There is One Gal in the House That is Glad This Week is Almost Over

Its been one of those weeks for M, one of those that she is ready to put behind her and conquer the next.

We started the week off at the neuro ophthalmologist trying to figure out if a fourth eye surgery was feasible. Our long time eye doctor/surgeon didn't fell comfortable with surgery as a possibility or as a solution and wanted another opinion before any of us making rash or haste moves. The eye exams are tiring for M. She said working her eyes over is like me trying to do the splits over and over again. I was totally prepared to sit for hours in the waiting room. I know how the Center for Advanced Medicine works from spending a vast amount of time at the Spine Center. They move slow, really slow. I never head there without packing an overnight bag and a cooler. So imagine our surprise when we arrived at 830am and left the office at 10am! (I learned it is always better to be the first appointment of the day, they haven't had time to get behind.) When it was all said and done we left the place with the scorecard reading it's a win-lose situation. Win because M won't have to have a fourth eye surgery, lose because they can't fix her constant side double vision without altering her present (cosmetically near perfect) alignment. God love her she hardly complains, says she stopped mentioning it a while ago because it is what it is. M once described herself-- while wearing a back brace, eyeglasses and braces on her teeth-- as a cracked glass. I tell her better to be a Waterford goblet with a crack than cheap lead crystal with a crack. My M is definitely a Waterford goblet. She is mighty fine even with her small "flaws", besides I see no cracks in the Waterford crystal just perfection and beauty.

She had that darn Color Guard section leader try-out-- a try-out that was conducted in a manner never done before (and quite honestly not exactly in the fairest of like or similar ways to the rest of the marching band). It sent her over the edge on Wednesday night. King Ralph helped her out and he said he "choreographed part of her routine." M says "ya, he was like put another of those swirls in there and another of those tosses in there." King Ralph needs to stick to what he does best and flag spinning just isn't one of them. But you got to love him for his interest, help and encouragement. Like the person that M is she went in there did her stuff and left knowing she gave it her all. Now she sits and waits for results. Results that should not take as long as she has been told they will take. Patience is a virtue...it's a lesson being learned in this process.

Last night she spent two hours with a math tutor trying to grasp Algebra II concepts. Math is not and never has been my strong point. So I sat there at the table for a while with them feeling like this form of mathematics is an extension of the Chinese language. I just cross my fingers she does well on the test today. I think M has my mathematical philosophy in her genes: all you need to know is percentages (mostly 10,20, 25, 40, 50 and 75%) for shopping the good sales, simple fractions for cooking and basic math for balancing the check book, everything else is fluff...unless you are going to be a rocket scientist and then my theory goes right out the window. M assures me she isn't going to be studying rocket science in college.

Well M while I know you aren't going to be a rocket scientist just go out in the world everyday doing your best and being the best you you can be!

Buckle Up

How many of us remember the days when we hopped in the car and just drove off? No seat belt required? I do. Crazy days those were! Can you even imagine not wearing your seat belt now? I can't. It's like my wedding ring, I feel naked without it.

As a mom I instilled in my daughters the need and purpose of the seatbelt early on. Now with two young drivers at the helm of the wheel safety is instilled and drilled even more. So this commercial makes a great deal of sense--to not only show my girls but to share with everyone.



Remember, to always buckle up!

The Buried Life Has Got Me Thinking

Truth be told I am a lover of reality TV; no matter how sick and perverted it can be. Our TIVO is chock-full of the shows, everything from American Idol to Project Runway to Biggest Loser. My very favorite is The Bachelor. (dare I mention King Ralph is enjoying the show in a sick male kind of way this season.) I love how we girls at work gather on Tuesday morning, and afternoon, to analyze the bachelor and the hound seeking babes. There is however another reality show I love just as much for a totally different reason-- The Buried Life.

I love The Buried Life for its pay it forward message as much as its way to make people think what would you put on your bucket list and what you want to do if you had one day to live.

This episode drew out my tears

The Buried Life - MTV Shows

The Buried Life - MTV Shows

After I watched the most recent episode of the guys trying like hell to play a game of basketball with the president...I began thinking what would I want to do if I had one day to live. King Ralph and I talked about it together and came up with something.

