another one of those "duh!!" moments with Ace

I admit, I make a lot of stupid mistakes with Ace.

Usually, it's something I decide to do without thinking it through completely.

And most of the time, I have some lovely image in mind of how things are going to go that are completely unrealistic.

Call me naive.

Like the time I thought it would be fun to take Ace to one of Tony's track meets.

I saw a lot of dogs at the first one that I went to.

In my mind I pictured Ace sitting there watching all the kids run around, Tony bringing his friends over to show off his cute dog. A nice, peaceful day sitting on the grass with Ace beside me, instead of him being locked in his kennel while I was away.

Problem is, Boarder Collies are herding dogs by instinct.

There happens to be a lot of kids "running around" at a track meet.

um. yeah.

It was like torture for Ace (and me as I struggled to restrain him).

Duh!

I could give you quite a few other examples, but I won't embarrass myself.

But I will tell you my "duh-moment" this weekend.

There was a dog show in town.

Nae went and saw it the day before and said a lot of people brought their dogs to watch.

I thought it might be fun to bring Ace.

This is what I pictured in my head.

Ace watching the show.

Taking notes.

Thinking to his doggie self~"hey! I bet I could do that!"

then we'd go home and he'd be eager to learn a bunch of new tricks.
(I'm kidding...please tell me you know I'm kidding)

There were lots of cool tricks....like this.

or this (look at the height on this one!)



Instead our time at the show was chaos.

The hubby fighting to hold him back (the picture doesn't do it justice)

I'm pretty sure Ace thought he was going to a new dog park and couldn't figure out why we wouldn't let him off leash so he could go play with the other dogs.

People were starting to look at us funny.

Ace was actually flipping in the air and twisting on his leach as he tried to get over there.

The Hubby did get him to settle for a few minutes and watch.

but this lasted just long enough to take a couple quick pics.

by the end we were all hot, sweaty, and exhausted.

I'll just add it to the list of my duh moments.

ode to a dear old friend take two

I put this picture up first on purpose.

All my regular readers know what this post is gonna be about.
(and can run, run away if you choose but please come back tomorrow-I'll try to be normal then)
All you newbies can read this if you want to see into how my befuddled, sentimental mind works.

So grab your box of kleenex....this is gonna be a tear jerker!



This motorcycle was given to me by my dad a couple years ago.
(I know isn't she pretty!)

This is the same motorcycle my dad had when I was a little girl.

I have many memories of riding this motorcycle with my dad.

I can remember him putting all three of us kids on it at once when we were real little.

I would sit behind my dad and my older brother, Jason would sit behind me.

My little sister, Alex, would sit on the gas tank and wrap her arms around my dad's forearms to hang on.

Don't worry we didn't do that very often (it may have only happened once-that's how my memory works sometimes) and we when we did, we just rode up and down the street in our neighborhood.

I remember how I much I loved being on the back of that motorcycle with my dad.

The thrill I would feel when he would accelerate quickly from a dead stop.

How he would nod his head at other guys on their motorcycles, like a secret code for "yeah we're cool we're riding a motorcycle!".

I would get so jealous when my mom and dad took off with all their friends on their motorcycles for an afternoon ride.

I used to feel so safe and free on the back of that motorcycle with my dad.

Things have changed.

I'm not having those same feelings riding it now a days.

I'm usually pretty terrified and not because Hubby is a crazy driver or anything.

I think about my kids constantly and what would happen to them if something happened to both Hubby and I on that bike.

So we weren't riding it much.

And we were so sad. Yes, me and the motorcycle (I could tell--we have a bond)

So after much long debate and many tears (from me, I didn't tell her) we decided to sell it.

We listed her on Craigslist a while back.

You immediately turn cynical when you list something for sale on Craigslist. We've all heard so many crazy stories of people getting ripped off by someone on Craigslist.

So when Hubby got a call from a guy in Denmark who wanted buy my baby, I mean bike, I was a little sceptical. He claimed he was a collector and he had "a guy" who would pick it up for him and ship it to Denmark.

So we waited and waited. And the guy from Denmark always had an excuse. And we'd wait some more.

And nothing.

So finally Hubby called the guy and said "if you want me to hang on to this bike then I need you to pay for it now".

And he did.

