Final Countdown

Now that you have "Europe" ringing in your ears...there's only 36 days left until Disney World!! Woo hoo!

I'm not excited about seeing anything but my daughters' eyes when we walk into the Happiest Place on Earth.

And my husband who is a self-pronounced curmudgeon, dealing with the saccharine he will have to swallow the whole time we're there.

Oh, I'm so excited!!! And I just can't hide it.

So here's a spontaneous top 5 list for you:

Top 5 trips I've taken in my life

5. Washington D.C. 1982- We drove in a borrowed van and the brakes went out in the Appalacian Mountains. THAT is extreme sports. I was 9 at the time, and the thing I remember most was seeing the First Wives' gowns at the Smithsonian. It was a great trip.

4. Panama City Beach/Orlando 1989- I went with a friend of mine and her parents. Life is good when you are more concerned with seeing boys than seeing Mickey Mouse.

3. Cedar Point 2002- This is my only fear about Disney World. Cedar Point ROCKED. 16 roller coasters, are you kidding me?? I'm afraid Disney will be a sideshow carnival compared to this place. When we went everyone said to us, "What the hell you goin' to Cleveland for?" (assuming all my friends are hillbillies) There was so much to do, and we are definitely planning a return trip. And my mom brought a toaster into the hotel room and got it confiscated by the 'hotel police' and seeing my mom getting busted was worth the price of admission alone!

2. NYC 2003- For my husband and my 30th birthdays, (is that correct? I always forget, and dammit good English is impotent. I mean important!) his uncle flew us out to New York where he lives a few blocks away from Times Square. It was our first trip sans kids, and we had such a blast. Key moment: An older man from New Jersey asked me where I was from. "St. Louis," and he replies, "Oh, the mountains out there are beautiful aren't they?" !!!!

1. World Tour 1995-- A friend of mine and I decided when we graduated from college we would drive cross country. Unfortunately we didn't plan on some idiots robbing us in California and smashing out the back of her car window. We drove 35 hours straight home, and although our trip was cut short by 3 weeks, it was the best time of my life. Key moment: innertubing in New Mexico down the Rio Grande.

shh its a secret

Okay this mom calls our doctor's office today, and tells the assistant that her son went on Spring Break in Mexico, and then got lost for 4 days, then they found him all confused and out of sorts, and they flew him back home, and wanted to know if the doc could give him blood tests and a psychiatric evaluation.

When I left he was in the waiting room reading a copy of "Green Eggs and Ham".

Yes this will end up on a Girls Gone Wild tape somewhere.

Yes there was tequila involved.

Yes that guy's picture is on his frat's house board as "Our Leader".

top 5 guilty pleasures :)

5. dooce.com I have to check in every day to read about someone I've never met or will meet.

4. Karaoke. ONLY in the privacy of my living room. Favorite song: Grease is the wooorrrd

3. Dixie Chicks. I know every word to every song. It's tragic.

2. Lifetime for Women. Especially movies with ex-Melrose Place stars. They're the tops.

1. Crappy mags like "People" and "Us" I hate the promotion of excess, and who's wearing what and how much so and so is making etc. etc. But I. Can't. Look. Away.

Ode to the Shop n Save cashier

I am so grateful for the things,
that God has given to me.
My sweet young girls,
My doting spouse,
The oceans and the sea,
But I sure would appreciate
If you'd ask for my ID.

I know I'm buying beer today,
you scanned the 6-pack with glee.
There are Pop Tarts,
and Go Gurt too,
more than just for me,
But for heaven's sake,
you could ask for some ID.

I still can party long and hard,
and stay out until 3.
I know I'm tired,
and I look expired,
and I'm fooling nobody,
But let's just joke around a bit
AND ASK FOR MY ID!!!!!!!!

Time to get ILL

I can't believe Illinois won that game!!!!!!! Woo hoo!!!!!

Next weekend will be a craz-ee drunk fest in St. Louis for sho.

Note for all you tourists coming to town: If you end up at a place called Roxy's, that means you are in East St. Louis and you need to get the heck out of dodge RIGHT NOW.

Technichild

Here's fun for you:

Take one small child, I used a 5-year-old.

Feed her red velvet cake right before bedtime.

Have her wake up at 2 am to throw up in the toilet.

See the pretty red swirls? They're vibrant! Gorgeous! It almost turns pink when you flush, doesn't it!!!

