On Call

I never posted about our experience at the Kings of Leon concert a couple of weeks ago. We had a good time as they were great to see live. Verizon Wireless Theater is a sucky place to see a band. It's a small venue, which should mean the performance will be intimate, but it's quite the opposite. Soon after walking into the place, there's a Verizon Wireless booth with phones and accessories. You know, in case, before the concert, you really wanted to see what the new Blackberry could do. Lame. And, some long haired pony-tail wearing guy won't give ya a little bit more rum when the damn thing tastes like nothing but watered down ice and Coke for $9 b/c the liquor is metered. Lame...(and no tip, jackass). Finding out that we got really good seats and the people around us were not drunk, college aged assclowns, but realizing after song #2 that there would be no standing or moving to the music in our aisle. So, we moved a couple of rows back where no one was sitting and stood the rest of the concert to dance and enjoy the music, like we were the only ones there. And, that's how concerts should really be anyway.

KD Sr. took some time off last week to recooperate from the crazy month he had before. The week was spent nursing Kale's cold and potty training Rocco. Tuesday morning we left to go get coffee and ended up at the Galleria hunting down Woody and Buzz from the movie "The Toy Story" at The Disney Store. Random. On Thursday, we went to the Butterfly Museum. Kale had his big bug book in tow and was excited about the museum. As I was unbuckling him from his car seat, I started increasing the anticipation by naming all the bugs we were going to see "a tarantula, a giant beetle, a centipede, madagascar cockroaches"...etc. So, I ask him "Kale, what bug do you want to see?" Wide eyed, he looks at me and says "a mosquito!". Son, skeeter citings are free.

Rocco is in the midst of puppy training. Luckily, he is a good student. Already, at 8 weeks, he has more manners than Mack. Poor guy got a painful lesson today, though. He relentlessly tries to play with Tatum and a couple of times a day Tatum will entertain him for about 10 min. After that, she's like "put a movie in kid and leave me the hell alone". Well, he doesn't really know what that means. We're not sure how it happened, but after the 234,500th pounce, Tatum let him have it. And, this isn't the first time, but she really bit him hard. Now he has a little cut under his eye and scrape on his eyebrow. We felt bad for the poor guy. Not to worry, he's whining because he can't sleep in the same crate with her. Boys can't get enough of bitches.

7 weeks

We're already taking some heat for this guy, but that's expected. And, it's okay, we're up to the challenge. We considered many dogs the past 6 months before ultimately choosing this guy. From Basset Hounds to German Shepherds. It's tough being misunderstood. We're used to being the underdogs, afterall, we are Aggies.

Halloweenies

The kids trick-or-treated, you know actually going door to door, for the first time last night. And, now...we will never have another Halloween without this ritual taking place. They loved it. They were relentless. Banging on those doors, ringing those doorbells and peeking through the shades until a living person with sweet goodies came out. We were all supposed to be superheroes, because I like themes. But, Keith and I felt like such complete idiots dressed up as Wolverine and Wonder Woman that I did a last minute dash to Target on Thursday. Bless that store.

Usually I put a lot of umph into the kids costumes... not this year. Kale wanted to be Iron Man and Mack was Batman (the same costume from Kale's 1st Halloween). I went as a zombie French Maid and Keith was a psychotic Dr. (Dr. Youngblood). I didn't know how to really pull that look off, so I bought a multi-use make-up kit and threw everything on. I was proud.

...and, oh yeah, Keith bought a dog.

Meet Rocco.

Calm, Cool, and Collected

I've got time to post! Whoa! Yea! So, let's see...

We voted this morning and it was sweet relief. It was almost as if we'd been working on a long assignment and finally got to turn it in for a grade. We are totally getting drunk tonight! lol. You have until Oct. 31 to vote early. I never posted anything about Sarah Palin and well, I assumed it was McCain's way of throwing in the towel b/c hell, what'd he have to lose? It gave his campaign the boost it needed. Palin supporters were so proud to have someone ruffling the Democrats feathers. Uh, yeah, people were getting worked up because the woman was a complete idiot. Her nomination was laughable, but I couldn't believe how many folks drank that kool-aid. I bought a bumper sticker that read "Sarah Palin: because John McCain thinks you're an idiot". I never put it on my car because I value my paint job, this is a red state folks. Frankly, I think the Vice President (potential President) should be smarter than the majority of America, but who cares what I think. At least the rest of America has a brain, Texas. All of that "I'm just a regular gal, not a politician" bullshit...go sell crazy somewhere else biatch, we're all stocked up here! Tina Fey was a god-send. I hope this is the last we'll ever see of Sarah Palin, but something tells me we won't be so lucky.

***

We recently spent the anniversary of my Grandfather's passing fishing in Port Lavaca. My Grandfather often brought us out there for fishing expeditions. They are great memories. We all miss him dearly, but as time passes, the tears don't fall as quickly as they use to. Of course, I cry. I cry hard hunched over from the hole in my heart. Asking for anything back. Anytime. I'll even take the visits in the hospital to relive. Even knowing the outcome, I'll start all over again just to be there with him to hold his hands and pray for help and to talk to him. I am thankful everyday that Kale and I spoke to him that day. I can't say I've found my way to complete healing, but I know if I continue to do the work, I'll get closer and closer. I'm still deciphering the how's and why's and trying to build a new working faith.

