Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Wednesday is my favorite day!

And not just because the college lovelies come for dinner.  It's also HOP day! 

The first HOP is from Patrice, at Everyday Ruralty, who hosts Wednesday Words of Weight Loss every Wednesday!  It's a fun HOP that offers encouragement and company on the issue of weight.  It's never too late to join!  Come on, this is your week to join in the FUN! 

 
 
Questions:
1. Do you consider cutting the grass relaxing or torture? I used to cut the grass all the time and I considered it exercise and helpful since, if I did it, Hubs didn't have to come home and do it after working all day.  HOWEVER, he made a comment one day that changed all of that.  First, you have to understand that Hubs and hid dad never bought anything new.  They always rigged old things to get them working and used them instead.  Now, I am certainly NOT opposed to using already made materials and machines.  On the contrary, I'm all for it, environmentally speaking.  The problem is, whenever they did this, only THEY knew what had to be done to use the machine/tool/whatever.  After our lawnmower broke down, Hubs rigged it but didn't tell me anything about it.  When I tried to start the mower, I couldn't.  Hubs said, "Any idiot knows that you have to add blahblahblahblah...before it will work.  You might have torn it up!"   I replied, "No. Only the idiot who rigged the mower to work would know that.  But don't you worry yourself about it, I won't ever mow the grass again."  That was in August of 1988.  And I haven't touched a lawn mower since.  It doesn't matter now anyway though because my allergies won't allow me to do it anymore.  And yes, hormones were running wild...I was 7 months pregnant with Birdie at the time.  Good news?  Hubs learned a very valuable lesson or two:  don't call me an idiot and don't mess with a pregnant woman, especially in August. 




2. Are you a fast eater or a slow one?  Oh man, I am a FAST eater.  I try to be slow but I forget almost every meal.  It's a habit I developed while raising the girls--I had to eat and get finished to get them all bathed, read to, homework completed if it wasn't already, clean up the kitchen and get them in bed.  There was no time to eat slowly.  Hubs and the girls ate in a most leisurely fashion.  Hubs still does.  




3. If you could travel to any country in the world to have the dinner of your choice, where would you go?(You wouldn't have to pay a cent.)  I don't know.  I really like American food...especially of the southern comfort variety.  But, probably Italy for some real pizza.  I do love pizza!




4. Does your dining room table have place mats or a tablecloth right now?  Right now it has a tablecloth on it.  Except where Hubs and Breezy (when she's here) sit...they have a place mat because both of their places look like a two year old sat there when they finish eating! 




5. What's the best positive thought you could tell yourself day in and day out? Will you be trying it?  Stay away from that. And I do say it to myself every time a thought of anything sugary or fried comes into my mind.  It's working so far.  Fingers crossed!


Second is WEDNESDAY HODGE PODGE from Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.  This one is a great way to get to know some wonderful new bloggy friends and learn more about some old ones...not that I'm calling anyone OLD, mind you.   


1. Have you ever been served breakfast in bed? Do you enjoy that? If someone were serving you breakfast in bed this coming weekend what would you hope to see on the tray?  Nope.  I probably wouldn't enjoy it that much.  I do this for Hubs sometimes though and he likes it.  The girls loved doing this for him on Father's Day when they were growing up.  If someone was serving me breakfast in bed, what I'd like and what I can have right now are worlds apart in appeal!  Like to see:  waffles with syrup; link sausage AND bacon; eggs, grits, and toast with butter and green tea to drink.  What I am allowed:  scrambled eggs and turkey bacon with water.  Yum.  Yum. 


2. What is one piece of advice you would give a new mother?  Put down that book and listen to your instincts.


3. When was the last time you wanted to scream? Explain. Wow.  That's been quite a long time ago---back when I used to 'go off' about almost everything.  I'm sure it was due to some sort of extreme frustration brought on by Hubs.  He's really good at pushing my buttons.  But now, I just ignore him when he does that.  Unless he tells me what to do or how to do it.  Or if someone accuses me of saying or doing something I did NOT say or do.  Or....LOL


4. Can you hula hoop?  I can after I practice for a while.  But it does take practice...right now I'm not even sure I can get a hula hoop around this body.


5. What is something people do in traffic that really bothers you?  How much time do you have?  I think that number one on my list is when they pull out in front of me causing me to slam on brakes and then they speed up.  Idiots.


6. What do you do when people don't admit they're wrong?  It depends on who it is.  If I don't know them very well then I don't care-- I just make sure I don't get to know them any better.  If it's someone I do know well (read: Hubs) I reach extreme levels of frustration. 


7. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word 'fun'?  Family gatherings!  Reunions; oyster roasts; cookouts; dinners... During the holidays or just because, our family gatherings are BIG FUN!


8. Insert your own random thought here. We are only 3 days from Birdie's college graduation!  Which is exciting--TWO degrees (I know I've mentioned it before BUT-a BS in Athletic Training and a BS in Physical Education with a concentration in Exercise Science)!  And then, on May 15, the people offering a graduate program are flying her to Texas for an interview.  If it all works out, she'll be 20 hours away from us for TWO YEARS.  But, she will get valuable experience in the field AND they pay for her master's degree.  But she'll be 20 HOURS AWAY.  Road trip, anyone?