So we've been waiting for "the guy" to come pick it up.

He came yesterday.

Hubby and I had no idea that when he said he was a collector that he collected like this.

This guy has been driving all over the place picking up these motorcycles (from Minnesota to Delaware). Then they will be crated and shipped over seas. He said he does this 2 or 3 times a year for his client.

Sniff. Sniff.
So here we go....

seen enough pictures of her yet? I have like 100 of them

Ode to my beloved motorcycle

Your 1970's orange-ness is awesome

you always looked great paired with my dad's American Flag helmet.

You've been such a sweet motorcycle
and you've help create many wonderful memories

except the time I burnt my hand on your muffler when I was 3

but I know it wasn't your fault.

We grew up together. We both survived our awkward teens in the 80's

(orange wasn't so trendy at that time)

But now some people think your pretty cool

just like people think I'm pretty cool....

And you're headed on a long journey

and I know how scary it can be when you are the last one to join the group

and they are a rough looking group

I'm sure someone will be nice enough to scoot over a little...

and there are some scary things that you might see

look away! just look away!

there are some with you who have had a hard life

there are others who used to be pretty fancy

but have seen better days

Oh lookie here!

he looks like he could be a new friend.

or maybe she is looking for a friend.

Woah! Hold your horsepower!

oh my! and what is this?
purrrrr....

(or should I say vrooooommm!)

Oh honey I hate to say this but....
I think he may be a little out of your league

but wait! I can't believe my eyes!

Look over here!

I think we may have found your long lost little sister!

I know you will be loved and cared for

think of this as a trip to the spa.

You will be pampered and buffed

maybe some new paint

kinda like a motorcycle face lift.

good bye dear friend

enjoy your new adventure!

I will miss you!

an all new level of insanity

Last evening I got a call from Beth, she's one of the other moms from Tonys soccer team.

Tony's team had an away soccer game and Beth and I had exchanged some e-mails about carpooling.

Beth said something that literally bothered me all evening.

She said "you never e-mailed me back"

Not a big deal ehhh? It was huge for me.

Because I was sure that I did. When she said that my mind started chugging (you could actually hear the squeaking of gears trying to turn). I quickly tried to remember if I did e-mail her or not. I could have swore I did. I could even picture it in my mind.

Beth and I don't know each other that well yet, but I do know this about her....she's a lot more organized than I am (well, pretty much everyone is) so I immediately thought "Wow! She's probably right".

"Really?" I said. "Well, just so you know, I did e-mail you in my mind."

Yes. I actually said that.

No wonder I don't have any friends here.

I'm an idiot.

So the rest of the evening was spent obsessing over this. Do you realize how dangerous this could be? Me forgetting things is already a HUGE cause of strife in our family. It drives everyone (including the kids) crazy. And it's something that no matter what I do, I can't seem to control. I've tried everything so don't bother sending me notes like "get a day planner" or "put it in your phone". I've tried all those things and more. Sometimes I think I might have something really wrong with my brain.

But I'm already falling apart in other areas of my body that the Hubby can see....at least this is inside my head. I'm not gonna admit to something hidden in my head.

Anywho, what if, not only do I forget to do things, but I some how convince myself "in my mind" that I have actually done them?

Yes, A whole new level of forgetfulness (and I didn't think I could get any worse).

I forget birthdays. Usually I'll remember them eventually and send a belated card. But if I've convinced myself that I did send them....well, by the time the real Alzheimer's sets in I will be a lonely old woman, living with 100 cats, thinking I'm on the "Love Boat" waiting for my date with Captain Stubing, and I'll have no friends or family because they will all think I didn't love them enough to remember their birthdays.

Or how about appointments? I forget all varieties. But if I "think" I did take my kid to the doctor to get their shots and really didn't....they could get some weird disease and spread it to all the other kids in school and it will become a pandemic and I'll be like Bessie the cow, who kicked over the lantern and started the Chicago Fire and now that's the only thing she is remembered for but she probably had other good qualities.

One time I forgot two of my kids.

yes two.

It was Mac and Tony. They were little (4 and 2 I think) and we went to pick Bud and Nae up from school. We all got out of the car. Mac and Tony went to play on the playground. I was chit chatting with some other moms. Bud and Nae came out and we started talking about their day. We got in the car and continued talking and drove home.