We love national parks and we love to hike. There is nothing that compares with walking through nature, breathing clean fresh mountain air, hearing the babbling of brooks while bonding with those you love, then standing at the top of a mountain feeling that close to heaven. It's simple life at its best. It is a goal of ours, as a family, to visit Yosemite and hike the mountains and trails of the park. So we decided together that if The Buried Life guys approached us we would tell them it is our desire to hike Half Dome.

As for a bucket list, gosh I am not to sure what all I would put on it. I have few ideas but not many.

What's on your bucket list and what's that one thing you would want to do if you had one day to live?

A Dance and Dining With The Dead

Last night was the "Snoball Dance". A dance that was less snow and more rare but welcomed sunshine on a warm February Saturday.

First pictures with the freshmen.

Then pictures with the juniors
The dress lengths were short and the shoes were all rockin'!...also where my camera battery went dead.

Then King Ralph and I escaped to our favorite pizza/sports bar for a few spirited beverages and a bite to eat [at the bar]. (I forget but I think we call that a date.) It was here I caught glimpse of an urn sitting in the center of one of the pub tables. It seems we crashed an Irish wake--a first for our favorite eatery. The mourners appeared to revel less in grief and more in beer. The urn was a coaster and the ashes were toasted--not with words but with the clink of a Bud bottle to the marble urn. Mr. Ashes was then passed from one friend to the next as the mourners decided whether to stay and continue partying in an Irish wake fashion or to leave..who should take'm home. When Mr. Ashes finally left his eight hour memorial party there was one lone ranger left sipping beer, waiting for his safe ride home.

There you have it a dance and my dinner with the dead.

You've Got Mail

Yesterday I e-mailed a short note to M's marketing teacher, who was also her Personal Finance Management teacher last year (that required class was full of out-of-control crazy teens making for a stressed teacher), turning out to be her favorite teacher of this year. I felt compelled to apologize to her for M not being able to attend state and nationals; seeing where that trophy could take her in the world of DECA. I felt more compelled to write the note since the male unit of the house is feeling like it is all his fault, walking around with his head hung low and his heart aching. M has assured him there are opportunities that await her in the future and not to feel any guilt. That eases some of his guilt but not all.

I got this nice note back.

I would have never thought that Maddi and I would have such a respect for one another after our first experience teaching PFM and having the class with me. I don't believe Maddi would have thought the same way a year ago. However, I knew she was special and hoped I would have the opportunity to share my true passion with her at some point. I feel I have been blessed with my past three candidates having won the coveted district leadership delegate. Maddi seemed truly honored to be asked to be my delegate, I knew I had the right one. Her care in writing her paper and preparing for the interview told me I had chosen a winner. Although the national leadership conference is awesome, I feel both Maddi and xxxxxxx xxx will carry their passion forward next year as Chapter leaders. She WILL have many opportunities to represent DECA and LHS next year through our program.
Thank you for the note, and enjoy your time together over Spring Break."

So I guess we feel a little better. The male unit is going to feel better about his decision to make spring break plans at a slower pace, but I think he'll get there...when the sun hits his face.

The Winner Is...

It was a big day for M. DECA Districts.

She won a blue ribbon for "Best Dressed for Success" in the advertising campaign category; of which she and her two friends competed. Sadly they did not place.

M also was chosen to be one of two leadership delegates for the high school. Competing in the leadership delegate category meant she had to write a paper and be interviewed.

Guess what?

M won FIRST PLACE out of forty other delegates from twenty different schools.

She is so cute; as she was doing her homework on her bed she looked up and asks for me to bring her trophy to place on her night stand. "You want it close by to look at it" I say. She smiles proudly in that little girl way and replies "yes."

M is stretched out in her bed tiring and when she slumbers tonight a trophy will glistens in the clock's digital light gleam, then greeting her in the morning.

It will say to her what I have always known--You're great!

Fat Tuesday

We partied on Saturday with huge pots of gumbo and Emeril's red beans and rice, washing it all done with hurricanes. They came masked and beaded.

While the good Christians of this world are thinking about what they are willing to sacrifice over the next forty days and forty nights; I feel I have given up a lot so far. Twelve pounds to be exact. Along with my double digit size pants.

