From Sandy...

Sandy doesn't have a blog, but I thought this was too good NOT to pass along.  We'll see what you think.  A little background:

Mitchell didn't want to dress up for Halloween at school as he would not be trick or treating and thought it would basically be a waste of time.  Sandy talked to him about being a good sport and having fun with it.  He decided to keep his idea a secret and really surprise his buddies.  We all thought his idea was hilarious---and so out-of-character for him.  So now, for the story from Sandy:

So get this...

Mitchell isn't allowed to dress as Hannah Montana at school on Friday.  Long story short, after I put a call in to the principal (only because of a comment that Victoria's teacher made to the second graders), assuming of course that she would laugh and say "of course he can be Hannah Montana", she said that no, in fact, Mitchell could not wear the costume because it was "inappropriate".  We apparently have a new rule this year that boys can't dress as girls and vice versa.  Have you ever heard of such a thing before??!  I don't know what I am more frustrated about, that fact that she has gone way too far in deeming what's appropriate or not, or the fact that I spent $50 on a costume that can't be worn, not to mention the fact that I now have to come up with a new costume in a mere two days time! And to think that I was gloating to my friends about how I had my costume situation taken care of a month ago!  So now that Hannah Montana is out, I'm thinking Kidd Rock is in.  Mitchell can still wear the blond wig and I'll only have to buy a fedora, sunglasses, and a white tank shirt.  Does anyone else see the irony in the fact that it would be appropriate for my child to go to school dressed as Kidd Rock, but not as Hannah Montana?  It sure makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Go Titans!

Yayyy! The Titans are 7-0---the only undefeated team in the NFL.  We have PSL's for the Titan's games and have had from the beginning.  Not really my "thing", as it's so long---and I can't multi-task, but I've figured out a way to really enjoy the game.  I actually like watching the game in the air-conditioned or heated comfort of my own home while stitiching, playing on the computer, or thumbing through catalogs at the same time.  Not only can I follow the game better, I understand it more with the commentary.  At the beginning of this season, I got the bright idea of listening to the radio at the same time while watching the game.  That's worked out really well for me.  Also, I like the tailgating---which brings me to last night's game.

I did the food on Sunday---made potato salad, deviled eggs, guacamole, and a snickerdoodle cake. I bought deli meats, cheeses and assorted breads to go with it.  Since the game was to be against the Colts (and UT homeboy Peyton Manning), we knew the game would be a big one---plus, it was Monday Night Football which I found out is a really big deal.  With all of that in mind, we decided that I needed to get down to the stadium really early to scope out our "spot". Of course, we have our favorite place.  I picked Morgan up from school at 3, swung by the house to load up the car, picked up Steph from her office and got down to the stadium by 4:15.  Too late!  Even though the game wasn't starting until 7:30, about 65,000 people beat us there.  We had to go with our back-up plan and park at the 5 ft. strip of remaining grass.  As it turned out, that was okay since we mostly needed to stay in the back hatches of our cars.  It was freezing cold with gale-like winds.  We knew it was going to be cold, so MOST of us planned accordingly. Somehow, Morgan forgot her socks.  I guess "wearing" socks to school is not required on an out-of-uniform day and must be "uncool" to do so.  She thought she had put socks in her bag with the rest of her warm clothes and blankets.  Once we got there and discovered the problem, she asked her grandpa if he'd buy her some Titan's socks.  He agreed and took her to the pro-shop.  Turns out they didn't have any, so she was out of luck.  They were giving away t-shirts, so that was cool.

The game started with Hank Williams, Jr. singing the national anthem to wild applause.  Then it was the soaring eagle flying into the stadium.  The game started---with an unparalleled enthusiasm.  That was quickly dampened when my friend, Pam and I discovered that the 4 guys in front of us intended to stand for the entire game.  So much for being able to snuggle under our blankets and be comfortable in our seats. 

We weren't too far into the game when I took Morgan to the bathroom and gave her my socks. Right before half time, Butch surprised us with hot chocolate.  It wasn't very good, but it was hot.  Morgan's was almost completely water, so he took hers back.  He was so busy watching out for us, that I didn't think he'd been able to enjoy the game.  He said he did and it was even better since we won!  

Now we have another game on Sunday.  It's not supposed to be so cold, but it's still the whole day!  

Teenagers..

