these are also

from our ride over the weekend. There was road work somewhere between Somerville and Caldwell or Caldwell and Cameron. Anyway, these were made while waiting on the guy to flip his sign from "STOP" to "SLOW".
I was trying to get that bug. Do you know how hard it is to focus in on a bug that keeps flying around? It's hard.

i tried something

this weekend. Since we went up 36 there were more things to see. Since I can be impatient I didn't make any stops. I propped my lens up on my left arm and took pictures while I drove. Yeah, most of the pictures are crooked and might not be focused the best but it's the thought that counts.
I like this one. Once I was able to enlarge it on the computer, I saw the people sitting around in the backyard. It's funny how whenever I see people sitting around like that, I always think they're having a good time.


"Jesus is?" I don't understand what they're asking.

i learned something

about mosquitos. I never knew they are attracted to people that are hot over those that are cold. I also learned that they are drawn to people that are stressed over those that are relaxed. It has something to do with temperature and blood and all that.
This was in the window at Landry's in Galveston on Sunday.

and then there was

none. The birthday cake is gone.
I do have two words for Dad and Lauren. Don't fret.
Oh, you might want to make sure there's plenty of milk in the refrigerator. You may not think this looks like much cake but each slice could very well be two servings. Speaking of things that are good for you...

I saw something maybe it was on Dr. Oz (hey, don't knock it till you've tried it) or maybe it was looking through one of Cosme's Men's Health magazines. Wherever it was, I read about healthy snacks. Yes, snacking on potato chips will add pounds and sure, I'd like to shed a few but that's not what I'm getting at. I've been seeing a lot of things on snacks that benefit our bodies. I picked up some blueberries. I can't remember what they help. Memory? Repelling cancer? I don't remember. I do remember I read something good about them.
I also read walnuts have all that omega fatty stuff and I think they're good for our brains. So I bought some of those too.
As tempted as I was to stop at Sonic and get cheddar peppers yesterday (mmmm) I went into Target and picked up healthy snacks. So while Eric was at band practice, I sat in my car and played Moxie on my iPod eating blueberries and walnuts. Yes, those cheddar peppers sounded wonderful but the berries and nuts did the trick. Okay fine, I admit I went to Sonic and bought a Coke... but it was a small one. That's a start, right?

hi. my name is melanie

and I'm a pushover. In a way I guess that's a good thing. I like doing things for others. I like helping people. What I don't like is people taking advantage of that. There was a situation last week and I still can't believe I let it happen. I won't go into details even though I know nobody involved reads this blog... at least I don't think they do.

It reminds me of the time there was a woman walking along the highway, in the rain, with grocery bags. She was leaving Brazoria, headed towards WC. I dropped Eric off at school and went back to see if she wanted a ride. She was so happy. I think when we got to WC and I realized that while headed to her house I was actually taking her to run errands, I was shocked. I had to laugh. It was too ridiculous. Since then I have only given one other ride. It wasn't just because Cosme gave me a lecture about that not being safe but simply because people can have some nerve.

Anyway, I realized yesterday (while still stewing over what happened last week) I'm 37 years old and if I want to say no, I will say no. I don't need to give any explanations. My business is my business.

This picture has nothing to do with me being a pushover. Wait, I guess it could. It's the fruit from the top of a mai tai I had over the weekend. A mai tai could help my stress level while thinking of how rude and inconsiderate people can be.

a tip to make

things easier on you:

an old cd makes a great scraper in the dryer in case a pack of gum is ever left behind in your jeans after a homecoming game.

I washed a load of Eric's clothes last night and found gum wrappers all over the place. Some clothes went in the garbage because I'd rather run to buy new t-shirts and underwear than scrape gum off wet clothes. Well, I thought I found it all. Now I have gum smeared all inside the dryer. The good news is the fuzz the clothes left behind is making it easier to see and scrape. Oh yeah, my dryer also has a surprisingly fresh spearmint aroma.

homecoming was

Friday. I don't guess I'll ever understand the reasoning behind it. What exactly is homecoming and more importantly, why is homecoming? The only thing I really know is that it's when everyone walks around with mums on.
Now, let's talk about these mums. I make an annual trip to Stewart's and spend a little over $50 to buy a mum. It seems to me that if homecoming were all about the school, there would be an organization within the school that meets to assemble these mums, sell them and have all the profit go back to the school. Doesn't that make sense? I'm paying the florist at Stewart's $50 for a bunch of ribbon. I'd probably pay a little more if it were to a good cause... like the institution providing Eric's education.

Think about it. The mums could be made throughout the year and stored. The school colors aren't going to change. They couldn't be hard to make. It's always the same materials. Again, the school colors are always maroon and white, nothing will be wasted. All the personalization such as names and years could be done on request at the organization's after-school meetings closer to the date. Why not? I even thought of something they could call themselves. Get this... The Homecoming Committee. Oh, is that too general? How about The Mum Committee? Whatever. If homecoming is about the school then the school should benefit from it. I'm just saying...

yesterday was my

birthday. I got cards and calls from family and friends and I thank you all for that. I started something by posting the old pictures on birthdays... now it's my turn.

