Why my room needs to be under lockdown!

So, this morning I'm out in the yard doing manual labor like a cabana boy on crack.  Which is extremely unfortunate, since I was actually *off* of work.  Oh and I had absolutely NO coffee this morning.....GAH.  

This emergent grass cutting adventure was truly my own doing, so I really shouldn't complain, but what the hell.  I'm pretty sure I haven't done the yard since right before Hurricane Ike and it was getting about as deep as Sasquatch's crotch (totally double meaning for my nasty friends out there ;) ).

During this time, Miss Priss is holed up in my room.  My bed is fabulous and she covets it on a daily basis.  My response to MP...........wait, besides you don't even have back problems yet!  There is a whole future ahead of you during which time you too can own a fabulous bed.  She fails to see the amusement.

So, she is on my laptop visiting her webkinz site and playing with her pet, Zack.  Yeah good times.  All's well, not to many interruptions during the mowing which is always suspect.

I'm going to preface the next part with some background.  I posted earlier about the air medical crash that killed my coworkers/friends.  It was a very difficult time and I chose not to discuss it with my daughter for several reasons.  I felt that at the time, it wasn't necessary for her to have to carry that around with her.  She already worries when I am at work and the weather is bad and I certainly didn't want to add to that pressure.  I could go on and on, but I digress.

Well, several people had sent me newspaper clippings in regards to my friends and I have kept them in a manilla envelope in one of my nightstands.  There were also several items from the memorials and a bunch of photos.  We also have a memorial patches on our flightsuits, but I am always careful to remove it prior to seeing MP, so it is never an issue.

So, as you can imagine, MP decided to dig through my nightstand to look for "something".  Of course, she took it upon herself to read EVERYTHING in the envelope.  Then came the questions.

I knew that I would have to tell her about this.  However, I was not even close to prepared to discuss it when the accident occurred.  I really wasn't ready for it today either.  I feel like it went ok.  How they all died was something she did not focus on and for that I am thankful.

I could really use an adult beverage......cheers!

Yea camping!

Camping was as usual fantastic.  Also as usual, things didn't start off as planned.  I actually got off of work 5 hours late, really not on my list of things to do, but that is about par for the course.  It was my "short week" so hours are always welcome......BUT, we're talking "camping here"!!!!  Need I say more to my camping peeps out there.  ;)

So, I was running late and instead of picking up Miss Priss from school and having the tiki hut and the dog ready to roll, we were doing last minute prep work.  Not a great way to start the relaxing weekend, but oh well.  Whatever, have beer will camp!

I hadn't told Miss Priss that we were going camping since I knew of the nonstop pestering that would occur throughout the week.  I have learned and it is totally not worth it.  So, I had been prepping surreptitiously during the week.  I'm actually getting pretty good at it too......."hey Miss Priss.....look, something shiny!"  It's not right, but it is funny ;).

We went to our usual spot, I swear I feel like Norm on Cheers.  It's pretty sad, my phone number shows up the campground's caller id and they are already pulling up my favorite site availability information.....I am so predictable.

The weather was awesome and I actually didn't have to use the AC for the entire trip.  Kind of nice for a change.  It was great to hear frogs at night instead of the drone of the fan/AC.

Oh and there weren't any wasps this time, so Miss Priss was ecstatic.  She *HATES* wasps and the past few trips this summer have been laden with them for whatever reason.  She has never been stung, but these red wasps in Texas are seriously angry looking!  Honestly, it looks like you could shoot them with a BB gun.  Anyway, she was happy.  

Hope everyone had a decent weekend.

Hurricane season.....

So, as far as I'm concerned, hurricane season can't get over with soon enough!  That is seriously the WORST part about living on the coast.  I guess it's my inner Yankee in me coming out.....I'm all about a hurricane party if the storm is going to be "minor", but Cat 3 and higher......I'm so outta here!!  Me, the kid, the dog and the camper (tiki hut) are going elsewhere....preferably someplace with adult beverages AND electricity!  I know, pretty demanding huh?!  lol  I'm not actually high maintenance, but it sure is fun to pretend.  ;)

I've actually been pretty overwhelmed lately with projects and work stuff.  I need to clone myself.  Scary prospect for y'all!  

MP (kidlette) just started third grade and had choir tryouts.  I can't believe she is already at this stage in her life.  She is a pretty independent little thing.  I can't imagine where she gets that from.  I am dreading the teenage years.....I'm sure she will try to "school me".  She better bring her "A Game"!

