Sunday, July 12, 2009
Hide and Seek
It's another Sunday, funday... And we are playing 'Hide and Seek' indoors due to the hotTexas heat outdoors. Even the pets avoid going out. Can you help us find the cat!? Apparently Cat A thinks she is hiding.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
102
Another hotTexas day... it has been at least a month and we should be used to the heat. But it is HOT. No, it is not a dry heat. There is nothing dry about 102. 102 is 102 (unless the heat index wants to claim 110, well then 102 is 110, and try explaining that to your child who relies on the math teacher to make numbers clear and simple)
The good thing about the heat ... is that I hold off on imbibing til way past four in the afternoon. I just can't drink in the heat... one word: FERMENTATION! Oh, and another word: VOMIT!
Take time to enjoy (or good luck finding) the BEST beer in the world: the REAL Budweiser!
The good thing about the heat ... is that I hold off on imbibing til way past four in the afternoon. I just can't drink in the heat... one word: FERMENTATION! Oh, and another word: VOMIT!
Take time to enjoy (or good luck finding) the BEST beer in the world: the REAL Budweiser!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
12:34:56 07.08.09
Hope everyone remembered to make a wish during yesterday's post-midnight or post-noon time.
Here's to wishes!
Here's to dreams!
What were you doing on 1:23:45 06.07.89 ? twenty years ago!
Here's to wishes!
Here's to dreams!
What were you doing on 1:23:45 06.07.89 ? twenty years ago!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
women of habit
are women we could all learn from... (with the probable exception of shopping and wardrobe attire)
economic
prayerful
soulful
insightful
sisterly
motherly
orderly
inventive
creative
frugal
I love traveling to predominantly Catholic countries and seeing nuns. They are so cute, so souvenir-like. They must dislike having their photos taken, hence the nuns' flipside shot as they cursed me in Polish (I'm sure it was a curse... my God-given talent is being able to cuss in any given language). I think I'll go watch 'Sister Act', or perhaps 'Sound of Music'...
economic
prayerful
soulful
insightful
sisterly
motherly
orderly
inventive
creative
frugal
I love traveling to predominantly Catholic countries and seeing nuns. They are so cute, so souvenir-like. They must dislike having their photos taken, hence the nuns' flipside shot as they cursed me in Polish (I'm sure it was a curse... my God-given talent is being able to cuss in any given language). I think I'll go watch 'Sister Act', or perhaps 'Sound of Music'...
(a post to my favorite, long-ago, but not forgotten nun; Sister Phyllis)
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
a little bit of heaven...
The signs announce "Do Not Touch"!
The signs announce "Look Only"!
We spent about two hours browsing this teeny little corner shop, deciding which chocolate to bring home. The salespeople were so friendly, letting us taste little samples: 42%, 55%, 64%, 72%, 80%, 82%, 86%, and 90% cacao.
How can we get this delicious chocolate back to America? The salespeople suggest 'shipping'. However, it is only possible with a wholesale order. And, that is an extraordinary amount of chocolate for two people (it's not like we're going to share).
After much deliberation I admired the chocolate replicas of famous sites in Berlin. I was scowled at as I got much too close. I was escorted out with a severe frown ... perhaps, it was the lick or the little corner I tried to pry loose.
But unfortunately for Rausch, the signs do not announce, "Do Not Eat"! Nor do they announce, "Do Not Lick"!
Too bad for me... I never got to place my wholesale order. And the corner I pried loose was obviously shellacked with some non-edible spray. UGH.
But spiritually, on that day, I discovered ... There is a "Chocolate god" ... and HE exists in Berlin!
Please send chocolate from Berlin!
The signs announce "Look Only"!
We spent about two hours browsing this teeny little corner shop, deciding which chocolate to bring home. The salespeople were so friendly, letting us taste little samples: 42%, 55%, 64%, 72%, 80%, 82%, 86%, and 90% cacao.
How can we get this delicious chocolate back to America? The salespeople suggest 'shipping'. However, it is only possible with a wholesale order. And, that is an extraordinary amount of chocolate for two people (it's not like we're going to share).
After much deliberation I admired the chocolate replicas of famous sites in Berlin. I was scowled at as I got much too close. I was escorted out with a severe frown ... perhaps, it was the lick or the little corner I tried to pry loose.
But unfortunately for Rausch, the signs do not announce, "Do Not Eat"! Nor do they announce, "Do Not Lick"!
Too bad for me... I never got to place my wholesale order. And the corner I pried loose was obviously shellacked with some non-edible spray. UGH.
But spiritually, on that day, I discovered ... There is a "Chocolate god" ... and HE exists in Berlin!