I have given up caffeine. I have given up sweets. That was some time ago.

So...if this isn't enough already God, here I am come and get me. I'll give you forty days to find me ;-)

Paper Hearts and Hershey Kisses

A few weeks ago my niece, M and I flopped on the couch to watch this movie; our Saturday Redbox selection:


PAPER HEART: Movie Trailer - Watch more top selected videos about: PAPER_HEART, Michael_Cera, Charlyne_Yi, Jake_M._Johnson, Nicholas_Jasenovec

Without a doubt the dumbest movie, or as it is referred a mockumentary, we ever saw--we all agreed on that!

I did however find my Valentine Day love note line in the movie for King Ralph.

King Ralph asked me to marry him on Valentine's Day. I saw on CBS This Morning a poll that stated that 85% of married people would marry there spouse again...I would be one of those eighty-five percent. Sure King Ralph drives me batty sometimes. He can be a man behaving badly. He can swear like a drunken sailor (which infuriates me), spends to much time in the garage with his other woman "Harley" and he sometimes thinks the bath tub's edge is his clothes hamper...but despite he makes me happy; not to mention his 50% of gene pool made some gorgeous girls.

So to my King Ralph, last year I told you you were the cheese in my macaroni. This year a little African American girl suggested "true love is when you take someone to Applebee's and get them hot wings." So what you say, wanna get some hot wings with me today? XOXO

Snow Day

I am going out to shovel the four plus inches of snow off the driveway. After last night's dose of reality TV--The Bachelor-- it will be good way to work off some of that Vienna dislike and maybe even a pound of two.

Some Dreams Aren't Meant to Come True

I am slow to get going today. I dreamt all night that the weatherman would be my fairy godfather and there would be a snow day. I so want to lay around and watch old movies.

Well, maybe, tomorrow.

Plan B

I have been watching King Ralph's niece every year this week for I don't know how many years, a lot, while Debbie and Dan go on the stations listeners trip (to some tropical location while we stay here all freezing our arses off). We have escaped all these years all and any forms of illness that could be contracted while I drive niece to and from school for a week.

Until today.

Poor baby woke up with the stomach flu and didn't tell us. "Would you have told your mom if you threw up in the middle of the night?" "Yes." "Then you have to think of me as your mom while you are here." "Okay." It was a sheepish okay. Wondering if the sheepish tone was from her still feeling like a volcano ready to erupt or plainly embarrassed she puked at her aunt and uncle's house.

Suddenly I was thrown into Plan B mode. Except in all these years we have never had a Plan B. King Ralph HAD to go to work today; he has a very important task to tend to. I really need to work today as one person is already out of the office with her sick child. Thank the Lord(!) that King Ralph's oldest sister is in town. Plan B! So I called just as the rooster crowed and they agreed to be niece's nurses for the day. THANK YOU!

Things always have a way of working out. Don't they? Yes they do!

Weather Man Tells Truth

He was telling the truth. I know this because at 730am I shoveled the driveway, an inch and a half of light fluffy snow. And, even at 20* outside temperature I didn't feel a bit chilled as I enjoyed the peace that transcended through the neighborhood at that hour on this Saturday.

Where Have You Been?

Where have I been?...I know you are wondering.

Maybe I have been here all along but you didn't notice me because
A) I have lost nearly ten pounds
B) colored my hair Nice and Easy 119 (a brown tone)
C)I use invisible ink to blog
D) all of the above

Maybe you are wondering what triggered my sudden blogging this Friday night after the long hiatus
A) a mucho margarita at El Agave
B) a grande margarita at El Agave
C) a adjetivo margarita at El Agave
D) all of the above

