Seeds in the Ground Waiting For Rain

The birdhouse gourd plant

One of my helpers

I spent the majority of yesterday getting the garden planted. I started out with four very motivated little helpers. Once they realized exactly what "weeding" involved and had pulled a total of seven weeds, all four helpers moved on to better activities. They decided digging holes and making mud pits with the hose was way more fun than weeding. Can't blame them. I weeded the entire garden then hoed. Is hoed even a word? Regardless I'm sure I was quite a sight. I was in my pj's. Don't you all garden in your pj's? But best of all, I didn't even have a real hoe. I was using one of the boys hoes from the sandbox. It's purple and has a three foot handle. It worked quite well however, my back is still reminding me that I should have looked harder to find a grown up version. I got lots of veggies planted as well as a pineapple. The birdhouse gourd plant is growing wild. I am attempting to train it onto the fence, but it really just wants to take over the entire garden. It was a satisfying day for all. I completed my part by planting and am now just waiting for the rain. The boys dug several large holes and filled them with mud water. They were so impressed that they had made chocolate milk. Gavin asked me to guess the secret ingredient. After several wrong answers he informed me that they had all peed in it. Great, at
least I won't have to wipe the seat!

Petey in the sofa

Poor little Petey. I set him on the sofa for one minute and ask the big boys to watch him. He didn't seem to upset as he enjoys chewing on his toes these days.

Not Me Monday#1

Saw this on my new favorite blog today and can totally relate. It's called Not Me Mondays. I recall the events of the prior week and let go of some of the imperfections I have. It's supposed to be a very freeing and therapeutic exercise. Some embarrassing moments and I few I'dlike to pretend never happened. So here is a list of things I most certainly did not do this week:

I did not run over a curb twice at school the other day with a group of hysterical teenagers watching.

I would never pretend to be asleep when Scott asks me if I could get up and switch the laundry.

I certainly didn't step over a piece of pizza on the floor to get out the door early Saturday morning. That would be gross.

I definitely didn't giggle through baby Petey's baptism. That would be disrespectful.

I wouldn't ever sneak the broken homemade skateboard ramp into Friday morning's trash pick up.

I did not tell Finn to use the cat door because I was too busy to get up and unlock the back door.

I didn't spend over $30 at the thrift shop on things we didn't need that looked really fun.

I would never forget to order an xray and let radiology take the blame when it didn't get done.

I would never day dream about running over the security guard at Gavin's school even after he yelled at me for pausing to drop off Gavin in a handicapped parking spot. That would be unacceptable. I would never do that.

It wasn't me who received a statement from the library stating that I owed $130 in library fines.

I did not long to be pregnant too when I found out my Miss Tammie was pregnant. That would be irresponsible. I would never do that.

I don't know who this person was, but it certainly wasn't me.

I am feeling so satisfied tonight. Another heavy weight has been lifted as I've checked off one more task off my September To Do List. Petey was baptized after 5:00 mass tonight. I won't go so far as to say it went smoothly, but at least it's done. As we stood in front of the church tonight waiting for the priest I remembered each baptism. It's funny how things have changed so much.

With Gavin's baptism, I spent hours planning and preparing. With Petey "as simple as possible" was my theme. I hope Petey never feels ripped off but here's what it honestly looks like.

Age at baptism:
Gavin: 1 month
Petey: 5 months

People invited to celebrate:
Gavin: close to 20
Petey: none

Type of cake:
Gavin: Big beautiful and personalized
Petey: Betty Crocker marble cake (baked by Grandma, on sale at Publix for $1.99)

Mood of people in attendance
Gavin: Attentive, respectful, focused and calm
Petey: Finn running down the aisle screaming with Scott chasing after, me giggling, Gavin whispering countless questions,Tommy waving the flaming baptism candle... Need I say more?

Photos Taken
Gavin: small album
Petey: one photo taken on Scott's cell phone (for proof that we actually got it done)

I didn't even take the day off work. I got off a little early, changed out of my scrubs into my skirt on the way and met everyone at church. Funny how things have changed so much. I try to simplify everything we do these days. I do feel a little guilty about not having any real pictures, but it will all even out. I forgot to bring a camera when Finn was born, so I guess they'll all have little gaps. If they are ever old enough to sit down and thumb through their photo albums of life and notice all their missing photos I will know that they made it successfully through childhood and will be satisfied enough with that.

Can't I just get a dang rim?