Mom and me, 37 years (minus 2 days) ago. I look more like 3 months old, not 3 days old.
Grandma and me
You know there's some serious partying going on when party hats are involved.See what I mean? This party was so much fun a bow ended up on my hat. Crazy times I tell you.
You know the party at this restaurant was out of control. There are even party hats on the table.
I've left the party hats behind and now focus on what truly makes the party. Cake. This cake is the the same make and model of last year's cake from Dessert Gallery. Oh my goodness. Three layers of the ultimate sugar experience. I had a small piece of cake and finished off a glass of milk and still couldn't handle all the frosting. Enough.
I can't talk about it anymore or I'll be tempted to have another sample of it. Now, this is what kept me preoccupied through the Cowboys game last night... my birthday present.
I love it. I bought a beauty shop game and it's SO addicting. My second favorite is Boggle. I also bought a police scanner application (I know, I know...wtf?) and Trivial Pursuit. Time to go to Costco and get another package of discount iTunes cards. See, Cosme and Eric both have iPhones and knew I'd love all the applications like they have. Yes, I could upgrade to an iPhone the next time around but that's not something I really want or need and I've made that clear. I do bug Eric about letting me play a parking lot game on his phone and well, he doesn't let me. Now I have my own device so I have to go play beauty shop now.

this morning i

went for a drive after dropping Eric off at school. I knew exactly where I wanted to go and I had the red chair in the backseat. This is what I got. Was it worth risking my life by lying in the road? No. Did I enjoy myself? Yes.
Once I had a few of the chair, I decided to get just the road. As soon as I finished this one, I noticed a school bus coming from behind.
I put my stuff in the car and started to turn around. I stopped and got back out of the car with the camera to catch this.

i'm helping out

with the carpool route for Dodo's "party" today so I'll be getting out for sure.
The ants feasting have absolutely nothing to do with the day, I hope. I went for my walk this morning, this was on the driveway and the camera was ten feet away. So there. Plus, I thought I would try to maybe get through a post without a sleeping cat. As I say that though, Strat is back in his chair sleeping and since my camera is right here...
Here's what I got.
It was blurry but he heard what I was doing and decided that he's had enough. I had to catch that too.
That's it. I'm getting out of the house.

i wasn't feeling

the best today. I don't know if it was a stomach bug or what. Anyway, I thought I'd post a picture of what Strat does while I'm on the computer if I have it set up at the dining table. He likes to get comfortable. This was actually the day before yesterday.
As I type this, at the dining table, Strat is once again sprawled out on that chair. I wish I had my camera. He's out cold with his eyes halfway open and I'm watching his eyeballs roll all around. It's really weird looking.

Oh well, time to make dinner. Sorry for the lame post. Maybe tomorrow will be better. At least my last post wasn't two weeks ago... Lauren.

i've haven't been

very good lately, as far as posting goes. I haven't really had anything to post and I haven't been out much. I did get to Shipley's this morning for donuts. I took this picture while waiting in the drive-thru. It makes me want to get out badly. Depending on the weather, I might.
Speaking of the weather, all the crickets mean one thing... cool weather is coming. Awesome.
This was also taken in the drive-thru line at Shipley's. I like how they paint the building the color of a donut.

there's a new blog

on my blog list down on the left and it's mine. A while back I came across recipes... tons of recipes. I emailed Lauren and Brittany to ask if they'd like copies. Since they both said yes, my next task would be sorting through the recipes and figuring out the best way to get these copies to them, not really knowing who is interested in which. I was thinking about these recipes and all the recipe blogs out there. Then comes my wonderful idea, no, make that brilliant idea. I will begin posting these recipes on the new blog. If Lauren, Brittany or anyone else is interested in the recipe, they can write it, save it, print it, or whatever.

I'm starting with recipes coming from my grandmothers' recipe books but I'm sure others will make it there eventually. In case you don't feel like scrolling down to the blog list, click on this Our Grandmothers' Recipes and check it out. Pictures may or may not accompany recipes.

i'm back to my

morning sprinkler routine. Oh well, I guess I'd rather be struggling with sprinklers in the dark every morning than worrying about whether or not we need to evacuate.

i don't know if

the speech next week is mandatory. I'm thinking about taking part in the National Keep Your Child at Home Day. I just don't know about that though. We all know how Eric's absences build up so easily. He'll probably end up going to school. If so, he will be prepared.
I don't need Barack Hussein Obama's help teaching my kid what's right, nor do I want it. Thanks anyway.

UPDATE: Eric came home with a permission slip for me to fill out and sign. I actually only have to sign it. Eric filled it out for me since he had no intention of listening to the speech. He also informed the class that he already had his earplugs for Tuesday, in case needed. They laughed and he let them know how serious he was.

eric spent a lot of

time in Maypearl this summer. He worked on cars, he learned how to start a fire on the grill, he worked on his golf swing, he picked up on so many new things. Unfortunately, he came home with one other thing...
The need to dvr Frasier. I know a lot of people like it (ahem... Mom and Dad) but I've never been one to watch it. Seriously though, how many 15-year-olds watch Frasier? I guess it could be worse.

this morning on

my way home from taking Eric to school the sun was very orange and peeking through the clouds.
I pulled over on 35. Once I got the camera out, the subject changed. It could have been a clearer picture had I attempted to get out of the car. The funny thing is when I filled up with gas yesterday, I almost cleaned the windshield.