Please send chocolate from Berlin!
Monday, July 6, 2009
C.H.A.O.S.
A long holiday weekend, inevitably leaves me dreading Monday morning. The mess, the toys, the stuff, the disorder, the CHAOS ...
CAN'T HAVE ANYONE OVER (til the house is clean) SYNDROME
I threaten, I bribe...
"No play dates"
"No outings"
"No pool time"
"No fun"
til this house work is DONE!
We cannot have anyone over!
My oldest wisely replies...
"No phone"
"No gossip"
"No TV"
"No beer"
til YOUR mess is clear!
CAN'T HAVE ANYONE OVER (til the house is clean) SYNDROME
I threaten, I bribe...
"No play dates"
"No outings"
"No pool time"
"No fun"
til this house work is DONE!
We cannot have anyone over!
My oldest wisely replies...
"No phone"
"No gossip"
"No TV"
"No beer"
til YOUR mess is clear!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Post 4th of July Menu
Breakfast: It is in the refrigerator unless you are taking us to IHOP. (hee hee)
Snack: The baby seems to prefer dirt, let's all try it! The pediatrician recommends one bite before 'passing'. Good rule to implement today!
Lunch: Whatever is quick... Popcorn? Marshmallow kebabs? Melted 'Parade' candy? Who has the phone number for 'PF Changs'?
Snack: Pool water with lemon? Something from the compost pile (didn't I just put watermelon rinds in there yesterday?)?
Dinner: Have we had cereal today? Corn Flakes? Cheerios? Cat food niblets dunked in milk?
Snack: a six pack of beer? bottle of wine? that old bottle of Tequila from 1991? Oh, and for the children, hell, why not mix up some lemonade and beer? Or dried up cheerios stuck to the floor? (I think they would prefer the beer!)
As for next week, I promise to cook (fingers crossed)!
Snack: The baby seems to prefer dirt, let's all try it! The pediatrician recommends one bite before 'passing'. Good rule to implement today!
Lunch: Whatever is quick... Popcorn? Marshmallow kebabs? Melted 'Parade' candy? Who has the phone number for 'PF Changs'?
Snack: Pool water with lemon? Something from the compost pile (didn't I just put watermelon rinds in there yesterday?)?
Dinner: Have we had cereal today? Corn Flakes? Cheerios? Cat food niblets dunked in milk?
Snack: a six pack of beer? bottle of wine? that old bottle of Tequila from 1991? Oh, and for the children, hell, why not mix up some lemonade and beer? Or dried up cheerios stuck to the floor? (I think they would prefer the beer!)
As for next week, I promise to cook (fingers crossed)!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
La Cucaracha Hunters
We live in the south and have bugs as large as the state of Texas itself. Bugs that I have never learned to accept. Bugs that I have never grown accustomed to. Bugs that I despise. Of those bugs, La Cucaracha (the cockroach) is the worst!
We adopted two cats last year in a delusional state of being petless. Kittens are so cute and fuzzy and furry and sweet and cute (again). Then you bring them home...
Our cats love to hunt anything... geckos, ants, flies, mice, snakes, birds, squirrels and cockroaches.
We have never housed so many critters as we have in the past fourteen months. I spend every bloody morning chasing critters around the house -- trying to remove them from the indoor premises. The cats are quite humane as they ALWAYS bring the critters home ALIVE. So for three hours every morning, I fly around the house on a broom shooing birds (yes, witchlike). Sweeping snakes. Catching geckos. And running from squirrels and mice.
The cockroaches are carried in via cat mouth. Cat #1 holds the cockroach in its mouth, runs into the house, locates ME, and deposits the roach at my feet (alive, of course).
First, I wonder, why ME? Why not husband? Children? Neighbor? Why do I get the prize?
Next I think, I thought there weren't anymore cockroaches in a three block radius of our house. Didn't the cats already catch them all and bring them home?
So, this morning, I woke up to Cat #1 standing above me with a cockroach being deposited next to my head. No need for an alarm this morning. I jumped out of bed and started wailing.
"Are you going to help me out? Or should I just run the vacuum and wake up the rest of the house?" It is only 5:45 am.
And so I begin to sing, in my loud tone-deaf voice, at 5:46 am.
La cucaracha, la cucaracha,
The cockroach, the cockroach,
ya no puede caminar
can't walk anymore
porque no tiene, porque le falta
because it doesn't have, because it's lacking
las dos patitas de atrás.
its two back feet.
We adopted two cats last year in a delusional state of being petless. Kittens are so cute and fuzzy and furry and sweet and cute (again). Then you bring them home...
