And then the BE-ARR li-ked the HONE- Y

One of the funniest men alive is Gerry Dee. I honestly laughed until I had tears running down my face when I first heard his stuff. He's Canandian - you're welcome.

Ahhhh.

My out of town guests ( hubby's brother and his family - think FLDS minus the child brides) left at 4;30 Saturday morning. So, I kicked my butt to get my Saturday chores done, then took a couple of hours to sit by the pool and read. I finished Middlesex. Quite the book I must say.

Anyway, here's the backyard. Take a mental health break, listen to the waterfall, smell the fresh cut grass (unless you have allergies, in which case go take a benadryl and come back)...

Charlie the Unicorn

I know this has been around for awhile, but I came across it again the other day. It still makes me laugh.
Shun the unbeliever. Shuuuunnnnah.

Happy Father's Day

This was our Father's Day tribute at church last year. See - not all churches and church people are evil, and judgemental! Some of us are just crazy.




That's my backyard. Mike Z. (graphics guy) & Christian G. (Youth Pastor)
fairoakschurch.org
thanks to barats and baretta for the original idea

Ain't no Sunshine

I've been sitting in my backyard - WHICH I LOVE - on my day off listening to Big100.3. I was floating in the pool and know better than to tempt fate and listen to my hubby's ipod while I'm bobbing around. It won't end well. End of discussion.

The past couple of weeks have been very busy - new sermon series at church, my daughters 15th birthday, choir competions, field trips,concerts,the storms that knocked out the power for 3 days...


Anyhoo, they had a great playlist this afternoon - kind of random in some ways, but fun. David Bowie, Carole King, Heart, Journey & Cheap Trick (the last three are touring together this summer). Since my kids control the CD player in the car - before you think I'm a wimp for letting them have their way, keep in mind it lets me keep an ear out for who and what they are filling their heads with - I forget how much good music is NOT on the top 40 staion I'm usually stuck listening to.

So, in honor of Big 100's playlist from today & all the good music I've ignored, here's a list of some of my favorites from todays' playlist, in no particular order. Some of them aren't even great songs but I have great memories attached to them:

James Taylor - Carolina on My Mind - James Taylor is audio prozac for me - he relaxes me. This song reminds me of my daughter - I had this CD in the car when she was little and we used to sing along.

Jimi Hendrix - Foxy - Always see Dana Carvey in Wayne's world when I hear this song - not sure that's what Jimi had in mind, but still funny to me. Also reminds me of my younger daughter Sarah - she has Carvey's little twitchy moves down.

Cheap Trick - I Want You to Want Me - Elementary School. Bruce Mac Neil. Sigh.

Led Zeppelin - Black Dog - Robert Plant. One of my first Rock Star crushes even though he was 100 years older than me

Queen - Killer Queen. Today they are my favorite band. I'm not a super fan - I don't know where they were all born or who Freddy Mercury's orthodontist was (or should have been), but they are an amazing group of musicians

Tom Petty - Free Fallin' - how do you not love this song? Plus, Petty gives hope to band geeks all over the world - have you seen his wife?

Beatles - Obla di Obla da - Not even close to being spelled right, but it's my new favorite Beatles song. I know, it's no Yesterday or Hey Jude, but it makes me happy, and this is my blog and the song makes me happy so there.

Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine - I am the least romantic woman alive, but this is my idea of a beautiful, romantic song - he bares his heart without stupid lyrics like Fergie's "miss you like a child misses their blanket". Give me "this house ain't a home any time she goes away" any day.

CCR - Have You Ever Seen the Rain - CCR reminds me of my dad. He was cool.

Springsteen - I'm on Fire - Not his best song according to hard core fans, but whatever - I'm not from Jersey.

Steve Miller - STILL don't know what the the crap a "pompatus of love" is, but love the song.

Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music - Reminds me of wedding receptions when all the whitey's in the room hear this, take it as a challenge, pound down the Chardonnay and get up to prove every stereotype ever tossed out about us and our dancing.

There's more, but you've been a good sport to stick with it this long. Thanks for indulging me.

Tagged

I chose to be tagged by Audra - the only Mom I know more sarcastic than I am. We've never met, but I enjoy her blog - The Tale of the Shrinking Boobies http://shrinkingboobies.blogspot.com/. It was named for her journey from a J cup - you heard me - to a DD. Sweet Lord. She's past it, but kept the title. Anyhoo - she tagged all her regulars and lurkers, and since I am emotionally incapable of passing up a list...

Tagged

1. What was I doing ten years ago?

I moved to Long Island where I thought I would live out my days. Roy had taken on the job of Youth Pastor & was to lead the Worship Team at a church in Westbury. Ceilidh was starting Kindergarten and I was a stay at home mom to Sarah. It was also the year I met my friend Brenda. My life was good. God has a sense of humor.

5 things on my to - do list

1. Help Ceilidh study for her French exam. I didn't grow up in Canada for nothing people.
2. Update my TIVO Season passes. I'm bored with some of my shows.
3. Figure out how to get Ceilidh's phone off it's CAR KIT setting so I can actually reach her when I need to.
4. Work out the rest of this months' bills with my hubby. Drink a lot of wine. This is not two seperate "to do's".
5. Clean out fridge and freezer. Stupid, freaking 3 day power outage. I have mystery melts I could not begin to explain or identify.

3. Snacks I enjoy?
Toast, popcorn, chips & salsa, the Auntie Anne's pretzels my friend Phil makes - anything salty

4. Things I Would Do If I Were A Billionaire

Stop talking to all you poor people. Just kidding. Sorta. Some of you are on the bubble as it is.

