Well never in my life would I have ever thought that G2 would have picked LSU.  I think it is pretty much a done deal.  Hubs and G2 got back home Tuesday evening but I didn’t get the pictures down loaded until now.

Hubs was impressed with the school.  Of course G2 loved it and even brought me back an ‘LSU Mom’ t-shirt. Here are a few pictures from their trip:

From all the pictures that they took the campus looks beautiful. Of course I imagine the weather is very much like Houston so everything is green…and hot…and wet (and not because of rain).

I had told G2 that I wanted a picture of Mike. The first day, Mike didn’t go outside while they were around, but on the second day they caught Mike VI taking a snooze. Mike’s habitat is in the middle of the campus.

This stop was a must while they were in Baton Rouge. G2 had to have gator and he loves cajun food anyway.

Here he is totally in his element (sports). Do you see what he is wearing?!? I think his mind is made up now!

G2 took this shot and I love it. I always wanted him to take a photography course while he was in high school.

That is all for now, I down loaded a few more shots in flckr if you want to take a look. They had a great trip and G2 is excided about next year.

Have a great weekend.

We all know what that stands for - So Happy It’s Thursday!  That couldn’t be any more of a true statement than if you were to say the grass is green!  I can smell the weekend.  It smells just Divine!

I was supposed to have hubs scan in those old pictures and post them to give you a laugh, but time got away.  Something about working out, picking up a kid, making dinner, cleaning up the kitchen, getting dog food and coffee from that store I hate but always end up going to that starts with Wal and ends in Mart.  It’s a love/hate relationship.  Somehow I feel violated when I leave.  I go in for 3 things and come out with a shit ton.  I don’t understand.

I guess I’ll post a little of this & and little of that.  Here we go!

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I’m not yet used to the sounds of my house.  You know, the sounds that tell you when and where someone is in the house based on the sounds of their foot steps?  I used to be able to tell when oldest son would sneak in past his curfew every single time.  Shit, now he could go to Europe and back and I’d still be sleeping soundly.

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I’m tired of boxes but I don’t feel like unpacking anything else.  I’m tired of moving.  I guess if I tell you guys that I will for sure have the living room done by the end of the weekend, you fine readers will hold me accountable.  Fine.  I’ll do it.  And if you’re really good, I’ll do the game room as well (don’t hold your breath)

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Hubs is making a career change.  Yes, you heard me.  Two kids in college, a new house, etc, etc,  An opportunity came his way that he says he can’t pass up.  There will be somewhat of a pay decrease but potential to make a lot of money on the back end.  I honestly can tell you I’m a bit stressed by the whole matter.  I like living the way I live.  I kind of wanted to enter this era of my life on cruise control.  Of course there would be no adventure in that, would there?  I reluctantly gave him my support.  He assures me everything is going to be OK.  Here we go again - climbing that emotional roller coaster.  I hope when we get to the top we’ll have a hell of a time. 

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I think I’m envious of my husband.  I feel very stagnant at my job.  I’m bored.  The people irritate me.  The work is not challenging.  There is no adventure.  But, the pay is good, the benefits are better, and, I really don’t have to think too much.  Six years I’ve been here.  Six loooonnngggg years.  Time for a change?

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It’s July in Texas.  I’m hot.  It’s too hot to do anything outside at all.  Even after the sun goes down it’s hot.  Although it is more bearable after the son goes down temperature wise, the mosquitoes make it worse.  I’m longing for Thanksgiving weather.  On second thought - maybe I’m longing for turkey, dressing, apple pie, sweet potatoes……..yes, that must be it.  I’ve been very careful choosing the right foods this week.  I think I’m just hungry.

Well, that’s it for now.  Hope you enjoyed getting inside my head.  I’m sorry, didn’t I warn you?  My brain is like a horror flick-twists and turns with no warning!

