t too hard to do if you just buy booze, cigarettes and meat, oh and some party things like chip and dip.
Nice of Brian you use me as an example of sub-standard quality, I certainly appreciate it, although I don’t really know what I did to deserve it.
you’re much kinder than I am.
I like your random-sharing posts. There are so many directions to go!
btw – I added you to my del.icio.us – but you’re not my fist blog, so sorry.
Willowtree, wow, I’ve got “intricate weaving of nested lists” skills! Well, alright!
Claudia, don’t you think it would make for interesting conversation???
LCO, Hmmmmm, those who are last will be first, though…right? ;). Thanks for the add!