I am woman hear me mow!!...or don't!

When we first moved into our house about 5 and a half years ago ish, there was a lawn mower already here. We used it once or twice I think, then it needed a new spark plug. Then another and another or whatever. So we bought a new one. Then last year that one broke and was only running at half power or whatever. We tried to fix it, read a lot of tutorials etc. Well, to be honest, neither one of us is exactly motor fixing inclined. We thought about buying an expensive power mower that maybe wouldn't need to be repaired. Then, I thought, NO. I want a REEL mower. Like 1950's smiley guy inside a white picket fence mower guy. So we did some research and decided to go for it. I was slightly concerned at first because we have a rather big yard(in my perspective because well when mowing with the power mower it sometimes took me as much as an hour and 30 minutes).

The first time I used it it took me a while to get used to and the grass was very long from all the rain and it being the first mow and all. The last time I did half and husband did other. This time I did the entire thing in less than 40 minutes. I powered home from work and went right to town because we are supposed to have severe thunderstorms from 3-5 and the longer the grass is the harder it is to cut. So I just did it.

Let me explain something to you about the real power behind the REEL mowers. I can hear myself think. I can hear the phone ring. I can hear my kids talking to me, and I can have headphones on on 9 out of 20 volume and still here the music and the world around me. I can hear the birds sing and the dog bark. I am in love. And there is the thunder!! MAN I'M GOOD!!!

crazy birds!

So it has finally been a smidge warmer around here, though the forecast for the next 10 days is rain 9 of them, but for a few days there was sun. The birds were killing me, and 1 bird in particular was like a one bird show for me for several days. Bordering my yard is a neighbor's garage. It's window is about 1 foot across from this pink flowering bush in my hedge. This bird, sees the reflection of the tree in the window and keeps trying to land on it. It is so persistent in fact, that Em and I scared it away because we were so loud, it came back about an hour later an continued. Then later in the evening, several times the next day, and several times the next day.

My dog thinks the bird is a moron and finally got so used to the sound of his beak on the glass that it stopped bothering.

For the first time in my life, I saw Orioles. I first saw them I think last weekend and thought maybe they were stopping by. Now almost every time I am out in the yard I see them and managed to snap a few shots of them before I scared them.

The pictures aren't great but they were the best I could get while on the phone, and a 4 year old tugging my arm.

I love my girls. The end.

My first Ebay auction in a millenium!

I have listed the first ebay auction that I have listed in several years. I found a Vintage Pyrex Beverage Warmer at the local antique store, in it's box, with all it's bits and pieces including the candle still wrapped up. I thought about keeping it, but then I figured I would list it and see what happens. I am trying to get extra money for vacation. So I listed it. It's not really professional sounding, I tend to like the listings that are more casual, more like talking to a person live, so that is how I chose to list it. The carafe is gorgeous and I really love it. Anyway, here is the listing for your enjoyment!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170641261509#ht_500wt_1156

Check it out!! Super coooooool.

uuhhh...eh....grr....if...I could just....get this soapbox over here...gasp tug

To all parents, I've got a bit of a public service announcement for you. When your small child comes to talk to you about anything, if they are telling you a story, is your head stuffed in a cell phone? Are you answering an obviously super important text messsage from your best friend Katy who said, anything like "I jst saw a grl w hr thong hnging out"? I know these things are important. They must be. Because do you know what message you are sending your child, when they can't have a converstaion with you where you aren't going tap tap tap...uh huh...tap tap tap...ooh i see....tap tap tap? You are sending them the message that "You are not as important as this text message? See child I am an ultra important person with many important "grown up" things to say to people and lots of people want to speak with me. Just take a ticket, and when I snap this thing shut it means you have a small, window of opportunity to impart your silly childhood tale." These children are going to grow up with a multitude of thoughts. One being" I'm not important" the second being, "If I have a cell phone and text a lot, that means I'm important-MOM I NEED  A PHONE" the third is " I have to do wild and crazy stuff to get my mom to stop texting and yapping on her phone so she will pay attention to me."

Are you tired of the "kids these days" thinking they are entitled? Not giving a crap about anything? Can you guess why that is? I can. I think they don't care because their ultimate role models don't care. No matter how many ways you try and slice it, if you are constantly ignoring your child for your cell phone, they think you don't care. And if you don't care about your children, there must not be much you do care about. SO WHY SHOULD THEY??

Furthermore, you are not soooo important that you have to talk on your phone in the car, in the bathroom, in a restaurant, at YOUR CHILDS SPORTS, DANCE, or SCHOOL events. Again? Message sent. What you do is not as important as what my friends have to say. Furthermore you are dropping the message on them that "It's ok not to pay attention to the world around you" "It's ok to, in the middle of dance class just go ahead and check your cell phone." "I'm so important I have to check my messages under my desk at school." WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE???? WAKE UP!

If you aren't speaking to your 4 year old because your head is in your phone....what do you think is going to happen when she is trying to tell you that a boy is getting physically violent with her and needs help? Will she come to you? No, because she has been getting the message loud and clear for years. "I'm not important. He can just beat me and no one will help me."" I can't talk to my mom" and the killer, "I"m not talking to her, she won't understand and besides it's not like she'll listen."

So to end my tirade, put the thing away. You are not as important as you think you are. Your family and children are. The world around is. GET A GRIP. Your children need you. The whole you. NOT the text messaged, edited version.

Taking a bow and stepping down.