i am so giving

So I gave Stephen my parking spot...in the garage.  He has to go to go to work, and  in the 100 degree summers that we love, the garage keeps our vehicles a little cooler.  That means I'm parking in the driveway.  I had to run errands twice today.  I had to run in the rain to my van twice today.  I am so giving.  I am already like, "What the hell was I thinking?".  Don't worry - when school starts, my ass is back in the garage.

Two runs to Publix.  I know I'm not the only one that does that.  I did an informal quiz on facebook once...I am not alone.

The first Publix was in Bloomingdale - met the new PTA president in that area to give her the safe keys & ran by the Publix over there afterward for two items - yellow rice & dish soap.  I put a pork roast in the crock pot this morning with mojo and realized we didn't have any yellow rice.  I also noticed that my girls used all of the dish soap, which didn't surprise me at all...I found a BOGO on Palmolive.  All is good.  I also did good because I only got the two items I needed.  Part of the reason for that is that I ran into another PTA/school friend and chatted for a little bit.  I love B-Town...north of Hwy. 60, south of Hwy. 60, it doesn't matter.  Always bumping into friends.  Between the chat and impending rainstorm (by then, it was after 2:00 p.m. in central Florida, which means get in your car or get home), I got the two items I needed.

Second Publix stop was on my side of town...quick and painless and dodged the rain.  Didn't bump into any friends, though this could be because we were in the middle of the storm.

Got my stepson back tonight, made pork roast,  yellow rice, black beans, & peas...watched "Green Lantern" for the billionth time, and then turned on his "Game of Thrones" marathon.  Headed to bed in a bit, and will drag the Turner kids kicking and screaming to their beds.

More "Dr. Who" marathon tomorrow, while packing for the beach.  Maybe I'll vacuum...I haven't decided.

i need longer hair

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair...so I can cut it & have it made into extensions for me.  I need it to pull out.

I'm quite sure karma has arranged this for me, but here I am with a 17 year old daughter who knows it all and doesn't want to listen to much of anything I have to say.  I always pictured the Lorelai and Rory relationship with my oldest daughter, and it hasn't happened that way.  I love her with all my being, and I want everything for her, and I'm blessed to have her, and I'm happy she's my daughter.  That being said, I know a little bit more than her, and I would like it if she'd open her mind and heart to that.  At what point will she do that?

Up for discussion at the castle right now is senior year at school or online, IB programme or not, college...  and, of course, the eye rolling, can't stand her mother, disrespect followed by I love you, I don't hate you, and crying.  An emotional roller coaster is what parenting a teenager is for me so far...this ride is worth the cost, but can I ask when can we go to the bumper cars?  That's the ride that, for our family, everybody loves.  Everybody has fun.  We don't have to ask, "who's riding this one, and who's staying down with the kids?"  We all ride and have fun and laugh.  I want to ride that.  Not the emotional roller coaster, not the haunted house, not the zipper...a nice, fun ride.  

So, Rapunzel, please color your locks dark brown and I promise it'll grow back.

post spawn

I had a great chat today with one of my best friend's daughters...she's an incredibly talented, smart early 20 something.  It was an incredibly fun chat!  Thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly her take on the public education system, and her encouragement to me about what I can do with my desires, "talents"...I wouldn't call her an old soul.  I'd call her an insightful soul.

What started out as my laughing about my hair post spawn, it was super straight before I had kids and is now beyond wavy, ended with me thinking about who I am not only as a mother, but as a wife, a date for my husband, and a contributor to my own soul and mind.  We find peace in what we enjoy doing.  Sometimes it takes the youthful take on the world charm of a beautiful young person to remind us of that.

So, I'm taking a quick poll.  Straight hair or wavy?  Just kidding.  Topic focused blog, or continue with my daily, realistically weekly, thoughts?

to do

I started a to do list...I thought about doing a "39 before 40", since a few of my friends are doing that, but I decided it's a to do list, period.  I've had fun writing it!

Almost every entry includes my husband or my family.  When I was younger, I would've told you that I was a loner.  I was never really a loner, but I always fancied myself one, and thought I was misunderstood and brooding.  I am the farthest thing from a loner.  I need people I love and people that love me around me.

The list is a fluid document, I guess.  I imagine I'll always be adding to it.  Time to get started, I guess.  THAT'S exciting.

Today would've been my dad's 68th birthday and my granny's 89th birthday.  We celebrated - Stephen and I took the kids with my mom & my sister and her family to the cemetery to visit dad, and we told him happy birthday in the rain...I brought a little flag to put on his grave, and mom and Andie brought flowers.  We had lunch at Beef O'Brady's, then Stephen and I and the kids went to get my stepson...glad to have him back for a few weeks.  The weather remained wet and nasty, and we got home a few hours ago.

I can't wait to add things to my list tomorrow!!!!!!

bestie therapy

Me.  My bestie.  Our kids.  Siesta Key Beach.  Bestie therapy...

In the last couple of summers, I was getting my other daughter to say "y'all".  Now if I can get my bestie, her mother, to say it, too.  She is so close........

Sometimes vitamin D and your bestie is all you need to make your day(s) okay.  To be reminded that Florida girls float in the gulf & talk, and know everything is okay.  To laugh and confide and joke and love, and know that that hug is always there.  That sometimes life is strange, and that's okay.  And sometimes we just need to say, "ugggggggggh!!!!!" and that's okay.  And sometimes we need to say, "yaaaayyy!!!!!!!!" and that's okay.

We all piled into my van today and headed south.  Sarasota found us, or we found it, and we plopped our shit down on the pretty, white sand.  What a wonderful day.  Thank you, bestie

passing the torch

The big, brown bag with an eagle "blinged" on the front was the torch, and I passed it on today to an amazing volunteer.  My days as a PTA officer at the elementary school are done.  Mixed emotions, but mostly glad...this year will be my 10th year at the elementary school, and I'm proud of our school and have loved every minute of PTA, even when I loathed some minutes...I really loved all of it.  I want to work in the classroom, chill, have fun this year...and, I have to say, I met with the new president this afternoon, and, I didn't know her before today.  What an amazing volunteer she is, and next year is going to be a blast.  I can't wait to help out here and there!

In the last 10 years, I've served as secretary, VP of programs, VP of Volunteers, treasurer, and president at the elementary school.  I absolutely love our elementary school and am proud to be a part of it.  I look forward to great things for all of the eagles!

It's weird not to see the big brown bag sitting next to me, but it also feels kind of good to not see it.  And to know that a great group of volunteers is going to bring a lot of awesomeness to the school next year.

I've learned about myself, and I can scream it out loud now, that I don't do well with change.  This change, though, I consciously chose, so it's different.  And exciting.  Take a backseat, focus on our senior, which is amazing, and our dedication and time needs to be with her as she starts her adventure as a senior.

I can't wait!

chillin on a dirt road

laid back swerving like I'm George Jones...smoke rollin' out the window, an ice cold beer sitting in the console.



Okay, I'm not swerving, smoking in the car, or drinking in the car, but I am chilling on a dirt road, cold beer in my hand.  Happy Mandy.  I love Alabama.  Our roots run deep!

Other than occasional drama from my kids, it's been a great week.  Hugs, food, hugs, play, hugs, work, hugs, & wine.

Missing my dad a lot, missing my granny a lot, kind of don't want to go home, kind of am more than ready to go home...all normal stuff at the end of a visit to LA.

Hug your family tight, friends!  In your actions, mind, thoughts, all of it.  <3