Shrimp

Today a co-worker of Mike's drove down to Gulfport, MS (where he is from originally) and picked up shrimp! He took orders at work and drove there and back today with shrimp that was caught at 10 o'clock this morning. I just came home from picking up our ten pounds (for a measly $4.50 per pound). These suckers are HUGE! They worked out to about 21 per pound and they are just gorgeous. Micah said they smelled bad and were disgusting. Marissah looked at them longingly (she's allergic). Aaron said he loves shrimp and he'll eat them all (he's never had them). I bagged 'em and stuck 'em in the freezer. I saved out 30 for dinner tomorrow night. We're just going to boil and then peel and eat. I've got Old Bay, lemons and peppercorns and plenty of butter. Mmmmmm........

Parboiled in Tennessee

Yes, it's hot here in the backwoods. Our heat index for today was 114. I don't care what the actual temperature was-it was just HOT. We got a nice rain shower this evening that cooled things off a bit, but I know we have another month of this oppressive heat before cooler temperatures move in. UGH!

Marissah and Micah are back in school and both are enjoying themselves. Marissah is planning to be on yearbook staff and Micah will be bowling in a league with Mike again this fall. Aaron is still at home driving me insane-what else is new?

You may have noticed the new feature on my blog--"Books from my Library." Thanks to Library Thing I can now keep track of the books I own AND I can share them with all of you! :)

Getting Back to Normal

We're all getting back to normal after 10 days in Minnesota. We had a lovely vacation, but it's nice to be home again, too. Mike left for Japan on Monday morning and will return on Saturday, so he's getting an extended vacation, even though he has to work while he's there.

My kids start school on Monday. YES! It's time already! They're sick of each other and I'm sick of them being sick of each other. We bought school supplies on Monday and my total rivaled the national debt. Okay, so that's an exaggeration, but it was still expensive. And I haven't even bought clothes for them yet. YIKES! Marissah will be wearing uniforms this year, so I won't have to listen to her whining about not knowing what to wear, thank God.

It's still hotter than Hades here in the backwoods. We hit at least 104 yesterday and, of course, I was in my van with the non-working A/C to enjoy it. Ugh.

If you want to see vacation pictures, click here.

Off to Camp

Marissah left for camp this morning. This is her first time being away from home except for sleepovers. She wasn't a bit scared, though. She kissed me on the cheek and told me good bye before the bus even came to a complete stop. Other parents walked their kids to the bus door and probably waved good bye as the bus pulled out of the parking lot. I wouldn't know though. My daughter told me to go home. (sniff)

She's going to have a wonderful time with her friends and I bet she'll be going again next summer!

Happy Independence Day!

We took the kids to see the fireworks tonight. It was a great show this year and, for once, we sat very close. The kids were duly impressed. Aaron was so awestruck he couldn't even talk and it's quite a feat to render Aaron speechless.

On the way home Micah commented that the moon was still following him. Over the years he's complained about this many times. The moon just won't leave him alone. Same goes for the sun. We've explained over and over (and over) and he just keeps coming back to "the moon is still following me." Mike told him tonight that the only time the moon wouldn't be following him is if Micah was on the moon. I asked him if he'd like to go to the moon, but he said no. He's like me-very practical. He doesn't want to go to the moon because he's afraid he'd run out of air. Also, he's not sure he'd be strong enough to wear a spacesuit. He thinks they're probably heavier than the pink bowling ball at the bowling alley (which weighs 7 pounds) and he can't lift that either. ;)

Another Meme

Share your answers in comments!