I am the first to admit I am a really bad driver. I love drive thru's; the drive thru bank, the drive thru restaurant, the drive thru convience store (I especially love these), the drive thru carwash, I love them all. I can accomplish so much without ever getting anyone out of their car seats. During one of my drive through experiences I jumped a curb (happens often) and bent my rim. Bending a rim is a bad thing because my tire won't seal around it anymore, so I'm constantly adding air to my tire. I'm at school (the prison school, another blog) the other day and I finally have had enough. It's 100 degrees out and I'm bent over putting air into my tire again with a group of drug dealers (it's a really bad part of town) watching me. I decide that I'm getting a new rim today no matter what. If you know me well you know if I don't get a deal I'm not buying it. I know a new rim is $300 so I decide to check out a salvage yard. Now remember, I'm in a bad part of town. I notice a salvage yard up ahead so I decide to check it out. I pull up to what looks like an abandoned warehouse, but it has an open sign. Long story short, the lady inside tells me she lost her license to sell parts. I thank her and start to walk out. As I am walking out she mumbles something like, "third driveway on the right." Me: What? Salvage lady doesn't repeat herself. OK, I shake my head and walk out. As I pull out I start counting driveways, I am intrigued so I pull into the third driveway on the right. I start to drive down a pothole filled dirt driveway I come face to face with Bobs Stinky Nachos. That's right, Bob's Stinky Nachos. He has a homemade sign taped to the front of an old El Camino. He is standing in the back grilling meat on a rotisserie, he has cartons of nachos and bags of tacos set up to sell. Is this guys serious? I realize I am staring as I drive five miles an hour past his setup. In hindsight, this should have been an indicator to turn around and go to a real parts dealer, but on a mission to save some money, I proceed.



I arrive at the yard during peak business hours. The parking lot is jammed. I try to find a real parking spot, but have to settle for a corner next to a Buick that's missing all but one of it's tires. maybe this was sign two to turn around. I head for the door with the giant spray painted public entrance sign. People are swarming in and out pushing wheel barrows, rolling tires, carrying grease laden parts over their heads. I duck to avoid getting hit with a bumper that someone is carrying out over their shoulder. I walk in and get in line. While waiting, I start to read the giant sign over the counter.
1.No weapons, this includes knives and machetes
2. We do not loan tools use your own, All tool boxes will be searched upon exit
3. No credit cards, CASH ONLY
4.No returns for any reason
5.No loitering
I stop reading and look down at my feet
6.NO SANDALS
I'm in a skirt and sandals amid 20 or 30 greasy steel toe boot wearing men. I'm impressed by the man behind the counter. First he helps a Spanish speaking man, then a guy speaking English, and then before helping me he breaks up a fight in Creole. When it was finally my turn I wasn't sure if I should be relieved or scared. He shoves a clipboard at me.

Salvage Man: Sign here.

Me: What am I signing?

SM: You're waiving your rights to sue us if you get hurt.

Me: Why would I get hurt?

SM: Gimme your license.

Me: What do you need it for?

SM: To prove your old enough.

Me: Old enough for what?

SM: To go back

Me: Go back Where?

SM: To the yard

Me: I just want to know if you have a rim

SM: That'll be a dollar

Me: A dollar for what?

SM: To go back

Me: To go back where?

SM: To the yard

Me: I don't want to go back to the "yard", I just want to know if you have a part

He stops to fight with another customer about paying for a part. Meanwhile, I'm still incredibly confused and a long line is starting to form behind me. I take my license back from the counter. He settles the fight and then turns back to me.

Obviously annoyed with my lack of understanding he shakes his head and sighs

SM: Put this on (he hands me a beat up yellow hard hat) and go find Eli

He gestures to what must be the yard

I step over some tires and through the doorway. I stand by some radiators as I take it all in. The yard reminds me of a carnival after closing. Rats are are scurrying around hauling off their finds, some with wheelbarrows and some with wagons. I move around the radiators toward a scrap metal pile and survey the yard trying to decide which one is Eli. A man barrels toward me in a fork lift with a crushed car on the front. He gets way to close to me and drops the car. I jump back but try not to look to surprised.

Me: (Yelling over the sound of the engine) ARE YOU ELI?

Eli: Who wants to know?

Me: I do!

Eli: Yeah, I'm Eli, what's it to you?

Me: I'm just looking for a part?

Eli: What?

Me: A rim for a 2005 Caravan

Eli: That's new

Me: No, it's an 05

Eli: (laughing now) THAT'S NEW (gesturing at the rest of the lot)

I guess this is supposed to mean they only carry parts for older vehicles.

Me: so you don't have one?

