the best smell in the world.

I've blogged before about one of my favorite blogs, Forgotten Bookmarks.

I wasn't exaggerating when I said how much I love this blog, but now I love it even more.

First of all, what could be better than old and rare books?

But then add in the things he finds in these old books and it's like a little treasure hunt.

And then! He started holding give aways!

I try and enter them all and last week I finally won!

My books arrived yesterday. I was just heading out to a dentist appointment and there they were, right on my door step. I couldn't stand the thought of not opening them immediately but I didn't have the time so I took the box with me.

I drove a little faster than normal to my appointment so I would have an extra minute to peak at them. So, in the parking lot of my dentist I opened the box and sat for a moment and enjoyed the smell of my prize.

Yes, I said "smell".

Old books, not only are they beautiful to look at but they have the best smell in the world.

my lovely day spent with an axe murderer

the Field Museum

When I announced to the Hubby that I was going to meet one of my bloggie friends in real life, he wasn't very pleased.

He actually gave this "look" that said "are you crazy? you've got to be kidding!" and didn't say anything else (or maybe I didn't give him the chance). I immediately blurted out "it's not like she's an axe murderer!" and he responded "I was thinking more along the lines of a chain saw." Mac was a little more vocal about her concerns (surprised?) and insisted I take her pepper spray along for protection (which I forgot).

But I wasn't going to be talked out of it.

rxBambi was one of (if not the first) of my non family/ friends followers when I started blogging. And I've been a loyal follower of her since then too.

one of the lions outside the Art Museum

Plus my thinking was "we will be in downtown Chicago at some public places, what's the worst that could happen?"

The thing I worried about most was acting like a total looser and not knowing what to say. I'm not a very funny/ quick witted/ talkative person in real life. I consider myself a pretty quiet loner type who loves to just look and listen to the people and things around her. So needless to say, I was pretty nervous.

We made plans to meet at Shedd's Aquarium. And Bambi brought her teenage girls along. Turns out she was a little concerned I might be an ax murderer too!

I made the silly decision to walk from the Metra station to Shedd's. It seemed like it took forever (or maybe I was just anxious). By the time I got there Bambi and the girls were already in line (a huge spring break over an hour long line).

Shedd's was crazy busy and I figure Bambi had all kinds of opportunities to ditch me if she wanted to (just kidding she would never do that). We looked at as many fish and avoided stepping on hundreds of little kids as is humanly possible, and then left for lunch.

After lunch we headed over to the Field Museum and met up with (a couple more would-be-axe-murderers) her cousin and his girlfriend. The Field Museum was much less crowded and laid back for just walking around and talking.

I love this statue

After that we started walking back towards the hotel where they were staying. We had a nice time seeing some of Chicago's sights, taking some pictures and talking. Bambi is a really good photographer and has a nice camera, I just took a few.

a little more close up...

We got some cool pictures at "The Bean" which I won't post because they have her girls in them and I don't think she posts pictures of her girls.
I really enjoyed meeting her girls. It was fun talking to them and hearing about their take on life and their plans for the future. They are a couple of amazing kids (and I'm not just saying that. really.).

I had a great day and I'm hoping we can do this again soon!

see...she doesn't look like an axe murderer at all...

I blame the dog...I feel better that way

well hello there...

I'm a little hesitant to show my face around here.

I have spent the last couple days debating.

I hate to even write it....but I'm considering taking an "F" on the NaNoWriMo challenge.

It's hard to admit defeat.

I knew that it was going to be tough. Especially with the pup.

And I've decided to lay most of the blame on him.

To write almost 1700 words a day took me like 3 hours. Interrupted 20 million times by puppy.

If I continue, I think I may loose my mind.

so that's my story.
It's all HIS fault.

don't feel sorry for him, he deserves this

He is....

The Master Derailer of my Train of Thought.

The Scratch that throws me out of my Groove.

The Wind that blows off my Thinking Cap.

The Fiber that feeds my Brain Farts.

You get the idea.

I've decided to not give up on the novel thing completely.

Writing a novel has always been a secret dream of mine (not so secret anymore-of course). I'm hoping to keep going at my own pace and not worry so much about the word count.

So if any of you NaNoWriMo Flunkies out there want to join a new Novel Writing Group, I'm thinking about forming one. We can make up the rules as we go.

