This Is It!

I couldn't wait to see the MJ movie/documentary---This Is It! I was not disappointed. It was fabulous! Basically, it's the concert---but during rehearsals. You see some of the costumes, some of the sets---incredible---and lots of what we love about MJ---singing and dancing. The entire show is more of a theatrical event rather than just an ordinary concert. It's so hard to believe that at 50, he could still move and sing at the same time---and wasn't out of breath. He gave new life to all of the "oldies" including some cool new things with Thriller.

The tickets are $10.00. The movie made $20M the first DAY! You certainly would not have known it by our theater as there couldn't have been 15 people in there. I guess Nashville, TN is not an MJ fan capitol! The movie only runs for the next week and a half. I don't know why it's only running for a short time.

I'm sure it will come out on video, but you really should take the chance to see it on the big screen. After all, Michael Jackson was larger than life! 

Who Washes Their Buttons?

It will take me awhile to get there, so bear with me and you'll find out who washes their buttons.

We picked up Steph and the girls at 9 a.m. for a little geo-caching. We drove to Thompson Station and then on to Spring Hill, TN---about 45 minutes away. Butch had lined up 8 caches for us. The conversation in the car is always fun---everyone talking over everyone else. Aside from the fact that the girls were with us this past week, we hadn't really done anything all together since August. Jordan had her iPod on and was already complaining that she was hungry. She said the she didn't have time for breakfast because Steph only gave her 15 minutes to get ready. Still she had on make-up, so I guess for a teenager, that wins out over food.

Our first "find" was down a little incline to some railroad tracks. Morgan had the GPS, told everyone the cache was on the other side of the tracks while she backtracked and found it on her own. After that, we didn't trust her. 

Our next stop was the Thompson Station where farmers brought their crops in the "olden" days. It has been re-built due to the history and Civil War battle that took place there. The cache was a good size magnetic box that I found---pretty proudly---I might add---as no one else could. Even Butch---"the pro" passed it up.

The next one was in a park. The name of the cache was "Re-shaping the earth, Tonka style".  We pulled up to a darling little sandbox full of Tonka trucks. What a cute idea! We all searched without much luck for awhile. Butch said we needed to go about it systematically as there at least 50 trucks there. We were looking for something "velcroed" on. We all wondered how it could still be there with kids playing with the trucks. Surely they would discover anything attached to a truck. We looked at all the trucks again, being careful to keep them separated. Even with that second look, Morgan passed it up. The "Master" found it. It was a tiny, bison tube---about 1/2" by 1 1/2" tube---tucked down between the wheels. No child would find something like that unless they were looking for it. Very fun and challenging "find." (Photo above---still can't get these photos to line up right).

From there, we continued further into the park. We hiked down a trail and then ventured into the woods. Jordan found it---a bat house mounted on a tree. When Butch went to open the lid, a mouse jumped out. The girls freaked. The photo below is of the mouse nest inside. Dilemma---disturb the nest to get to the box and log the "find", or leave it alone. We decided that the mouse would re-build if necessary. I'm glad we did because I got this darling little, PINK, Madame Alexander doll. She's a munchkin from the Wizard of OZ. I was happy. 

Steph was complaining that she hadn't found one. Butch set her up with an easy one in a parking lot. Morgan beat her to it. Butch set her up with another easy one in another parking lot and sent Morgan in the other direction. Now Steph was happy. You know how she can be when she's not happy!

There was one we decided not to look for as we were having trouble trying to get to it. It was supposed to be at some rec center. The girls had a fit when we drove up the driveway of what was clearly a farmhouse. We figured we had the coordinates wrong.

We stopped at Applebee's for lunch---they have a great 2 for $20.00 special---choice of 1 appetizer and 2 entrees for $20.00, plus we had a $5.00 coupon. Butch and Steph did the "deal", Morgan had a sandwich and I got the grilled shrimp and spinach salad (fabulous). Jordan wrecked all the savings with her order of the sirloin steak and shrimp skewers. She got away with it because Butch had gotten up to wash his hands. Great meal anyway.

Now we're finally to the buttons. On the way home, the girls were

 talking about someone being A.D.D. I said that

 I didn't really know what that was, but thought I might have that. I explained that I had made my "to do" list for the weekend. I hardly had gotten anything done on my list because I kept getting side-tracked. I spent 3 hours finishing up organizing my fibers from my stitching projects---putting each one in individual bags marked with their lot number and organized by color. When I finished that, I decided to wash my buttons. 