As I said last week, I like the title.  And, it follows Tickle Tuesday.  Sometimes you’ve just got to go with the flow!  Who knows?  It may become a permanent around these parts.  You know, Manic Monday, Tickle Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday, SHIT Thursday, etc., etc.  (SHIT stands for So Happy It’s Thursday)

Of course I have something wacky to write about.  My husband didn’t think it was wacky or funny.  I thought it to be both.  See, he doesn’t always have a sense of humor when it comes to bills and bank accounts.  I however could do nothing but laugh.

The other night I organized our bills.  The first thing I do is separate the trash, junk mail and inserts from the bills.  Then I calculate the damage, er, I mean I tell him how much money I need to pay said bills.  That’s one of the perks of being self employed, I tell him how much to pay himself and he signs it over to me.  I like this.  Anyway, I did my sorting.  I threw a pile into the garbage and put the other pile with my purse to take to the office. 

Fast forward to Monday.  I sit down to start paying bills.  Low and behold……..I had the pile that was garbage!  The bills got thrown out!  LOL! Hubs?  He didn’t quite see the humor.  I wasn’t worried as I knew I could pay most of them online.  The others I could contact.  But still, can you imagine how funny it was when I started going through what I thought was mail and kept finding the old coupons etc. that were meant for the trash?

On another note, I found some old pictures.  I found pictures of me at the first office I worked in when I moved to Texas in 1986.  Man, I was young……and skinny!  Then I found some from right after I had two of my three which meant it would have been the early 90’s.  Again, young and skinny.  I will say that I certainly had big hair.  In one pic my hair was so high I think a bird’s nest may have been hiding in there!

Maybe it’s time for Mama Duck to bring back Way Back Wednesday?  Or, maybe if you beg and promise not to laugh, I might post a few.

Kat and Suz- next time we have a girls night (that means no men or kids-sorry honey), we will get out the container of old pics.  I will let you laugh.

It’s not Monday; and it’s not Humpday, so it must be Tickle Tuesday.  Tickle Tuesday is our attempt to lighten your load and make your day a little brighter.  

Enjoy!

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Hubs and G2 are off in Louisiana visiting the LSU campus. After talking to the boy Monday night, I have a feeling that he is going end up wearing purple. Hubs told me that G2’s interview with the Dept. Head of his major went very well. G2 even said that it felt like they were old friends (they must have been talking football). Here are a couple of pictures that G2 sent me during the day.

This is at the LSU campus. They took a tour in the morning and G2’s interview was in the afternoon. He told me he went by Mike’s habitat but he wasn’t outside (who could blame him, I wouldn’t be outside either if I could help it, it’s hot down here in the south).

Here you have his dinner. The boy couldn’t wait to eat Gator!

Tomorrow they are going to check out the housing and visit the Registrar’s office. They gave him a list of courses to take back here in Houston and the classes he will take when he starts there. All in all he is very excited and loves the idea of being out-of-state, but close enough that he can bring home his laundry from time to time.

Empty Nest Syndrome rapidly approaches…

The patio in all it’s outside goodness.  Yes, I have boxes all over the house; but the patio?  The patio is done.  I need a few more plants.  All in good time.  I must say, I love the patio more than I loved the pool.  We hardly ever used the pool.  A pool is a lot of work.  I can’t like more work.  The pool also brought A LOT of mosquitoes.  I really don’t like mosquitoes!

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Now onto other stuff.  I’ve mentioned before about my plight to lose weight.  I was down 23 lbs. at my birthday.  Not too shabby if I do say so myself.  I not only started to look better,  I must admit, I was feeling better.  I had more energy, my skin was clear, my hair was healthy, my attitude was better. 

Over the last 3 weeks I have been eating whatever/whenever.  You know how it is when you move, not only did the move effect my food choices, my emotions did as well.  I could most definitely be the poster child for emotional eaters anonymous.  I eat when I’m stressed; I eat when I’m mad; I eat when I’m sad…..you get the picture.  Now really, who’s going to go get a freakin carrot after someone just pissed them off when there is a perfectly good carton of Reese’s ice cream in the freezer? 