I would give a lot of money to my church - it does a LOT of good and I know they would put it to good use.

Cancer research. Donate. Not try to cure it myself.

Pay off all my brothers and sisters mortgages.

Buy my sister Tanya a car.

Put a lot away for my girls' college/weddings/grandkids.

Pay off some my friends mortgages. Some of them work for churches - lets be honest -there's a salary cap. We didn't get into this biz for the money. : )

Travel travel travel

Open a bookstore in England and not care if it actually made money. Just sit in my shop surrounded by books and drink tea all day. This would also solve the problem of my bad teeth and allow me not to pay for another summer home for Dr. Ham.


5. Three of my bad habits

Not exercising

Wooden swearing. (My grandmaother's term for kinda but not really swearing)
I don't really swear that much, but I get too close sometimes.

Getting too busy & forgetting what - I mean who - is important. Sorry Ceildih and Sarah.


6. Five places I have lived
Cape Breton, NS
Taylor, MI
Greenville, SC
Syosset, NY
Bristow, VA

7. Five jobs I've had?
1- Lobster fishing - I "helped" my grandpa and his mate - not that kind of mate - one summer. He was very patient.

2. Stock room - ACE curriculum warehouse

3. Maintenance - Atomic Energy of Canada

4. Speech/Public Speaking Teacher - High School & college freshmen

5. Assistant to the Principal - like Assistant to the Regional Manager, not Assistant Regional Manager.


8. How did you name your blog?

Pretty much describes who I am. I'm a cancer surviving suburban Mom raising two teenage daughters, with two dogs, an unholy mortgage, a marginally insane extended family & doing all of it with the most laid back man God ever put breath in. I used to get into trouble - now it's just a little mischief.

Now - I tag Amber, Jill, Lindsey, Cary - even though you read 5000 blogs, I'm curious about your answers - and Sunny. Debby you're off the hook sinc eyou're functioning on 30 minutes of sleep and still recovering from the elevator incident of '08. I also tag you lurkers who never comment. You know who you are.

P.S. So do I.

Drink Up!

Dr Toni over at Everything Health http://healthwise-everythinghealth.blogspot.com/ had another great post today. It's been freakishly hot here the past week or so - apparently in early June, our planetary alignment puts northern VA roughly six feet from the sun. Power is out all over the area, crews have been working non-stop to get it back and we've had several Code Orange days. The big concern has been staying hydrated. With that in mind, here's a list of what NOT to drink.
From Dr. Toni:

Thanks to Mens Health for pointing me (Dr. Toni) to the most unhealthy drinks in America. Don't be fooled by:


Glacaeu VitaminWater (any flavor 20 oz)- Pure deception at 130 calories and 33 grams of sugar. You might as well drink a Coke. Hey, this drink is made by Coca Cola! Surprise.

Jamba Juice Peanut Butter Moo'd Power Smoothie (30 oz) 169 grams of sugar and 30 grams of fat will pack those fat cells on you. The only "power" will be cellulite.

Arizona Kiwi Strawberry (23.5 oz can) - These cans always look healthy and cool and cost under $1 but they pack on 360 calories and 84 grams of sugar.

Pina Colada - (you know the size) is the worst summer cocktail . They taste so yummy because they contain 625 calories and 75 grams of sugar. If you are trying to gain weight and don't care about empty sugar calories, this drink is for you.

Baskin Robbin's Large Heath Bar Shake (32 oz). This is the #1 most unhealthy drink in America. It contains 2,310 calories, 266 grams of sugar and 108 grams of fat. Don't say you haven't been warned.

So what is the best Summer Drink? Iced green tea with agave sweetener and mint or ice water with lemon. Stay cool and healthy!

Men's Synchronized Swimming

Two of the funniest men ever in one of SNL's finest moments.

Amber, this is for you.

15 Random Things

1. I hate roses. They remind me of funerals and obligations.
2. I love tulips and peonies.
3. I love toast. Hot buttered toast is my favorite snack.
4. I saw Queen Elizabeth when I was a little girl. It was very cool.
5. I married the only boyfriend I ever had. I don't regret it.
6. I think my children are exceptional. Despite the fact I am their mother, they are happy and well adjusted.
7. I cheated to pass my sophomore typing test in college. Back in the day, we needed to have a level of proficiency mainly for the purpose of typing press releases. Mrs. Dickson lost the records, no way was I going to pass, so I told her "Yes ma'am, I did."
8. Speaking of college, I survived Bob Jones University. I grew up in Canada, didn't know much about it, & it was the only school my parents would pay for. I got a decent education and a healthy dose of what the old South was like.
9. I'm the pet owner I always rolled my eyes at. I love my dog Sophie.
10. My husband is the best thing that has ever happened to me outside a home in Heaven. He puts up with me, makes me laugh, and is still my best friend after almost 20 years.
11. I am intimidated by everyone I meet. Everyone. You have better hair, you're thinner, smarter, bolder. Quiet people especially intimidate me. What are you thinking? You're thinking I'm an idiot aren't you?
12. I don't respect you if you disrespect your husband in front of other people. Good natured goofing is one thing, but if you'll crucify or mock him in front of others, what do you say about the rest of us?
13. I own three pairs of socks. All are footies to wear in my tennis shoes.
14. I hate talking on the phone. Damn you Alexander Graham Bell.
15. I love movies. If I could quit my job and do nothing but sit on my bum and watch movies all day, I would.