We'll need a name-of course.

And I really missed blogging and all you guys! So I'm back!

I just wanna blog!!!

Yep! it's that time....

I will not be doing much blogging for the month of November so that I can work on this crazy Novel in 30 days thingie.

It's hard not to procrastinate and blog instead of write for NaNoWriMo, but I'm trying!

I'm already behind, partly because I'm still playing catch up from my vacation last week (and trying to help Bud get caught up on a weeks worth of missed school due to the swine flu), and partly because I hated the first 1000 words I wrote so I threw it away.

No more throwing stuff I write away!!! I am making that vow right now because that is what I have done for years!

Today I started over and so far I'm liking this story line much better.

I'm still deathly insecure about everything that I write (and still am shocked that so many people check in on my blog everyday---I haven't said it lately, but I love you guys!!!!!!), so I'm not sure I will dare show you any of the NaNoWriMo stuff.

But I will listen to offers of bribery.

I miss all of you! Have a great day!

100 posts! woo hoo!

Wow! I can't believe that this is my 100th post. I guess in the bloggie world that's a pretty big deal.

I was trying to decide what I want to blog about for my all important 1-0-0!

I thought it might be fun to do an update on some of my past posts.

I actually get people asking me things like "whatever happened with Perennial Pete?"or "how are all the boxes coming?"

So I figured I choose some of my most commented on posts and update everyone.

But first, I'd like to thank all the people who are following me. I don't mean to sound like I'm accepting some kind of award or something, I just want you to know that I appreciate you guys.

Last time I counted I had 81 followers! That is counting my blogger.com followers, my facebook followers (minus the people who are on both lists--gosh I love you guys!), people who I know for sure read but aren't signed up as followers (for example - The Hubs, my dad and step mom Ann, and a couple others that tell me they read daily but I don't see their names on the list {hint-hint}).

Yes, when you blog, followers and comments are what it's all about.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

So here we go!

I've linked all the posts that I'm gonna talk about in a different color so if you haven't read the post I'm talking about and would like to -just click on the colored words, read, and you'll be up to date.

Let's start with the puppy post.

Well, the list of my worries continues to grow (I know that doesn't surprise you!)

I have now added:

1. Other things that make me think he did have brain damage at birth~

*he won't eat his puppy food that the breeder gave me to feed him. He does however eat dirt, dandelions, leaves, snails, and grass!

2. I'm convinced he is a pervert nut job. He is constantly trying to hump my leg! He's not even 8 weeks old yet! I'm sure that is not normal and I think he'll probably need therapy when he reaches adolescence.

3. He has begun the process of becoming a vampire puppy (all that Twilight reading-thanks Mac!)

*he doesn't sleep at night at all (only when the sun is out)

*he loves to "bay" while in his crate while I'm trying to sleep (oh wait! maybe he's becoming a werewolf like Jacob)

4. His puppy cuteness is directly proportional to his puppy pooness. When your cleaning up poo at 3 am he is NOT very cute....

And just a side note. I think it's pretty interesting how I just blogged about lack of privacy last week due to having children. I'm now reverting in that area due to puppy. I am having to use to bathroom with the door open again. I am being stalked while I eat anything enjoyable. And lets just say that the puppy crate is in my bedroom and leave it at that.

The next update will be about Perennial Pete

I have not had any contact with Pete since the last post. I have only seen him outside once since then- getting the mail, I tried to wave but he must have not seen me (yeah, that's what I'm choosing to believe....). I debated several times if I should bake him a blueberry pie, just to say 'hi' and keep the good "Pete vibes" goin....but never did.

I did have a run in with Petunia. It happened when I was with the guy who came to load my baby motorcycle.

Notice how one of the guys rear wheels is touching their businesses driveway (which I should mention is closed this day). She drove out of her house driveway just 100 feet down to the right of this picture. And informed us that we were trespassing on her property. Lucky we were just finishing up so she didn't need to call the sheriff on us.

Boxes update:
Yep! there still there. Enough said.

Train and coyote updates:

I felt like I was adjusting pretty well to the train noise (it's not waking me up anymore). But now it's waking the puppy up. So I'd really like to strangle these conductors who blow their whistles for no apparent reason (the trains don't cross any roads around here-the roads were built to either go above or below the tracks).

