New Year's Resolutions

Right. So - I've been thinking about this a lot and I'm just gonna throw 'em all up here, but in no particular order (hence, the lack of numbering)...

- Start running again. Or at least walking. Preferably at the gym. I was up to 3 miles in 30 minutes (THAT'S A 10 minute mile!) back in April...Now I'd be lucky to run just one mile without keeling over.

- Make a budget. I'm ok but at the end of the month, there's very very little left, and I'm not buying anything excessive that I can figure out?

- Tell my family and friends how important they are to me. Every day.

- Be more organized and proactive at work - i.e. start trying to get plea deals worked out at arraignment.

- Be patient with my children and enjoy every little minute I have with them. They're already slipping right on into full-blown childhood! Where did the babies go?

- Be not so hard on myself. Say no more often without feeling guilty. Enjoy doing nothing. For once.

That's really all I got! Here's to a FABURIFIC 2009!!! I'm so excited about the potential that this year holds. Thank you to all my friends. Old ones, and new ones. I love you.

(Now, please tell me - what are YOU resolving this New Year's???)

Holiday Hooplah and Haberdashery

OK - so haberdashery has nothing to do with the holidays, or hooplah, really...but yes, I do know what haberdashery is...and you can, too! If you look it up on dictionary.com...and I really just like the word. It's one of those fancy words I use to impress all my friends.

You know. Like "pedantic" (giggle) and "apoplectic" (which, in fact, I heard a football announcer use the other day. Really.)

OK - so anyway, the holidays ROCKED. Obviously. We had a somewhat simple Christmas, though I missed most of the week before Christmas thanks to the FLU and all of the week of Christmas thanks to the birth of the Baby Jesus and my children being out of school...and I apologize profusely to my dear, faithful readers for my extended 2 week absence, but - hey, I was kinda busy and I know you love me and I'll make up for it.

Now, right down to business. IT'S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE! This was my mantra throughout the week...Santa was good to me. Apparently, I was a very very good girl this year. Ya think? (on second thought, maybe you shouldn't really answer that.) My crazy aunts Julie & Carol were here and that was fabulous and undescribably great. (It's a Christmas Miracle!!!) I got to eat homemade peppermint stick ice cream AND banana pudding. (A DOUBLE Christmas Miracle!!!)My children slept until 7:30am on Christmas Day...IN THEIR OWN BEDS. (BEST Christmas Miracle!!!) And, I got to chill with my bad self on my couch on Christmas night (with Bella the Super-dog and a cuddly blanket...) - and on Boxing Day, I laid around and did nothing with a really good friend - we even watched Sixteen Candles...and I dreamed of Jake Ryan. (Post-Christmas miracle ;)

So, gratitude abounds in my heart, as usual. Today the children are at home with a sitter who is one of the student workers at their preschool. I got to eat lunch with Ms. Kikki. I finished all my business at the jail just in the nick of time (before they kicked me out at 11am), and I'm about to head out for the rest of the day. To go home and finish laundry...

Tomorrow the children will be with Miss Brittany again and then ballet in the evening and heading to Grandmomma's house for New Year's Eve (so Momma can have some adult-ish fun, thanks, Grandmomma, you're the best!)...Speaking of New Year's - I have specific people that I am planning to hang out with, but said people and I have no actualy *plans* so if you know of something that I'm missing, please let me know. I have a couple options up my sleeve, but still...

And you may commence with answering my annoying prying questions:
1. What was your favorite Christmas gift(s) that you received?

2. What was the best one you gave?

3. What are your New Year's Plans (I have a whole question planned about resolutions later...)?

Crisis averted & Holy Cannoli!

I just want to calm all your fears about my recent crisis involving the Fisher-Price Loving Family Dollhouse (or the apparent lack of said dollhouse, since every store and online retailer was out of stock...) - My dear sweet lovely friend Brandy (who apparently reads my blog!!!) called me Monday night and miracle of miracles - had an extra one hanging around! (Or rather, her mom did...) so now Carsie's Christmas wishes will all come true. Fabulocity, I tell ya. It's funny how when you state your needs, they are often met.

Since the dollhouse search was solved through expressing my need, I thought I'd go ahead and mention that my camera is missing? And I NEED it back. My brand new fabulous, much-researched Sony Cybershot 7.2MP in a black padded case with extra battery & memory stick, etc. And there are really good pictures on there of my children and my friends, and I'd really really really like to have it back. I have been a slacker-mom on the picture-taking front with my small children, and after many months of saving and procrastinating, I finally broke down and got this camera - I took like 20 pictures on Friday - and now it's gone. Last seen at La Scala/400 Block on Friday night during the Atomic Boogie show. Please return there if you have it. No questions asked. I just want it back. PSA over, thank you.

And, I appreciate everyone who was looking so diligently for a solution to the dollhouse issue. But now problem is solved, crisis averted...

So, onto the Holy Cannoli portion of this blog post. Um, do you know what today is? TODAY IS THURSDAY! Which means, this time next week, billions of little children all over the globe will be ripping paper off their new gifts and wondering in amazement how DOES Santa eat all those cookies and all that milk (for the record, we leave vanilla Silk for Santa - too much lactose slows a body down, whereas soy protein is an energy-booster.)??? How in the world did it get to be Christmas so quickly?

Tomorrow is the children's last day at school until January 5. I'm off all next week (because I have no where to send them...) and I'm looking forward to the festivities!!!
Monday - lasagna with friends
Tuesday - Christmas Eve Eve in Carrollton with the Kilgores (mmmm, homemade peppermint stick ice cream, wassail, and banana pudding....mmmm....)
Wednesday - Christmas Eve with the fam at G.G.'s (my grandmother, Vicki) and chicken & dressing....mmmm
Thursday - SANTA TIME!!!
Friday - hoping the crazy aunts will come up and go eat at Schroeder's, hang out at bars with me & friends ;)
Saturday - chill, chill, chill....

Christmas Spirit has ARRIVED!

OK - so I am having a simple Christmas, and it's so lovely. Santa finished shopping for The Dynamic Duo this weekend - EXCEPT for the Fisher-Price Loving Family Dollhouse, which is currently out of stock...everywhere. But, I'm searching for a reasonable alternative online today.

I had a hair cut (finally) on Friday, which did WONDERS. She barely even trimmed it, but it looks so much better - and I (finally) replaced my flat-iron with another $19.99 wonder from K-Mart (which was the last spot on the search-for-the-dollhouse expedition Saturday night...)

This weekend, I received my first Christmas gift of the season. And I received it from a dear of a friend...the ENTIRE FIRST SEASON of LOST on DVD. *sigh* of happiness. I am maybe 10 episodes in, so not quite half-way through the first season...and there are 3 more seasons I have to catch up on after that! YAY!. I got back into knitting while watching the first few discs...and I've already completed one scarf and I'm about to start another project! YAY!

My crazy Auntie Julie will be here from Australia - well, actually she's already here in GA now - my sister went to pick her up at 6:30 am at the airport. I'm so terribly excited to get to visit with her and catch up. I know we're related and all, but she and my other Crazy Aunt Carol will both be here and we have such a crazy ball of a time together. Whoopie!!!

Um, ok - so I need some questions of the day. I love the answers, keep 'em comin' - and if you read my blog, please let me know you're here!

1. What are your favorite holiday traditions?

2. What is your LEAST favorite thing about the holidays?

3. What thing, (minor or major) are you looking forward to most right now in life?

4. What's your favorite candy product?

Contentment

I have been on this "on my own" journey for 8 months. I'm not REALLY "on my own" - I have the Dynamic Duo with me - but of course, I'm the Mommy, so I'm in charge of them... I have been noticing lately that for the first time, in a long time, I'm content. CONTENT. At peace. Centered. Sure.

It's sort of paradoxical. My life (from the outside looking in) looks kind of chaotic, it's a wonder I get out of the house every morning and we make it to preschool and work with all our ducks in a row (for the most part). I have two crazy kiddos, a very satisfying full-time professional career, any number of outside private committments (Junior Service League, church, kids' activities, etc.), and an extended family to keep up with as well. But on the inside, I'm calm. I'm not worried about things like I was for a while. I know exactly where I am, and I have a general idea not really of where I'm going, but of the path I'm taking. And it feels right. So, I'm celebrating. I feel, as much as possible, balanced. (This is not to say that there is such a thing as "balance" in a single-working-mommy life, because that would be a misnomer...but to the degree that a feeling of balance is possible, I got it goin' on!)

Now. Here's what I have to look forward to this weekend - Friday, going out with great friends to hear a good band (Atomic Boogie is playing at 400 Block - you should come!)...And Saturday I'm going Santa-shopping. On the list - 2 pre-k bikes with training wheels, a couple barbies, a doll house (and accessories), a Batman Castle (way cool! - and accessories!), books, puzzles, and stocking stuffers. Fun times! I love being a Mom. I get to go to the toy store!

In other news - I'm now addicted to LOST on DVD. (Thank you to all who recommended it...) Y'all know me - I don't have TV, but I like the ability to watch as much or as little of this series whenever I want. Unfortunately, I've found myself sucked in and sitting there knitting for HOURS...*sigh*

OK - that's all I got today. Let me think of some questions... I love when y'all respond, ya know.

1. At what age was your first kiss? And with whom?

2. Is there any part of your job that you just DREAD more than anything? What is it?

3. If you could go anywhere for a long weekend trip (3 days...so no island hopping or anything...) where would you go?

Waffle House Whimsy

I'm a little down. Let me tell you why (and this is my blog, did you expect anything less of me?) - I have these friends - Keith & Ana Kastanias - that had a great little sandwich shop across from my office called the Broad Street Cafe. I ate lunch there most days, with the "courthouse crew"...because it's madness to deal with downtown Rome parking and drive somewhere for lunch. I also realized, after their recent relocation (just 3 doors down) that they make a killer breakfast. I'm a big fan of breakfast - REAL breakfast - bacon & eggs and stuff. None of this mini-muffin or pop-tart stuff.

