Can I just say

thank you to the Universe? Because my children and husband have all decided on costumes for Halloween and we will be spending less than $10 to outfit everyone. We have most of the stuff already. Yay. The budget is tight this month -- I am most relieved.

List update

-copy recipes onto index cards and place in album
-paint back of scrap shelves with magnetic paint
-finish door jambs on main floor
-stain trim in basement
-hang suspended ceiling and install tiles in basement bath
-sort and organize photos
-sort and organize family history stuff
-sew bathrobes for kids
-sew table skirts for scrap room
-finish sweatshirt for Mom
-finish sweatshirt for Nancy
-choose photos, have them printed and laminated to create border for hallway
-mail envelope to Sally with Henry's paperwork
-print family group sheets for Aunt Ida to have them proofed and corrected
-write thank you notes for the Ohio trip
-make cards for Sally for her birthday
-add trim to baking cabinet
-sand / paint baking cabinet before obtaining solid surface top
-stain hot tub
-tear up hallway carpet
-remove tile from entry and bath
-stain arbor
-stain front door trim
-stain back door trim
-hang wood blind in family room
-paint hallway
-finish surf painting for kids' room
-finish bedroom curtains
-work on decorating idea book
-finish crown molding in living room
-finish "Lost Socks" thing
-sand round finials for boys' curtain rod and paint like beach balls

The things with an X after them are in progress and have been worked on in the last 7 days but are not complete yet.
*updated 12/28/07

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So, yes, I am rockin' and rollin'. Today, not so many projects because one of Rob's classmates is coming for dinner and some work on a joint project. We are having cranberry-lime chicken, a tossed salad, and either oven roasted veggies or green beans amandine. And I have a 10 lb. bag of Haralson apples on the kitchen counter so a pie is definitely in my plans.

In other news, it seems my phone call has generated some good karma. Yesterday my phone rang and the Caller ID showed an unfamiliar local number. It was my friend Sarka (pronounced "SHAR-ka" with a rolled "R"). She is from the Czech Republic and I haven't seen her since July 2004. She's in town and coming for dinner Friday night. I was so happy I cried. (We're having chicken breasts, peanut satay sauce, rice, possibly some steamed veggies, and Jamaican black beans.)

And Saturday some friends are coming for dinner with their kids. The kids all play together really well and this couple enjoys their wine, so of course it is always a fab time when we get together. I think we'll do a self-serve chicken soft taco bar that night, with homemade guacamole and lots of cheese, veggies, and sour cream.

My "To-Do" list is long today so I'll close for now. Lots of dusting and vacuuming, and some catching up on laundry. I am a day behind.

Have a great day!!

Shopping karma

So I hate shopping. Hate it. And Friday is a big dinner for Rob's MBA program and I'm invited and there's even a vegetarian entree option on the RSVP and oh yeah, my friend Stacy is keeping my kids overnight so I can stay in the hotel with my husband. Overnight. With no kids. Woo hoo.

But I need a dress.

Uncle Dan and Auntie Woo are in town and they take the kids to the other Auntie and Uncle's camper near Lanesboro. Rob and I go shopping. We hit Dress Barn, which is a stupid name for a store because it always makes me think of Muumuus (oh, god, I am sorry about that. It just came out) or at least frumpy, icky clothes that only a middle aged midwestern farmer's wife would want to wear. In the barn. Anyway. As we drove up I saw this little strappy dress I had looked at earlier this summer. It was white with a sweetheart bodice and a full skirt, and a floral pattern in black that was vaguely reminiscent of toile fabric. Fab. I pray that it is in my size as I notice it is on a 50% off clearance rack.

Yes, it IS in my size. I grab the last 2 (one in the next size up, just in case -- hey, I am nothing if not a realist) and hit the dressing room.

And wow. It is the *perfect* dress for me. As previously stated, I am not a small woman. I prefer "substantial" or "Rubenesque." LOL Anyway, it shows off my cleavage, adds emphasis to my waist, and just generally looks great. In the smaller size. Woo hoo.

I will be wearing it with these shoes and a sparkly lace shawl I got from Francesca, our Italian exchange student, in 1999. I am really excited about a real date and a night away from the kids.

And today Woo (yeah, it's a nickname) and I went shopping and we stopped at Linens -n- Things. And in more amazing shopping karma, we found gorgeous terry cloth robes marked 75% off. Lovely. A quick run through the store netted a 50% discounted picture frame to hold the 3 black and white photos of Bruce that I picked up at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a stemware rack to use for the plastic wine & margarita glasses in the camper to free up some cupboard space (marked down to $1). So I used the 20% off your entire order coupon from today's paper and spent just over $30. Yep. We got those robes for a mere $8 apiece. I should almost go back and buy all of them and put 'em on eBay. Damn. I'll be back.

Jerry Falwell died

So at dinner tonight my husband and I drank to the existence of Hell and Jerry's immediate admission.

Yep. I know. I still think it's funny.

Be careful what you wish for ...

I have always wished for a child who would share his day with me. One who would tell me what happened in the classroom and on the playground, what he learned in school, and what he thought about those events, the things he learned, and life in general.

Garrett does not share such information. Ever.

Evan, on the other hand, appears to be an answer to prayer. He shares incessantly.

And I am SO bored hearing a play-by-play rundown of the soccer game from each recess period, the story of J--- playing a joke on his big brother, the story of N---- and his little brother, the story of A----, who is going to play his final soccer game of the year and then get a trophy, a medal, and a certificate.

Honestly, I got what I wanted and now all I want is a little peace and quiet.

If I believed in hell I know that's where I would be going.