When I said that one line, the whole family chimed in---"why would you wash buttons?" I started to explain that I needed to do it so I could sort them for Christmas gifts. Everyone jumped on that---why would you spend time sorting buttons. Butch interrupted that he wanted to go on record right now, saying that he didn't want any buttons for Christmas. He told the girls that they might want to go on record now too---otherwise it would be dirty buttons for Christmas. Steph was the only sensible one. She said, "wait, if mom's making something, then I might want it." Good answer Steph---but it's not for you. 

Washing buttons isn't really anything I had ever done before. But, I purchased a big jar at the flea market---and they were dirty. Now I'm not an idiot, I didn't wash each one by hand. I filled the sink with hot, soapy water, and dumped the buttons in my large colander. Then I realized that I needed the colander to rinse and drain them, so I had to dump them out. I scooped them up by the handful and swished them around and then rinsed them. Look how filthy the water got! How does a jar of buttons get so dirty? I tried really hard to not let any go down the drain, but I failed to "catch" the straight pin. That can't be good. An $8.00 jar of buttons could cost me a service call from my favorite plumber, Jeff. Yes, I'm on a first name basis with him too. 

I'm actually doing the sorting tonight while I watch t.v. 

Oh, and one last thing---the girls decided that grandpa's "coolness factor" was greatly diminished by the 50's music in the car.

Halloween is in the HOUSE!

Hal (as in "Halloween") and Jack (as in "Jack-o-lantern") greet you as you enter the house. When I was decorating, Butch said, "I thought you hated Halloween." He's right, I always did hate Halloween. I thought about the reasons why I no longer find that haunted night loathesome:

1. I don't have to think up costumes. I used to break out in a cold sweat---I don't sew and store-bought costumes were tacky. 2. I didn't have extra money to spend on decorations--now I do. 3. Now I'm creating spooky memories for my grandkids! Oh, the things you do for them...

I haven't named my witch yet---Wendy is just too predictable. Notice my hand-made pumpkins---well I didn't actually make them. They are paper mache' that I painted, stenciled and decorated.

How do you like my adopted creepy relatives? Some of them look familiar. I got the glittery skull from Michaels. They have all their Halloween stuff on sale now.

I was so excited to find these old apothecary bottles at an antique mall complete with vintage poison labels. The perfect addition to the Halloween decor.

Just a few things I've made. The Halloween banner was going to be the project for our Cousin's Crop, but I couldn't get enough of the base banners. Next year for sure. 

Connie is coveting my witch's hat, so I'm going to put her name on it. She has "dibs" on a piece of my needlework already.

And finally, the latest addition to our household---Bernard the Butler! He moves and interacts with the skull on the plate that also talks and lights up. His eyes are incredible. A bargain for $49.99 at Walgreen's. I'll bet he's half price on Halloween. At least go see him.

So what are you all doing for Halloween? I'm going to the theater with friends to see "Little House on the Prairie" starring Melissa Gilbert as "Ma". Whoopee---part of our season tickets. Butch will handle the trick-or-treaters---all 12 of them.

Share some of your decorations with me!

Done with the Girls---Day 5

It's over! With bagelwiches for breakfast and a "have a good day" as they walked out the door, I have my life back! I have to admit, it flew by pretty fast. There were no major arguments. It was easy. I have the beds stripped and the house back in order. 

I'll miss them. Maybe...

Ditchin' the Girls---Day 4

I told the girls they would pretty much be on their own today. This is the first day all week that my time has been my own! I played bridge and then met my friends to make the hour drive to Clarksville for our bi-monthly scrapbook club meeting. We stopped for dinner first and just had a good time. An all around fun day.

Once home---at 8:45, I talked to the girls about their day. Nothing out of the ordinary. I promised them bagelwiches for breakfast tomorrow.

Catering to the Girls---Day 3

After nearly being late yesterday, I gave the girls their wake-up call at 6:15 a.m. I knew they wouldn't get up, but that didn't worry me. All of a sudden, my old, mother tricks came back to me. Every minute or two, I yelled a different question up to them. "How many pancakes do you want?" 2 minutes later, "chocolate chip, pecan or plain", 2 minutes later, "how many strips of bacon do you want", "do you want milk or water." I won, they got up---and it was before 6:30.

As soon as they got to the table, I started nagging. "Morgan, did you take your pill---do your  back exercises? Jordan, did you finish your homework---what time did you go to bed?" I don't want to make it too much fun being here! 