So, anyway, I was eating breakfast there a couple times a week and enjoying it. And now, they are gone. Keith has taken another opportunity, which I think is great for him, but where the HECK am I supposed to get breakfast? I like a local diner kinda place. I went to Waffle House today, and while the service was Fast & Friendly, and the food was great, it was just NOT the same. And, it was kinda pricey! $7.50 for breakfast? I don't pay that much for lunch most days. Grrr....

Anyway, now that I got the breakfast dilemma off my chest, onto bigger and better things. Have you noticed it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas? Seems like just yesterday it was sweltering hot in August. And now it's only 2 weeks until Christmas? CRAZY! I gotta get busy. Santa comes soon, soon, soon! Speaking of Santa, I have some issues when talking to my children about Santa. I'm not a good liar. Really. Despite being a lawyer and a Bachelor of Arts in Theater...I really am NOT a good liar. Particularly when it comes to lying to my innocent children. I had scary Santa issues as a child, and while I was apparently not scarred for life, I just don't know what to do about this. Cole is into Santa. He thinks he's cool, is not particularly scared of him, and will straighten up and fly right if he thinks "Santa is watching." (Though, really, shouldn't he do that just because he's TOLD to do that?) Carson, on the other hand, seems somewhat freaked about Santa, denies that he can see her at all because if he could, he might be able to see her panties and that, my dears, "would just be so wrong, Mommy!" And, honestly? She's so totally right! Who wants a strange fat old man from up North looking at her in her panties? Not me, man. However, Carson has recently had a change of heart because Mommy said Carson can't have a trampoline. Well, apparently, Santa will, in fact, bring her a trampoline. When asked how Santa is going to get a trampoline on her sleigh, Carson answers, in the most OBVIOUS voice... "One at a time, silly."

Tomorrow is the annual Rome Bar Association Christmas Reception at the country club. Miss Sarah (babysitter) is coming over to watch Christmas movies with the munchkins and I am going to schmooze with the good old boys for a little while and then hit the Moon Roof for maybe one drink while I enjoy the soothing sounds of David Bell/Thunderbolt Patterson. Fabulocity.

And then there is the weekend. Let the shopping begin...and the good times roll.

Questions of the day:

1. What is your perfect breakfast?

2. Do you have a Christmas spending budget? Do you stick to it?

3. What are YOUR feelings on the whole Santa debauchle?

Gosh, Time Flies!

How is it December already? Please tell me. Anyone, anyone...Bueller??? We were entrenched in the experience that IS the Rome Christmas Parade downtown on Broad Street last night. (In the freezing cold, I might add...) (*side note - I'm fully aware that the previous parenthetical is a sentence fragment, but this is a blog, not an official publication, and I have creative license. )

I loved the parade, and the chicklets did, too. Cole was REALLY into the bands. He wants to play the trumpet. Carson liked the "ponies" (which is an understatement, to say the least, since the "ponies" were actually the Budweiser Clydesdales!!!) and the cloggers. I liked the Boy Scouts, the pee wee cheerleaders, and all the church groups, etc. Have trailer of cute kids bundled up against the cold and Christmas cheer, will travel. Now it really feels like Christmas time! I was nervous about Christmas this year. Last year, for many, many, many reasons, Christmas was a bust. And this year, though all that is way over and done with, it's still a little like walking-on-eggshells. However, I asked myself if I was fine, and I answered "Absolutely!" so I reckon I'm alright. I wouldn't lie to myself. The only thing is that my tree, and the boxes and boxes of things that make Christmas Christmas-y at my house have been in storage in Alabama for a year. Madness, I tell you, but we're making do without it. Starting new traditions. Living simply. (yes, still aware of the fragments, by the way)

Ah, so it's Wednesday and I have probation revocations today. Basically, these folks were on probation for pleading guilty or being convicted of a crime in the past, and got in trouble for any number of reasons while on probation - which means the Judge has the discretion to yank the probationary status and put them back in jail/send them to prison, etc. My three this morning all got revoked just to time served/return to probation! This is really good news. Of all my jobs here as an indigent criminal defense attorney, probation revocation hearings are my least favorite. I can never win. These people were dead in the water before they ever got to the courtroom...ya know? *sigh* Anyway, today was good so far and gotta go back at 1:30 for more.

I've been skimping on the questions of the day - so please, do tell:
1) What are you having (or did you have) for lunch?

2) What do you want for Christmas?

3) How many Christmas parties/events are you attending, and where?

4) Do you already have New Year's Plans? And if so, what are they?

An Uncommon Tuesday

I know you have all heard my ranting about Tuesdays. Tuesdays are a frustrating day, altogether - for a myriad of reasons - but for me they are beautiful AND exhausting. Normally on Tuesdays (after work, work, working, of course), I hit the ground running at 4:30 (or 4:45) and book it across town to Berry to pick up those little boogers in my life known as Cole & Carson, and I change Carson frantically into her cutie little ballet things (her slippers fit in the palm of my hand!), and then we book it BACK downtown for ballet at 5:30. Cole and I usually hit the Honeymoon Bakery for a cookie and a cup o' joe (the caffeine is for me, not him, of course...seeing as he's 4, and I wasn't hooked on caffeine until I was at LEAST 5 and a half...), and then we pick Carsie up at 6:15 and usually go to Schroeder's, though we've been known to frequent Jefferson's on Tuesdays, too. After a tired supper, and keeping Carson's fingers and hair out of the cup of Ranch dressing, I usually will let the kids throw a penny in the fountain on Tribune Street, just because.

So anyway, all that is OUT the window today!!! Because TODAY is the day of the Annual Rome Christmas Parade!!! This year's theme is "A Family Christmas" and I'm excited. I have THE BEST family. I actually have several different families... I have my little threesome - me and the chick peas - and then I have my slightly extended family (momma, daddy, sis & bro-in-law) and then I have the rest of the extended family, which includes my grandmomma, my Nannie, my 3 crazy aunts and 3 silly cousins...) and in addition to all that family - I have my adopted family - my sweet dear friends that love me unconditionally just like I love them. I don't know if it's the holidays or what that is making me so sappy about the great people in my life - -or if it's that I'm realizing HOW MUCH I've really been through (and come out unscathed) and each and every one of my family members (both the blood-family AND the spirit-family) have been right there with me every step of the way. Thank you family.

Alright, enough of that...you might think I had gone all tear-jerker on you, but I'm done. You know I love you, I know you love me (and how could you not), so that's that. Here is a bunch of random thoughts. Just because it's Tuesday.

- Cole does not like egg nog. Fine! More for me & the Carsonator!
- Carson ate 4 snowman Peeps this morning behind my back, the little stinker.
- Last night I dreamed I was watching TV. How hilarious.
- I have a few client stalkers, a Krystal stalker, and now I have a Facebook stalker. My profile is SO going to be private like ASAP.
- My house showing was ok, but the real estate agent said the folks wanted a "more expensive" house (4 BR + bonus & 3 full baths) in Armuchee. Their loss, right? ARGH!
- I got a new calendar last night. I am very excited. Yes, I'm a nerd and I love the smell of new pencils and school supplies...I have since I was 7.
- Karen Sue is the best girl-date around.
- I love my Momma. She is proud of me, and I can't think of anything that I would want more.
- I love that I have telepathic communication with Carol?
- I was a junior bowling champion. My cousin, my sister and I were on a team with another girl-friend of ours - and we had shirts. We were the pinheads. I miss those days (I told you I was a nerd.)
- Once I tried to sneak out the window of my basement room to meet some girls in my neighborhood, and I got stuck.
- Last night I danced in my bedroom to Outkast and lip synced to Melissa Ethridge and Sheryl Crow... I wish someone had had a video camera. No, wait...no I don't...but it was FUN...(and yes, I was alone...but Bella seemed to enjoy the show.)
- GG (my grandmomma) wants the kidlets to spend the night on Saturday and she's going to take them to see "Bolt" - new kids' movie - FUN! I love my family (like you didn't know that already)...
- My auntie Julie is arriving in 12 days for a WHOLE MONTH. Whooooooppppppieeeee.
- I miss Sooooooozie & Melissa & BSB. (Y'all - I took a little trip down Memory Lane with the Cauldron (yearbook) c. 1997. Good times.)

I'm out - having lunch with the Keekster. Catch ya on the flip side.

Post-Turkey Madness

Why is it that after a holiday, when you should be all refreshed and ready to get down to business, everything seems so much more overwhelming?

I have an insane week. Work - of course - I have a LOT of work after a pretty much nothing week last week, I have court most days this week, and I need to prepare feverishly for a bunch of probation revocation hearings, trial calendar and arraignments...and then it's also officially the beginning of the Christmas season, meaning tons of extra events and functions and obligations. I love Christmas, really, but it's all so overwhelming. I have no real "parties" to go to (yet), which is fine, but I do have a little Junior Service League Christmas party tonight. The Rome Christmas Parade is tomorrow, so I am taking C & C Music Factory to enjoy that (in the freezing cold...) and then Wednesday the poinsettias get delivered. I am on the poinsettia committee for JSL, which is great, but it's also a HUGE job. Thursday and Friday (after trial calendars and arraignments) is the big poinsettia delivery fest...and then...then it's the weekend. Phew...

I don't even want to THINK about next week, and trials...but I will. Because I'm a professional and it's my job. Speaking of my job, I did have my annual performance review last week. I have officially "exceeded expectations" in all areas...meaning, normally, a raise. However, it's just a promotion on paper thanks to all the State budget cut backs. Ah, well.

On another note, I did have a lovely holiday and weekend. I love my family. We had SUCH a wonderful Thanksgiving and Carsie said the blessing (well, she sang it, in fact) and we all enjoyed each other so very much. And then I went home and did laundry and watched a little Clark Griswold in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" which is sort of my own private tradition. It's not Christmas without Chevy Chase...

The rest of the weekend was chill. Good times with good friends, good food, good music, and a bit of beer. Saturday the dawgs lost AND my War Tigers fell off the wagon. Again. *sigh* but then I got to hang with the girls (plus a couple guys) and see David Bell at Opi's...and then there was a random viewing of "Dogma" at a friend's...a trip to Silver Creek to drive a friend home, and then I was in bed...Sunday was really nice. I watched "Shag", read my book (Naked by David Sedaris) and picked up the chick peas from Alabama. All in all - fabulocity, I must say.