I didn't realize I was missing two kids till we got home.

Yep, "Mother of the Year" I won it that year- you can look it up.

What if I "thought" I still had my kids with me or better yet my mind convinced itself that I only had two kids to begin with....it could happen.

So these are all the things I'm thinking about last night on the way to the game, during the game, and on the way home.

That and The Hubs should probably just put me away right now.

Then I got home and checked my e-mail. I did send it.

I guess all that worrying and "what ifs" were for nothing.

Except now you see how screwed up my thinking really is.

Happy Birthday to ME!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Last night I had a dream.

My body parts were all discussing who had it the toughest over these past 40 years.

My feet were the first to complain (they ALWAYS are)

and for some reason they sound like a little old Jewish man...

"Oi Vay! I'm dying here! Did you see those purple pointed things she crammed me into over the weekend? What a Yonkel!"

My back (who sounds a New York cabbie) interrupted

"Give me a ******* break!" (I'm always having to censor him)"You have no idea what real pain is! And what? you complain a little and she puts you up....babies you....rubs your sorry butt! What does she do to help me? Nada! that's what! She just keeps goin..."

Then my hands chime in "Darlings....(they sounds like Zsa Zsa Gabor)

soundoflife.net

no one works like me! I should be pampered! Manicures...expensive lotions...rings on every finger! But NO! I don't even get rubber gloves when she cleans! Everyone sees me and now *gasp*! Age spots! Makes me what to slap her!

My uterus tries to put in her two cents "ahem"....it's hard to tell what she even sounds like because everyone shouts in unison "Oh just shut up!" My uterus tends to be a little whiny and no one likes a whiner!

Then my brain (who sounds like....well, it sounds like Me! Duh!) "you guys need to simmer down! At least you guys get a break when she sleeps for 7 or 8 hours! I'm like the Energizer Bunny or Rodney Dangerfield or whoever! I never get a break! Look at me now! Even dreaming I have to keep the peace! And HELLO!?! How bout a little ADD medicine here? You think I like living like this? Geez...."

It went on and on all night long. My internal organs put in a few thoughts about exercise and eating healthier....but I ignored them.

Eventually my brain and I decided to just pretend I'm turning 29 today.....

Why can't I figure this stuff out by now?

Yes, there is a new post. It's just down there and I can't for the life of me figure out how to bring it up here. So please go a couple of old posts down and read. Thanks for your patience, and for putting up with one more reason why I suck...

my car is a blue GMC

Just a quick post today...

I wasn't even gonna post anything today because it's been a crazy, run around, up and down emotional kinda weekend and I'm exhausted.

And I don't have much to say....or maybe too much to say....when you have a weekend filled with lots of car travel, one wedding, one funeral, lots of old friends both laughing and crying, some really bad soccer, lots more car travel, and a train ride to and from the city where you can think about life and life lessons....I guess I could come up with lots to say....but like I said, I'm pooped.

But I will share one thing with you.

An embarrassing moment from this weekend.

I've found that when I blog about something stupid I did....I get lots of blog love.

I told my daughter the other day that maybe I should just have a blog about all the ways I embarrass myself. People are really nice to me then....they usually comment on those blogs and say that they can sympathize. I like knowing that I'm not alone in my nitwittedness.

Thank you very much.

Today, during a break from some really bad soccer, we ran to McDonalds. The drive-thru line was really long and so I told Hubby that I was gonna run in and use the bathroom while he waited in line and I would meet him on the other side.

When I came out the side door it was raining pretty hard and I was feeling pretty stupid as I ran down the line of cars in the drive-thru lane. I had my head down because the rain was hitting my face so hard it actually stung. I saw our car and quickly grabbed the door handle to get in. But it didn't open because it was locked. I lifted my head up to look at Hubby but it wasn't Hubby...and it wasn't our car. Some guy had this really shocked and confused look on his face. It all took a split second, but I stood there and quickly tried to decide what to do....I tried smiling this lame smile and tried waving and say "oops" all at the same time. I stepped forward to run away and debated for another split second that maybe I should explain myself, which resulted in me doing this backward -forward step thingie, that kinda looked like some awkward convulsion. How else can I say it....I just looked really stupid....especially to the 6 other cars waiting in line behind me.