Really friends, I think I have had writers block. Believing for myself that my life is so mundane that no one would really care to hear about...the people I have been people watching at the gym while on my quest to be skinny again. Like, man in shorts with a belt. Who in the world comes to the gym wearing pleated pin stripe shorts with a leather belt accessorized with a cell phone holder and some other electronic device holder? Can you really lift weights effectively dressed like that? No one except that creepy man, and when I say creepy I mean only CREEPY can work out dressed like that. One can just tell, no sense with female intuition that a dude in a gym wearing such an outfit barely exercising is bound to be a five o'clock news headline. Then there is tin foil woman. She wears this silver foil like suit to increase her sweating in order to expedite her weight loss. I have been missing her lately so she either is off her regular routine workout schedule or she sweated to death. There is barefoot man. He likes to hit the tread mill shoeless as if he is a Kenyan marathon Olympic hopeful. My all time favorite is the senior citizens--God love'm-- they hit the exercise bikes wearing blue jeans and wool plaid shirts. Not sure if they intended to chop wood and lost there way only ending up in a gym. There's the old woman who comes to work out in her sweat pants, turtle neck and monogrammed sweat shirt. I swear to you I am going to put my Red Cross CPR card to work when she drops from being over heated. My fave is the old dudes who somehow believe they are Jack Lalanne in there tight sweats and tank tops, tucked in. The tattoos flowering there forearms tell the tale of there veteran status.

Sunday I like to do Jesus and workout. Church first then to the gym. Actually this becomes a family affair, all us Avery's jazzed on Jesus pumping iron. I think people find it odd that I have a full face of make-up on at 930am, but I find it odder to see a woman wearing washed out black denim--accessorized with my favorite, a belt-- lifting weights before hitting the elliptical.

So you have been wondering where I have been and what brought me back to the blogosphere? The answers to the questions are: D) all of the above

In the mean time, till I blog again, I think I will watch out the window to see if the weather man is telling the truth. Will snow really fall from the sky here in Saint Louis.

Chore: Untrimming, Say it isn't so

Before we could even get around to undecking the halls there was something we had all been waiting to do...or should I say see.

Up in the Air.

Debbie, my sister-in-law, and Dan, her hubby were in the movie Up in the Air. It was one of King Ralph's official responsibilities to watch over the interviewing process of all the extras for this film--that was partially filmed here in St. Louis--so he got them an in. We had tried to see the movie on our annual family Christmas movie outing but it was sold out all day and night on the 26th. We ended up splitting our group that day-- half saw Avatar half saw Sherlock Holmes. Finally last night we all went and saw Up in the Air. For a millisecond we saw Dan, twice, blurred, on the big screen in the Omaha airport scene. No Debbie. Thanks to Dan's breif moment on the big screen when he gets his star on the Walk of Fame he can have both the radio and the movie emblem on his star. As for the movie...loved it. That George Clooney is so easy on the eyes. The ending was not what I had expected and I liked that for a change. We continued the days fun with food, spirited beverages and games. Seriously, we should have played Tripoly for money instead of just using the chips. I would have owned Vegas.

Today King Ralph, D and I went to church for a most beautiful Epiphany service. While M could not be roosted from her bed and Princess A laid in bed with what we thought was yet another case of strep throat, which it isn't so we are waiting for the cultures to come back and cross our fingers it isn't mono again. (We should have gone to some place other than Walgreens for the test.)

Then it was time to undeck the halls. I usually wait to the day of Epiphany but who wants to mess with the disassembling of all those decorations after a day at work? Not me! So I undecked today; the fireplace mantel--no more garnish of pine garland, holly springs, pine cones and gold swirlies. No more stockings embellishing the fireplace accessories. No more lighted pine garland capping the crown molding of the kitchen cabinets. Good-bye pine garland swirling on the post downstairs. Toot-a-loo gold glittery snowflakes hanging from the ceiling. Gone are the Christmas trees adorned with ornaments that trigger warm and fond memories. So long Santa figurines.

The two weeks of no school and work has been sweet. We feasted on fabulous foods. Watched enough Redboxes to support Hollywood. I even talked the whole darn family into playing non-stop rounds of Racko. (I bet King Ralph wishes he wouldn't have got me the game for Christmas now.) Relaxing, chillaxing, vegging...those days and late nights must end now.

Oh Christmas parting ways is such sweet sorrow...but we will meet again...sooner than we think.

Good Bye 2009

Because the sky will celebrating tonight as well, with its blue moon ...I leave you with this musical reminder to look up when you go outside to bang pots and pans, shoot off some left over Fourth of July fireworks, pop those streamers and blow your party horns to welcome in the new year.