Now. To work, I go. With a somewhat heavy heart, but after a couple cups of starter fluid, I should be fine. Coffee...mmmmmmmm.....

Pre-Turkey Transgressions

So, the chicklets are out of school today (The Berry CDC is closed) - and I thought, ah, well, I'll just take the kids to work with me. They're good kids, right? Right. No problem. We'll bring some books and some markers, etc., and for a couple hours, they'll be fine.

Not so much. We had breakfast (everyone brought something) and they were really good. Then at 9:30, we came back to my office. It's barely 10 and I'm pulling my hair out!?!?!?!?!?!? There is ink on my wall, pushpins on the floor, and they're shooting rubber bands at each other. Who knew office supplies were so freakin' dangerous! Well, obviously 3 & 4 year olds enjoy them.

Like I'm going to get work done. So, without further ado, since I won't post tomorrow and probably not again until Monday, here is my list (in no particular order) of the things for which I am thankful.

1. Confidence
2. Cole & Carson
3. cowboy boots & jeans
4. My family, the whole crazy lot of 'em. I love you guys.
5. My friends, specifically my girlfriends. Thank you.
6. New friends. New friends that I didn't see coming and can't wait to know better.
7. Yolanda, the house cleaner.
8. Unlimited call/text/internet plan from Verizon.
9. Knowing my proper bra size (I kid you not, this has changed my life.)
10. Clean Sheets
11. First Dates
12. Georgia has Yuengling now. And it's good.
13. Football season is still kicking, and I have friends with cable.
14. Good books.
15. Good friends that LOAN me good books.
16. My wonderful job. I make not-so-much money, but I can get by and I love my job.
17. I almost completely own my car. 6 more months, about.
18. I am able to pay all my bills every month and not be in debt.
19. Cole's drawing of "our family"
20. Carson singing "Angel from Montgomery" to me.
21. Friends that make cheesy scrambled eggs and biscuits after I crash at their house the night before.
22. My own strength to let go of the past.
23. My ability to listen, and give good advice.
24. My grandmother's jade ring that she designed. It's one of my favorite tangible objects.
25. Woolen anything (socks, sweaters, scarves...)
26. Energy saving techniques
27. Floyd County is getting better and better at encouraging recycling.
28. Berry preschool is a nurturing place for my children.
29. Bella, my sweet sweet puppy (even when she's nasty and it's been raining.)
30. New journals for new chapters in my life. (I need one, p.s., in case anyone wants to get me one for Christmas...)
31. Resolve & peace in my life after some mad turmoil.
32. Book time before bed time and that my kids beg and beg for more books.
33. Having to reprimand my oldest child for getting out of bed to "read the dictionary"
34. Good medical care, and good health insurance to go along with it.
35. I only had one cavity at the dentist, and it's one that he'd noticed 2 years ago, but never filled.
36. My children had NO cavities!!! YIPPEE!!!
37. Old photographs of my family.
38. Sentimentality. I'm a sentimental girl.
39. ITunes. I'd be more grateful if I could access it...sigh.
40. I don't have cable, and I'm grateful.
41. I am also grateful for the prospect of having cable TV & internet again...someday.
42. House showing this weekend.
43. 2 acres and a fenced in yard.
44. recessed lighting.
45. good smelly girly stuff. Makes me happy.
46. Philosophy's "Hope in a Jar"
47. Excellent babysitters that I trust, and who my children love.
48. Sunday mornings.
49. Coffee.
50. The Sunday Crossword (and time to do it sometimes!)
51. My blog
52. My boss, I love my boss. He's an excellent boss.
53. My admin assistants - also awesome and always helpful.
54. That I have a sister. And I love her. And I'm going to have a niece.
55. Lunch Dates
56. Good soup when it's raining.
57. Homemade chicken & dumplings.
58. A good shoulder rub every once in a while.
59. My judge. He respects me, and is very fair. I love working in his courtroom.
60. The ADAs I work with are very reasonable and we're all friends.
61. Local bands.
62. First beer on a Friday night with good friends.
63. 6-disc changers in my car
64. xM radio
65. Audiobooks on long drives.
66. Hot showers
67. I can wear my hair curly or straight and it looks alright either way.
68. My jeans are too tight sometimes, but I don't have body issues, really.
69. My body has birthed two perfectly beautiful people. How awesome is that!
70. I am grateful for my own gratitude.
71. I have a fair sense of humor.
72. Very few people can find a reason to dislike me.
73. I can find very few reasons to dislike others.
74. Text messaging is a miracle.
75. Holiday Parades.
76. Small town life.
77. Local high school football.
78. people that make me smile for tiny reasons, like sharing gum.
79. Facebook friends. I love keeping in touch.

That's all I got and the kids are destroying my office. I LOVE YOU ALL AND I'm THANKFUL FOR YOU!!!

The Tuesday of Random Thoughts

I only got about 3 blueberries in my GINORMOUS muffin. That sucks. There should have been a lot more.

Dog hair and black dresses don't mix so well.

The BCS points system is stupid. I don't have to qualify this, right? But I will anyway. It doesn't take into account the strength of each team's schedule, really...and it just kinda pisses me off and is confusing. Really. (PS - go Texas, to heck with Alabama.)

Coffee. Mmmmmmm..... 'Nuff said.

I so totally can't afford a house cleaner. But, I so totally can't even function without one. Therein lies the rub. Yolanda is at my house as you are reading this right now!!!

I love, love, love my girlfriends. All of them. Thank you. For everything. Fabulocity, fo' shizzle. Thanks for loving me, just as I am - in all my shining quirkiness.

I can't figure out what day it is, but all I can say is that I'm ready for some turkey and then some weekend...

Right, and so I don't have television right? Well, I really miss ESPN, esp. here at the end of football season...and especially SportCenter. It was kind of my wind-down at the end of the day...but there are worse things, right? And Project Runway Season 5 will be out on DVD soon!

Grocery Store: dog food (I woke up this morning to some strange noises, it was her tummy growling!), cereal, milk, provolone cheese.

Holiday weeks throw me off. Seriously. I never get much work done, really, and then I'm twice as behind after being off two more days. When I come back it will be DECEMBER. Sheer madness...

My next-door neighbor, Johnny, had cancer and recently went back for a second scan after finishing radiation & chemo, again!!!, and it has shrunk some - and that is GOOD NEWS. They go back in February for another scan and if it's not grown any more, he will officially be in remission, which is GOOD news. We love Johnny & Margie. Sweet people. Salt o' the Earth and all.

P.S. - got some fun pictures to add - maybe have to wait until another day, though...sorry!

Just another manic Monday....(ooh, whoa oh...)

I wish it was Sunday...'cause that's my fun day...my "I-don't-have-to-run" day... OK - 80s flash back over. I do wish it was Sunday, because I had a REALLY good Sunday, doing very little of anything productive, but it was relaxing and followed a fabulous birthday party, I have to say. AND, Tricia made me breakfast (at lunchtime, of course) on Sunday, which was also nice.

So, anyway, now it's Monday. AGAIN, with the Monday. It's picture day for the Public Defender's office. The problem is that the memo *I* got said we'd take the picture at 9am. I got here at 8:45, and they'd already taken the group photo. Apparently they said 8:30, but I deny that. Who schedules any sort of out of the ordinary thing for a MONDAY morning (of a holiday week, no less) at 8:30??? OK, I'm just irritated that I missed it, and yes, it's probably my fault. It's ok - they're going to take my picture (and Larry's and Bill's - because I wasn't the only one!) and cut and paste. Fabulous. I even wore red today because we were supposed to wear a Christmas sweater - which I don't own - or at least something red. So I wore a red & black dress...and I think I look kinda cute, really. (And I'm modest, too ;)

So, it's a holiday week and I have a trial calendar next week...so I really should be working today and tomorrow on that (since the kidlets are out of school on Wednesday, I won't get too much done...) so I'm not scrambling after Thanksgiving...so, I will do that...here's what my day looks like:
- Make sure all online bills are paid (GA Power bill, credit cards, car payment).
- figure out what to do about providing a meal for a sick friend...tonight.
- look at trial calendar, make phone calls, pull files.
- start returning list of 29 voicemails.
- run to 3 or 4 businesses in town about Junior Service League ad sales.
- dry cleaners
- see who I can get out of jail this afternoon because it's the holiday this week.

At some point soon, someone will email me pictures from the birthday party and I'll post some for my handful of faithful readers. We had a GOOD time, and kept having a good time, really until way way late into the early hours of the morning. (This is the reason we ate breakfast at lunch time, of course...)

This week is Thanksgiving, of course. I've been thinking about making a gratitude list for Wednesday's post - 100 things. 100 things is not so many, really. I'm up to 59 right now. And I haven't even really worked on it yet.

So, I think that's all I got today. So not funny. sorry...I apologize profusely. The birthday party pictures soon, I promise. Keep checking back...

Creativity on Crack

My clients (a lot of them, anyway) are on crack. Seriously. That's not a funny, like, metaphor or anything. It's not like when Carson comes into my room at 5:50 am and says "Hey, Mom - did you know that snails - you know what a snail is, right - did you know that snails like SPAGHETTI!?!? I LOVE spaghetti. Maybe one day I can eat spaghetti. With a snail. Like, for my birthday or something." and then I say "Carson, how long have you been smoking crack?" Carson is 3. She doesn't smoke crack. However, my clients do. Obviously.

Anyway - so I found this link on someone else's blog, and I am feeling dry on the writing/creativity front so I thought I'd play with it. So here is what I got:

Lost? Why?
This was a stupid one to get first, but I'll answer it anyway. I'm not lost. But sometimes I feel like I took the "scenic route" (i.e. it's taking me ENTIRELY too long to get where I need to be, even though I know exactly where I'm going...)... Other times, though, I end up where I am and I MUST have taken a short cut (or teleported) because I can't even remember how I got here.

When I look up at the sky, I feel...
Um, hmm....small? Wet, if it's raining. Grateful to be in this world. Just as it is.

Is true change possible if someone resists?
Change is inevitable, and sort of requires some level of resistance. If everyone just went along like "OK, we'll do this all happy sunshine together, good idea!" then it wouldn't really be "change" - it would just be keeping the status quo, ya know? I think that an INDIVIDUAL cannot change unless s/he CHOOSES to change...no one can change another individual. I can't change you, you can't change me, etc - UNLESS you or I CHOOSE to be changed. Clear as mud?