Our cats love to hunt anything... geckos, ants, flies, mice, snakes, birds, squirrels and cockroaches.
We have never housed so many critters as we have in the past fourteen months. I spend every bloody morning chasing critters around the house -- trying to remove them from the indoor premises. The cats are quite humane as they ALWAYS bring the critters home ALIVE. So for three hours every morning, I fly around the house on a broom shooing birds (yes, witchlike). Sweeping snakes. Catching geckos. And running from squirrels and mice.
The cockroaches are carried in via cat mouth. Cat #1 holds the cockroach in its mouth, runs into the house, locates ME, and deposits the roach at my feet (alive, of course).
First, I wonder, why ME? Why not husband? Children? Neighbor? Why do I get the prize?
Next I think, I thought there weren't anymore cockroaches in a three block radius of our house. Didn't the cats already catch them all and bring them home?
So, this morning, I woke up to Cat #1 standing above me with a cockroach being deposited next to my head. No need for an alarm this morning. I jumped out of bed and started wailing.
"Are you going to help me out? Or should I just run the vacuum and wake up the rest of the house?" It is only 5:45 am.
And so I begin to sing, in my loud tone-deaf voice, at 5:46 am.
La cucaracha, la cucaracha,
The cockroach, the cockroach,
ya no puede caminar
can't walk anymore
porque no tiene, porque le falta
because it doesn't have, because it's lacking
las dos patitas de atrás.
its two back feet.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
XM55
I don't watch tv. I only appear on the computer once daily. I don't listen to the radio. It is a very quiet house ... except for the children. I often get the question, "What DO you do? A couple of answers come to mind, but the most innocent ...
I drink.
I pretend I am on a secluded beach with lots of sunshine, sand, and beach music. I make fruit smoothies for breakfast at seven every morning... the healthy kind... strawberries, bananas, plain yogurt, and ice (and 'Malibu Rum' after I remove the appropriate amount for the children). Children should not be weaned on rum. Well, on second thought, milk and rum ... in the bottles? Perhaps worth considering.
Really, 'Malibu Rum' isn't like drinking at all. Can't even taste it! Can't even feel it! But it is a wonderful 'mood enhancer' ... all beachy and coconuty.
My latest plead is for an xm radio. Inside. Not the car. I don't spend enough time driving during the summer. So, inside. I want to be able to listen to radio margaritaville all day. I am begging.
Husband: "What do you need that for?"
Me: "just think, all day, margaritaville indoors - you would have one helluva happy wife!"
Husband: "you're already happy... and why is that?"
Me: "true..."
Husband: "besides, turn on the stereo... all five are already and always filled with Buffett CDs anyway."
Me: "true..."
Husband: "plus, the car... not only do you have all five stations programmed to XM55, but every CD is Buffett!"
Me: "inside satellite radio would be so convenient"
Husband: "for what?"
Me: "obviously, probably NOT getting an indoor radio."
So I can be found, post-smooth-smoothies, sitting in my car for the rest of the day!
I drink.
I pretend I am on a secluded beach with lots of sunshine, sand, and beach music. I make fruit smoothies for breakfast at seven every morning... the healthy kind... strawberries, bananas, plain yogurt, and ice (and 'Malibu Rum' after I remove the appropriate amount for the children). Children should not be weaned on rum. Well, on second thought, milk and rum ... in the bottles? Perhaps worth considering.
Really, 'Malibu Rum' isn't like drinking at all. Can't even taste it! Can't even feel it! But it is a wonderful 'mood enhancer' ... all beachy and coconuty.
My latest plead is for an xm radio. Inside. Not the car. I don't spend enough time driving during the summer. So, inside. I want to be able to listen to radio margaritaville all day. I am begging.
Husband: "What do you need that for?"
Me: "just think, all day, margaritaville indoors - you would have one helluva happy wife!"
Husband: "you're already happy... and why is that?"
Me: "true..."
Husband: "besides, turn on the stereo... all five are already and always filled with Buffett CDs anyway."
Me: "true..."
Husband: "plus, the car... not only do you have all five stations programmed to XM55, but every CD is Buffett!"
Me: "inside satellite radio would be so convenient"
Husband: "for what?"
Me: "obviously, probably NOT getting an indoor radio."
So I can be found, post-smooth-smoothies, sitting in my car for the rest of the day!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Fort Worth Serengeti
I keep checking the endless plains that lay beyond my back window. I keep hoping to see a wildebeest or zebra wander into view and drink from the pool...
But all I see are creatures that don't belong anywhere except my backyard, of course.
(photos by melissa, above: at fossil rim (animal park), below: backyard)
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