Yeah, I have a point.  The point is, I am a continual W*eight W*atcher joiner.  Each January I attempt to lose weight.  I get down to about where I am now then, well, I crumble.  Slowly the lbs start creeping back on.  I can find any excuse in the book to eat french fries and take a nap instead of eating a salad and going to the gym. My biggest excuse was that I was not overweight, I was under tall!  If I were a foot taller, my weight would be perfect!

Goals - they are important when trying to achieve something like weight loss.  Every January my goal is to lose enough weight by my birthday (June 1st BTW), to where people notice and say “wow, you’re losing weight!  You’re looking good!”

Now, notice my words “lose enough weight”; not lose all the weight I should in order to be within the guidelines “they” say is healthy.  Who the heck “they” are, I’m not sure.  I’m pretty confident that “they” are some sadistic little elves who set these evil goals to make people hate themselves.

To wrap this up, I gained 4 lbs over the last 3 weeks.  I was not at my goal weight prior to the move.  As I said, I had lost 23 lbs up to that point, but still had about 20 lbs. to get to where I want.  I don’t want to follow my usual pattern as described above.  I want to continue to make good food choices and lose weight.  The first 23 lbs. were, well, not easy to lose.  I think I was determined and motivated to lose at least 20 lbs by my birthday which I did.  Oddly enough at the meeting tonight the leader talked about setting goals and coming up with a plan to achieve those goals.  She also had us write what we envision ourselves to look and feel like when we achieve those goals. 

Here’s where I should lie and paint some pretty little picture and say that I wrote how great I’m going to look and feel after another 20lbs.  The sad part - I couldn’t envision myself reaching that goal.  That made me angry.  It made me sad.  Why can I not see myself winning this battle? I want to win it damn it.  I do.  Why can’t I see myself at my goal? I was very motivated to lose weight by my birthday and I did it.  I’m afraid that setting a goal of 20 lbs by Christmas won’t be enough to motivate me to stay committed.

Now Internets, this is your time to psycho analyze me and my problem and then give me the advice, kind words, and motivation that I need to reach my goal.  If you think I need a kick in the ass, then kick it.  If you think I’m being self absorbed and I need to shut up and just do it - tell me.  If you have had this same problem but conquered it - tell me!  I need some encouragement, possibly an ass kicking, and most definitely some ideas to stay on track. 

I will write my goal so that you guys can hold me accountable.  My goal is to lose 24 lbs by Christmas (the 4 I gained plus the 20 I should lose to be within the standard range for short people).  I want to maintain that loss.  I want to help others that may have weight issues.  I want to be an inspiration. 

Wow, pretty heavy stuff for a Friday.  Have a great weekend and send me those “can do” thoughts.  BTW-remember the rules of the sand box when commenting - no throwing sand or you will be booted out!

This week seems to be flying by.  Next week is a big week here at casa-de-SuZan, G2 has an appointment with the Department Head for his major at LSU, yes the boy wants to check out the campus and see what they have to offer.  It is quickly becoming a reality that he will be gone in a year….WOW!

I think I’ll just stop myself before I go into full blown “Empty Nester” mode.  The G’s are leaving Sunday and will be back on Tuesday or Wednesday.  I told G2 that he has to take a picture of Mike for me.

There really isn’t much to talk about, now that things are getting back to normal (cough; cough…Sheri’s move……LYMI Sheri).  For your entertainment I’ll give you the always interesting and totally confusing…searches people used to find our blog:

1. I can’t believe what Sheri is doing - Oh I could have so much fun with this one.
2. duct taped and tickled - I’m scared to look into this one.
3. “the real world” boobs - Huh?
4. stuck zipper “had to pee” - Ok this has to be from one of Sheri’s posts 
5. snoring “streaming video” - Bwahahahaha this could refer to either one of us.
6. 2 chicks sometime - Anyone care to comment on this one?
7. letter for a big ass woman - Say What?
8. from different angles you examine yours - This one, like #2, scares me.
9. Pictures of girls from lums holy day - ????????
10. celebrating women day - Woo Hoo, we have a holiday now!!!!