What is something you do well?
I do a lot of things well. (Including modesty, right?!?!? - ha...) - No, really, I'm a good dancer. And I'm a good reader, and a good mom, and I am insane about introductions. I can't stand knowing 2 (or more) people in the same room that don't know each other...I'm pretty good at tennis. I'm really good at listening...(to people, to dogs, to God, as mentioned in yesterday's post...)

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
This is starting to feel like a first date with all these corny questions, I thought this was supposed to be creative...ok, get your good attitude back, J. In 5 years I would like to have had some more first dates ;) I've had ONE and only ONE first date in the last 13 years (and remember, I'm only 31...) In 5 years, C & C will be 8 & 7 years old, so I'll probably be at the ball field, the ballet studio, and the basketball gym a lot with them. I'll definitely still be in Rome, but hopefully in a different house, because the one I'm in is STILL on the market (haven't heard back about the house showing, but thanks for your prayers...), but still playing lawyer...probably still criminal defense, and most possibly still here at the public defender's office.

What do you sense you're supposed to do before your life is over?
Raise my children well.
Have another child. (Lady Sylvia, my tarot card reader, says I will have another child, with a man I perhaps already know, and it will be a girl, and the man will be kind, honest, loyal and faithful - and will adore me and support me. Good times!)
Thank God.
Visit Greece.
Make homemade pasta.
Visit Australia on an extended stay trip and meet my extended family there...that I've mostly never met.
Finish a knitting project. For once.
Own property close to water. (This was also a Lady Sylvia prediction, FYI...)
Sleep well with a good conscience.

OK - that's all I have time for today. Answer my questions...please.
1. What's one thing YOU need to do before you die?
2. What are you wearing today? (This is total guilty pleasure, I'm just curious...)
3. Tell me about your best "date" ever...

Break out the LAUGHTER

Right, so - it's been entirely too boring around the ol' blog lately. We need some funnies! So, in the interest of your pure guilty pleasure entertainment, please note the following announcements...which are purely NOTES TO MYSELF (that's the subtitle...) and not meant for any of you grown, responsible folks reading this blog...just things on my own mind.

1. Small children should not be allowed access to toasters. Particularly when said small children are naked and DEFINITELY not when they are naked...and wet.

2. Ditto above for access by small children to gas-log fireplace with no screen. (irrespective of naked & wet status...)

3. When taking small children to Garden Ridge to pick out smallish pre-lit tree, they WILL want the crazy colored lights. Let them have it. Also, note to self: When allowing children to pick out ornaments for smallish-garish-pre-lit-tree...best NOT to allow them to pick the art deco GLASS bulbs, even if you think they are pretty. Preschoolers + crazy dog+ glass ornaments + hardwood floors = disasterous.

4. It's COLD. (That's not really funny, but it is an announcement, and a reminder to wear woolen socks and a COAT tomorrow...duh.)

5. The dentist told you not to eat any more mints. This mint-crunching is why you have one cavity on your top molar. WHY oh WHY do you have a MINT in your mouth (because I NEED one...silly.)

6. You have a card/pass to the parking deck across the street. This is "free" parking for government employees. Parking in downtown Rome is a mind-melding-mess. I know it's a long way for you to walk like, all the way across the street, but really, J - if you park on the street (i.e. not in the garage) and overstay your 2 hour limit, you WILL get a ticket, and you're up to maximum ticket cost now ($80...$80!!!!! just for parking 50 more feet away - COME ON, lady.)

7. I really really need a haircut. Really. (The fact that BOTH my hairdryer AND my flat iron are on the fritz and my hair is a complete and utter mess is irrelevant...of course.)

8. Don't talk to strange men at Krystal. Even if they talk to you first and seem sad and you're just being nice. I know Grandmomma told you that "strangers are just friends you haven't met yet" but your MOMMA said "DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS!" and that should take precedence. Just smile and nod and get your food to go. You have enough client-stalkers at the moment, you don't need old-man-who-likes-Krystal-chili to get rid of, too.

9. Not everyone talks to dogs. Even fewer folks can understand what the dogs are saying back. In fact, I can only think of two people that do this (Carol...and me...because we are one and the same.)
I have recently discovered this same theory is true for God, too. Unfortunately, not everyone talks to God, and even fewer hear him speak back. Count your blessings.


Please add your own notes-to-self, should you feel inspired (or feel free to leave notes-to-JJ, too... I'll take all the help I can get.)

Calling all prayers...

The house is showing today between 12 & 2pm. This is the most fabulous house ever (which I can't afford to keep) and the people looking at it don't have a house to sell, so they're apparently willing and able buyers. The house has been on the market (like the rest of the houses...) for over a year. I love the house. It's the only real "home" my kids have ever known, but it's a huge financial and emotional drain on both me and Mark (the father of my children...) and so, I'm petitioning you all for your prayers on this. I know God has plans for me (Jeremiah 29:11) and they are plans to prosper me - so I am having faith, and I appreciate your faith and prayers, too.

OK - so anyway, it was a happy weekend. Bowling for Bucky was a success. (It was my friend Bucky's birthday. I am still sore from bowling, actually...) However, I also almost got into a knock-down drag-out with the haircut lady at SuperCUTS yesterday. She was MEAN, MEAN, MEAN to my sweet poor child (who was a total trooper) to the point where I yanked him out of the chair, haircut half-finished, and blew the joint. (And the meanie threw a crumpled up receipt at me, because *THAT* is professional and grown-up of her...) It's a long story, but suffice it to say that woman will not have a job much longer. I just spoke to her area manager, Tina. And, I'm getting a full refund and coupons for free hair cuts (though I protested - I'm never going in there again...)

I'm not usually a complainer, by the way. I rarely ever call and talk to a manager or send my food back, etc. - I have been known to call and COMPLIMENT a job well done if I was pleased, because I don't think people do that enough, but in this situation, the woman was rude and she was basically traumatizing my innocent blonde 4 year old, who (I must say) was behaving like an angel.

OK - before my blood pressure gets too high, I need to have another cup of coffee. I hope your week got started off right.

A Letter to the Veterans

11/11/08

Dear Veterans,

We asked Mommy today why all the light poles had American Flags. Mommy said it was a "holiday" (even though we still had school) - and that it was a very special one because we were celebrating and thanking all the veterans. We didn't know what veterans were, so Mommy explained that these were very special men and women who worked very hard to keep our country safe for all of us. Sometimes, she said, the veterans had to leave their families (even when they had little babies) to go to another country and do their job to keep us safe. Cole said he wouldn't want his mommy or daddy to have to leave, but our Mommy explained that was why it was so very special that we have these Veterans to thank - because they don't even know us, but they love the country enough to make big sacrifices (that means "giving up something they want") to take care of it.

We wanted to know how we could celebrate and say Thank You to the Veterans. Carson suggested we call these veterans on the phone and tell them thank you and maybe bake them some cookies. Mommy explained that even though she knows a few veterans, and tells them thank you all the time, that she doesn't have the phone numbers of all the veterans, nor could she possibly organize a cookie drive for them this evening - but we still wanted to do something. Cole, who loves to write, wanted to write a letter. What a fabulous idea! So, we sat down and wrote a Thank You note to you Veterans (and other kind readers of Mommy's blog...)

We say "Thank You, Jesus" for our food and our family and our friends every time we eat. Carson now says "Thank you, Jesus" for the Veterans, too. We are happy to be able to go to school and go to our church and do whatever we want to do because the Veterans help keep our country free and safe. Mommy says in some countries, the leaders make rules that don't let people worship and they do mean things to people that break this silly rule. But she said we live in a "free" country, and that the Veterans make sure we stay that way.

Mommy is taking our letter to the post office tomorrow, after looking up an address to send this to at www.AnySoldier.com and also checking out www.vetsday.woundedwarriorproject.org - if you are thankful for the people that make sacrafices for our freedom, you should write a letter, too.

Love and Thanks,
Cole & Carson Walker, ages 4 & 3

I heart my Mommy.

My mom was off work today. I was supposed to be picking a jury for a misdemeanor battery case, and seeing as my Momma has never seen me "in my element" working, she wanted to come observe some trial practice. Well, my case was dismissed, so we never got to the jury-picking extravaganza. But, she got to see a guilty plea by another person (possession of cocaine) and meet my courthouse crew. And then - we walked down to see Ana & Keith at Broad St. Cafe/McCrobie's, and had a late breakfast, and then just wandered back to my office, and then down Broad St. to SmartyPants, where she bought some adorable outfits for the chick peas.

I love my Mom. She makes me feel the most like "me", if that makes any sense at all. I'm so grateful for her.

OK - so moving right along. All my cases from the trial calendar, except one, have been completed. It has been a successful two days. Tonight is ballet for the Carsonator, a cookie at Honeymoon Bakery for Cole. Then home to knock out some laundry and maybe a nice fire in the fireplace and a good book and cup of tea. Tomorrow I am headed to the Young Professionals meeting at Citizen's First (catered by either RuSan's or Blue Fin, last I heard, definitely a reason to celebrate!!!) - Thursday is Yolanda (housecleaner extraordinare), we rescheduled (thank you, I petitioned the universe for that...) - and Friday is FRIDAY!!!

How are you today?

November 10 - Monday.

Yep. Creative title, I know. Sorry - I'm not feeling witty or anything today. My bad.

So, I was supposed to pick a jury today for my PUI trial (pedestrian under the influence). My guy didn't show up. I called him - he was still asleep, didn't know he had to be there. I told him to be at the courthouse within the hour. He says "I can't do it today." Um, hello? You are charged with a crime, and you knew last week that you'd have a jury trial this week? I told him he HAD to do it today, or the judge would send the Sheriff out there to give him a "free ride" to the jail - where he would sit and wait until his case was tried. His response? Get this... "Well, I guess I'll see what I can do." NO, it's not "see what you can do" time, man - it's get your tail end out of bed and get over here.