Grunge years

I was in college fall 1991 through Spring 1995. Pearl Jam was still singin' songs and not trying to be David to Ticketmaster's Goliath, and the Internet was something I'd only heard about. I had to do research in a library (n. place with lots of books) and had to use real cards to play Solitaire.

*Sigh* And I miss those days??

My senior year I stayed in Stevenson, a dorm with 'suites', and it was co-ed. I lived with 5 other girlies, on the 4th floor. Across the hall was a group of boys...er...guys...clowns? Anyway, my 21st birthday was in September so although I did not know them very well, all of these guys took me across the way to Marty's, where all students start on their 21st birthday.

Well, usually they don't END up there, but I did. Really, really, really drunk.

After throwing up all night and into the next morning, they came to check and see how I was doing. I knew, when they took pictures of me leaning into the toilet, that we'd be great friends.

I would go over there at all hours of the day and night, usually bringing my cross-stitch or my Gameboy with me.They were highly entertaining, and even though I'm sure they got tired of seeing me there, I was dubbed "4C Party Girl", a mascot, if you will. I'm guessing I only gained that title by sharing my ideas on oral sex and the like. (none which will be shared here right now, at least not right now) And may I stress I shared my ideas, not my skills!! :)

Anyway it will be 10 years since I graduated from college this year and I am hoping to see them all again in the fall. We are planning a reunion and I'm looking forward to going back to Marty's and doing 11 shots of Goldschlager in a row, just for them.

Well, maybe I'll do 11 impressions of me doing 11 shots of Goldschlager.

But I'll definitely be sharing more ideas on oral sex for sure.

Radio Vajana

My iPod is my best friend. If I may paraphrase Will Ferrell on "Inside the Actors Studio":

If you do not have an iPod, go RIGHT NOW where iPods are sold or rented, and BUY one right now. It is the most glorious thing ever created.

Right now I am cleaning the house. I will be playing in the background my playlist entitled "Clean the house" (Wow! I'm so smart!) On my playlist I will hear the following:

Modern day Delilah- van Stephenson
It's not Unusual-the incomparable Tom Jones
Time will Tell-Asia
Golden Years-David Bowie
Rotting Pinata-Sponge
Who wants to Live Forever-Queen (this song usually gets me through cleaning litter boxes)
Train in Vain-Clash
I miss you-Blink 182

Hey, I didn't say it was the epitome of playlists, but those dishes aren't gonna clean themselves!!

top 5 bands with fruit or vegetables in their names

5. Peaches and Herb

4. Blind Melon

3. Korn

2. The Cranberries

1. Red Hot Chili Peppers (natch)

Falling down

I spent over an half an hour trying to catch my cat to take her to the vet. I shut all the doors, got a towel and chased, chased chased. I caught only 2 x and as I tried to stuff her into the carrier, she wiggled her feline kitty body so much I had to let her go or foresake an eye. When I picked Al up from school, she was "SO MAD" at me and I told her if she could catch Aurora, then we could take her.

Of course she caught her.

Of course the vet had closed.

She stomped around the house, called LP telling him how awful I was. He says to me, "What kind of female stuff is going on over there?" I send her to her room, and she says, "Fine, I will go in there and do yoga and calm down."

My husband then comes home to tell me about the guy in the cubicle next to him. He said the guy started cussing and stood up, threw his phone across his cubicle, and then threw an apple at the window full force. He then yelled, "I can't WORK like this ANYMORE!!!!!" and stomped off. Later when the guy came back, LP asked him if he was okay, and talked to him about how he relieves the stress of middle management.

I said great!! Keep on his good side so when he brings that gun to work, he might spare you!

top 5 regional facts you may not know!!

5. Near where I live, is home to the World's Largest Ketchup Bottle.
http://www.catsupbottle.com/

4. The city I grew up in, Belleville, used to be the Stove Capital of the World.

http://www.laborandindustrymuseum.org/BellevilleHistory.shtml

3. Collinsville is the "Horseradish Capital" of the World!!

http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/egg/egg1296/horscap.html

2. Robert Wadlow, the "Alton Giant" was from around here.

http://www.altonweb.com/history/wadlow/

1. Jason Isringhousen, pitcher for the Cardinals, has the same pediatrician as I do!! I met him there when Riley was about 3, although I didn't know who I was talking to. I told him he had a cute baby and we were talking about his baby, and the receptionist said, "do you realize who you were talking to?" Well, did he realize who HE was talking to??? Geesh!!