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? Nope.
2. Do you close your eyes on roller coasters? I don't think so, but it's been so long since I've been on one I can't remember!
3. When’s the last time you’ve been sledding? It's been a long, long time.....
4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone? Alone. Give me that big bed with lots of pillows and no one trying to steal any of it from me!
5. Do you believe in ghosts? Absolutely!
6. Do you consider yourself creative? Not even a little bit.
7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife? Probably.
8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? Jennifer Aniston. Angelina is creepy.
9. Do you stay friends with your ex’s? No.
10. Do you know how to play poker? A little.
11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight? I don't think so.
12. What’s your favorite commercial? Don't have one.
13. What are you allergic to? Cats and mold.
14. If you’re driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around do you run red lights? I'm going to take the Fifth on that one. ;)
15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you? Yes.
16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees? The Yankees, of course!
17. Have you ever been Ice Skating? Many times.
18. How often do you remember your dreams? More often lately.
19. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? That would be at the Khaki Ball this past September. Meircee knows what I'm talking about.
20. Can you name 5 songs by The Beatles? Twist and Shout, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Yellow Submarine, um.......Give me a break, I wasn't even born until 1974!!!
21. What’s the one thing on your mind now? Getting my kids to bed and going there myself.
22. Do you know who Ghetto-ass Barbie is? Nope.
23. Do you always wear your seat belt? Always.
24. What cell service do you use? Sprint.
25. Do you like Sushi? Very, very much!
26. Have you ever narrowly avoided a fatal accident? Yes.
27. What do you wear to bed? Usually jammies, a different pair every night (I love fresh, clean jammies), but sometimes nothing.
28. Been caught stealing? No.
29. What shoe size do you have? Anywhere from a 6 to a 7, depending on the brand and style.
30. Do you truly hate anyone? No. I couldn't hold a grudge to save my life.
31. Classic Rock or Rap? Classic Rock.
32. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be? Today: Anderson Cooper. Tomorrow: Could be someone else entirely.
33. Favorite Song? I don't have one.
34. Have you ever sang in front of the mirror? Sure.
35. What food do you find disgusting? Liver.
36. Do you sing in the shower? No, but I sing while cleaning and doing dishes.
37. Did you ever play, “I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours”? Nope.
38. Have you ever stood up for someone you hardly knew? Yes, but not often enough.
39. Have you ever been punched in the face? No.

Micah's Favorite

It's bowling night again, so we were talking about it in the car on the way to the library. Micah told us he ate a whole hamburger last week at bowling. I was impressed and told him so and he said: "And it wasn't just a plain hamburger either! It was a squish cheese burger!" I laughed so hard I thought I'd run my van right off the road. Micah, of course, had no idea why I was laughing. He then told me: "And it had a toothpick in it, too!"

Channeling California

I've been craving California food lately. No, I'm not talking about oranges and avocados (although I'd love to find *good ones of each here in The Backwoods). I'm talking about In N Out Burger , Del Taco and La Salsa, just to name a few. Since I can't have any of those, I decided to cook a very Californian meal for dinner last night. We had baked salmon and steamed artichokes with Hollandaise sauce. It was so yummy! My boys didn't care for the artichokes, but Marissah was enchanted (she watches a little too much of the Food Network). For dessert I made a huge fruit salad and sangria. Mmmm... The watermelon in my salad is a Mississippi watermelon and if I can't say anything else nice about Mississippi I can say they grow excellent watermelons. Guess it just reinforces my opinion that the only thing worth visiting the South for is the food.....

Micah's New Pastime

My son has become a bowler!! Mike and Micah joined a league for parents and children with a co-worker of Mike's and his son. They bowl every Wednesday night and Micah is having a blast! On his first night he actually got an almost-strike (knocked all 10 pins down, but it was on his second ball). Last night his average was around 40. He told me, with much pride, that he uses a 7-pound ball now, but Dad still won't let him "run and then throw the ball" like he wants to. ;) Stay tuned for more bowling highlights. He's ready for us to buy him shoes and his very own bowling ball, preferably with flames.

Nana's Dad

Aaron is going to be Nana's "dad" when he grows up. Just so you know, I am pretty certain he means he's going to be her husband. Lately he's been very concerned about her marital status. Aside from volunteering himself for the job, he's tried to recruit both Micah and Mike. I'm not sure why this is such a big deal to him, but it is. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to hear him ask total strangers to be his Nana's "dad" and have already warned my mother about it since she's going to have the kids for a few days next month. It's really funny because neither Marissah or Micah has ever questioned Nana not being married.

Of course, Aaron is quite the little ladies' man. Wherever we go I can be certain he'll flirt with females, age not mattering one iota to him. He flirts with the elderly ladies at the commissary as well as the cute little toddlers at the library. He gave the neighbor girl (whom he calls his girlfriend) a flower he picked the other day (I admit to putting him up to that). This is the same "girlfriend" he's had forever. They always meet up by the fence in the backyard and, up until a few months ago, always called each other "Baby." Apparently they are both much too big to be "Baby" anymore and they've moved on to calling each other by their first names. They hug each other (when not encumbered by that pesky fence) and it's so cute to hear her yell "Aaron, come here!" when she sees him. I wonder what sweet little Zyra will have to say when she learns her honey is going to marry his grandma when he grows up????

Books, books and more books!

It's been almost two months since I joined Paperbackswap.com and it's obvious from the looks of my bookshelves that it was a good idea gone bad.

