A few days ago, Jon was met with two kids on the couch fighting to be the Emperor of TV Remote Kingdom when he came home from work.

They were jumping on the couch while one was trying to grab it from the other as arms were raised to keep it away. Meanwhile all sorts of buttons on the remote were being pressed, not to mention Jon's after he repeatedly told them to stop.

Hearing the disruption and ready to put an end to it, he walked into the living room to take control. Just as he stood in front of the kids to snatch the remote, he saw the TV screen go to black after the "OK" button had been pressed to accept movie charges.

"Hey!!" he said, and held out his hand for the remote. Then he looked toward the TV and the screen went on pause and then from black right into a movie. There was no intro, no music, no "What's new on demand" features, just straight into the first scene.

In an instant Jon flung himself toward the TV, as if he were saving someone from a barrage of bullets from the war enemy, like in WWII movies. With a wide stance and his back to the kids, he wrapped himself around the TV and quickly shut it off. He turned around to the kids and said, "I have to go talk to your mother about this!!"

He bounded down the stairs and came to where I was working and pointed up to the ceiling saying, "The 5 year-old. The 5 year-old just ordered a movie. I want you to know that it wasn't me. When the bill comes and you see an ADULT FILM on there, it was not, I repeat, NOT me. Just wanted you to know." We both cracked up.

We were supposed to be on our way to get some Chinese take-out but I told Jon I needed to call Comcast first to have the movie removed. He said to do that on the way but I couldn't get through since his dumb phone is well, so dumb. Its touch screen won't allow you to press any numbers when prompted to do so by an automated voice. I don't know why those automated services can't accept both dial and voice commands.

"21st century, my foot!" I yelled at the phone.

So I had to wait until we returned. "Great!" I complained. "It'll be noted in the system that it was ordered a half an hour ago so they'll wonder why it took so long to cancel."

"Boom chicka woww wowww..." said Jon.

I finally was able to call and explained to customer service that my 5 and 9 year old, in their struggle for TV remote power, ordered a dirty movie. She laughed and asked if I remembered the name of the movie.

"Uh, no, (insert nervous laughter because of a total lie. I'm a firm believer that some things are just better left unsaid...) I don't, but it'll be the only adult film on our bill. Ever."

So last night, as we were discussing this series of events over sushi, Jon was recounting what had happened and I was laughing. I said, "Well, at least the kids didn't see anything."

"Not much" he said.

"What do you mean not much??!"

"Well it went right into the movie without any warning."

"You mean, (with my arms making music gestures) no da da daa daaa...Time Warner television presents, no lion roar or anything?"

"Nope."

I just stared blankly at Jon and said, "You mean??..."

"Yep."

"What did you say?" I asked.

"I just told them we weren't going to watch wrestling." and just then he dropped a large piece of sushi from his chopsticks right into the soy sauce dish causing a big splash on the table.

And we lost it after that.

Mailbox

While I was watching the Royal Wedding, I heard a comment that stuck out in my mind. One of the television commentators had mentioned that in an interview a few years ago, Prince William (I mean HRH the Duke of Cambridge) said, "Never being able to say the word 'Mummy' again in your life sounds like a small thing. However, for many, including me, it's now really just a word -- hollow and evoking only memories." He was opening up about his grief and how he said, there is not a single day where he doesn't think about his mother.

I listened and could relate.

Although there have been moments when I realize I haven't thought of my mom in a day, and there really isn't sadness per se, I do understand the strange feeling it is not being able to call someone your mom or in my case, 'mama.'

I remember when I realized I would never get to send a Mother's Day card to her again. It surprised me that the loss of such a simple act, a tradition, would leave me feeling lonely. And then when I realized that I would never be getting those "daughter" cards, I was left feeling as if part of my identity had just slipped away.

I was at odds with myself over that, feeling very selfish. Those feelings were strange but honest.

But not one for self-pity, I decided that I would have to do something different for Mother's Day from now on and it would still be good.

When I was packing up and selling my mom's house, I found all kinds of cards she received, some dating back to the 50's that she had saved. I knew then that the recipient takes as much importance in them as is sent. So in addition to sending my mother-in-law a card for Mother's Day, I decided to mail out cards to a few other ladies that I know make the world go 'round for their families but I feel they should know that.
Some may think it's strange to send Mother's Day cards to someone other than family, but for me, I think it's a win-win.

Have a great Friday! I'm soooo glad it's here.

I wish I could send all of you cards, by the way.

Blair giving us her best Shirley Temple.

Eat up!

Happy Cinco de Mayo everybody.

Today is a day to consume lots of Mexican food and as much guac as you want!

It really doesn't have anything to do with Mexican Independence as some might think. That is in September. This day commemorates the Mexican army's victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 and to commemorate the battle for freedom during the first years of the American Civil War. The history and timeline of events is interesting as you can see its connection to the Battle of Gettysburg. American history - I like it.