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=321&p=8&c=1&nid=1771351&refid=1

just another manic monday

It's sad when the highlight of my day is the fact that I went to Big Lots and there was a huge sale. Sad, sad, state of affairs. What's worse is that I'm totally excited about it. I got all my Easter shopping done! Apparently a big drugstore chain went out of business so Big Lots bought up their stuff and is selling it at 1/2 price. I got all kinds of namebrand stuff for cheap, vitamins, lotion, shampoo, sunscreen, etc.

Yes, it is sad what has happened to me. And yes, summer needs to come soon. Yes, I need a life.

Oh but I felt like Jerry Van Dyke was there with me in spirit baby.

It's a wonderful life!!

Tomorrow night I will be watching the "Gastineau Girls" on E! entertainment television. The show is awful, awful. It's a reality show based on a mom/daughter duo who have a lot of money and not much else. Anyway, they're based in NYC and my husband's uncle Jimmy has a bit part on it. He is playing a mover. So hopefully he will be on either tomorrow night or next week so I can stop watching this awful show and move on to something more entertaining like Mah Jong on the computer!!

top 5 favorite SNL skits

I'm a huge SNL fan, and although I think this season has been a bit of a downer, I will still remain faithful. But here are the 5 skits that I probably quote from at least once a week:

5. Chris Farley is Matt Foley, motivational speaker. He is lecturing teenagers, David Spade and Christina Applegate. He is so over the top, they both cannot contain themselves and are laughing hysterically. He finally falls and breaks the coffee table. Beautiful.

4. Again, Chris Farley. He is trying out for the Chippendales and his only competition is Patrick Swayze. Patrick wins, only by a hair, and probably a tight stomach.

3. Dan Ackroyd is Irving Mainway of Mainway Toys, and Jane Curtin is discussing with him how his Halloween costumes may be dangerous for young children. What child wouldn't want to be the "Invisible Pedestrian" for Halloween?

2. Sam Waterson is a good salesman. That is why when he is selling Robot Insurance, you listen. Because you never know when robots might attack.

1. Of course, this is pretty inevitable, but the Blue Oyster Cult skit is by far the funniest frickin' thing I have ever seen in my life. I don't know who wrote this skit, but it is classic. It shows Will Ferrell at his finest, and utilizes one of the greatest hosts, Christopher Walken, who turns out for one of the best performances. He is someone who you wouldn't think would be funny but ends up hilarious only by the way he delivers his lines. Whenever I want Aaron to do something and he asks why? (believe me, this is pretty often) I say, "Because I'm Bruce Dickenson. I put my pants on just like the rest of you - one leg at a time. Except, once my pants are on, I make gold records."

saturday night special

Upon driving home from the hospital to visit Shawn (who is doing great, btw) LP suggested we rent movies tonight. He suggested this seeing how cranky I was and I told him I really did not want to spend another Saturday night doing laundry and cleaning the house.

We get to Blockbuster and there is NOTHING that captures our interest. The girls are fighting, so we relent and let them EACH pick something out instead of just one movie.

As I go to a different aisle, I hear a CRASH!!! and immediately think, "yep, my kid."

Rugy knocked over the entire shelf in the game aisle.

So we say our apologies and get in line. I grab popcorn. When he runs our card, we learn that the last time we rented a movie, we returned the CASE but not the DVD. LP tries to bargain, "What can we do so I can leave here with my sanity?" The guy tells him our account is on hold until they get the movie back.

We drive home in silence.

He finds the DVD on the computer desk (why??). I take it back, rent "Barbie Fairytopia" and a video game for Al and go home.

The question is, do I want to start the colors or the whites first?

oooh that smell

Oh the instant I walked into that hospital last night, that SMELL just hit me like a ton of bricks. I had flashbacks of when Shawn was there in August.

He is still in the ICU unit, so the girls were unable to see him. That was strange too, because the last time he was in an ICU room, he was in a coma. So Shawn was in the same room with all gizmos and gadgets he had before, well, sans the ICP reader and the breathing tube, but this time he was telling me how much he hated the food there! It was a very good visit, and he was in good spirits albeit very tired.

Afterwards we went to Caleco's downtown St. Louis for dinner. It was good. Downtown was hoppin' due to a wrestling conference and the whole Final Four commotion.

I think LP was finally able to relax though. I know this was making him very anxious.

Tonight is Rug's circus, and this morning she woke up, singing!! Yeah that never happens. She was skipping around singing, "Today is the big da-ayy!!!" She will be Rug the Amazing Tightrope Walker tonight. It will be hee-larious.

