We're All Going To DIE!!!!!

Sorry about the title there. My husband accused me of being an alarmist this morning so I've had to practice all day. Luckily it has not stopped snowing for a moment here so I have many opportunities to warn people that THEY ARE GOING TO DIE!!!!! if they go outside. (or G-d forbid, attempt to drive)

DEATH awaits us all!!!!

FIERY CRASHES!!!!!

THE SNOW!!!!! IT WILL KILL US!!!!!!!

Winds of Change

The winds of change are blowing. Actually, they've been blowing for quite a while around here and have now reached gusts of near hurricane forces. As this blog pops up second when you google my name, I don't feel comfortable discussing said changes until they are completed.

I will say, the invites are out! My oldest is about to turn thirteen. Yes, a TEENAGER. His Bar Mitzvah is on his birthday and it is rapidly approaching. I have a feeling we've missed many of the plans we're suppose to make but well, it's our first time. And I have no idea. Also, he is officially taller than me and his feet have been larger than mine for quite some time now. It is an odd sensation looking directly into your offspring's eyes. I'm sure it will be even weirder when I have to look up.

Happy Thanksgiving to all (one) of my readers who are left.

(No, I shall not discuss my absence. It is what it is.)

Must get ready for the holiday...

Why God, Why?

I just realized I can't by Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Teflon in the store anymore. In fact, I can only find it online by the case. Clorox doesn't even list it on it's site anymore.

I stopped using it because I couldn't find it. Every time I had to buy more toilet cleaner I assumed it would be back on the shelf the next time. Then I tried different stores. Now I'm trying on the internet.

I wasn't sure it made a difference but it totally does. It keeps the bowls cleaner so much longer. Why, why can't I get it? I really don't want to have to order a CASE of cleaner. I'm guessing the shipping will be completely unreasonable too.

I'm really worried this means they are discontinuing this product. Clorox? If you ever see this, please, PLEASE for the love of my sanity in a house of 5 males, DO. NOT. DISCONTINUE YOUR TEFLON TOILET CLEANER.

Please.

The weekend

Let's see, the weekend...

It was busy. But not in the usual ways. My weekend started Friday (it always does). And soon it will end on Saturday night again (sniff). But for now I have glorious 3-day weekends.

Friday the children tried to kill me with their arguing and fighting and general pain-in-the-assness. No, really. It is August and all. I know you're stunned. The best argument though was one that ended in tears (not even mine). It was only slightly funny at the time because ENOUGH WITH THE ARGUING ALREADY!!! But it is sure to amuse at least one of you.

THE BEST ARGUMENT EVA:

Scene: the minivan

Participants: The 7 y/o & 8 y/o

Background: Occasionally these two like to ask me to "open their windows". I put that in quotes because they were sitting in the middle seats of the van and the windows don't actually open. I pretend to push a button and make a burrrrr noise and then they ask me to open and close their windows a couple more times.

Friday:
They both asked me to "put down their windows" and I obliged by making the burrrr noise. I then got the brilliant idea to tell them they had their own controls for said windows. They then proceeded to "open and close" the imaginary windows. Soon after they actually got in a fight and the 7 y/o cried real tears because "Dylan keeps closing my window and won't let me keep it open. Whhhaaaaaaa."

Yes. For real. I had to "put a lock on Dylan's control".

This is my life. Don't you wish you were me?

Time

Time has become the enemy. There never seems to be enough of it. It just flies by and leaves me exhausted with nothing much accomplished. ("Yes", I hear you saying, "and yet here you are blogging." Shut it.)

There is suddenly so much I want to do but I'm afraid I'm using all my energy on the planning stage and there will be none left for the actual doing stage. (What is that you say? Why yes, I have done this before.)

I've started a decluttering sweep through the house and it is taking me much longer than they make it look on all those clean house type shows. Then I get disheartened and start doing other things like planning what I shall do when the decluttering is finished. And then of course, I must estimate costs on renovations and such to see what we can actually afford to do (nothing). And then I realize I'm still only halfway through our bedroom and the youngest kids' room is becoming recluttered and it was the only room almost finished. (Yes almost. Enough with the snide comments already. Geesh!)

So now I have two almost finished rooms. Ten not even started rooms. And I need someone to tell me - WHAT, in the name of Niecy the Style Diva do I do with all the sell/give away stuff until I finish the house? I was thinking of doing a 1 day sale with scheduled VOA pickup the following day but where do I put it all in the meantime???

And how do I finish the whole house by the last weekend in August? Especially since I will on vacation for one of those weeks? (No, I will not tell you which one.)

Do you find it odd that I hear your comments while writing? No, I wouldn't say I hear voices exactly. What I meant was... I suppose it's time to make dinner.

More Photos

... up at Flickr. Now you can see what we did yesterday.

Just be warned, the photos on Flickr are unedited. I just threw them up when I pulled them off the camera. So be nice.

The Weekend

If you twitter, you've heard. I went away last weekend. For a long weekend. For a girly weekend. For a weekend without my children. And no, I didn't go to Blogher. I went to my Aunt & Uncle's. Hung out with my cousins (all girls), mother, grandmother and aunt. Lest we OD on estrogen, my uncle was there now and then.

Let me just say - LOVELY time. Really. A perfect day at the beach (some photos on flickr, more to follow). A pedicure (similar to Did someone say PARTY?). My cousins introduced me to Japanese food (yum). And I spent approximately FOUR HOURS ALONE watching some Clean Sweep type show. Divine! And now I want to throw out all our belongings.

That is all for now...