...are pretty much the same as I remember---except for the permanently attached phone/iPod to their head.  The girls were off school today.  We left the house at 8:30 a.m. for doctor's appointments and got home about noon.  We watched a movie together, but they pretty much laid around for the afternoon.

When my girls were teens, plans were never made until the last minute and even then, they changed 13 times before we left the house.  The same is true with teens of today---except, with the phones, the plans can change on the fly.

Here's how it went down:

I asked the girls what their plans were for the day.  Jordan said that she was probably going to the mall with her friend.  Morgan didn't know what she was doing.  They both had plans to go to the football game tonight at Greer Stadium---a Father Ryan game (a good distance from the house).

At 3:20 p.m. Morgan asked me if I'd take her to their house so she could get her stuff.  She was going to the mall with Jordan.  Why she didn't bring her stuff with her, I don't know.  After J called her friend, they got into a huge fight because J didn't want to wait so she "dis-invited" M. We jumped in the car, I told J to call her friend and tell her we'd pick her up right then.  I made her promise to be nice to M.  I dropped J and friend at the mall even though it was way out of the way.  I then took M by her house to get her stuff.  Then it was back to drop her at the mall. Realizing that they would have to carry their Vera Bradley duffels around the mall, I agreed to drop them off at the friend's house where they would be getting ready for the evening.  

From then on, the ball was in their mom's court.  I was finished for the day.

All this running around took me nearly 2 hours.  I left the house at 3:30 and got back home at 5:20---just enough time to change my clothes and meet Butch at the Club for dinner.  If I hadn't had to run out of the house unexpectedly at 3:30, I would have been ready and driven straight to the club, thus saving me another 15 minutes and the gas too.  With the gas I have left, I'll never make it to Thursday!

However, I had the enjoyment of yelling at teenagers again.  I told them that this was the last time I would be involved in last minute plans that were not well thought out---and they had better be prepared with their stuff too.  I'd forgotten how much fun yelling at teenagers was!!  I really had them over a barrell.  It's about the only time I don't get any smart alecky remarks and rolling eyes.  They know I would turn the car around and they'd be going no where.  Then I felt bad and gave them each 20 bucks to spend!

Italy

The Colliseum was unbelievable.  About the size of a stadium---it held 70,000 people.  You can see part of the floor which ran across the entire top.  The grassy area is what was beneath the Colliseum and housed the animals and people waiting to perform.  Sometimes, they flooded this whole area so they could have boats on top.
When we were leaving the Colliseum, I saw this Roman and wanted to pose for a picture.  He handed me his sword.  It then cost me 7 Euros---Butch had a fit.  From then on, I didn't make eye contact with anyone!

Pictures from Italy

This is the view from our villa in Tuscany.  The place was originally built by the Medici's in the 1500's and became a hunting lodge for a cardinal.  It later became a nunnery.
Just enjoying the view and a glass of wine at the villa.
Butch feeding the pigeons in San Marco Piazza in Venice.
Just one of the many gorgeous views in Venice.

Cousins Crop

We had our first annual cousins crop this weekend. We all had a great time, many laughs and good food. The weather was gorgeous although we didn't spend much time in it. We worked hard and finished an entire album. When I got home, I unpacked and then took a 2 hour nap. Then, I decided to take a jacuzzi bath to sooth my aching lower back. I was in the tub for 45 minutes. When I turned off the jacuzzi and the "froth" and turbulent water subsided, I discovered the water was a disgusting color (see photo above). Could it be that this is the result of going shower-less for the weekend, or the fact that the jacuzzi hasn't been used in 10 years? You be the judge.
PS I won't mention who else went without a shower the entire weekend....but, Jeanne, Janet and Judy were there. You be the judge.

What I learned on my trip to Italy...

I learned that I can make a 10 hour plane ride without using the bathroom after consuming 1 glass of champagne, 1 glass of wine, 2 iced teas, 2 bottles of water, 1 orange juice and 2 hot teas...

There are many ways to flush a toilet---none of which are familiar to us...

English isn't a foreign language in Italia...

As thrifty as Butch can be, when push comes to shove, he'll pay $18.00 for a beer...

My love of tablecloths is perfectly natural in Italy...

The Vatican Museum is the largest art gallery in the world...

Venice is my new favorite place...

It's always good to get back home...

AND:
I can lose 2 lbs. in 11 days eating Italian food and walking 10 miles a day...

I'll post pictures soon.