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Only because it follows Tickle Tuesday; and it starts with a “w”; and it sounds cute.  Also, I couldn’t think of another title.

Remember my post about the interrogation dinner with the new neighbors?  If not, scroll down.  You’ll find it.  Anyway, I couldn’t help but notice some hesitation during the conversation and dinner.  And the questions they were trying to work into conversation?  Definitely fishing for answers.  I didn’t figure out why until today.  When I did, I laughed my ass off.  When I told Suz, she laughed her ass off and told me I had to blog it.

One of the comments was about “they were worried about what kind of people were moving in as they saw all kinds of weird people looking at the house and coming and going and trucks and stuff.”  Also they mentioned about “cause these homes are single family homes” (Not as in you have to be single, but as in you and your family and your mother’s brother and his family can’t live in the same house).  I must have had that “duh” look on my face because as I told them, I work for attorneys who represent associations.  We enforce these restrictions!  The subject ended.

Today it hit me.  When we looked at the house, it was the realtor, Suz in her car, me in my car.  All the neighbors suddenly had a weed to pull in their front yard.  At least that’s what they were pretending to do while they were checking out the goods.  Note - Suz and I looked at the house, not hubs and I.  The next day I set up an appt. for hubs and kids to look at the house as I felt a little guilty about filling out the paperwork with hubs having not seen it.  So here we come, hubs in his car, two boys in oldest son’s truck, me and daughter in daughter’s car.  Again, the neighbors hard yard work.  Imagine what they thought-all of these cars with all of these adults coming to look at the house.  Oldest son doesn’t look like a kid - AT ALL!  We all traveled in separate cars as we had to be in different places afterwards.

The next time we appeared at the house, one of the neighbors actually was brave enough to come up and speak.  The players -  it was suz, me & daughter with Mr. G’s p/up full of furniture from storage.  No boys around to help mind you, so it was the girls, lifting a sofa and carrying it to the 2nd floor; and moving in a formal dining table.  Girls!  Doing heavy lifting.  What kind of girls do you picture moving heavy stuff? 

Now we’re getting close to the point. I introduced Suz to brave neighbor as my best friend.  I then introduced daughter.  He maybe didn’t catch all that I was saying and was really trying to make the pieces of the puzzle fit.  I heard him ask my daughter as SuZan and I walked into the house if she (daughter) was going to live here too.  I was silently thinking “duh, that’s why I introduced her as my 17 yr old daughter who just graduated and will be living at home while taking classes at Lone Star College.

Needless to say, Suz has been to my house A LOT between the move, helping me keep my sanity, etc. etc.  I always introduce her as “my friend” to all my new neighbors.

Anyone see where this is going?  See, I didn’t come out and specify that day we were moving sofas etc. that she was my friend that was HELPING.  Not as in “my friend” as in “with benefits.”

I think Stepford was slightly worried that some lesbos were quite possibly moving in……………

It’s not Monday; and it’s not Humpday, so it must be Tickle Tuesday.  Tickle Tuesday is our attempt to lighten your load and make your day a little brighter.   How many of us love Maxine?  I know that I do.  I think this has been out for a while but it is still funny.

Meet Max…

Men’s Answer to Maxine

Yep, that made you smile!  Now here is a bit of news that might just make you laugh out loud.  Did you know that “July is National Cell Phone Courtesy Month”.  Who would have thought that you could put the words Cell Phone and Courtesy in the same sentence?  All over the Internet you can find lists of cell phone etiquette that we should observe during this month.

According to Jacqueline Whitmore, one of the nation’s foremost experts on etiquette and protocol, wireless phone users can take these steps to avoid offending others:

1. Be all there. When you’re in a meeting, performance, courtroom or other busy area, let calls go to voicemail to avoid a disruption. In some instances, turning your phone off may be the best solution.

2. Keep it private. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid discussing private or confidential information in public. You never know who may be in hearing range.