Then his mom called the judge and said he'd be there soon but he was having to ride his bike, since he didn't have a car or anyone to bring him to the courthouse. Not only was he having to ride his bike - he was having to ride his bike from....Armuchee. (You non-Floyd Co. folks - that's way out...like probably 12 miles or so from the Courthouse...)

*sigh* Turns out he got to the courthouse and was arrested on a bench warrant, held in lockup (I went and talked to him about picking a jury, etc.) and THEN....THEN....his case was dismissed. He was released, and even though it was originally MY fault (somehow?) that he got arrested, now I'm the best lawyer ever because I got his misdemeanor PUI case dismissed. (The police video turned up, and it didn't show anything, so the prosecutor dismissed him.)

OK - so I had a great weekend. News Flash: Yolanda didn't show up at my house on Friday. I need to call her - but I'm sad. Otherwise, it was fun - I went to see Scott Thompson play at the Pear on Friday night. Love him. Danced. Good times. Saturday, I watched a good deal of football - watched GT lose terribly to UNC. Oops. But it was #19 v #20 - so it was bound to be close. Watched UGA beat Kentucky (go Dawgs!), and....the LSU/Alabama game? Oh. My. In overtime, Alabama took it. *sigh*

Of course, the game of the week was Auburn v. UT Martin (he he) simply because my kids were there. War Eagle! (And they won, apparently the kidlets were camera hogs and were on the big screen at the stadium 3 times!)

As something good to look forward to in Rome - Old Havana is having a private "cigar dinner" hosted by CAO - and my friend Keith Kastanias is doing the catering (if you're familiar with Broad St. Cafe/McCrobies, etc. that's the guy...) - and it's a 4 course meal - including my favorite - PRIME RIB!!! - along with drinks and a cigar ($16 cigar, no less!) for the low, low price of $50. I already have my ticket...it's Friday, November 14 from 6-9 pm upstairs at the cigar shop. Fun! Check out the website (linked above) for more details.

That's all I got. Have a good one!

Hooray and a Yee-HAW!

Happy Friday!!! Fo' Sho'....it's been a long and crazy week for me. But, I'm happy to report that my trial calendar was very successful yesterday and now I have the lucky pleasure of trying - not some big felony meth lab case (which was continued) or an exciting aggravated assault...but... (wait for it...)

Pedestrian Under the Influence
Disorderly Conduct
and a few other minor misdemeanors...

Madness! So, I have NO plans for the weekend. However, I did want to mention that the Annual CRBI (Coosa River Basin Initiative) Fish Fry is this Saturday from 11 - 3 at the First United Methodist Church downtown. It's $8 for a good plate of fried catfish (with all the trimmings, including hush puppies!) or $4 for a small fry plate (half serving)...they will also have a Green Expo with interesting Earth-Friendly displays. The best part (other than the yummo fish and donating to a good cause) is that all the oil used to fry the fish will be recycled and used in vehicles that are designed to run on vegetable oil! How great is that?!?!? GO GREEN!

Also, there is a Downtown Sidewalk Sale this weekend on Broad Street - so come stroll for some good deals - oh, and the Downtown Business Expo is also this weekend at the Forum with lots of good holiday gift-giving ideas. Fun times! (And free food samples ;) )

Right. So, football... here are my predictions. Alabama will win, Georgia will win. I'm planning to catch as many games as I can on Saturday. My kids are going to the Auburn game with their daddy (though they're playing someone unmemorable...) but they're sitting in the 2nd row, so I'm awaiting pictures with Aubie and the Auburn Cheerleaders!

I am unbelievably in love with my children, by the way. They come up with the most interesting things to tell me all the time! Carson said - "Do you know that snails sometimes like to eat spaghetti? I love spaghetti. Maybe I could have spaghetti with some snails..." Um, ok. If she wasn't three, I'd wonder how long she'd been hitting the crack pipe. Cole is very into nature and science stuff. We had a LONG discussion about evergreens. Like pine trees, firs, etc. (He calls them "forever-greens" though, which makes sense, really. They're just perfect really. I know I complain sometimes about how exhausting they are - but I really don't know where I'd be without them. They teach me not only patience, but unconditional love, free-spiritedness, gratitude for the smallest things in life (you know, like snails...), and their love of learning just makes me so very proud. OK - Mommy gushing is over, thanks for staying with me on that one.

Questions of the Day -
1. What is your favorite comfort food?

2. What are your plans for this lovely fall weekend?

3. As a child, what was your answer when asked what you wanted to be when you grew up?

Yolanda - my house cleaning fairy - is at my house as I type. Fabulocity. Hmmm

Change on the Horizon...

or so we hope - courtesy Obama...

I had a hard time with the presidential election this year - so I'm not jumping up & down in victory, and I'm not beaten down and sobbing in defeat. I reckon either way things will change...It will be nothing less than interesting. So, there's my 2 cents on the election results, for what it's worth.

Right. So. Anyway - two more days of this week. I have a big trial calendar tomorrow - but amazingly enough, I got A LOT accomplished this week. Previously mentioned meth lab trial is being continued, here's hoping I can pitch a big enough fit with the judge to get my guys a reasonable bond.

For today, I am being grateful...and also irritated at other things. Here's my lists:
Things which irritate me:
1. Slanderous gossip with no basis of truth, particularly when gossip is perpetuated by people in positions of authority.
2. That nasty stuff in the lint-trap of the dryer - because it's really a pain in the tookus to clean out, but I do it every time because it's more energy efficient when I do.
3. People that insist on driving 12 miles an hour. In a 30 or 40 or even 50 mph zone. Grr....
4. When people call and leave me umpteen voicemails and are PISSED that I haven't called them back - but, they neglect to leave their freaking number - or worse, they leave a number, but either the number is not a good number (i.e. disconnected) or they don't answer because they don't have any minutes left this month. Right. Ok. SO LEAVE A DIFFERENT NUMBER.
5. My dog scratching and licking all night and making a lot of noise or leaving a wet lick spot on the sheets. She doesn't have fleas, I think she just has excema - I just bathed her with some stuff the vet recommended... but it's still irritating.

Things for which I am grateful:
1. BEAUTIFUL lovely fall weather.
2. Phone calls from friends that care about hearing my irritations.
3. I paid all my bills already this month (except preschool tuition) so far...and I am not in the red yet.
4. I have NO plans yet this weekend - so I am thinking of sewing something fabulous.
5. Football!!!!!!!!!!
6. That I have no TV, no internet, etc. at my house, but I still survive and really don't regret or miss it.
7. Blueberry muffins and good coffee.
8. A potential first date
9. Children that recognize all the phases of the moon, including the "gibbous" moon....
10. That I can "be the bigger person" in almost every situation and look at myself in the mirror and love myself.
11. I got toilet paper 2 for 1 at Kroger the other day.
12. Moms. Moms rock. (And Daddies are pretty great, too. And Crazy Aunts are also awesome...)
13. Cole (age 4 years, 4 months, 14 days) can READ! He read the following words off signs, etc. last night/this morning after some trial and error sounding out the letters: "ICE COLD BEER", "BROAD STREET", "KOMAN'S" (this should crack up Roman residents...by the way....we were sitting at Honeymoon Bakery, across from Koman's... ;) ), "FORD" (Ranger), "MARTHA BERRY", "HARBIN"...isn't that GREAT?!?!?!? And these were not words (other than Ice Cold) that he would have just "known" or recognized...Obviously he's a genius. (And I'm not biased!)\
14. I really love when people comment on my blog and answer my questions (hint, hint)

OK - so I could keep going with the gratitude things, but the truth is it's satisfying that I have more than twice as many good things as bad things.

For the questions - tell me 3 things that irritate you and 3 things for which you are grateful...please?

Weekend Review

EDITED TO ADD - I have accomplished my luxury (see questions) - Yolanda will be at my house on Friday. WOO HOO!

Right. So - which genius thought up giving large quantities of candy to small children who dress up and say "Trick-or-Treat" right before bedtime on a fall night? Yeah, well whoever that guy was (and clearly it was a man, not a mom), that guy was obviously smoking crack. Suffice it to say that Optimus Prime and Hannah Montana had a very productive trick-or-treat session thanks to the local businesses downtown. By the way, Double Bubble - also thought up by some crack-smoking genius. My children can't WAIT to be 5 and a half because that's the randomly chosen appropriate age that people in my house are allowed to chew gum. Carson, however, is convinced that she's already 13 (she's 3...) and can have whatever she wants. I'm pretty sure there is no more Double Bubble in her hair, but Bella - well, Bella may be trying to get it out of her ears for a while...poor dog.

Thanks to the mass quantities of candy, I have had to reinstitute the "lock-on-the-snack-cabinet" philosophy. See, you need no lock on the snack cabinet, even with small children who like to nick snacks, when said snack cabinet is bare. I've solved the problem of over-snacking in children. Just don't go to the grocery store! Works like a charm. Nothing to eat = no eating. HA! We're making a quick trip to the Kroger tonight, though - we're out of milk and bread and *gasp* paper towels...preschoolers + no paper towels = anarchy.

I have a huge trial calendar to work on this week. Lots of felony trials for which to prepare. I am forewarning you, faithful readers (all 3 of you ;) that there may not be a lot of posts after tomorrow because I'll be busy and in court...but I love you!

Questions of the Day:
1. What is your biggest regret in life?

2. Do you get a flu shot every year?

3. If you could have one luxury today what would it be?

4. How long is your morning commute? (Including any stops, etc.)

Tricks and Treats - ROCK THE VOTE!

NEWS FLASH - today is the LAST day to do early voting in Floyd County. Avoid crazy long lines next Tuesday and come on over to the old yellow-brick courthouse on 4th Avenue (behind Jefferson's) and vote - it's sure to be entertaining - I've already seen a witch, a bag lady, a "Black Eyed Pea" and a Kitty Cat voting here this morning. And it's only 10:30!

Today I am the proud mother of Optimus Prime (Transformer extraordinaire) and Hannah Montana. They didn't wear their costumes to school (against the rules) but we are looking forward to the Downtown Trick-or-Treat on Broad St. from 2-6pm.

I love Halloween. At one point in my life, and for many years, it was an anniversary of a first date. Tonight, I have a date with Optimus & Hannah, so that will be just as great. Did you know that the day after Halloween (All Hallows' Eve) is All Saints' Day? Very exciting.