For those of you unfamiliar with it, Paperbackswap.com is exactly what it sounds like. You join (membership is currently free, may not always be) and post the books you have that you're willing to part with. In exchange for joining and posting your first nine books you get three free credits. Each credit is good for a book in the system. Here's the cool part: you pick your book (and there are currently more than half a million listed) and they'll send it to you for FREE. To earn more credits you have to send your books to the people who request them. You pay postage (which is $1.59 for a paperback and $2.07 for a hardback). When that person receives their book from you, you get another credit. It's that simple. I've yet to have a book disappear in the mail (one I sent or one I requested) and, in spite of the fact that the books are mainly sent using Media Mail (cheap), they usually reach their destination in about a week. It's great and I've been able to get several books my library doesn't have and even one book I've been looking for for over FIVE YEARS.

So, yeah, my bookshelf is currently overflowing, but that's a good thing-really! So check out Paperbackswap. And feel free to use me as a reference (ericaintn is my user name). As far as I'm concerned, there is no such thing as too many books.

Recently Overheard

Aaron (after Mom told him to get in bed or she'd beat him silly): Ah, beat me silly!

Micah (on why he doesn't like to be tickled): It makes me feel furry inside!

Micah (on getting the dog back into our yard when she ran out the open gate): Is this Gracie? Because it's the same color as Gracie, but I don't know if it's really our dog because I didn't see her run out our gate or anything.

**Micah and I take the same medication at bedtime (both for sleep). Last time the pharmacy didn't refill mine, but refilled his twice in the same bottle.**

Micah (to Mom, when she told him she was going to "borrow" some of his white pills): Why do you need help?

Micah (on why he didn't get an E for conduct in school): It's because of Simburger's, Mom! (He meant Asperger's Syndrome.)

Aaron (at bedtime): Good night, Sister.

Aaron (singing his favorite song): Row, row your boat, gently down the string.....

Aaron (when asked to pick up his toys): I'm sick of doing favors!

**The kids were doing "Cheers" at dinner one night. Excessively. Micah even had a toast with his cup and fork.**

Micah (when Daddy asked if he should do "Cheers" with his hand on Micah's butt, Micah promptly tried it out with his own hand): Hey! That's a spanking!

Micah (on why he's never getting married): I don't want to have kids because I don't want them asking me questions all the time.

Aaron (explaining why he should be able to go to school with Micah now): But I'm five now. I am. See? (holds up five fingers.)

Aaron (after I showed the sentry at the gate on base my ID card): Hey! You forgot to tell him I'm Aaron!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes, it's my birthday today. For the next 3 weeks my husband and I are the same age, or so he says. I insist that he's still 49 weeks older than I am, but does he listen???

It's funny, all year long I've been thinking I was already 32. Now it seems like I should be turning 33, but the calendar says otherwise. I guess I kind of talked myself into an extra year. Or something.

Aaron wished me a happy birthday this morning, but only after losing the argument with me that today is actually his birthday. Sheesh, I gave up my body for nine months to carry him, I regularly make sacrifices for his happiness and now the little monster wants my birthday, too. Kids today!

Happy Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day! The day to tell your mom how much she means to you. I hope you remembered to get her a card--or at least a cactus (sorry, inside joke).

I was very disappointed when I went through Micah's backpack on Friday and didn't find a Mother's Day card. I mean, he's only in 3rd grade. I wouldn't think that's too old to make Mother's Day cards, especially when Marissah's 6th grade social studies class made cards for their moms. So, I asked Micah if he made me a card. "Yes," he said.

"Where is it?" I asked, innocently.

"At school," he replied.

"Why didn't you bring it home?"

"Because Mrs. Lott didn't tell me to," he said.

I thought about this for a minute. Yep, that's my Micah Boo. "Do you know when Mother's Day is, Micah?' I asked him.

"No," he said. He truly wasn't as uninterested as this sounds, you just have to know Micah. This is a typical conversation with him.

"Mother's Day is tomorrow, Micah." I said.

"Oh," he said.

"I guess I'll get my card on Monday, huh?" I asked.

"I hope so," was all he said. I guess if Mrs. Lott doesn't specifically tell him to bring the dang card home for his poor, deprived Mommy he'll just leave it at school until the last day. :) What a kid!

So, I hope you all have the Mother's Day of your dreams. No cleaning, no cooking, cash prizes or jewelry. At least a homemade card or two.

Another Reason I Hate the South

The creatures here are hideous. I killed a big brown recluse spider today in my bathroom. It was just lollygagging around in the sink, waiting to bite the hell out of someone, probably me. It was bigger than a quarter (including his legs) and since I'm terrified of them I first tried to drown it. (Let me just tell you that a bite from a brown recluse can lead to gangrene. This is not something I'm willing to mess with.)