Peaceful Day

As 2009 is drawing to its close; good morning says Mother Nature with snow falling. I suppose it's her way of saying, or getting the last word on the year. Snow always lends hand to a sense of tranquility. Permission to be lazy--if allowed. Today's snow is no different. Although I don't think I'll see folks making snowmen or sledding--as it's not that kind of snow--it is a picture of white beauty nonetheless.

I let the dog out, dropped some Kibbles-n-Bits in her bowl, where she fueled herself before exercising her dog legs by running [her dog-self spun track] in the backyard. She is in high gear as she sails in circles on three legs with snow kicking off her paws and the cold air pushing the fur on her face back. She will not come in...no matter how many times I blow the whistle. It's pure bliss and happiness to her--snow.

I could live comfortably in my bedroom all day. It is like heaven in here...I would never have to leave (except for food). I have a heated mattress cover to keep me feeling all toasty warm. I have the Clapper to turn the light on and off. I have a flat screen TV nicely framed in the wall at the foot of my bed where I am watching Robert Redford portray Jeremiah Johnson. The winter scenes in this movie are majestic. I even have a sweet little Christmas tree in here to add charm as I watch out the window the snow falling.

The house is still. Quiet. Resting. Calm.

I feel that this nearing of the end of 2009 is at peace. To that I say warm soup and happy Wednesday wishes to all.

The Start of the Me Week

There is a wonderful sensation in knowing that it is Monday and I can lay here in my bed free from obligation and required chores. No alarm has woke me, I just woke. I lay here in my warm bed watching a movie and thinking of dozing off again. I might do some laundry, I might not. I could clean out a cabinet, I could not. This week belongs to me! No company to prepare for, no entertaining on the calendar. It's like vacation from work truly has begun--finally. It feels good!

Don't get me wrong I love everything that came with Christmas...including the stress of preparation. But, there is something to be said for the deep breath I inhale and then slowly exhale when it is all over. Cleansing.

I am going to throw on sweats and an old ratty T-shirt, toss a movie in the DVD player, lay on the couch draped in my new brown Snuggie-- that makes me look like Obi one kenobi-- watching the winter weather from the window chillaxing this Monday away.

Oh December 28 how I love you!

Christmas Memories

I suggested to my girls that they all marry a Jewish boy so I can remain selfish in my Christmas observance way. I want to always attend Christmas Eve service as a family. I want to always come home after church to a feast of rib eyes, crab legs and twice baked potatoes. I want to always have them gather with their cousins and grandparents on Christmas Day free from having to appease another family's holiday traditions. I know it is probably a dream but it sounds good for now.

Can we talk about Christmas Eve service for a minute? The holidays bring out the "CEO" church goers in droves. It is those who take up prime seating leaving these regular attendees sitting in the obstructed view section of the sanctuary. Okay so the obstruction isn't a bad obstruction; it was the Christmas tree after all, so one can't complain too much. What I can complain about is single mom who can never seem to control her boys--holiday or any regular ole' Sunday. The minute the hellions entered the sanctuary they began disrobing, then perusing the isles barefoot. One drank a juice bag where he let it drool out all over the floor. Then the two little hellions began cruising around on the alter. THE ALTER! In the middle of the very sacred service. At one point the mother left with her boys only to have the boys return motherless. Next they squirreled there way on the alter again and hid behind the pulpit and then the alter, there she was on the alter herself trying to find baby hellion while big hellion circled the Christmas tree. Everyone else had there babes dressed in Christmas taffeta, patent leather Mary Janes, ties and sweater vests sitting with reverence and discipline. I was ready to stick my foot out into the isle to trip baby hellion as he passed me making monster noises while eyes rolled all around. I even thought of ripping the wallet chain that hung off some biker broad's green jeans to use as a lasso to reel in the hellion. It wasn't till, Baby Jesus sat up in his manger and said to cool it that single mother decided after receiving communion to high tail it out of church before someone ordered Herod from the dead to send an angry mob to follow her home.

Regardless of the hellions' antics I was feeling all Christmassy and Jesus filled hearing the bell choir chime their bells, the choir singing, the congregation singing together all my favorite carols and holding my flickering candle in a dim lit church while Silent Night verses were sung to a guitar softly playing between spoken excerpts of explanation. It gave way to the true meaning and spirit of the holiday.