And now just like St. Patrick's Day, some may say it's just a commercialized day to party. It's true so eat up!
I'll be making tamales all day and snacking on some panes dulces. (Mexican sweet bread) If you have a Hispanic market near you, go enjoy some sweet bread on me. I guess that wouldn't work but it's the thought that counts, right?
We went over to a friend's house to help them make tamales a few weeks ago. They were sooo good. It was none of our doing though. The meat they prepared was perfectly spicy. That's something I am always wary of because I don't know how people would react to the level of spice we like but even Trae-man and their little 1 year-old cleared their plates.

So today I'm taking a page out of their book and am spicing them up a lot more.
The kitchen smells like Thanksgiving day. Mmm mmm... they're gonna be tasty.

Anyone having any Cinco de Mayo fun today?

What I'm thinking Wednesday

I had a little write-up about how I felt about the celebrations ringing out over the recent national security news. But if you know me even a little, you can probably guess how I feel about that. So I decided not to post it. I don't like to bring down my little corner of happy so I tend to keep those things to myself.

Instead, I'm off to grocery shop and finish up that paint stick project which is 1/3 of the way done. Today will make or break the idea!

And I'll leave you with what's inspiring me today: Pink! Pink is a good color, don't you think?

They say redheads shouldn't wear pink, but I disagree. It's one of our best colors!

via pinterest
via Google images

Via Google images

Have a good day!

52 paint stick pick-up

The wall that I have been working on is coming along nicely. It's painted and retouched but I have a couple of other things to do before I show you the da da da daa daaah! "before and after." One of them has to do with a pile of this:

I've been collecting them forever! The paint desk clerks know I buy a lot of paint so they have been giving me extra sticks. I always ask if I can buy them but they said they're not inventoried so they can't and just hand me a bunch.

Any ideas on what I might be up to?

We'll see if it works or not. Sometimes it works in your head but doesn't translate very well after that. There's always a plan B at least. I have a lot of those.

Have a good day!

Generous

Every year Jon gets together with the guys from high school for a weekend. I think I've mentioned before that we went to a small town school in southwest WA state. Although it is not so small anymore, we still consider that area to be one of the best places to raise a family and feel lucky that we lived there.

One year the guys met up at Whistler, BC, Canada for some skiing and another time it was in Vegas for golf. But because of busy family lives, careers, distance and cost, it seemed easier for them to get together at one of the guy's cabins back home. And since everyone is still in the area, having it there means it is more likely all of them would come.

This year Jon's response to the request to see who was interested was "maybe." He didn't know if we could squeeze it in with so much going on and didn't want to take away (financially) from the activities for our family. When I asked him if he was going, he just kept saying, "We'll see."

I told him it was fine with me, not that I would ever object anyway, but it really isn't that expensive of a trip. The flight is the biggest expense but you can always find good travel deals to Portland. And because my brothers live there, he stays an extra day to hang out with them to golf, play basketball and eat at one of our favorite local places. Luckily, he'll bring me back some of my favorite things from the Northwest too, besides himself. :)

Some may wonder why guys have a get-together and with tongue-in-cheek, we joke about this "man-cation." But I think men with long-standing friendships need to reconnect with each other just like old girlfriends do. Of course theirs involve golf, building bon-fires, fishing, and harassing each other only the ways guys can do but I would never discount their need for any of that. And, when you receive an e-mail like this, how can one refuse? We were touched.

Jon,

We all passed the hat and are paying for your ticket. You can't argue...it is done. You're the only one that incurs any expense for our guys weekend and you have flown out three times now. It is our turn and that is that. I think Thursday night, through Sunday would be best. Flying in on Friday would work too. So, decide on the flight and give me your info so we can buy it. I know you're busy and it is not the money but we all want you there.

Darr

They still laugh over this photo.

Reese, 3rd from right, was a Kindergarten teacher who passed away suddenly in 1999. Jon was asked by his family to give the eulogy. We named our son after him.

Darr, who sent the email, is on the far right. Jon is 2nd from left.

Flower delivery

Happy May Day!

We're working on May baskets here to take to some ladies. They are not exactly baskets. We just make a cone out of paper, decorate and staple it together, tie a ribbon to hang it from the door and put a glad bag inside to protect the paper.

Then we add some flowers and voila - May basket...cone.

Did you ever do these when you were little?

It was one of my favorite things to do for my mom.

I'm sure it was hers too since she showed me how to do it and made it our tradition. We had huge lilac trees in our yard and so I'd fill a cone full for her. I also added in dandelions since there were many of those too but she always set them out the way I brought them to her, weeds and all.

I think with all of the baskets I see at thrift shops for just pennies, I could do baskets next year.

Note to self on that.

Now we're off to deliver.
Have a good day!