Happiness in My Mailbox

Today started out a little iffy. It could have went either way, being a spectacular day or just a ho-hum one. Thanks to my super talented friend Martha, it has been decided. It is going to be a spectacular one.

I had snagged these lovely handmade tags of hers. They are simply wonderful. I'll be using them to spruce up and make special some later creations of mine. But, these tags weren't all. Guess who else was in my package? Owlie! Isn't he the cutest little stuffie??? As far as I know, it is her first stuffie. Martha, I think you have found another medium.

He's got a little pocket in his back for secrets, inspiring dreams, and the search for truth. How thoughtful a gift is that?!

Thank you, Martha, for making my day. I'm happy, happy, happy.

Quotes of the Day

• Simon: "Don't feed the beetle my lollipop. He might get fat."
• Emma, after walking into the auto parts place: "This is like a hardware store for cars."
• Me: "I'd had forgotten how magnificent chocolate tastes. I just ate a not-so-subtle reminder."
• Joseph, in reference to my power cleaning, "You are moving like Neo from the Matrix. Everything is in slow motion."
• Emma, when asked about how long she "napped": "Well, it wasn't forever. More like half of forever."

A Sampling of Things that Made Today Extraordinary

• The 3rd cough free night in a row. (Is that a light up ahead?)
• Woke up to a sweet email from my Sweetie. (This is why God created email.)
• Joseph took out the garbage. (Rugged.)
• I preformed no less than 3 successful gizzard operations today. (All patients are alive and well.)
• Eating ice cream and watching the trains go by. (Small towns got it going on.)
• My red shoes matching my outfit. (They often don't.)
• A checklist with lots of red checks on it. (Sometimes seeing red is a good thing.)
• A homemade moonlight breakfast. (Everything tastes better with cheese.)
• Starting a new journal. (I am overdue.)
• Only one load of laundry today. (I'm not sure how that happened.)
• Joseph as a human shield to the craft room. (Brave.)

Anything Important Can Be Done in Sandersville

The kids and I needed to run errands today. I had a check-list that needed some attention. I decided to get it all checked off in Sandersville.

First we dropped off the car at Sandersville Auto Parts for an oil change. Joseph will think we are simply glorious when he sees that new oil sticker on his windshield.

We then walked over to Bob's Grocery and got ice cream all around. Up the street we went to sit in front of Redneck Corner on their sidewalk bench. We waved at several trains as they went by and chased ice cream dribbles down our hands and arms.

Evy found an unfortunate butterfly in the parking lot. He had a broken wing, but she and Emma tried to give him a little TLC and lots of encouragement. Evy satisfied herself that the butterfly would be able to fly again once the wind picked up.

We headed back up the street and stopped in to see Mr. Tony at the Post Office. I have two packages that are overdue for mailing and needed some postage. Twenty-five 50 cent postage stamps later, I emerged from the post office a happy lady.

Then we were back into Bob's for real groceries. We had a short chat with Ms. Nancy and caught up on the short folks in her life. Ran into Ms. Reba who is currently a little orphan bird's new momma.

We checked on the car, which wasn't quite ready, but saw Ms. Marie. She was smiling and happy as always. Then, Ms. Pat came in. Got a great hug and then went around the corner to Sam's Restaraunt. It is simply improper to visit Sandersville without getting a Sam's Burger. After all, they are the best burgers around.

With car done, we picked up gas, diesel, and made our run through the bank. Then it was off to GP's.

Each item on my checklist now has a neat little red check by it. Plus, I got lots of bonuses along the way. Thanks Sandersville for being there.

Clues that It May Be Time to Clean the Floor

• The kids are feeding carrots to a dust bunny they have named Thumper.
• The dog is snacking on googlie eyes.
• Spill a drink? Make a mud pie!
• The Carpet Cleaning Service does not want to do a free demonstration in your home.
• Antlions are doodlebugging in the corner of the living room.
• Your daughter brings you her new rock collection that she collected while in her brother's closet.
• The kids have been lying on their backs making dirt angels.

Pass It On

So, Joseph most kindly takes the van into work one day to get an annoying door lock thing-a-rator fixed. This leaves the kids and I with The Car. *angelic refrain*

This particular day, I had to take all the kids into the doctor for allergies. The pollen was reeking havoc on all our head orifices and giving our lungs a good roughing up as well.

While waiting for the pharmacy to fill our prescriptions, we all rode over to Lee's for culinary delights. As I was packing the kids in the back of the car upon our departure, I set our to-go tea cups on the top of the car.

It was one of our first hot days of the year, so as the kids buckled up, I plopped down in the driver's seat to crank the car and open the windows. The kids recently discovered that the sun roof opens on Daddy's car, so I was immediately inundated with requests to "open the roof." Without thinking, I complied.

Almost immediately, I was conked in the head and sprayed with a sweet, but icy cold liquid. One of the kids' teas that I had just sat on the roof had fallen through the open sunroof.

"Oh, NO, Momma! You spilt tea in Daddy's car!!" Emma panicked. Emma was right to panic. Spilling something in Joseph's car is right up there with vomiting on the Mona Lisa. It isn't really something that should be done, much less something you personally want to take credit for.

To understand the significance of this car, you will need a little back story. This particular car Joseph received as a gift. It was his Fairwell to Irresponsibility present. He got it two months before Emma was born. (By the way, being pregnant and waddling doesn't give you much bargaining power on the car lot.)

We aren't a car buying family. When we finally buy, we want to get something good that will last. We hope that one day, with care, it can be Emma's first car. Keeping it clean and in good shape is one of Joseph's top priorities.

To return to the current story of averting tragedy, as soon as my eyes were able to focus after my blow to the head, I fumbled around for a tiny eternity searching for the offending cup which was undoubtedly spilling the rest of its contents in a secretive nook of Joseph's car.

I finally found it behind the driver's seat lying in a sweet, sticky pool on the floor.

*sigh*

Good news is the car is now clean. Floor mats are washed and even the seats and dash are wiped down. Joseph is so happy and thinks his car looks great. Now, we are one day closer to passing it nearly stain free on to Emma.

Too Much TV

Our family doesn't watch a lot of TV. It doesn't even come on during the day. But, the kids do get a dose of the Tube when we visit GP Ray. If you have ever been to a Grandpa's house, you know it can be a decadent paradise for the second generation progeny. Hotdogs, cookies, and Sponge Bob are examples of typical fare.

But, even at this low dose of TV, I think my kids may be getting too much. Here are a few cases in point:

• Evy can and does recognize every sparkly shoe and princess accessory advertised on TV.
• There is a medical supply store in Laurel that has all these medical aid devices painted on the side of their building. Every time we pass the medical supply store, Simon exclaims, "They have my power chair!"
• Emma seemed genuinely surprised today when I told her there is no such thing as a time machine.