I turned the water on in the sink (hot, of course, all the better to burn it with) and filled it up. When that little bastard didn't drown (do spiders breathe?) I scooped him up in a cup and brought him outside where I stomped the heck out of him. In Mike's shoes, not mine. Like I'd risk my penny loafers or something. Sheesh!

In the two years we've lived here we've found five of these bastards, all in the downstairs bathroom. Just what I need is that to be floating around in my head next time we have a tornado warning and I have to sit in there with my kids. Ugh.

A Meme

Here's a meme for all of you. Feel free to post you answers as comments.....

• I am: still waking up
• I want: a Peppermint Mocha.
• I wish: my kids were in school today.
• I hate: living in the backwoods.
• I love: my family.
• I miss: San Diego.
• I fear: something will happen to my kids.
• I hear: the television, as usual.
• I wonder: if it will ever dry out enough so I can plant my flowers.
• I regret: very little.
• I am not: as crabby as I was yesterday.
• I dance: in the kitchen while I make dinner.
• I sing: in the car.
• I cry: not as easily as I used to.
• I am not always: a mean Mommy.
• I make with my hands: dinner, every night.
• I write: something every day
• I confuse: my kids' names. I call Marissah Aaron. I call Aaron Micah. I call Micah Marissah.
• I need: a new laptop.
• I should: get dressed and get busy with work.
• I start: every day with coffee.
• I finish: every day with a book.
• I tag: All of you!

The Mantra of a Pre-teen Girl

You all know what I'm talking about. You said it yourself, back in the day. "I have nothing to wear!" This is almost always said through tears, combined with a hair toss and a very exaggerated sigh at the end. Yep, that's what I heard this afternoon. Today was the final dance of the school year and, wouldn't you know, Marissah had nothing to wear. What a tragedy! Lucky for her, Mommy was more than willing to help. Heh heh heh.

For starters, I told her she was not wearing any of my shoes. Her feet are almost as big as mine, but not quite and, dammit, she's going to wear shoes that fit. Plus, I have no desire to kiss my favorites goodbye quite yet. Also, she's not real good at matching. Did I tell you about her awards ceremony at school? She looked great in a black skirt embroidered with silver (came to her knees) but I almost died when I saw that she had managed to get out of the house wearing my brown leather boots. These are boots made for jeans, you know the type: chunky heel, cut pretty wide at the top. Needless to say, I'm not taking any chances where her and shoes are concerned.

She was quite disappointed when I told her she wasn't wearing any spaghetti straps, either. I'm dead serious when I tell you that I saw many middle school girls in teeny tiny little slip dresses after her Christmas dance. It was disgusting. No way is my 11-year-old going out looking like that. We finally settled on pink embroidered capris, a white top and Mom's white with pink polka dots scarf/belt. We also put a pretty pink silk scarf (Mom's again) in her ponytail. She looked great, even with her pink Converse tennies. :)

When I dropped her off at the dance I was surprised to see her boyfriend, Geoffrey, waiting outside the school for her. I didn't think sixth grade boys knew about those kind of niceties. I even saw him open the door for her!! I didn't get to meet him then, but he walked her to the car after the dance and he shook my hand and told me it was nice to meet me. This one is definitely an improvement over the last boyfriend, that's for certain! Of course, then he hugged her goodbye and I almost fainted dead away. I know it could have been worse (and, believe me, we had the kissing talk before she left for the dance), but watching them hug was pretty damn traumatic. She's 11 for Pete's sake!!!

So she had a good time. They didn't dance, just held hands and talked. I didn't even let my eyes pop out of my head when she mentioned the hand-holding. I suspect they may have shared a kiss or (God help me) two, but I'm not going to ask her again. Yikes.

Squeaky Clean!

It's raining today and Aaron is bored. His toys are boring, the TV won't hold his interest and I can't even get him interested in a book (usually one of his favorite things). No, it seems today is Bath Day.

It's 10:30 and he's in the tub again. This is his second bath of the day. At this rate, not only will he be squeaky clean, he'll also be shriveled up like a prune! He's got his cars and Rescue Heroes in the tub with him. Why can he play with them in the water but not out of it? I'll probably never know......

He's Ready!

Aaron is officially ready for summer. Today at Wal-Mart we bought him two flyswatters and six squirt guns. As I type this, he hiding outside, preparing to squirt Marissah when she gets home from school! :)

Happy Birthday!

It's my sister's birthday today! Everyone wish Stacie a happy 29th! One more year and she's old like me! :)

Love you, Sis!