When my dad stayed here he actually gave the different conductors names based on how they blew their whistle. He'd say "Bob must have been working last night he blows three short blasts and then one long one. Fred blows one long, one short, then two longs". It's crazy. Maybe I just don't know enough about trains and what they have to do. Maybe there's a train whistle law that they have to blow it every so often....Maybe it's just men who are still little boys inside.....

Walking the new puppy a couple days ago, a neighbor told me that the coyotes are getting even more brazen. 3 people in the neighborhood across the street from us had their unleashed dogs snatched by coyotes right in front of them during the day! Sounds a little like the Jessica Simpson story. I don't know it this is true but I'm not taking any chances. I'm keeping him on a leash as close as possible.

Kids update:

All three seem to be doing pretty well (most days). They all still miss their friends back home but are starting to make new ones here.

I was impressed that Mac and Bud went to the homecoming dance even though they were both dateless.

They both just went with a group of friends and had a nice evening.

And of couse Tony is busy with soccer and his new puppy.

Happy Monday everyone!

making good on a threat

We have one tradition that we do on the first day of school every year.

(unless you count spending hundreds of dollars on mandatory school supplies like boxes of tissue, dry erase markers, index cards, red pens, ect. ect. a tradition)

Sorry, still feel like ranting about all that.

Our tradition? We take a picture of each kid in front of the fireplace.

And wow! My kids love it!

NOT!

I blogged a while back about taking pictures of my kids and getting that "look". The "are you done taking my picture yet cuz this is soooo stupid and such a waste of my all important teenage time" look. You can refresh your memory by clicking here.

So today I'm making good on a threat......

You don't smile nice for mom's camera......

if you give me that "look".....

I'm gonna blog about you.

this one is a little better....



that's a nice smile....


Uggghhh!.....this one is still not very impressive....but it's as good as I could get.

Look at those poor "I've been staying up till 2 am all summer and sleeping in until noon and I didn't listen to my mom and go to bed at a normal time over the last few days to get back on a normal schedule so I only got about 3 hours of sleep last night" red eyes.

Maybe next time they will smile nice for their mama!

a back to school rant..."Illinois style"

The kids are headed back to school the day after tomorrow.
Last week I finished all the paper work and made all the payments so they can go to school.

Yes I said "payments". I guess that's normal here in Illinois for public schools. I have no idea how it is in other states. All I know, is that in Michigan, I never paid anything for my kids to go to public school. I kinda thought that was why it was called "public" school.

I'm a little irritated by all the fees I've been charged. But I guess I need to get used to it because I will be paying them every year.

Here's a little breakdown for you. These are the mandatory fees...
Registration Fee (or they call it "Instructional Fee")
~Bud $105
~Mac $105
~Tony $85
Locker Fee
~Bud $6
~Mac $6
~Tony $5
Gym Uniform Fee
~Bud $24
~Mac $24
~Tony $23
Heart Monitor Fee (every kid needs one)
~Bud $5
~Mac $5
~Tony $5
Student Activity Fee (whatever that means)
~Bud $50
~Mac $50
~Tony $25
Assignment Notebook Fee
~Bud $6
~Mac $6
~Tony $6
Senior Fee
~Bud $40
Foreign Language Fee
~Mac $15
Drafting/ CAD
~Bud $20


Misc Optional Fees
Yearbooks
~Bud $45
~Mac$45
~Tony $22
PTO Donation (so you can get a directory at the middle school)
~$20 +$5 for directory
High School Directory
~$30 (this thing better be bound and with gold leafing!)
Parking Lot Fee
~$100 (this one really irritates me!)

Right now none of my kids are in high school sports that would cost me $140 per kid per sport
or art class $40 to take that class and $100 for AP. Want to be in band that would cost you an extra $60, choir is $10. Business $14-25, Health class $10, Home Ec. $12- $53 depending on the class. I could go on and on....
If you want to take the bus and you live in an area that the bus doesn't normally stop $350. (I don't even want to know what that means....)