I have to go work now - alas. But I hope you all have a creepy crawly kind of day ;)

Questions of the Day:
1. What are you wearing? (Any other day this would sound like I was getting cyber-fresh with you, but since it's national dress up day, it's a fair question...)

2. Are you/your children going trick-or-treating?

3. When & where was your first date with your current (or most recent) significant other?

4. If you got to have a first date soon, where would you want to go/what would you want to do? (Bonus: with whom would you like to go on said first date ;) )

Memos to Folks, Note to Self (subtitle..."Bite Me")

MEMO TO THE SHORT PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN MY HOUSE
Small children, of course I love you, of course I do. I am your mother. But, at some point you are going to have to realize that A) I am bigger than you; B) I am smarter than you; C) I make the rules; and D) no matter what, you WILL follow the rules...which include 1) no throwing in the house; 2) no playing with doors; 3) no hitting your sibling; and 4) YOU MUST SLEEP IN YOUR OWN BED.

MEMO TO THE PRE-K PARENTS AT BERRY
There are parking spaces. Use them. If you park perpindicular to the parking spaces, in the drive (even if you leave your car running), then you are blocking in those of us that chose to follow the rules and park in the parking spaces. That means that I go from already being 20 minutes late to work to being 25 or 30 minutes late to work. And I blame it all on you. If, by chance, all the available parking spaces are full - just freakin' park in the grass - don't block me in. One of these days I'm going to "forget" to look in my rearview mirror and smack your cute little Pathfinder or Volvo or whatever it is you drive.

Thank you! - See you at the field trip tomorrow!

MEMO TO CERTAIN PEOPLE
Stop trying to bully me. It's not fair.

MEMO TO ALL THE MALES IN THE LEGAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION
(Particularly ones in Rome, GA)
I am a girl. I will always be a girl. I am different from you. But - that doesn't mean I'm not as smart as you or that I don't have the cahones to cross examine a witness to within an inch of his/her life. We will always always always have different practice styles, as do all lawyers. It's not personal. It's my job. Zealous representation of my clients. I'm really not a bulldog or a beee-otch. I'm a nice girl - with a law degreen.

NOTES TO SELF
If you don't actually turn the washing machine ON, nothing gets washed.
If you don't wash any clothes, it's no wonder the children don't have clean socks.
You cleaned out the garage so you could park in it.
If you don't park in the garage, you waste a good 15 minutes and probably 1/2 gallon of gas warming up the car enough to defrost the windshield.
Hence, you should park in the garage.
You are the only female criminal defense attorney in this circuit (though there are a few others that pop up from other places from time to time...) - you love the guys you work with and against, but at some point you just need to suck it up. Boys are stupid.
Tell your girlfriends and your family that you appreciate them more often. They are the best. Really....

mommy needs sleep.

Yeah - so I love my children, and I'm a durn good Momma. I'm also madly in love with my queen size bed - with clean sheets, and here's the key - I like having it ALL TO MYSELF.

Unfortunately for me, there are two preschoolers and a super-sized springer spaniel that are also in love with my queen size bed (with formerly clean sheets...) Last night, I put each child back in his/her bed a minimum of 4 times. That's a minimum of 8 times getting in and out of bed (in the span of 3 hours) - and I kicked Bella (aforementioned springer) off the bed at least 10 times between 11pm and 5 am, at which point I just gave up.

I did turn my gas log fireplace on last night. Very nice. Very romantic. Very warm and cozy. Hot tea and a good book...and then I woke up 30 minutes later sweating on the couch...turned off the fire and hit the queen bed...to find a little blondie munchkin in it. This is where the in-and-out-of-bed scenario began...and never ended.

Needless to say, I feel crummola today. I have some fun questions, though - please feel free to share:

1. Brady Bunch or The Waltons?

2. Coke or Pepsi?

3. Beer or Liquor? (or wine, I suppose is acceptable, too)

4. ink pens - blue or black?

5. camping or the ritz?

Monday keeps coming around...

Strange how that happens, eh? It's Thursday or Friday and you think "Wow, I have a whole weekend to recuperate..." and then out of the blue, it's MONDAY again.

Football recap - way to go Georgia. Good game, good game. And Texas, still number 1. And my friend Liam's Might Fighting Cardinals of Ball State are 8-0 - very impressive, Liam - what are they up to number 16 in the BCS points now? Congrats!

So, it's Halloween this Friday! When did that sneak up on us - I want to know. Cole wants to be an Army-man (Soldier) with camo and all. Carson, well, Carson told me she wants to be Hannah Montana but I think I'm going to veto that. How DO you dress a 3-year old as Hannah Montana, really? I think I'm going to be a 1989 prom queen. Complete with tacky polyester satin red dress (lace, ribbons AND sequins - and a bubble skirt with dyed-to-match satin pumps. And a tiara, of course.)

We're doing the downtown trick-or-treat (Thank you, local businesses...) and then home to make kettle corn and watch a Halloween movie, like Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin or something. I've been invited to a (grown-up) Halloween party, but there's no way I would find a sitter on Halloween, and I'm not sure I would really want to, anyway...

So. Still working on the meth lab case. Madness, I tell you - sheer madness. OK - so I want to know what everyone else is doing for Halloween...

1. Are you dressing up this year? As what?

2. Do you have trick-or-treaters at your house? What kind of candy do you give out?

3. Are you going to any fun spooky events? I went to the Haunted Caverns in Chatty last year - but nothing very fun or spooky this year...*sigh*

Fantabulous Friday!

But the weather - not so fantabulous. Rainy, cold - windy!!! And, I've been working on a meth lab trial I have coming up all morning, and it's complicated and heavy stuff...but I really think my guys have a defense (for once) - so I feel inspired.

Anyway, so it's Friday -driving C & C Music Factory to the Lucky's Supermarket in Rainsville, AL this afternoon to hang with their Daddy for the weekend. Carson's first sentence this morning "Mommy, is today "Lucky" day?!?!?" Cute!

Oh - favorite quote of the day - 6am:
Mommy: Cole, do you know how much I love you?
Cole: How much, ma?
Mommy: I love you to the moon...and back!
Cole: Yeah, well, guess how much *I* love *you*!!!
Mommy: How much?
Cole: I love you to the moon and back - IN A ROCKET SHIP! With flashing colored lights and shooting stars and...and...and ALIENS!

*sweet sigh* I love my kidlets. Don't you?

There is a Bar Association meeting at lunch today - our two Floyd County District Attorney candidates will be speaking. Should be interesting:
Incumbent (Democrat) - Leigh Patterson
Challenger (Republican) - Dan Morgan
Then I'm going home to put on jeans and boots and a fleecey-jacket and pack up the chick peas to head to 'bama.

By the way - I am not ignoring the results of the Auburn/West Virginia game last night. Actually, scratch that - yes, I am ignoring it - and no, I don't want to talk about it.

See y'all at CHIAHA!

Thursday Thoughts

1. Thursday is one of my favorite days of the week. Stems from 4th grade, Thursday was library day. Plus, since it's Thursday, we're one day closer to dancing exploits like this: Meet (from bottom up - Tricia, Kikki & "Hot Guy from Belgium" (we missed his name...) - and the half-guy on the right? That's Bucky...2. Speaking of the library, I love the library. Free books? Free videos? Good times! (REMINDER TO SELF: return way overdue library books...you do NOT love overdue fines.)

3. Meet Addie:
Addie is the granddaughter of Barbara, who is one of our lovely administrative assitants at the Public Defender's Office. I would be in big trouble without Barb. Addie picked out this fabric at Wal-Mart and wanted a halloween outfit. Voila!

4. Coffee is good. Coffee, if I needed evidence of a kind and caring God, would be sufficient to prove His existence to me. (But, luckily, I have a LOT of other evidence, but I'm really grateful for small things, like coffee.)

5. Queen sized beds seem luxurious when you have them all to yourself. However, at some point between midnight and 5:30 am, I did not have mine all to myself, as one-by-one, I obtained a 50 pound springer spaniel, a 40 pound 4-year-old blondie boy in cowboy PJs, and a 3-year-old spitfire girl in just Tinkerbell panties. Not so roomy, after all.

6. Cowboy boots go with just about all my outfits (exception: navy blue skirt suit...). Carson Claire agrees as she is wearing hers today (and would probably wear them with navy blue skirt suit, if she had one.

7. Math lessons for preschoolers work really well with dirty utensils, straw papers, and cheese dip. The Dynamic Duo (aka Cole & Carson) can now identify not only squares, rectangles and triangles, but also parallelograms, trapezoids and pentagrams. Rock on.

8. The dictionary is a perfectly appropriate "favorite book" for a 4-year-old. Don't knock it. He's insanely smart. (And also very handsome!!!)

9. The real estate market sucks. In case you haven't noticed. However, in the interest of being positive, gas was only $2.69 at the BP on Martha Berry yesterday. I filled up for less than $50 (and I was down to the --- on my gas-range indicator...which tells me how many miles I can go. the --- is what comes after the big fat ZERO.)

10. I fancy myself a singer. Shhhh...don't tell anyone.

A few reminders about the weekend


Scary Berry - haunted hayride out at Berry College - starts at 8pm tonight, Friday and Saturday out at Berry (there is lots of signage at the entrance...) $6 for non-Berry students and $4 for Berry students. (I can't find a link...sorry.)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - http://www.romelittletheater.com/ - is playing Friday - Sunday at DeSoto Theater on Broad - check the website for times. This is the last weekend, so be sure to catch it if you want it.

Schroeder's is hosting Free Will Offering (check 'em on MySpace) at 7pm in the courtyard (pray for no rain...)

Also at Schroeder's this weekend - a benefit for the Aids Resource Council
(featuring Devidasa, Tyler Ashley & Jake Mitchell,
Woodcrest Sound Karaoke, and Derotha Garrett) - should be good times and it's $7 I think? and it starts at 8pm in the courtyard.

Shorter College is putting on something fun - The Next Best Thing to Broadway (A Musical Cabaret) - it's a fundraiser for the Friends of Theater. Click here for the Arts calendar. NOTE - the performance will be at Coosa Valley Tech - not at Shorter campus.