Morgan told Jordan that she looked like a "skank" because she didn't have her top blouse button--buttoned. Butch and I both chimed in that she looked fine. Morgan insisted that she must be trying to impress someone. Believe me, Jordan was not voluptuously hanging out in any way. We're talking the second blouse button---the third one was securely buttoned a good inch above the bra line!

As they were walking out the door---on time---I asked, "whose underwear are these on the kitchen floor?" Not exactly appetizing. Their crap is everywhere. Okay, they weren't exactly underwear, but tights. Still, they were inside/out. Who wants to see a "crotch" so early in the morning?

The girls did save us a little money at breakfast. Neither of them used their napkin.

Jordan had a half day today, so I had the carpool run at noon. Jordan also had a doctor's appointment at 3, so we went to lunch. About the time we arrived at O'Charley's---about 1:30, Steph called to say the appointment had been cancelled. Jordan's doctor has the flu! We went home for naps. I changed my clothes only to find that Jordan had taken my favorite nap spot---the couch. She got up for a second to get her phone. I quickly grabbed the couch and reminded her that she forgot to call "place back." Come on, I know it sounds like 3rd grade, but calling "place back" is a universal rule! She went upstairs!

Morgan got home around 3 with 3 friends in tow. They were getting ready here to go to a cheerleading competition (just to watch) at Father Ryan High School. I agreed to drive there and someone else is bringing them home. What I didn't know is that they were decorating t-shirts here. Morgan had already gotten one from Butch. 

I had planned homemade pizza for dinner. I was making 2 mediums for the 4 of us, but suddenly that had to stretch to 7. Turns out they apparently didn't like sausage and mushroom, so the 5 girls shared the pepperoni.  OMG--sorry this getting too long. Anyway, they wanted me to stop at Target so they could buy some bandanas. Instead, I went to the kitchen cabinet and pulled out about a dozen. They were impressed that I had them. I offered them the cowboy hats, but they didn't want those. Morgan wanted to know "who just happens to have bandanas laying around." I've used them for entertaining with a western theme for one of my "functions." Good thing I kept them.

One thing I am learning about myself this week: I am not as flexible as I think I am. I am really set in my routines. I'm used to getting on the treadmill every morning between 5 and 6. It's the first thing I do. It's been really hard to do it later. Today I got on at 7 as soon as the family left. By the time I finished and took my shower, it was 8:30. Sheesh, I'm usually an hour into my day by then.

Two more days....

Coping with the Girls---Day 2

Today started off like most of the girl's days, I'm sure. I told them that I was going to wake them up at 6:30 so we could leave the house by 7 a.m. Since Jordan goes to an all girls school, she doesn't have to bother with make-up. Morgan isn't allowed to wear make-up in 8th grade. They wear uniforms, so choosing just the right outfit isn't an issue. Fifteen minutes to get up and ready is enough---so they assured me. I'm adamant about sitting down to breakfast together at 6:45. Did it with my own family and still do it every day with Butch. I don't always cook something, but we always eat breakfast together---just a nice way to start the day. I truly believe it sets the tone for the day.

My first mistake was letting them "sleep in" until 6:32. Actually, I was uploading photos to Walgreens and the time got away from me. I had already been up since 5, but had to choose quiet activities that early so as not to disturb the girls. Apparently, 2 minutes made all the difference in the world. Not only did we not have time for breakfast, I ended up "nagging" them to get moving. We all had Capri Suns and donuts in the car---wholesome, I know---at least the sugar high would get them going. We still made it out of the house by 7:01. I told them that tomorrow I'll be waking them up at 6:15. I'm making chocolate chip pancakes---by request. 

The afternoon "hook-up" went off without a hitch today. The girls asked to go to the club for dinner. I told them to get a good hour of homework under their belt and then we'd go. They left their phones in the car. We had a nice dinner and I heard all about Jordan's latest "squeeze"-- Ian. She met him in karate in the 4th grade. They just recently re-connected through Facebook. (I still don't really "get it" but I know it's the "in" thing with everyone under 50). Morgan is still with Cowden---it's been 8 months. She considers herself in a "long-term" relationship. Kids!

Amazing, after only 45 minutes at dinner, Jordan had 6 text messages and Morgan had 5. They didn't have a stroke without their phones and even found it kind of exciting to have all those messages waiting for them. Needless to say, the conversation came to an end. Okay by me. I'm ready for my jammies and some t.v. time.

Later...