Eli shakes his head and whips his fork lift around to pick up another car



I join the crowd of rats heading back into the shop and go to return my hard hat. I set it on the counter and SM stops me.

SM: That'll be a dollar

Me: Why do I owe you a dollar?

SM: For the hard hat.



At this I've had enough and I leave. I am still shaking my head as I wave to Stinky Bob and his nachos. Bet he does a good business! By nine that night I had ordered a new rim off Ebay. Way easier and no hard hats or nachos involved.

These are our banana trees. Several years ago a friend gave me two dead baby banana trees. Being a frugal, plant loving, optimist I graciously took them and gave them a chance. My friend's instructions included laying them in the driveway for two weeks to let them dry out. Though we laughed the entire time, Scott and I followed the instructions and planted them. While the original two plants died, four babies emerged from the ground soon after. As you can see, the bananas have worked out quite well. We started with two brittle brown stalks and now have about 15 lush banana trees.

As you can see, baby banana trees grow best when you keep a light saber near by. Each banana tree lives about a year, produces a hand of bananas, then dies. Before dying, the mother plant produces two babies to replace her. Bananas are very generous plants.

At about nine months, the banana plant drops a stalk with a strange flower at the end. Slowly the petals open up and fall off. Little buds appear that eventually turn into the actual bananas.

Soon a recognizable hand of bananas appears. The boys always get so excited at this point.

After a few weeks on the tree, the bananas are finally ready to pick. I climb up on top of the hose reel with my biggest chef knife, balance and start hacking away at the cord. A hand of green bananas is incredibly heavy, so this is always tricky.

Green bananas have to ripen, so they need to hang for awhile outside. I like to hang them on the swing set. The boys spend a lot of time making their GI Joes ride on the bananas while they twirl them around. Slowly the bananas ripen one at a time then it's time to eat. Lots of smoothies and banana bread.

We love our banana trees. Things recently came full circle when I gave a friend of mine a dried out banana tree that was growing on the wrong side of my fence. She laughed at me when I told her the first step in transplanting it was to kill it by laying it in the driveway for a week. The banana trees are selfless. Their only mission is to serve us, produce a wonderful food, provide shade for the boys to play in, offer a relaxing sound when the wind blows through their tattered leaves, provide a wholesome source of family entertainment and a beautiful sight at sunset.

Sunday Sound Bites #2

You are only allowed to have 2 tattoos at a time... Then pick one to wash off... No your neck is off limits...


That's not a tiny penis... That's called an outie belly button...


The label said washable... Why isn't this coming off?


Watch where you step... the cat threw up again...

Elliott, get off the table... IRS agents don't like cats... Don't lay on his computer...

Who squirted all this toothpaste in the bath tub... well it's not a substitute for soap...

Get those seatbelts on or you're walking to school...

Why is your nose bleeding... Who made his nose bleed...

No more donuts...

That's lotion not bubble bath... you're going to be scrubbing this tub all night

I'm not parking... I'm just dropping him off... I know it's illegal to park in a handicapped spot... look, my van isn't in park, it's in drive... I don't know who he thinks he is, he's not even a real cop...

Whoever spilled the cat food can clean it up... didn't anyone hear me... the cat didn't spill it by himself... he doesn't even have thumbs...

Is this a dead lizard... why's there a dead lizard in the sofa... Tommy, get your gloves... Don't give it to Finn, throw it outside...

Dad let you put how many tattoos on...

Please please please put the lid down...

That was it in a nutshell this week





At work

Sunday Sound Bites

While reading another person's blog this morning I found a great entry. A mother of four recalls some of the things that have come out of her mouth in the last week. It was a really unique way to capture some pretty interesting moments so I thought I'd give it a try. Here are some of the things that, like it or not, have come out of my mouth during the last week. Please remember that you are all hearing these out of context and I don't always think before I speak.

It says here that you should apply a rag soaked in milk to the burning area. Pepper spray burns can last up to thirty minutes... Did you take it away from him... Are you sure he didn't spray Finn?

I gotta go, I think we're getting pulled over...

Tommy, put your gloves on and get the dead bird out of my bedroom...

Gross, I think this sandbox has turned into a giant litter box...

That's chicken and you need to eat it if you want to get strong enough to jump skateboards...

I hate the IRS...

I was going 31... 16 miles over?...But the speed limit is 30...When did you change that?

Sorry Gavin, Daddy will have to build you a new skateboard ramp.

You flushed what down the toilet?

Who did this to my glasses?