Luckily, the line wrapped around the side of the building and Hubby and Tony didn't see what I did (either I pee really fast or the drive -thru was really slow that day- either way I was thankful). I calmly got in the car and said nothing. My husband is already "concerned" about my ever increasing dopiness.

The worst part was sitting 3 cars back I realized that it was a mini van I was trying to jump into and ours is an Envoy. I swear I could see the people in front of us pointing and laughing at me.

I could use some blog love....

I got this whole Chicago transportation thing down!

My oldest daughter, Nae, finally came home yesterday from her internship in Colorado.

Just like always with her, it was a whirl wind experience....that girl is always go. go. go.

I was hoping she would get here around 2 or 3 pm. But I got a call in the afternoon that she had missed her exit and would I look on a map....this is very unusual for her. She is another one of my children who talk in "east/west/north/south" terms. She not freakish about her directional abilities like Tony, but she is very good (her freakish thing is birthdays---she can remember the birthday of anyone she has ever met--it's really bizarre!) so anyways...the minute she asks me to do that my heart beats a little crazy because, as you know, I'm directionally challenged. Let's just say I got her here in a "round about way"....I kinda forgot that Colorado was out west (duhhh!!!), I'm so used to bringing in people from Michigan....you're judging me right now aren't you? I can feel it.

Nae and her friend, Jake got here at 6pm. Which was really lousy because I had to leave at 6:10 for one of those "beginning of the season, meet the coach, I'm just gonna stand here and read the handout I gave you" parent meetings. Ugghh! And they were supposed to catch the 6:29 train into Chicago for dinner with Jake's brother and then be gone for the rest of the evening. So I had 10 minutes to give them directions to the train station and information on which bus to take (cuz I'm the expert now...HA!).

So I'm feeling pretty cool with a little "hey maybe I'm gettin this whole Chicago transportation thing" attitude. I'm looking at my map and telling Jake he's gotta take the blue line in...and Jake is on the phone with his brother....they need the brown line to get to him....and Jake is relaying between us trying to figure it all out. Finally, he says "my brother wants to talk to you". I get on the phone and Jake's brother says "the blue line?" and I say "yeah" and he says "I'm talking buses are you talking trains?" I suddenly feel like the biggest idiot! All I can say in my defense is that the Metra map I was looking at for the Union Pacific West Line is blue....wow I'm a ninny! Good first impression Tori!

He finally says "can you just tell them how to get to a blue line station? I can get him here from there". "Um, sure..." I say. I'm not sure I can do anything involving the Chicago transportation system anymore. I showed him how I "thought" you got there....all the while pretending that I knew exactly what I was talking about...cuz...I'm good at that. And hey, they are both brilliant...they can figure it out if I'm wrong. I spent the rest of the evening second guessing myself and only lost a little sleep....

I'm assuming all is well. I heard them come in sometime after 1 am. Jake is crashed in Bud's room for the night. They are still sleeping...they are on Mountain Daylight Time, after all. I can't wait to hear how it went for them and if I made it even worse with my directional advice. And if they got lost.....I'll just pretend that he misunderstood my flawless directions.

blogging love...

This blogging thing has definitely got me intrigued.
I feel like I'm such a newbie.
I've been spending time (a lot of time...shhh, don't tell my hubbie) looking around the blogosphere....can you say addicting?


There is clearly some kind of blogger etiquette....
I just haven't figured it out yet.


Like followers....I'd like some more of those.....please....
I know people are reading but how do you get them to "follow" you?


And to comment or not? That is the question....I don't want to seem like a stalker on some of the blogs I like to read everyday (cuz I don't know these people)....but I know I appreciate comments....and everyday (thank you Kim and Pam!!!!)


And I'm wondering if I put too much information out there. Is it safe? It would be pretty easy to figure out exactly where I live.....and what about my kids? While blog bouncing (someone give me the correct term...please!) I've noticed that lots of people refer to their kids by initials or by number or by nickname (it has to be nicknames or I'm really scared what people are naming their kids now a days). Should I go back and remove my kids real names?