We have NOTHING planned this weekend other than going to the hospital. I am going to try to run 3 miles tomorrow morning and get back to my running routine. We'll see how successful I end up being!!! Have a great weekend!

update

Shawn came out of the surgery in good condition. The Doc said there was a little excess fluid that they removed from his brain, and I have no idea what that means. We will go visit him tonight after LP gets home from work. Thanks to everyone for the positive thoughts!!

different story

Have you ever noticed that sometimes people don't like other people merely from word of mouth? I remember having a conversation about a girl I'd met with a friend of mine, and she said, "Oh, I HATE her." "Why?" I asked. She seemed pretty nice to me. "Oh she said this one thing about a friend of mine once." ONCE? So, one thing this girl may or may not have said causes someone to hate her. How ridiculous. And this friend I was talking to, I remember her starting a fight at a wedding because she didn't like the way a bridesmaid had looked at her. I'm sure this friend had NEVER said anything bad about anyone in her life, either.

Riiiiight!!

I try to remain as open minded as I can be about people, and see the good in everyone if I can. It just seems that one comment a person can make in their entire lifetime can sum up their whole persona for other people, and that's a shame. I wish everyone would be a little forgiving and realize that one comment does not summarize a person's entire entity.

Here are some phrases I know I've spoken and probably pissed off a bunch of people:

"I am never having kids. They're annoying."

(well look at her now, the bitch has 2 of them)

"I'm from Belleville."

(that bitch thinks she's so great because she's from Belleville)

"I hate Belleville."

(what a bitch. Just because she doesn't live in Belleville anymore, she thinks she's so great)

"Peanut butter is so good!"

(Does that bitch expect me to eat peanut butter just because she likes it?? What a bitch.)

So careful what you say, misconstrues are always around the corner!!!


(that bitch thinks she knows everything!!!!)

learning curve

Sign that I know I'm being too hard on my 7-year-old about her grades:

coming home from school yesterday, I was admonishing her for getting a "C" on a math test. Prior to this, she'd never gotten a "C" before in anything. After about 3 minutes of me going on way too long about it, she says, sobbing,

" Oh mom, I need to go to Sylvan!!"

top 5 peanut butter foods

5. Rice Krispies Squares with peanut butter

4. Skippy peanut butter tubes

3. Peanut butter brownies

2. Reese's pieces

1. Reese's peanut butter cups (no contest)

who's the nuttiest mom in town? It's me. It's me.

We are having cake and Krispy Kreme donuts for dinner tonight. I decided.

It has been a loooooooooonnnnnggg day today. LP said to me last night that the past 2 and next 2 weeks have been the busiest in our 8 years of marriage. I said to him, "Where the mailto:f*$@ were you when we had these spastic animals we call children?"

But he is right, it's a very crazy time.

Tomorrow is Shawn's surgery to get his bone flap put back in. They cut out part of his skull initially and did not put it back in, in case they had to get back in his noggin and fool around some more. The idea of running around with your BRAIN exposed is truly a weird thing, it is. It's been like that for 5 months though. I touched it before and it wiggled like Jello, totally freaky. Anyway, the doctor said the procedure is pretty uncomplicated, but hey, it's not like it's BRAIN surgery or anything. Uh...it IS! Dammit!!

On a bright note, the pharm reps that brought us lunch today were from VIAGRA so I scored me some great VIAGRA pens!! They also had a keychain with a compartment to hold the "little blue pills that could" in case, uh, I guess in case of emergency? The great part is, their 'tag' line goes, "Now the answer for your erectile dysfunction is in the palm of your hand." That's gold, Jerry! Gold!!

On a geek note, I watched the trailer for Star Wars III and I am SO there. I've decided that I can use my new Caravan (pronounced as though one is standing on a mountain) and decorate it to look just like the Death Star. Oooh, that's good stuff right thar. My GPS system can track those fighters for sure!

Lastly, one of the moms of a girl in Al's class told me tonight that the ONLY car she ever bought before she got her minivan was a (bitchin') Camaro.

God if only I could have been so lucky.

future profession

How do I tell my 7-year-old daughter that her dance idea for her school talent show looks more like she is trying out for Larry Flynt's dance Club?