We went to the library (a different library than our usual one b/c it sustained damage from the hurricane and has yet to re-open) one evening last week. And, after we picked out some new reading material for Kale, I went to the other side to look for myself. I often check the new arrivals. Since it was the week leading up to the anniversary, I was kind of in a funk and dealing with all those raw feelings again. Sitting on the shelf was a small book called "Stories from the Edge- A Theology of Grief". I'm only half way through it right now, but it really is clarifying some things for me and has turned into be exactly what I needed. Someone put that book there for me right there, right then. When I woke up Sunday morning, I laid in bed thinking about what I wanted to say at the cemetery. I thought of the a verse my Grandfather always said, but couldn't remember how it went. We got packed up and headed out to Victoria. On the way there, I read a couple of more chapters. And, within my reading, was the exact passage I was trying to remember earlier that day

Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven

and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything

you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.

Matt. 18:18-20

When I found it, I immediately cried because I felt close to my Grandfather. I felt a sense of peace about where my Grandfather went. He always reiterated this sense of calmness to me and it came across in that passage as soon as I read it. I could write more and more of his love for the Lord, but I'm certain he is with his ultimate creator and I wouldn't wish anything less for him.

School is 5 days a week, WTF?

School days are tiring. Really, I'm so thankful he only goes two days a week. I don't think I could handle anymore, right now. There are so many things to remember (i.e. paperwork, deadlines, book orders, food/fundraiser orders, fundraiser sponsorships, volunteering...argh...I know I've written about it before). I forgot to pack Kale a drink in his lunch box. I was trying to get out extra early this a.m. to drive-thru Starbucks for a Horizon Vanilla milk or a McDonald's for apple juice. No such luck. Luckily, his teacher keeps extras on hand and told me not to worry about it. Plus, as we pulled up to school, I saw a Mom lathering her child in Off repellant and remembered he needed some. I looked for it in two places this morning, but couldn't find it, and then I got distracted by something else.

It could've been when I was heaving Mack into his carseat and realized he'd pooped. Why do they do that? And, when you're running late, no less! I changed his diaper right there in the garage on the dining table, which is in the garage, because we're having new floors installed...which also means we haven't had satellite T.V., DVR recorded programs, or a couch to sit on since Monday morning. The horror! (***I promise to thoroughly disinfect that table when we move it back in :-) BTW, Thanksgiving is at our house...ha, j/k.)

So, off to school he went, where he would inevidably die of thirst and be eaten alive by blood sucking insects, but at least he was on time. Way to go, Mom!

After I drop him off, Mack and I take off to the grocery store to pick up some juice boxes, because the next school day will be here before you know it. I get some fruit, cheese, some snacks, 2 different kinds of beer and Blue Bell Rocky Road. Then, we rush home because either Keith or I need to be home for the guys to finish the floor. Get home and find out floors cannot be finished today because the leveling solution didn't dry enough AND I forgot to buy juice. MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!!!!!! Get back into car to pick up Kale from school. Curse all the idiots on the road. Sit in carpool line. Mack gets restless and starts to fuss. Keith reaches in bag to pull out something for Mack to snack on while we wait, leans over and says "you know you had a juice box in the backpack, right?" Don't even, man.

On top of that, one of the bottles in the 6-pack that I bought, was completely empty. I know! What are the odds? The bottom was completely cracked open, so I guess it leaked onto the shelf at the store. We went back and exchanged it.

Yet, I know I have no real complaints. I'll slap myself. Even though school has come with a lot of requirements, I have met a lot of people and had a great time at a birthday party with Kale this weekend. Screw you carwash girl, I didn't want to be your friend anyway!

Fall-ing behind

I apologize for not posting for so long. I'm sure there were things to write about, but I just never took the time. There was a hurricane, KD jr. started school, and things have just been a whole lotta hectic. What I should post about tonight is the economy. But, that'll make my head hurt and we're busy lifting the mattress to hide our stash anyway. So...

The hurricane was worse than expected and caught a lot of people off guard. I suppose it's because we often experience false alarms. The devastation in Galveston and nearby cities was unbelievable. Houston completely shut down and gas was hard to come by. It was really a strange situation the first few days after the storm. We had gathered the necessary supplies (for the most part), were only out of electricity for 12 hours, and didn't sustain any damage on our home...Thank God. And yet, there are a lot of people still without power and some without a home and I can't imagine how hard that must be. We have nothing to complain about and everything to be grateful for. Here's to hoping that doesn't happen for another 25 years.

KD jr. starting school has been great, but totally a lot of work. We've already started two fundraisers and a book fair. Phew! It's like a whirlwind of paperwork, deadlines, sign ups, volunteering, donating, lunch making and show and tell gathering. My goodness...and this is just the beginning! My daily planner needs a daily planner.

Also on the frontier is new music! Yea!! Currently, thanks to Keith, we are bangin' our heads to Kate Nash, Santogold- L.E.S. Artistes, Kings of Leon and Adele. Now we just need that great weather to come back.

HOT! HOT! HOT!

Here's something to keep you warm on those chilly Fall nights (nights that I am anxiously awaiting). Ahhhh...a brisk wind with a little bite as you make your way to your parked car wearing a cute sweater, killer jeans and some bitchin' new high heeled boots (ankle or calf). I love the Fall!!!

The ongoing theme of all my autumns is love. It's something about the cold that makes you want to cuddle with the one you love.

My husband hasn't written a song for me in a long time. Oh, I don't know...with work, a wife and kids...I just don't understand why he doesn't have the time. Kidding. I casually mentioned this to him a couple of weeks ago while he was playing his guitar, jokingly, of course. And then the other day, while we were on the phone, he said that the new single from Kings of Leon "Sex on Fire" is his dedicated song to me. (Gush) So, here it is. Brace yourselves, it's mucho caliente...just like us. The band is coming to Houston in October. We may need to be doused with a fire extinguisher when they play this song.