....And the View Ain't Too Bad Either

Here is what I am looking at right now from my perch in my Mom's kitchen.

Then when I walk out on her back porch I see this:

And this:

The view is simply gorgeous.  

It overlooks the ninth green of the community's golf course.

We made it to South Carolina in one piece - but it was a dang long trip.  What should've been 7 hours took almost 10 because Pooldad had to drive through torrential rain almost the entire trip.  When we arrived we were surprised by my lovely sister who had brought us Cracker Barrel.  Yum!

Then we fell [literally] into bed and slept.

Today is going to be a big day - so much to do, but it is a great day to do it.
Hope you all are having a great start to your week!

That's Why I Am the Cool Mom

Don't ask me why - but I just spent the last 3 hours before bedtime [for Wallene] teaching my thirteen year old daughter how to sign my name.

I think the words "forge" and "illegal" were bandied about, although I am not quite sure.

It was a blur of pens.

heehee

Happy Birthday to My Baby

I made you a cupcake - with a candle -

I sang you "Happy Birthday" because today is your 23rd birthday.

I miss you Natalie.
Yesterday.
Today.
And surely I will miss you tomorrow.

Happy Birthday baby. I love you.

If You Are Going to Point Out "Careless Errors".....

...as my child's teacher, please make sure not to make me giggle over one of your own.

Wallene received her interim today.  For English she is holding a steady "B".  Good [we're happy], but Wallene is a good student and her teacher knows she could probably do better - so he added this little tidbit:

"Wallene has been making more and more careless errors as the quarter as unfolded." [Yes, that should read "has".]

I love you Mr. B - I do and so does Wallene, but.......um...thanks?

Vacation Starts in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5.......

4 Hours!

Woooohoooo!

Well, for Pooldad.
I am on a perpetual vacation. heehee

We didn't get a vacation last summer because Pooldad took off so much time when I was in the hospital he didn't think it was fair to his co workers to take off more time to "just relax".  Yep, he is a good guy like that - so he ended up with a week that he had to take before the end of March of this year. [Their vacation/sick leave schedule runs April to April.]

How fortuitous as Squirrel has next week off from college and we are picking her up tomorrow [squeeeee!] and I will spend Saturday relaxing [recovering] from that trip because Sunday we are off to:

Myrtle Beach, SC

YAY!  Sort of.  It is a little bitter sweet because we are going down to help LA! finish with my Mom's estate and see Mom's home one more time.  Okay - that will be a little hard, but....but!

Here are the bonuses to the trip:

• 11 days with my husband [11 days?  That thud you heard was me fainting from my good fortune. hee]
• Squirrel is with us for 11 days!
• Wallene will be off a whole week from school with us
• It has to be warmer in SC - it just has to be - it better be
• I get to see my sister - for days! [She does have to work - boo! - but nights are good.]
• I get to meet Bouncin' Barb and her boyfriend Bruce and deliver Champagne. YAY!

It's the awesomeness!  Isn't it?

We have a couple of logistical problems to work out - like how to move all the furniture back to VA and where to put the bazillion boxes my sister just told me we have to bring back [can the dogs ride on the roof?] and the trip is the longest one I have taken in years, so I am a little worried how I am going to hold up, but...

I'll figure it out - it's all good. :)

[Oh, I just realized I have to pack. Yuck.  I'll do that Saturday.]

Have a great one Tadpoles.  Make it the best day you can!

Australia's Most Wanted

Why yes, this is my driver's license picture.
Closest I could come to a mug shot.
Did good, didn't I?

Stop laughing now. Stop.  If you don't stop I am not going to tell you why I am going to jail.

Are you done?  Good.

I blame Mynx.  Mynx of the "We don't have graham crackers or Altoids in Australia" fame.

Sigh.  No, really I don't blame Mynx - she is too sweet and I wanted to send along some goodies to her in Australia because she is such a good friend and so entertaining in the middle of the night when I can't sleep.  She makes me laugh and keeps my mind focused on the fun!

Now to tell this story Mynx needs to stop reading now - and you guys aren't allowed to tell her.  So Mynxie you go away - I don't want to spoil your surprise.

During our early morning chats [my time] we talk about all manner of things and I discovered that Australians don't have graham crackers.  They may have something similar but it seems they don't have the golden goodness that is Nabisco which we have in the states.   They also [by virtue of not having graham crackers] don't have those neat-o ready made pie graham cracker crusts that we use for Key Lime Pie or Strawberry pie here in Skippyland.

So, in my oh' so infinite wisdom I thought what fun it would be to pack a box of some crackers, some crusts and the makings for a key lime pie. I put in the crusts, a bottle of lime juice and two cans of sweetened condensed milk.  All that Mynx has to do is add eggs and viola' she has a pie.

Little did I know.

Australia is a hard country to send to.  I read the restrictions and after my eyes started to bleed, I gave up and just packed the box.  Carefully.  Nothing is going to leak or break - but....

I gave the box to Pooldad to mail at our US Post Office.  He didn't see me pack the box but I tried to explain what was in it and that he had to declare EVERYTHING so the Post Office would know.

Do you want to know what my lovely husband put on the declaration slip?

The following:

• Graham crackers
• Mint candy
• Recipe cards*
• Tissue paper [there is one piece of this. I used bubble wrap and newspaper. argh]*

Okey dokey.  The box weighs SEVEN pounds. SEVEN pounds!

Yeah. I know.  Those recipe cards and [one piece of] tissue paper are hefty little b*tches.  

Then I went back and re- read the things you are not allowed to send to Australia and seems I missed this little tidbit:

"Any product containing more then 10%  milk."

Any guesses on what two cans of sweetened condensed milk contain?  Eek!

It gets better tho'.  I had also included something for Mynx's American bob cat living in Australia and as I read further it said:

"Any pet food product...blah, blah,blah."  And just about then my head exploded.

I am in trouble.  They are serious about this stuff - and if you lie on a manifest you face jail time and a fine. 

Since the box is so weighty and the declaration clearly states light weight stuff this package is in for a thorough search.

Here's hoping the Australian postal inspectors think that graham crackers and mint candies are REALLY heavy. [::please don't x-ray it , please don't x-ray it::]

Otherwise I am hitting you guys up for bail money.  [Hey, you offered. giggle.]

I think I should stick to sending microwaves to Kansas. :D

*I never said to declare these two things - he just saw me put them in.  

I Have a Wombat In My Mailbox

How many people can say that?  I mean, how many non Australians can say that?

I can!

Meet Wilma the Wombat

Don't be scared little buddy.
 Come here.

Isn't she cute?
She traveled all the way from Australia to come live in America.

Welcome to your new home Wilma.
We are so glad you are here.

She is a surprise gift from Mynx over at Dribble.  Such a sweetheart - she knows my affinity for the little guys and sent one along to make me smile and laugh. 

It worked Mynxie - thank you so much.  She is sitting right here trying to get the hang of my American ways and snuffling through my Altoids.

Tune into tomorrow to find out why I may be going to jail for a package I sent across the ocean.