I signed up for this service that I noticed a lot of the other blogs I've stumbled upon have. It's called Sitemeter. While I love that fact (and am encouraged to keep going) that I can see people are visiting my site, it is also a little disturbing. There is an area where I can see just how people found my blog....even the phrases they typed into google. Yikes! Lets just say my post on Cavalia part 3 has some interesting hits....and I thought that I was very vague in how I worded that post as to not attract any creepers....boy was I wrong! All it takes is a series of words to appear somewhat close together and bam you got freaks (mine was girl, innocent, and beautiful---oh great now they will get this post---go away creepers nothing for you on this lame little site!!!)



But there is definitely a tight blogging community. Lots of blog love passed around (I'm talking about encouragement and friendship). Because blogging can be a little scary. Writing something and putting it out there for everyone to see (my friend Pam likens it somewhat to giving birth). And I've never tried to write something for other people to read except some letters back in the olden days....before email, texting, and cell phones. But I've always wanted to try....and here there is a whole community of people who are willing to say 'hey I took a minute and read your post'....and that's pretty cool.

Anyways, I feel like I need some blog guru to guide me. I have so many questions....I'd be a good little minion....I swear.

Cavalia! and two ADD girls in the big city (part three)

I know it doesn't seem like it from my first post on Cavalia, but I did put some time and thought into planning our trip into the city....

I really wanted Pam to have an unforgettable time.

When we originally talked about our trip, we decided to eat out afterward....so I did some Chicago magazine reading and googling and Internet surfing to find a unique restaurant....and by golly! the place I picked was "unique"....and "unforgettable"....


just a note here....I am going to change the name of the place that I am going to talk about for my personal safety....seriously....or maybe not, but I'm not taking any chances....see what you think....


After Cavalia ended, Pam and I hopped into a taxi cab. "Celandia's restaurant please" I said. "Where?" the cab driver said. I repeated myself a little louder. "Never heard of it" he said.


**note to self....next time you ask a cab driver to take you somewhere and he's never heard of it, this is NOT a good sign!!!**


So I gave the cabbie the address. Pretty soon we are pulling up to the restaurant but I hardly notice it because the the big pink and purple neon sign next door promoting certain suggestive paraphernalia.

**second note to self....pink and purple neon signs never sell ANYTHING good and I should probably not go any where near them**


Pam and I exit the cab (and the cabbie, I'm sure, now thinks he knows what kind of girls we are....). We notice two very large Greek looking men standing outside the door. But they seemed to be very polite, very large, Greek looking men because they opened the door for us and greeted us with grunts.


The inside of this place was amazingly beautiful. The Internet said that it was inspired by a 13th century fortress in Granada, Spain. Hand laid mosaics, stone carvings, brilliantly colored silks, huge glass chandeliers...it was a lot for our ADD minds to take in.


A very pretty hostess greeted us in the lobby behind a huge innately carved sideboard. She explained there was "entertainment" upstairs and downstairs and we could choose where we wanted to be seated. Pam and I were still a little freaked out by the "surrounding neighborhood" and the big burly grunters out front....so, we decided on the very noncommittal bar area.


We decided to people watch for a while....and we noticed a certain "trend" in the people were we "observing". Let's just say that a lot of older gentlemen seemed to be taking their "nieces" out for dinner and drinks.


**third note to self....when the ratio of beautiful young women exceeds the ratio of balding, homely, old men by 4 to 1 it's time to leave the premises**

Pam and I ordered some food and drinks and settled in to take in everything around us. The next thing that we noticed were the numerous, muscular, Greek looking men in three piece suits with ear pieces.

**fourth note to self....when the ratio of muscular, Greek looking men in three piece suits with ear pieces exceeds the ratio of visible customers....something else is probably going on in this establishment besides dinner and drinks.**

While we waited for our food and drinks, Pam and I debated....maybe we should go upstairs and check out the "entertainment" (yes, we were really that clueless at that point...). I walked back over to the hostess to ask if we could be seated upstairs. She informs me to go upstairs there is an extra "cover charge" of $10 per person. This is the moment when I'm just not feeling comfortable....Yes! I know! Just call us SLOW! or CLUELESS! or whatever.....

I go back over to Pam and we start noticing even more "peculiarities"....

.....the muscular, Greek looking guy, with the ear piece guarding the elevator....

.....the many hidden alcoves....

.....the grandeur of the place...within this "neighborhood"....supported by the sale of just food and drink?...