This is my Birdie.  She's one smart cookie!
OH!  Some of you might remember that Birdie took the BOC three weeks ago.  And, you might also remember me mentioning that her professor's were telling the students that the first time pass rate was only 33% and that I thought that information was so unnecessary and could possibly act as sabotage?  Well, Birdie called last night when she received an email informing her that---SHE PASSED THE BOC!  FIRST TIME!  (Isn't it funny how that 33% pass rate for taking the first time takes on a whole new meaning now?).  She is SO like her mother.  LOL 


15 comments:

  1. Yours was the first post I read this morning and I loved it! But I can't understand why scrambled eggs and water aren't appealing! haha. Congrats to Birdie, and it's wonderful in this day of unemployment that she's going to be able to get work. I also have a daughter who lives and works 20 hours away in Texas. Texas must be 20 hours from everywhere! ;-)

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  2. Thanks for joining in again this week! Your #1 answer cracked me up. I guess because we've had similar things between hubby and me. I think lots of us would like to go to Italy. We need to take my opera daughter to interpret for us. SHe studies French and Italian.

    I read the next post- Birdie/BOC- what's BOC? There are so many things with just initials that confuse me!

    Horse is not better, but not worse. I'm frustrated and worried. At least he's not worse, I guess.

    Take care, my friend!

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  3. Congratulations and best wishes to Birdie!

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  4. I had a similar experience with husband #1 - he told me I didn't iron his uniforms correctly - and I let him do it correctly for the rest of the time he was in the Air Force.

    Texas is 20 hours away from everywhere - heck it's twelve hours from the border to the capital - from any direction. Where in Texas will she be?

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  5. Italy seems to be the preferred country thus far, as that was my pick, too. I love Italian food!

    Cathy Kennedy, Children's Author
    The Tale of Ole Green Eyes

    Read today's posts ...
    My Dear Mother {Hoo Are You meme}
    1000 Reasons To Be Thankful (41-50)
    Weight Loss Encouragement

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  6. Mowing the lawn... a sometimes twice a week occupation in spring / summer here.. I used to do it all.. the edging, blowing, mowing.. a 4hr operation...
    now pay someone.. long may it continue that I can afford too.. $100 I save in couponing goes on my lawn service and the lawn's never looked better...

    Well done Birdie !!!

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  7. Judy- I think you're right about Texas being 20 hours from everywhere! LOL

    Patrice- Just say the word and I'll join y'all in Italy! The BOC is the certification exam you have to pass to become a certified Athletic Trainer. Without it, her degrees won't help! It is a 4 hours (I think) exam and cost $300 every time they have to take it! So she's doubly glad she passed it the first time! What about the blood work? Did it come back yet?

    Kathy- Thank you so much!

    Donna- LOL That's right girl! They can just do it themselves! Birdie will be in Tyler, TX for the program and at Texas A&M Commerce for grad school.

    Cathy- I love it too! Maybe we'll all meet there one day!

    Clare-I have someone to do the lawn too---Hubs. LOL You need to tell me all about couponing--I might want to start. Do you just look in the newspaper or is there some other secret? Thanks!

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  8. Congratulations to Birdie!! You are one smart woman!
    I love your answer to Nr. 2 on the weight loss meme, because it´s ME. I eat way too fast as well.
    Good advice for the new moms. So true. When I was a new mom, the books and even the nurses said to me, "Feed your baby every 3 hours, not sooner". Well my baby was screaming her head off for an hour, because she could not last that long. Until I though their well meant advice into the wind and fed her when she was hungry!! I had a happy healthy kid after that.

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  9. Lovely post again and so nice to hear all the joy in your voice. Your happiness shines through ever so brightly! Hope you have a great evening meal with your girls and I can hear you excitedly announcing the remaining number of sleeps left till Birdie graduates a second time!

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  10. Congratulations on Birdie's accomplishment. Does that mean she'll be coming to the great state of Texas?

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  11. Ha, I also had a similar experience with my husband complaining about how I put his laundry away. Hm. That was about 13 years ago, and I haven't put it away since. :) I am a grudge holder. LOL. Great post!

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  12. Betty- Thank you! I'll pass your comment on to Birdie! Definitely need to listen to our instincts as mothers---each baby is an individual and each individual is different!

    Desiree- Thank you so much! Everyone will be here this weekend for the celebration and I am SO EXCITED. And proud!

    Michele- They are flying her out there on May 15...my thoughts are that if they didn't want her they sure wouldn't be spending that kind of money?! The BOC means she is a board certified athletic trainer and it certainly increases her chances of getting there! How close are you to Tyler?

    Jessica-Truly we are soul sisters! Thank you!

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  13. Congratulations to your daughter! 20 hours...been there and it's hard but really good for making kids more confident and independent. Good luck to her!

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  14. Mowing the lawn is torchure to me! When I was young, and my dad passed away and this chore fell on me & my mom, I worked extra babysitting hours to pay someone to do it!

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  15. On our trip to Italy last year, I pretty much went on a quest to find the best pizza. For two weeks, that's about all I ate--for dinner anyway. I'm not a very adventurous eater. Our first and last nights in Italy were in Brescia, so we went to the same restaurant--where they had the absolute best pizza I had while we were there!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! It makes me feel connected to everyone even though we may live far apart! Have a wonderful day!

 
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