5 best concerts I've ever attended

5. Van Halen, July 2004
It was great. I'm not a huge fan, but when they played "Panama" I was re-living 8th grade instantly. They really put on a show. When Eddie Van halen's son came out and played with him, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. (well, most of them were bloodshot already anyway)

4. Robert Plant/Jimmy Page 1995
A fraction of my all-time favorite band, I saw them on the same day I graduated from college. So the whole experience was very, spiritual. Almost a metaphor for my life. My friend that went with me just complained that they didn't play Stairway to Heaven. I also recall that I was fully sober.

3. INXS and Pil 1987
Of course this was the first concert I ever went to (excluding Barbara Mandrell whom I saw with my parents in 4th grade, I don't count that, please, let's not count that). I thought to be 'alternative' I had to wear my Chuck Taylors. So I did, but unfortunately paired them with a pair of Coca-Cola pants which were all the rage at the time. INXS could have sat on the stage and played Rock Paper Scissors and I still would have had goosebumps.

2. Rick Springfield, the Pageant 2002
I love Rick, and I usually see him every time he comes into town. But this was the best one, just because he got into the audience and was just going nuts for the big ladies down in front who have lifetime memberships to his fan club. It amazed me how they bought him a bouquet of roses and all he would do was SLAM them against his guitar. "Wow, shit, I just spent like all my money on those flowers and you just DESTROYED them?? Thanks Rick!" Anyway though, he puts on a great show, plays all the great songs, and I just love him. He is my guilty pleasure and he is old enough to be my dad.

1. Lollapalooza, Summer 1992 Riverport
Nothing I will ever see will compare to this. Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Soundgarden, Ice Cube, Ministry, Jesus Mary Chain, good GOD they were all in their prime too. The highlight though: I was strolling the little merchant tents outside, with all the hippie jewelry and pipes, etc. and I was looking down at some earrings when I heard some guy behind me say, "What should I do? Should I act star-struck?" I looked up and the guy standing next to me, looking at the SAME earrings I was, was Eddie Vedder himself. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. He turned around and of course a mob of people just engulfed him. He. Was. So. Beautiful. But the music was even better. In all my concert going years, I can still honestly say that Ministry was the best band hands down that I have ever heard. I wonder what the soccer moms would say if I put some of their music in my Grand caravan and showed up in carline to pick up the girls?!!?! Hee hee I think I'm going to do that on Monday!

My other job is Movie Critic

We rented "Shaun of the Dead" last night. I'd spent 5 hours in a dentist's chair (see post: root canal!) and needed a LAUGH!

And did I get one.

This movie is one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time.

LP and I were on the couch rolling and holding our stomachs. It's that funny. Of course, we also thought "Jackass: the Movie" was one of the best movies we've seen in the last 5 years too, so bear that in mind.

If you've ever seen "Dawn of the Dead" or "Evil Dead", this is right up your alley. It's about Shaun, our unlikely hero, who has to defend himself from dead zombies who want to eat him, his friends, his mum and his girl.

The best part in my opinion, is when they learn that in order to kill the zombies, they have to hit them in the head or decapitate them. They decide to use Shaun's vintage album record collection as their weapons. Parting with them is hard for Shaun however:

Ed: Purple Rain.
Shaun: No.
Ed: Sign o' the Times.
Shaun: Definitely not.
Ed: The Batman soundtrack?
Shaun: Throw it.

It is maniacally funny. Fried gold. And more on the root canal later.

Life altering moment # 5

Date: August 27th, 2004
Place: High school
Why: Watching eldest daughter do a pom-pon routine at half-time

Scene: My husband's pager has been going off like crazy but I was in the Port-a-potty with my 5 year old with the cell phone. When I come back, he says, "Man, I bet it's work. dammit" and grabs the phone from me as I make my way up the bleachers. Two seconds later I hear my name. "JANA!" I look down.

I have never seen that face before on my husband.

I run down, and he is crumpled on the ground with his hands on his head, crying uncontrollably.

"Oh my god," I think. The only time I've ever seen a tear from my husband was when our kids were born. Those were happy tears. These. These were definitely not.

"What? WHAT!? WHAT IS IT?????"

Inaudible. My god what do I dowhatdoIdowhatdoIdo???

I run over to a friend and tell her to watch 5 year old, something has happened. I run back.

It's his brother. His sweet, 19-year-old brother. Got hit by a car walking across the street.

We get in the car and high-tail it to the hospital, 20 minutes away. We go from sobbing to screaming to praying to "Why, not him, no not him."

We get to the ER. Then we wait. And wait. No word.

The doctor comes in. Neurosurgeon? Why? What??