Grand Total...I don't even want to add it all up( I know it's in the $800-$900 range). We did the private school thing for 13 years, so I'm well aware of those costs...but this is public school for goodness sake (and you would not believe the taxes we pay here--ughh!). We were spoiled in Michigan I guess. I'm just curious, if you are reading this and live in another state and suffer the same "nickle and dimeing" or not let me know. Leave a comment and tell me what state you live in and if you have to pay crazy amounts of money to send your kids to public school.
Thanks and have a great school year!

Blog infatuation

I know I have a lot of facebook friends who come over and read my blog everyday. (I'm forever grateful)


It's not that I want to you come over here and start a new addiction....cuz that's what this is....this bloggie world is addicting.


And I don't want to be know as a "supplier" for your addictions....a "blog pusher". I'll have to start looking over my shoulder all the time and saying "pist...come over here kid...I got something to show ya"


But I also love to share things with my friends.


I always got a "plays well with others" on my report card as a kid. Now, I know why. Whenever I see something I like, people start popping into my head "Oooo, I bet Jan would like this...." or "I just have to show this to Mike" or "I'm not sure I like that, but Pam would..."


So anyways, last night I found this blog and instantly fell in love! If I could marry a blog....this would be the one....if I could have blog babies....I would want them to all look just like their daddy (errr...umm....or this blog or whatever...). You get the picture.


This blog is by a guy who works in a rare, used book store. He buys books and finds things inside the books that people forgot about (the forgotten bookmark). He takes a picture of what he finds and the old book and puts it on his blog. That's it. The end.


But wow! I'm gone! I love it (I think I may have said that already)!


I'm not even sure why I'm so crazy for this blog. Maybe it's just a phase, an little infatuation, that I'll get over. Maybe it's my love of books and old things and a little bit of mystery thrown in. Maybe it's got something to do with feeling like your peeking just a little bit into someones private affairs (sometimes I think that maybe part of the draw for facebook).


But since I'm so head over heels, as you can tell, I thought I'd share with everyone in the bloggiedom (kinda fun making up new words). You can all think I'm crazy or a little weird...but I don't care....Ive found by blog paradise.

like mother, like daughter?

I spent a lot of time playing with my blog yesterday. Hopefully you can tell. My daughter, Nae, was writing her own blog and asked me to help her. What a great excuse to sit beside her and forget about dirty dishes, laundry, grocery shopping, feeding my family, that I have house guests, and more arriving today.....

Her blog is about her mission work this summer with eMi (Engineering Ministries International). Nae is very detail oriented and does a lot of journaling. She is transcribing her experiences from those notes into a blog to let her financial supporters know what she did this summer. I'd love to put a link on my blog to her blog, but she's not ready for that. Maybe sometime soon.

I thought I'd be able to sit and show her all the blogging tricks I've learned (all two of them). But she quickly had it all figured out and I was just sitting there twiddling my thumbs. That's why I started playing with mine....if dear Hubby came home and saw me at least I could claim I was "helping" Nae. Hubby~ "What did you do today honey?" me~"Oh! it was a grueling day! Had to help Nae get her blog done! *rolling my eyes* I'm exhausted! She is SO needy!"

I did get to read through her blog and edit it. It's weird, for someone who can't spell to save their life (that would be me), when I read others peoples work, I can spot a typo a mile away (why can't I see them on my own blog?). But it was a fun day reading about all that she did. She's like me in that way too....a much better communicator through written word than speaking. I definitely got much more details on her trip reading her blog than I have from all the talk we've done about it.

And I figured out a lot of stuff on my own blog (I think) that I never would have figured out by myself if I hadn't spent a bunch of time just sitting and surfing. Literally, you can spend hours and hours in this blogosphere thingie. I really don't want to do that. My family doesn't like that either. And I tend to have this little obsessive issue....where I get into something and it takes over my life....

If there's one thing I can learn from Nae, it's balance.

I love how we learn things from our kids. Call me a little slow, but when I had kids I didn't think about all the things I would learn from them....I pictured all the stuff I would teach them. Not only basic skills but about life in general. But I'm constantly learning something new from my kids. Bud (my 18 y/o son) teaches me about compassion and generosity. Mac (my 15 y/o daughter) teaches me about humor and how different people respond to it. How she reads people and chooses which type of humor to throw at them. Tony (my 13 y/o son {and baby}) teaches me about the importance of touch and cuddling. I could go on and on, really. But I won't...

Have a great day!