Needless to say, we would have liked to leave at that point, but decided to stay in the bar area and finish our food. Everything was delicious.

When we were ready to leave the big burly grunters were very kind and got us a cab....there was never a time I felt unsafe....just a little weirded out.

Pam and I had a great time recalling the experience in the morning over coffee and debating what the place was all about...really....

Maybe I don't need to change the name of the place....

Maybe everything we did witness was just all a bunch of coincidences....

Maybe Pam and I were making too many assumptions....

but I'm not taking any chances....I don't want any of those guys in the three piece suits with ear pieces coming after me....

I have to remember that things are different around here....and I'm definitely not in Kalamazoo anymore.....

Cavalia! and two ADD girls in the big city

Yesterday my friend, Pam came from kzoo so we could go into the city and see Cavalia.

I was really excited for a few reasons.....#1, I love Pam.....#2, this is the first time I would be using the Metra to get into the city.....and #3, we were gonna see Cavalia!

Most of you probably never heard of Cavalia. I probably never would have if I didn't drive by all the huge billboards advertising it on the Chicago bypasses.

It's a little hard to explain....the producers call it a "poem written in the language of sound" to "pay homage to the poignant history and fascinating bond between human beings and horses".....it was written by one of those artsy Cirque du Soleil guys....so you get the picture.

I'm not a huge horse person but I do appreciate their power and beauty and Pam breeds and sells some of the most beautiful horses I've ever seen (that's her website there--check it out--its breath taking).

But I feel like I'm getting ahead of myself...

I need to begin with our train ride.

Because this was my first time using the Metra to get into the city I was a little nervous. I didn't want to screw it up... or get us lost.... or end up in Wisconsin....

We only had like 5 hours till the show....I wanted to spend the day before "practicing" riding the Metra....my husband said that was just silly....and I guess it was...but that's just the way I am.

We found our way to the station (through a construction detour-otherwise it's only a little under 2 miles from my house). We parked our car and talked to a couple people about the pay system for the parking lot and then we were ready to board.

The ride in was pretty uneventful except for the 10 college students sitting across from us who were on their way to a Sox's game. A few of them brought these coolers filled with beer and whiskey and proceeded to use the 45 minute trip in to get as drunk as they could-as fast as they could....

We ended up at the Olgivie Transportation Center....ok, the hubby was right, it wasn't rocket science....and exited our train with the deluge of people.

Deluges of people and big transportation centers are not a good mix for 2 girls with ADD. Pam and I were swept along in the current of fast moving passengers, all the while our heads spinning to try to take in everything....."oh look a haircut place!"...."a shoe store?"...."pedicures!"....."Thai food"....."oooo escalators!"

Pretty soon we where outside on the sidewalk surrounded by tall buildings and we realized....we have no idea where we are, or more importantly, what we are going to do. We were so focused on the Metra and parking and chit-chatting and making fun of the drunk guys on the train that we never really discussed what we wanted to do when we got in the city.

So Pam pulls out a map....lets figure out where we are first....I can't even tell which direction Lake Michigan is with all the tall buildings....and that's kinda how I usually get oriented in Chicago.....big lake here....magnificent mile there....I'm good to go!

We look at the map for a good 5 minutes and we can't even find the street we are on (do you realize how embarrassing this is to write in my blog for all to see?)

So the next thing I know Pam is grabbing this innocent guy walking by. I'm not ready to ask for directions and admit defeat....not to mention the fact we still haven't figured out where we even want to go! "Excuse me, where are we?" Pam asks sweetly. The guy looks at us and smiles "Chicago" he says with a little laugh. We both giggle awkwardly. "Where do you want to go?" he asks. Pam and I look at each other...."ummm, we aren't sure" Pam says. Right at that moment I don't think I can feel any more stupid....(but I'm pretty sure I do right now sharing this story with everyone). "You can probably tell we aren't from around here" Pam says jokingly..... So there's another awkward set of giggles....and a perplexed look on the guys face and I'm sure that he is thinking we are a set of fruitcakes. Pam says "well, how about you just tell us where the magnificent mile is and the west loop." With big arm gestures he says "the mile is that way" and then swinging his arm in opposite direction "and the loop that way". "Is it too far too walk?" asks Pam. And the guy starts in on a spiel about "grabbing the Blue Line". As he's talking, Pam and I have both used our ADD superpowers to tune him out. Then I notice Pam turning her head and looking up in the air. I realize what she is thinking (us ADD people think a lot alike)...."Pam, he's talking about a bus" I say. "Ohhh" she says "I thought he was talking about that "L" thing".