And don't forget - Thunderbolt Patterson at Old Havana, Friday, 9pm - also, Chiaha Arts Festival this weekend. I will be there selling poinsettias for the Junior Service League.

Frost, Felonies, Football & Fun

Today it was 37 degrees when I got in my car at 7:30 a.m. My windshield was frosted over. Wow. And to think that just Friday it was 84 degrees and I was sweaty. I LOVE THIS WEATHER! Don't get me wrong, I love the beach in August, too (and Karaoke at that dive bar with the big boy Marcus - Mel & Sooz & Karen...and Grey Goose Martinis...extra dirty!) - but FALL, particularly THIS part of fall, when it's just cold enough to make your cheeks pink and the sun is still so bright and lovely, and the leaves are crunchy under your boots...*sigh* Love it.

I had two burglary trials and a felony false statements trial this week. Guess what? They were ALL dismissed for some reason or another...so that means I have (finally) finished with this trial calendar and can move on to the 20-something cases I have on the Nov. 6 trial calendar. Good times.

I took the short people to Pettit Creek Farms in Cartersville this weekend. Hay rides, feeding camels and goats (and ZEBRAS and BISON! - who knew there were zebras and bison in the Etowah Valley....) We also picked a few pumpkins and jumped in the bouncy houses and saw a ton of fun things there.

Because I was gone most of the day Saturday, and because I don't have TV (I know, I'm crazy...I'm ok with that.), I watched very very little football. Boo. However, my Auburn Tigers (WAR EAGLE!) had an off week. I hate to admit it, but they probably needed seeing as we've kind of had a problem the last couple weeks which resulted in the firing of offensive coordinator number 8 (in 10 years, I think...) wow. I have to say kudos, though, to my Georgia buddies - because UGA kicked tail against Vanderbilt...THE Vanderbilt that beat Auburn last week, which apparently led to aforementioned sacking of offensive coordinator. Ugh. I'm not bitter, though. It's all fair in love and football.

Carolina and Wake Forest both lost though - but Texas - TEXAS won! Texas (last I checked) is NUMBER ONE!!!) Dang. Who woulda THUNK it - well, Texas rocks, I'll say. And for Brent, and Tyler and all those other Texas folks who I hung with at the chili cookoff - Here's a shout out for ya - "HOOK 'EM 'HORNS!" And for Marlin, J.J. Beebe, Niles, and Mitchell - "Ramblin' Wreck, baby" (insert Mitchell's knuckle-bust here).

OK - so there's frost, felonies & football - and HERE...here, my friends...is the fun.

First - a report on the chili cookoff - fabulous weather, great music, good friends and DIVINITY in the form of meat & beans. Good times (here's one pic, courtesy of Tricia Steele, thank you dear.)

MORE FUN:

I have (re)discovered that I am a phenomenal dancer. And, it's good exercise, by the way. My girls and I have figured out that it's a really good Saturday night thing to do, and plan to do it more often.

So, here's some fun pics of a recent dancing night with the lovely Rome ladies.

And, in the midst of a recent dancing exploit with my ladies - I met the fabulous Jada Ryan Grindstaff from the band Waiting for Jimmy. (Jada assures me the show dates will be updated this week) and their MySpace page is pretty current, so if you're on MySpace look them up there, too. You can hear some of their stuff by clicking here as well. And the MySpace page has all their updated show dates already...Check for upcoming shows in Atlanta in late November - myAtlanta peeps should check it out. We should make it a group event...And you Romans, word on the street is that they may play here in Rome, as well. Good Times, right here in River City!!!

More Fun - CHIAHA is this weekend - the Chiaha Harvest Fair is one of my favorite fall activities (y'all know I'm nuts about outdoor festival type stuff anyway) - and this one is all about the arts, all the time. AND, there's free hot apple cider. What more could you want? Well, here's what makes it even better - the band line up is faburific! Check it:

Saturday - Oct. 25

10:30-11:15: Russell McClanahan & Friends
11:15-12:00: Cheyenne Medders
12:00-12:45: Kelley & Marcie Lane
12:45-1:30: Martha Ann Brooks
1:30-2:15: Bryan Bowers
2:15-3:00: Jule Medders
3:00-3:45: Faye Pierce Band
3:45-4:45: Delta Moon

Sunday - Oct. 26

10:30-12:00: David Elliott
12:00-12:45: Calvin Snow
12:45-1:45: Bryan Bowers
1:45-2:45: Thunderbolt Patterson
2:45-3:30: Doggie Costume Contest
3:30-4:30: Jennifer Daniels

Thunderbolt Patterson is also playing this FRIDAY (Oct. 24) at Old Havana. I will be there with bells on because those guys ROCK (quite literally...)...For more fun Rome stuff, check out Bryan's site - mullinsmania.com

So - that was a happy (long) Monday post - I'm making up for not posting since last Wednesday - sorry! Love and sunshine and sweet tea. Catch y'all on the flip side.

Midweek Migraine

I am on day 3 of an increasingly annoying headache. Lots of advil, tylenol, coffee, water - and yes, I've eaten...(I like to eat, y'all know that!)...thinking may be sinus headache, after all. It's really weird.

Anyway - today I have NO plans after work. For once, right? No ballet, no tennis, no meetings...just going home to make pasta (mmmm, tortellini) and chill with my short people while we catch up on some laundry.

Here's the story for the weekend - there's are two great events planned for this SPOOKY time of year! "Where Romans Rest" and "Haunted on Broad"...

Here's the description from the City of Rome website (http://www.romegeorgia.com/):
Discover a different side of Georgia’s Rome on Saturday, October 18 with two tours: “Where Romans Rest”, a guided tour of Myrtle Hill Cemetery, and “Haunted on Broad”, Rome’s haunted history and ghost lore.
• Where Romans RestDocents will guide guests through the winding paths of Myrtle Hill Cemetery, stopping along the way as “grave hosts” tell the story of those buried within the gates. Please note: this tour is a moderate to strenuous walk with steps and slopes involved. Tours depart at 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:00am, & 11:30am from the gates of Myrtle Hill Cemetery on Myrtle Street. Cost: $8 adult, $5 children (12 and under).
• Haunted on Broad Docents will guide guests along the streets of Rome’s Between the Rivers Historic District. Along the way, Rome’s haunted history and ghost lore will come alive as told by the Seven Hills Tellers and guest tellers. Please note: this tour is a moderate to strenuous walk with hills and uneven pavement. Route is not conducive for wheelchairs or strollers. Stories are not intended for a young audience. Tours depart from the Midtown Transit Station on East 1st Street at 7:30 and 8:30pm. Cost: $8 adult, $5 children (12 and under).
Tickets for “Where Romans Rest” and “Haunted on Broad” are available at the Rome Visitor Center, 402 Civic Center Drive, across from Applebee’s. For more information, call 706/295-5576 or visit http://www.romegeorgia.org/.

Also - Rome Little Theater's presentation of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" opens this weekend at RLT and plays this weekend and next at the historic DeSoto Theater: http://romelittletheatre.com/
If you are in Rome next weekend (because I can't make it this weekend) and would like to see this, I'm looking for folks that want to go - I think it will be a really good show!

Good times, right here in River City!

Yowza,,,

So. My little boy. (And, he IS little - he's only 4) took a dive on the sidewalk and skint up his face. We're talking road rash on the whole left side of his face. Busted lip, swollen eye, and a possible broken tooth or two. He looks like he was in a really rough bar fight, or a killer motorcycle accident...but it was just a tumble on the cement. Ugh.

It looks way way way better than it did Sunday (when it happened) but it's still causing sleep issues - which means I'm on day 3 of very very very little sleep. So, I apologize for my lack of funnies today. Nothing is much funny after the first 36 hours of no sleep.

I will say, I had a lovely impromptu dinner party at my house last night. 3 lovely friends made it over for some chili (well, the Kikki doesn't eat critters, so she had pita bread & hummus, close second to chili...). They even brought me a couple longnecks, which I enjoyed - and I have to say that on a Monday night after worrying about my skint-up preschooler, those two cold ones were well-deserved, and much needed & appreciated.

So, it's ballet-Tuesday. I forgot the necessary ballet accoutrements (I'm pretty sure I spelled that improperly. Forgiveness, please. At least I said it in my head with that fun French accent ;) )...I'll head home in just a little bit to get that stuff. The boy and I will have a cookie at Honeymoon bakery while Carsie is twirling - and I'll try to talk them into Schroeder's (and out of Jefferson's) afterwards. Then we'll walk back down Broad Street and throw pennies in the fountain before heading home. Because, this is Tuesday, and this is my simple small life. This is what we do on Tuesdays. I love my life.

Please entertain me today. Even if you're randomly here and I don't know you - I'd appreciate it if you can answer my questions. I really like hearing from y'all. And whomever visited from Bhilwara, Rajasthan - that's a lot of fun, and I'm terrible at geography - but I'd like to know who you are.

So, for fun - here are some questions - I'll answer them, too.

1) Name some pet peeves.

2) What is your favorite thing to make for dinner parties? Or potluck? Or the Superbowl? Whatever works...

3) How do you kick a good killer headache in the tail-end? (This is of particular interest to me at the very moment...)

4) What was your best Halloween costume ever?

Friday Friday

Well, the puppy shirt is off. 3 days was apparently the limit. So today Cole is wearing a "poppy" shirt (which is very close to "puppy", no?) Poppy is his grandfather...and we did the ALS walk every year as a family team - so we have the shirts with a cartoon depiction of "Poppy" and he wore that today under a "Jr. Builder" button up shirt.

I know that's not exciting Friday news, but I was afraid you were all holding your breath to see what happened to the puppy shirt...

So - now, on to the good stuff - FOOTBALL!!! My unscientific picks - Arkansas @ Auburn is not on TV (well, PPV, but I can't even afford plain cable, much less PPV ;) )

Arizona State @ USC - 2:30 pm (ABC)
Notre Dame @ North Carolina (this one is for JT, who loves his Carolina boys) - 2:30 (ESPN)
TENNESSEE @ GEORGIA 2:30 - (CBS)
LSU @ Florida 7:30 - (CBS)

That's really all I got - I'll be at the Chili cookoff until 3 or 3:30, I think - and then on to the TN/UGA viewing...and then supper time (as if I will be hungry after all that chili) - and S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT!!! (can you hear Mike Myers singing that song in "So I Married an Axe Murderer"? You know, when he's playing the Scottish father!!!??? - good times)

Have a happy weekend, y'all!