"He's suffered a subdural hematoma. I'm very sorry. But there is one last resort we can try."

They stick us all in a waiting room. Shawn somehow survives 2 brain surgeries. He goes into a coma for 2 weeks. Then he opens his eyes. Then he moves his arm. Then he follows us with his eyes.

And this is why now I believe in miracles, and will never take a second of the rest of my life for granted.

top 5 sayings part deaux

for some reason that did not post. Oh well! Try it again!

5. What goes around comes around.

4. It is what it is.

3. Don't know what you've got until it's gone (Cinderella eat your heart out)

2. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. (Eleanor Roosevelt rocks)

and the number one saying that has meant much to me in my life:

1. Those who anger you, control you.

top 5 sayings that have held true for me in my life

feeling guilty

For my priest lecturing about how children imitate their parents in church and do what they do, such as not singing or chewing gum, and him looking directly at me while I gnaw away at the Trident Ice Spearmint I just stuck in my mouth.

Yeah well, unless God thinks me smoking crack and drinking vodka is a better alternative, he will embrace my gum-chewing butt in all its glory.

Amen.

you can't take it with you

well we purchased our new minivan last night. We decided to go with the Dodge Grand Caravan, because it had the great accesory called "Being sold by LP's Uncle". You can imagine that this model comes fully loaded, natch.

I've never been one for gizmos and gadgets, and whatnot. I want a reliable car that will take me from Point A to point B.

However.

Last night driving from the dealership in St. Peters home (approximately 45 min.), while my husband tinkered with the GPS system, my daughters watched "Finding Nemo" on the DVD player, I experienced what some call Nirvana.

I sure in the heck do not mean the band headed by Kurt Cobain either.

I am talking, better than sex-better than brownies-hell even better than PEANUT BUTTER--euphoria.

I drove home without raising my voice one time. No fighting, no bickering, no arguing, nothing.

I drove over the Mississippi River in pure, unadulerated bliss.

Hell YEAH I am loving my new pimpin' minivan. Screw youth! I embrace thee, Soccer Mom American Dream!!!

Life altering moment #2

Place: My boyfriend's (future husband) apartment
When: Fall 1996
Scene: In bathroom, ept test turning bright pink the instant my urine hits the stick.

Me: Ah! It's pink! The line is bright pink! Oh my GOD!

Boyfriend: No, wait...wait sweetie. It's gonna fade. It'll fade.

Me: (looking quizzically and a little annoyed at him) FADE? You think this bright pink line is going to FADE?

Boyfriend: Uh.....no, no I guess not.

Me: (stunned silence)

Boyfriend: Well, let's go eat!!!

I will SO be telling this story to your boyfriends

(Scene: Daughter age 2, in booth, turned around peering over the other side.)

Me: "Honey, stop that, it's rude."

DD: "But Mommy, I want to SEEEEEE rude."

(Cut to me giving up all hope of ever teaching my children good manners)

Today's checkup has been brought to you by...

I started my internship this week for my medical transcription certificate. Apparently the pharmaceutical companies have more interest in your health than you realize.

Things found in office with brand name of drug on them:

*Stapler
*Kleenex holder
*Post-Its
*all writing utensils
*paperclip holder
*Chip clip
*Soap dispenser

Things found in office without brand name of drug on them:
*Desk
*Desk chair
*Doctor's soul

Cat and MOUSE

We booked our reservations this week for the Happiest Place on Earth, Disney World. LP and I debated about going there, it's such a scam, you pay so much and then are expected to shell out more when you get there. I just hope my kids have fun. They are little daredevils, and I'm not quite sure if Dumbo's ride is going to appease their daredevilness. But I'm sure the magic will all hit us when we get there, right?

We are going the first week in May, and we are DRIVING! Yikes. We are stopping in Destin to visit a friend of mine who lives there, so that will break it up a little. I am looking forward to it, after the year we've had, it'll be nice to get away.

The next few weeks will be hell on wheels. In a nutshell!!!:

Next week: 2 soccer games, internship, Father/Daughter Dance, Disney on Ice, (again, there goes my $$$$!) root canal!
March 13-19: Shawn's surgery (that's the big one), dance, swim lessons, more soccer games, internship, Rug's circus performance

Definitely in need of a vacation. Not that I think DW will be a 'vacation' more like a 'marathon'. But won't it be worth it when Rug and Al meet Cinderella?

I'd pay all the money in the world to see them smile.

Fortunately for me it's gonna be a little cheaper than that.

Not much though!!!