Then in the night Santa came. He laid gifts all around the tree. Three presents for each of the girls...cause three is the amount of gifts Jesus got, so, if it was good enough for Jesus it is good enough for them. And it was. Always is!

It was the year of Christmas shoes.

There was the much needed black heels for Princess A

soft and furry Coach moccasins for M

and Ugg boots for D

Even I got Christmas shoes, new black leather boots for which there is not picture for proof. We even gave our niece Alyssa Christmas shoes--graffiti style Chucks.

At noon the aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents started rolling in and the nog cocktails were slamming. Gift distribution began again. After paper and ribbons danced in the air by teenage girls my mother-in-law's husband handed each of the "big girls" a small package and said with tears in his eyes and warmth in his heart, "this is something for all of you helping me get through mom's surgeries." My sister-in-laws and I all opened at the same time to reveal beautiful diamond earrings. Even Aunt Jan got a pair, she is mom's best sister friend, hair stylist, manicurist.... It was so unexpected. I believe we all did what anyone would do for someone they care deeply for...to support and carry along another family member in time of need with no reward required.

While we girls were all ooooing and aaaahing over diamond earrings, King Ralph was gathered with the guys in the red room all oh-yaing over his new Harley Davidson Babe calendar his cousin/motorcycle riding partner gave him. It was a picture of frat boys as they starred at each month's babe. Ah, ya, Richie the answer is no the calendar will not look good on that bare wall in the kitchen behind the island or in the living room...I'm thinking garage. By the looks of the month King Ralph has open for display he plans on spending his birthday in the garage with Miss July. Oh husband!
Of course no Christmas is ever complete without taking a first cousins picture with my nephew [and his wife's] name written on paper to remind us (and them) that the Air Force keeps them far from home--in Alaska and we miss them being with us.
Then there is always the "hot cousins" picture, because no one can refute the fact that this bunch of second cousins can turn the heads of boys.
I rolled over this morning looking at a clock that said 5am...not this morning, no I was allowing myself to sleep like Santa after a long night of spreading joy and dream about all those vision of sugar plums and such. It was a great couple of December days!

Merry Christmas

The wisemen who have traveled the house for a month found there way this evening to the stable presenting Mary and Joseph gifts for the baby Jesus., saying to all--It's Christmas! The nativity scene is complete.

The girls just gave King Ralph and I our Christmas gift, a priceless gift, a small musical recital. It was the first time Princess A and D played the flute and the piano together. M tried her hand at singing. Music fills my heart. On this day, for that reason, even more.

I am now taking some time to gather with family, reflecting on the days when our little girls were filled to the brim with the magic a fictitious man in a red suit brought to there naive beings. That offered a sleepless night of great anticipation. When the pitter patter of small tender feet ran the hallway to the tree before alerting an exhausted set of parents, "he came, Santa came!" Waking to a glee that cannot be duplicated--but recorded for reflection. When pretty papers danced in the air tossed by tiny hands and those hands were sticky with peppermint flavor from treats stuffed in stockings. Kisses tasted the same. Mmmmm sweet memories.

They grow. They evolve. They still fill me--us. Always will.

Now, knowing they still believe in the spirit it planted in their hearts and continues to grow there gives me thrice the Christmas spirit.

May your day be a day filled with the same joyful spirit as ours.

Merry Christmas!

I tended to a few kitchen Christmas Day needs early this morning in the quiet of the house while the thunder crackled outside and the rain poured down. I watched the 1947 film Christmas Eve starring Dolores Moran while I whipped up a few eats ahead. I needed the solemn peace of the morning house to center myself for this day. A day that has a list of last minutes runs for this and that. The things needed to pull of yet another perfect Christmas.

Yesterday was a day that resembled, or should I say I resembled, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. I had my crab on and the household knew it. It seems I was losing my way to Christmas and I needed my own personal little Cindy Lou Who to show the way back. When everyone wakes I shall start my parade of apologies. I have woken this morning to what I hope will be a day that returns my cheerful holiday spirit. By the looks of that dam Christmas countdown I added to my blog I feel the panic to complete my to do list even more...my heart palpitates even faster now! But I shall let that clock tick down while I forge ahead with the day with the love a mother should have in her heart. I will keep my serenity in check. I promise!