What would Judi do?

It amazes me how quickly things change.  Growing up, my kids didn't know who was older.  There was one minute between them - it's not like one is significantly older than the other.  We had a system - A and M days.  On A days, A would sit in the seat behind the driver (the one where they could still see things in the rear view mirror), push the grocery cart, whatever the thing was they tended to fight over - and it was the day she was oldest.  The next day it was M's turn.  It worked out nicely. Until we met the bitchy cashier in Target.  I still don't like her. She asked all the usual questions:   Are you twins?  Are you fraternal?  Do you think the same thoughts?  And then there was the kicker:   Who's oldest?   We don't tell them that.   Well, that's stupid.  It's obvious who's older.  It's HER! (pointing to A).  Bitch! This started us down the bad road.  They wanted to know the truth. ...

A friend of mine posted a picture of a large (as in huge) rubber duck that was visiting the harbor in Hong Kong a while ago.  I knew I wanted to see it. When it made its appearance in the US, I knew I had to see it.  It went to Pittsburgh but apparently no one felt the need to tell me about it. But when I saw a news report saying it would be in Norfolk, I knew I needed to visit. Andrew and I made the trek to visit the biggest duck I've ever seen.  Now, anyone who knows me know that ducks are sacred in my world.  I wouldn't eat one and I go out of my way to go see them when I can.  This is the happiest duck I've ever seen.  And I've never seen a duck make others so happy.  It's that odd. I love the reflection of the duck in the water.  He's just so happy! The duck knows how to photobomb. Peek-a-boo duck. Squish Your Head duck. It was such a perfect weekend.  All the things I really enjoy were crammed into abo...

My mother taught me to "act as if".  It used to make me nuts.  Sometimes I'm in a pissy mood or just know I can't do something or whatever.  Those are the times, my mother said, to act as if.  Act as if it's all okay.   Act as if I can do (whatever it is).  Act as if. So this week has pretty much sucked.  Nothing life changing (mostly) but sucky nonetheless.  So I'm going to act as if it's been a really good week.  I'm going to act as if this was a great day, which it was not. 1.  My girls got their Silver Award through Girl Scouts.  This is a real thing, not an act-as-if thing.  It was great to hear the opportunities that await my girls as they progress through scouts.  And it got me into a church for the first time in a long time.  The pew didn't sizzle.  That's a good thing. My girls and their awesome troop leader. 2.  I like my saw on a stick.  Oh, that's right, I've been corrected. ...

I'm such a slacker.  I've been forgetting to post my Good News Friday posts.  Sigh....but I'm back! Let's see....it feels like it's been a busy week.  I know there are some good points in there somewhere. 1.  I was able to work with some of my favorite people this week.  It doesn't happen often but when it does, it makes me happy.  Two of my favorite interpreters and Favorite Client #1.  Good work week! 2.  "I have a good life!"  M announced to me this week.  When asked to elaborate, she said "I have good friends, I read good books, I like good tv shows and I have a good family."  That's a good way to feel and made me feel oh so good as a parent.  I needed that. 3.  I celebrated Russian easter.  This made me surprisingly happy.  I don't have many holiday traditions and never had much of one regarding easter.  This year, I missed having a family.  I saw everyone's pictures of family celebrations ...

I don't like this music (Marillion). Why? It's metallic colored. Huh? It sounds like silver or gold. I have to think about that a bit. What color is Mika (a favorite of theirs). He's rainbow! What color are the Beatles? Yellow. Elton John is also yellow. What color is Ozzy Osbourne? Orange. What music is red? Punk Rock Girl (dead milkmen) is red and black. I don't know much red. Also Taylor Swift, but not because the album is titled red.  Country music is red.  Different shades of red. What music is green? Green Day! What music is white? Wedding music. I never thought of white music. Oh!  Celine Dion! What is One Direction? Pink for happy music, gray for sad ones. What color is Jason Derulo? Dark orange! (said with a scowl!) What color is Sleeper Agent? Purple or electric blue! What color are the Indigo Girls? Lilac. What about the music from Frozen? Blue, white and silver. Justin Timberlake? Rainy gray. Lorde? ...

There aren't too many traditions I partake in, often to my dismay.  There are a few I really enjoy and make an effort to do.  Cherry blossom season is one of them.  I wish the blooms lasted longer and I wish the entire world didn't want to see them at the same time I do.  That aside, I take lots of pictures of them.  Every.  Year. I thought about waking up early enough to see the sun rise over the cherry blossoms at the tidal basin.  Then reality hit: I'm not really a morning person.  No alarm set.  No real plans to do this.  Then for some odd reason I woke early - as in around 6 am.  I almost turned over to go back to sleep (which I really needed) but then I thought I woke early for a reason.  I sleepily found a sweatshirt and made some coffee and made it out of the house in about a half hour.  The sun was already started to rise.  Grrrh. Plan B enacted. Instead of seeing the blossoms over the tidal basin (...

Today was the day to get things done.  I almost bailed and went off to play but I didn't.  Yay for me. I continued down the Road To Being A Grown-up by getting a grill.  I am so silly happy about this.  I was going to do it last year but I decided to re-do my girls' room instead.  So we lived without a grill.  And they live with me bitching when I see their messy room and think I gave up a grill for that.  Now I will stop bitching.  Okay, no, I won't.  But I'll stop being cranky about it. I liked the old grill - which I got from someone on craigslist.  Little did I know I bought the wrong grill cover and rust devoured some important parts of it.  It was a good grill while it lasted. But now I have a shiny new grill!  And I don't have to choose between gas or charcoal.   IT DOES BOTH!   It's a hybrid!  I can't wait to try it! Before we got to getting the grill out of the car and putting all the ...