Now I can see that this guy just wants to get away from us....."Ok. yeah. we'll grab the blue line thanks for all your help" I say taking Pam's arm walking....to where, I don't even know.....just away from this guy and our humiliation.

As we walk we quickly decide to just go to where Cavalia is playing. We'll check it out and then find a restaurant. I've looked at the location for Cavalia on a map at home.... now we just need to find a bus stop and figure out where to get on the blue line. We walk just down the block to one of the glass bus booths and go in to look at the map. The problem is that it's been in the sun for so long that all the colors are faded. There are three lines that look the same bluish-green. Pam and I are standing there debating color hues when this girl comes up and takes pity on us. "Where do you want to go?" she asks. "Racine and W. Jackson" I say as a bus is pulling up. "I'll help you, but you need to get on this bus right now" she says as she is walking towards the opening bus doors. Pam and I look at each other and nod as we head toward the bus. It's all happening so fast...."how much does the bus cost?" I say...."two dollars" the girl answers.....Pam and I are stepping inside while fumbling through our purses.....We look at the money taking machine thingie....I see all I have is a $20....Pam asks at the same time as the bus doors close and we start moving, "can we get change?"......the big black woman driving the bus says in a stern voice "don't make no change on the buses"......I'm thinking 'how do we get out of here'.....we are driving down the street and having a hard time keeping our balance while continuing to dig through our purses....I look up at a bus full of people and reconsider my earilier conclusion that I couldn't feel any more stupid....we sit down so we can find some cash....Pam finds a five dollar bill and I stagger up and slide it into the machine.

Pam and I sit there for a moment. My head is spinning again. The girl starts talking about which way we go when we get off the bus....she also waves her arms around in big gesture while telling us which way to walk....that must be a Chicago thing I think. Then Pam asks "but how will we know when to get off the bus?" The girl smiles and says I'll let you know....and I think to myself 'I will not blog about this'....

We get off at the same stop as the girl who helped us and we thank her profusely. We find our way to the Cavalia location and find a little restaurant and have dinner. It feels good to sit and relax.....

I think that this blog is long enough and embarrassing enough for today....I will continue tomorrow with my tales of Cavalia and the place we went to afterwards (which that story could be a couple more blogs in itself).

Tony's Torment

Poor Tony!!!


Moving when you're 13 years old. Starting a new school when you're going into the 8th grade (I know, I know, "it's the worst grade to move"...we've heard it all before and been through it with our oldest daughter when she entered 8th grade).


And now he is experiencing his first unexplainable moving phenomenon ...the missing box!


See if you can figure out what he is missing from this picture



Not too hard eh?




This is a big deal for Tony! According to him his whole future depends on getting this trampoline set up.


His future popularity...

Not many trampolines in our neighborhood that we've seen

Maybe it's because most back yards are the size of a postage stamp....






His future as a professional basketball player....

He sets the hoop up next to it and practices his dunks







His future health.....

If he doesn't find it soon he may just DIE!!!!

Oh the drama!



As for me, I've experienced my own share of unexplainable moving phenomenon.


there's the multiplying Tupperware phenomenon.....

I swear I don't know where it all came from!




and I have my own missing box issues....I spent hours cutting open boxes and searchin for this....I'm looking for those little "hook thingies" to hang your shower curtain.




this is driving me crazy cuz until I find this little item the kids have been showering in my bathroom and making a mess. And I know what some of you are saying...."just go buy some new ones already!!!" But next to my obsessiveness to order and cleanliness is my cheapness...I won't go out and buy something I know is around here somewhere! even if it's only a couple of bucks! Hey! I was raised in Holland, MI (and that should explain a lot...thank you very much!)




but you know what is even more frustrating?



finding that item in the temporary housing you've been living in for the last 4 months.....duhhhh!

I guess this wasn't so much an unexplainable moving phenomenon. Just my airheadedness.



I guess I'll go help Tony cut open a few more hundred boxes....