Sponge Bob rots your brain... Pick something else... Nope, not that either... Because Glenn Martin DDS is an adult cartoon... Because some adults still like cartoons... No, Mommy doesn't have time for cartoons... A transvestite is, NO turn the TV off now and go play on your swing set.

Gavin, it's two in the morning, why are you up already? I don't care what TV show you auto programmed, go back to bed.

Because, all good Catholic boys go to religion. The next 13 years. Too bad, you can't change religions until you move out.

You aren't allowed to buy toys at grocery stores... They're too expensive and they're chincy... Not very well made... Because it's cheaper to manufacture things in China... They pay their workers less...

No, the kitchen is closed.

Take all your brothers outside and don't come back in until the smoke detector stops beeping.

You have to use toilet paper... Then ask me for some... No, you put it in the toilet and flush it... Haven't you ever wiped before?

Because, you can't live on Pop Tarts.

First you pull out the tongue then tighten up the laces, cross them, make a knot, make a little loop with this one, bring this one around and tuck it through right here and pull it to make another loop... Because, you can't wear Velcros forever

Get some pants on.

People... Other... Friend... Remember, I before E... Because you keep spelling it wrong... Because I want you to get them all right... Because you can't be an astronaut if you can't spell

Are you stinky... Say stinky... STINKY... PU stinky... say stinky

No, because you don't need a parachute... There aren't even any tall buildings to jump off of and even if there were, it wouldn't allow enough time for the chute to open, you have to jump out of a plane... because there's an age requirement... yes, but I'm not interested in jumping out of planes. No parachutes!

No scuba equipment either... Don't you just want a new bike or something... because Santa is on a budget this year

I really wish you would reconsider getting chickens... just look at this coop we could build... I know...

So there it is, raw and uncut. Just a glimpse into our crazy week.

An Evil Thursday Morning

Bad morning today. Let me rephrase that, crappy month, ugly week and even worse morning.
Woke up at 2 am, couldn't sleep because I am worrying about my upcoming IRS audit. Tommy was arguing with me even before getting out of his bed, had to pack lunch for the little boys out of a frige and pantry that are empty, ran over the skateboard ramp when leaving the driveway, completely destroyed it, overdrawn on my stupid debit card by $12.00, cramming to get my application done for the nursing program so had to drive through a really bad part of town that scares me, got there and was told I couldn't come today, had to come back on Tuesday.

So that's all the icky stuff. I know from past expierences that if I convince myself today is going to be bad, it will be, so time to count some blessings and try to turn this day around.
Blessings
#1. We are all getting healthier now and didn't die from the swine flu that I was sure we had contracted last week.
#2. We both still have our jobs, so many around us have lost theirs
#3. The van is clean right now, so hard to function and think when I am surrounded by clutter. On a side note, it's only clean because cleaning it was Tommy's latest punishment for flushing his cousin's swim suit top down the toliet.
#4. The toliet didn't clog when the swimsuit was flushed; Thank GOD. We replaced that toliet last year when he flushed the stick of deodarent.
#5. The garden is doing well. The birdhouse gourd vine is growing crazy wild, and we are ready for planting again.
#6. The vehicles are still working.
#7. I am on track to enter into the nursing program in November.
#8. I got to go shopping all by myself today for the first time in months. Unfortunetly this is when I over drew the checking account, but this is the blessing section so I am not focusing on that part.
#9. Got to pick the first ripe yellow lemon off my tree this morning. Very satisfying.
#10. Scott got a new daily pick up at Fed Ex. Fed ex lingo, new daily pick up = more money in the paycheck.

OK, feeling better now. I am taking a deep breath and starting over. September has always been a month I've disliked but October is within sight. By next month, Fed Ex business will be picking up, I will know if I've been accepted into the nursing program, we will have figured out the school and religion schedule, I will have completed my IRS audit (makes me sick just typing those letters), Petey will have been baptized, cooler weather will be here and our anniversary will be approaching. Oh yeahm, blessing number 11, found Gavin's glasses in a secret pocket of his new backpack.

Update on the Glasses

So we have had the glasses for a little over two weeks. I just found mine under the end table this morning crushed. The frames do not open up all the way from a folded position. I had to crawl under the table to find one of the lenses that had popped out. This is so irritating! The novelty has worn off now and I have to tell Tommy that he has to wear his everyday. He does put them on after I remind him but I was picturing him wanting to wear them all the time. Gavin has lost his. I have searched the van and our house with no luck. I have insisted that Gavin search the lost and found for them at school and to date, he still claims that his school no longer has a lost and found program. I didn't think it would be this hard to keep track of a couple pairs of glasses but it has been a struggle.