On a more somber note......the three crewmembers who perished in June will be receiving the Star of Texas awards on September 11th in Austin.  I'll be in attendance as will a lot of PHI employees, they deserve the honor.  It has still been difficult on some days, but most are getting by.  

Well, I'm off for now......I'm trying to get back into the swing of things here on my blog, but I haven't felt very inspired lately.  Think I'll go for a Jeep ride and look at some waves!  Cheers!

Bouquet

Well, here's another sleep deprived post for ya!  

So, my friend was having a procedure done this morning with the surgery department at the hospital which is literally in my driveway.  Of course, said procedure was scheduled for 0630 this morning, so we took this opportunity to have a slumber party (she lives about 30 minutes away).  Oh yea, did I also mention that we didn't stop talking trash and looking up pics of Brad Pitt, Ryan Reynolds, Robert Redford (you get the idea) until 0230 this morning?!  :0  Right.................so, apparently we have resorted back to being 12.

Now, onto our fabulous morning......she shleps over there promptly at 0620.  Guess what, there is knocking at my door approximately 10 minutes later.  Well, anesthesia decided to reschedule her until 0900 and since that executive decision occurred at about 0300 this morning, they opted to not call.  So, good times.

Oh and Miss Priss didn't go to sleep last night until 2330, so she was in rare form this morning.  I just went with the "avert the eyes" method of coping.  As long as we don't make eye contact or have lengthy verbal discussion, arguments can be avoided.  Having two non-morning people in the same house *can* lead to bloodshed.  

So, here's on getting MP ready for school went:

MP:  Uuuuuuuuuughhhhhhhhhhhh (blankets over head)

Me:  Come on lil MP, who's my favorite chicken nugget.....come on lil pumpkin

MP:  I don't wanna wear those clothes! (whining)

Me:  Yeah well it's better than going naked which is what will be happening unless you get your crack out of bed....

MP:  You don't even like me (whining)

Me:  Yes I do, they told me I had to when we left the hospital together......it's in the mother-daughter contract

MP:  I hate these underwear!!!!!!! (whining with some yelling)

(now successfully dressed and trying to brush hair....also known as the 5th dimension of Hell)

MP:  Put the spray in!  You're killing me!

Me:  No, we've already passed that critical stage.....I think you may actually live this morning....let's be optimistic.

MP:  FINE!  But I'm not wearing that headband.  I want the one that's in the camper.

(sidenote:  camper is a pop-up.....it is not currently "popped up".....oh and we're running late......at this point it would have been quicker to dig to China and make a fabulous purple headband myself)

Me:  Well, that's not happening, so sawwwwrrry.

MP:  (dirty chicken eye look)

By the way, she did make it to school unscathed and we parted with very cute "love you's"....so all is well.  It's funny that as I read back over that, it is almost exactly the same every school day......hmm  interesting how that works.  ;)

So, now my friend is back at the hospital and good to go and I'm now watching my goddaughter (K).  Very chilled whenever she is at my house, so bonus for me.  Because "dontchaknow" it's trash day.  So, I whip back the privacy gate that crosses my driveway just in time to see 2 people ripping small branches (with flowers) off of my hibiscus plants.  WTF?!  I think I may have actually said that in retrospect, but whatever.  Do I look like frickin' FTD?!  So they move on from my yard (with flowers in hand) and one of them ducks into my neighbor's yard and plucks a couple of roses off of one of his bushes.  At this point, I walk up to the "fine young gentleman" and say, "ya know, they sell these at HEB for like $4!  I mean seriously?!"  So, I don't know who the recipient was of this ghetto bouquet, but it almost cost him his life!  :)

Messing with my hibiscus can also contribute to bloodshed.  Gotta love job security!  :)

Happy St Patty's Day

Here's Miss Priss in the Lil Mule (the Jeep) wearing her extra fabulous Ireland hat.  Thought it was just too cute  ;)  

Today was a veeeerrry low key SPD here at our house.  I usually have people over for trash talking on the deck after we burn something on the grill.  But the gale force winds really put a damper on that one this year.  My palm trees have been working overtime today.  So, instead we went shopping :)  Gotta love little girls!

Well, I hope everyone had a fun and safe St Patty's Day......good night all!