Puppy dog shirt - Day 3...

OK - so Cole has this grey heather t-shirt with dog breeds pictured on the front. I think it came from Target (Thank you, Grandmomma...) and he told me last week (he wore it on Friday) "It's my all time FAV-O-RITE shirt, Mom...like, FOR REAL!" (Kids these days...so funny...)


So, I've already laid out the events of Monday (Picture Day) and the dressing debauchle...so Monday we did some laundry and the puppy shirt got washed and put in his basket to put away. Tuesday he wears it again. Fine.

Wednesday...6:30 am -
C: Mom, WHERE IS MY PUPPY SHIRT?
Mom: Dude, it's in the hamper where your dirty clothes are...
C: But, MMMooooooommmmm!!! It's not dirty! I didn't even GET any of my lunch on it!
Mom: Well, it's still sweaty and dusty from playing in it.
C: But Mom...really. For real. It was too rainy to go outside yesterday so I kept it super-clean.
Mom: NO, COLE - you have a drawer FULL of clean shirts, find something else.
C: Fine. Be that way. Mean mommy.
Mom: (Thinking I won the battle...smugness sets in. I make the rules, and THEY follow them!)

6:55am:
Mom: COLE!!! Let's go, time for shoes...

---and Cole, my lovely, hard-headed, knows-what-he-wants child...comes into the room with the puppy dog shirt on. And clean jeans and socks. I can't blame him for trying, it really wasn't that dirty (visibly, anyway), and he dressed himself, so I can't lose, right?

So, last night, we did MORE laundry and I specifically washed the twice-worn dog shirt...and of course he put it away when the load of laundry was done. Guess what he wore today...we'll see how long this can last...

Grey day

So, the pink was getting to me. It's all rainy and yucky here today, which is fine - we so need the rain...but of course I'm wearing a pencil skirt and sky-high heels, which isn't great for walking back and forth 3-4 blocks each way to the courthouse, because I have court today, of course. And my hair is a mess, of course (but not in a cool messy way, in a frizzy, not-curly-yet-not-straight kinda way...) Ah, well.

I'm wanting pasta. It's only 10:30 am. I've got to be back in court at 1:00 pm, so I'm thinking of going to eat an early lunch, by myself, at an italian place. Of course, giving in to such carb-o-licious cravings is probably why none of my pants fit. Hmmm...?

I want to live downtown. The house I've lived in for 7ish years (minus my 6 month hiatus) has been for sale for a year. We listed it on October 13 last year. Still sits unsold. Of course. The market is crummy. However, we do most things in town - I work downtown, we eat downtown 2-3 nights a week, ballet and the park and all our "social" events are downtown...and most of my friends live down this way, too. If you're a praying person, please pray for an answer to the house selling dilemma.

Random thoughts by JJ today! I'm gearing up for the Trout Unlimited Annual Chili Cookoff at Ridge Ferry Park this weekend. Here's the website: http://coosavalleytu.org/TU_CHILI_COOKOFF/tu_chili_cookoff.html

It should be good times right here in River City! I think the gates open at 10:30 and the judging is at 11:30 or so - and then winners announced around 2-2:30...

I'll probably get there around noon...in case you're looking for me (wink wink).

Other than that, I hope you have a fabulous "grey" day - I'm going to carb-up ;)

Picture Day

Today is picture day at the child development center. Now, those of you who know me know that I'm a big fan of the fact that my preschoolers dress themselves. I only have two rules about clothing choices in the morning:

1. It must fit;

2. It must be somewhat weather appropriate.

I could care less whether they match their pants to their shirts or wear odd socks...because you know what? I find that independence in a 3- and 4-year old is MUCH more important than color coordination. They dress themselves, they feel pride in what they are wearing, and really sometimes - the crazy combos are cute. (And, we have had some CRAZY combos, let me tell you...)

OK - so, matching doesn't matter, right? Well, it doesn't - EXCEPT on picture day. ARGH! Cole got new Levi's at Sam's Club yesterday - he wanted the camo-printed ones. Fine. Yet, I had already laid out some nice "slim fit" dark wash jeans and a button up Columbia shirt for him to wear and of COURSE he insisted on the camo pants. With the plaid shirt. Of course. *sigh*

Carson, on the other hand had totally cute coordination - an off white/brown/pink printed cotton dress with pink tights. However, instead of the cute mary jane keds I had envisioned, she insisted on the Justin cowboy boots (see above - at the fair) passed down to her by her brother. OK. It's still cute.

Here's more from the fair:

You can see the boots here, too...crazy kids on the carousel. Mommy could only ride it once. Give me a crazy roller coaster any day as opposed to the round & round...

And a thumbs up from my racer-girl! GO SPEEDRACER, GO!

And, in closing, you're probably all wondering about the football weekend wrap up. Let's just say this. I have chosen to repress the memory of the second half of the Auburn/Vandy game. Cheers, Vanderbilt - you're better than anyone expects. War Eagle defense is one of the best in the SEC, and that would be FABULOUS if we had a quarterback that could throw the ball, or receivers that could catch it...alas. I love my War Tigers anyway...ha ha ha ha hah...

Next week, baby...next week.

And the weekend commences...

I heart Fridays...and here we go with the games of the week...which are picked by ME in a completely BIASED manner...mostly having to do with how nice their uniforms look...(ha ha just kidding...)

Here in GA country, the dawgs are off this week, which makes for sad GA fans...but I recommend a good SEC pick-me-up by watching the following:

Florida @ Arkansas (11:30am, ESPN-GP (if you can get it...watch it.))
South Carolina @ Ole Miss (1:00 pm, only on PPV, or ESPN-GP...if you got it...)
Florida State @ Miami (2:30pm, ABC & ESPN2)
Kentucky @ Alabama (2:30pm, CBS)
Auburn @ Vanderbilt (5pm, ESPN) (My personal game of choice...and it's on regular old ESPN, so you can get it!)

I'll be in town around 5pm for kick off (WAR EAGLE!) and a beer. So, that's that.

As for updates on the fair - I'm getting pictures developed and a CD made (I was using a disposable camera, courtesy of Old Havana - thank you Steven McDowell...) - so I'll try to post some photos if they turn out. It was good times right here in River City. I'd really like to go back as a grown up, with a grown-up - and no small children!!! The fair-food smells, the lights, the crazy announcers "Step Right UP!" etc. Love love loved it.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Bring on the Coosa Valley FAIR!!!

It's officially fair season in Rome, Georgia. The Coosa Valley Fair had opening day yesterday and today is "kids' day" - so I'm taking the short people...woo hoo.

Of course, when you add up parking, admission, corn dogs & cokes and the obligatory tickets or armbands to ride all those shady rides...well, we're gonna break the bank. But, hey - you only live once, right? I am excited to see the exhibits (the crafting, quilting and home exhibits are my favorite, surprise surprise...) - but EVERY STINKING YEAR I say "Next year I'm gonna blow this place away with MY entries..." yet I never actually get around to it...alas.

The kids like the animals and the kids' art exhibits...but they REALLY like the ferris wheel. (Or, as I like to call it, the rotating wheel of death...) I'm not at all afraid of heights. In fact, I'm a fair bit of a dare devil - but you should SEE this ferris wheel - if it was just me - or me and other reasonable adults, I'd be fine - but preschoolers, no seatbelts, a rocking bucket o' misery and 100 vertical feet make for a nervous mommy...

So, what else is there to tell...hmmm. Well, Cole had an interesting comment yesterday. Here's how it went.
We're on the way from Berry pre-k to ballet. Traffic is kinda slow at 5pm on Martha Berry Blvd.
Cole: Mom, your car doesn't like that black weasel, right?
Mom: huh?
Cole: You know the black weasel, right, Mom? Your car does NOT like it.
Mom: A black weasel?
Cole: Yeah, you know what weasel is, right?
Mom: Like the animal?!?!? There's a black weasel in my car?
Cole: NO - we CAN'T put the black weasel in your car!!! It will make your car mad and sick!
Mom: Where did you learn about weasels? Have you ever really seen a weasel? And why is my car afraid of the black weasel.
Cole: Not like an animal weasel, Mom (rolls eyes here, I saw him in the mirror...) - like the GAS, mom - you know, like the weasel that comes out of the black pump at the gas station? It will make your car SICK!

Mom: Recognition dawns...DIESEL, not WEASEL!!! Yeah, ok, bud you're right. My car doesn't like the DIESEL. The black DIESEL fuel.

(We drove to multiple gas stations on a hunt for fuel and none of them had anything but diesel and Cole couldn't understand why I couldn't use that kind...because...of course "The diesel would make my car sick. My car doesn't like diesel.")

Good times with small children.

Weekend Update

Here we are at Monday again!
I had a fairly good weekend, but I am still not feeling great. Apparently walking pneumonia turned into bronchitis...yuck-o.

I spent Saturday chilling...then watched some football in the afternoon. (WAR EAGLE!!!) I ended up on a spontaneous sushi excursion at Rome's own "RuSan's" - and it was fabulous!!! My friend Stephen Dillon and I had a Rainbow Roll, a Dynamite Roll and something called the Olympic 5-ring...and some edamame on top of it all. Fabulocity. It was REALLY good.

Sunday I slept in a little, did some laundry (story of my life), and went and got my chickadees. They had a nice weekend with Mema (their grandmother) and Daddy...so all is well here in River City.

On the upcoming Rome, GA, agenda for October -
October 11 - Trout Unlimited's 13th Annual Chili Cook-off @ Ridge Ferry Park - http://coosavalleytu.org/TU_CHILI_COOKOFF/tu_chili_cookoff.html

October 25 & 26 - Chiaha Harvest Fair, Ridge Ferry Park -
http://www.chiaha.org/

There's probably more - but these are two events I'm planning on attending without a doubt. I heart outdoor events like this in the fall. Good times!