3. Keep your cool. Don’t display anger during a public call. Conversations that are likely to be emotional should be held where they will not embarrass or intrude on others.

4. Learn to vibe. Use your wireless phone’s silent or vibration settings in public places such as business meetings, religious services, schools, restaurants, theaters or sporting events so that you do not disrupt your surroundings.

5. Avoid “cell yell.” Remember to use your regular conversational tone when speaking on your wireless phone. People tend to speak more loudly than normal and often don’t recognize how distracting they can be to others.

6. Follow the rules. Some places, such as hospitals or airplanes, restrict or prohibit the use of mobile phones, so adhere to posted signs and instructions. Some jurisdictions may also restrict mobile phone use in public places.

7. Excuse yourself. If you are expecting a call that can’t be postponed, alert your companions ahead of time and excuse yourself when the call comes in; the people you are with should take precedence over calls you want to make or receive.

8. Send a message. Use Text Messaging to send and receive messages without saying a single word.

9. Watch and listen discreetly. New multimedia applications such as streaming video and music are great ways to stay informed and access the latest entertainment. However, adjust the volume based on your surroundings in much the same way that you would adjust your ringer volume. Earphones are a great way to avoid distracting others in public areas.

10. Alert silently. When using your phone’s walkie-talkie feature, send the person you’re trying to reach a Call Alert before starting to speak. If you’re around other people, turn off your phone’s external speaker and use the vibration setting to minimize any disturbance and to respect your contact’s privacy.

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So when you catch your breath from laughing I want you to think.  How many of these etiquette suggestions have you seen broken so far this month?  If you dare to “fess up”  how many have you broken yourself this month? 

I’ll tell on myself with #7, I usually don’t answer my phone when I am with a patient but I did take a call from another therapist that I could not get a hold of.  I did however excuse myself and explained that I have not been able to speak to this person and it was just a few seconds to try to arrange for us to talk later on that day….I still felt guilty.

#8 + teenagers + sitting down to eat at the dinner table = one pissed off mama!  I DO NOT approve of texting at the dinner table….sorry….I’m still not in the 21st century.

I feel like I’m living on Wisteria Lane.  Seriously.  I think the neighbors were calling each other as the moving van pulled up.  Don’t get me wrong, my neighbors aren’t bad.  They are, hmmmm, inquisitive.  Yes, that’s it.  Each one has come over and asked questions and tried to peak around my shoulder to see what kind of stuff I have and what the yard looks like.  A bit nosey, yes; but they all seem to really care about their neighborhood.  They all told me that “we watch out for each other”; and “there is someone home in almost every house on the street at some time or other through out the day.”

My husband and I were invited to the neighbors across the street for dinner.  E made it sound as if it were a block party sort of thing.  No.  It was the “older” people on the block checking out the goods.  Sure as shit EVERYONE on the block knew that the new people on the block were having dinner with E and a few neighbors. 

Oh, the questions that were asked.  I think I may have even had a rectal exam.  I’m not sure.  Again, not that I minded because that’s what makes a hood a hood.  But I’m a bit private.  What?  Stop laughing. 

Kat and SuZan got to meet one set of neighbors.  Let’s just say that they were, um, interesting.  They were at dinner last night as well.  They brought brownies when they came to the house the night before.  Another couple at dinner asked how the brownies were.  Yup, people talk. 

Well, the kitchen is unpacked, the patio set up, the breakfast nook ready, the formal dining room and study are done.  The master bedroom is done.  That leaves the garage, game room and the kids bedrooms.  The kids are responsible for their rooms, but two of them need dressers.  Oh, that is a post in and of itself.  SuZan was on the receiving end of some frantic text messages.  The dresser still isn’t done.  I think I may have to pay big G to undue what we did (which isn’t good) then put it back together.  Yes, it was that bad!

All in all  we love the new house and we love the neighborhood.  Stay tuned, there may be pictures at some point.

Have a wonderful Independence Day and be safe!