The Better Late Than Never Hodgepodge

I am joining Joyce for this weeks hodgepodge.  However, I am a very late in doing this.  My usual advice would be to head on over to her blog and link up your answers, but in this case I am just going to tell you to forget that, read my answers, and forgive my tardiness.

1. It's that most wonderful time of the year...tax season! Do you complete your own returns or farm that job out to the professionals?
Oh, I definitely farm it out.  Too confusing especially with all the other stuff.  Plus those guys who do numbers and taxes for a living deserve to make a living too.

2. This next question comes from Kansas Bob...he posed it in his response to something I asked in an earlier Wednesday post and I asked him if I could add it to the Hodgepodge some day. Today's the day....

Which do you think has changed you more-love or pain?
I really believe that love has a lot more power than pain.  I know that trials in your live really define who you are, but it is the love of people that get you through those trials that change someone.  I know in my own life love has certainly trumped pain in the change for the better factor.

3. Tangerine Tango has been named color of the year for 2012. Your thoughts? Would I find this color anywhere in your house? How about in your closet? If not, will you be adding this color to your life in some way in 2012? If you're not sure what tangerine tango looks like click here.
I really like shades of orange.  I have a couple of orange things in my closet, but not so much in my house.  I'll get on adding some into my life just as soon as I get few other things off of my to do list, like getting my kid into college.

4. Are you a collector? What do you collect and does it get admired, used, and/or dusted regularly?
It is hard to be a collector when you are an everything-must-have-it's-place/clutter phobic kind of person.  I do collect children's picture books that are musical in nature.  I also have a small collection of pigs (long story not relating in any way with me being from Iowa).  I had quite a cow collection (very much relating to being from Iowa) but gave it up a couple of moves ago. Again hate clutter.

5. February is National Heart Month...besides a green salad what is one tasty heart healthy dish you like to prepare?
I love to prepare healthy food and that is pretty much all I prepare.  I love baked fish with couscous and green beans.  Gotta take care of that ticker if I want to live to be 100.

6. When was the last time you had car trouble?
I had the kind of car trouble that really gets you steamed.  Went in for a dead battery came out all "fixed" only to stall down the street from the auto shop because the tech didn't know how to reset the computer system.  Trouble with that was the battery fix was real quick, the added problem not so much.  Had to get a ride to school with the auto shop receptionist so that I wouldn't miss my sixth grade class.  My accompanist would not have appreciated the no show...48 sixth graders really needs the zone defense.

7. Have you been more demanding on yourself lately or less? Is that a good trend?
I have tried to be more demanding on myself to get things in gear for second semester and so far it is a good trend.  I am tired of just being complacent with status-quo.  Need to up it a notch.

8. In Summary:  The good news is I don't do my own taxes, the bad news is I have to pay someone to do it.  The good news we have a new color to add to the palette, the bad news is Tango Tangerine probably isn't very slimming.  The good news is I am a lover not a fighter, the bad news is, oh wait no bad news on that front.  The good news is I am not a collector, the bad news is sometimes I might accidentally throw away that cotton ball duck from preschool that my daughter wanted to keep.  The good news is I am a great healthy cook, the bad news is Sarah has to eat green beans with  her nose plugged.  The good news is that I have had very little major car trouble, the bad news is now I must find a piece of wood to knock on.  The good news is I have been very demanding on myself, the bad news is not nearly enough to get this post posted on time.

More Later

- A Ro

The One Where She Roof Tests the Computers

Computers stink.  OK maybe they don't stink all the time, I mean how could I ever find the recipe for Moo Shu Tofu Wraps, or keep in touch with my extended family.

Oh...you mean I could look in a cookbook and call them on the phone??

But what about when you need to know how old Betty White is or how many lead singers the band Chicago went through before Peter Cetera joined up or what your blogger friends are up to.

See, a little more important than once thought.

Well, my love/hate relationship with computers these days stems from none of the ones in my possession working lately.  I had all these great blog posts to write...like my doomed from the start, Photo Friday, and my Weekend Update.  So now that I am on a working computer, for the moment, I will try to combine a few posts.

So my photos for last week are a little unrelated.

OK, these two...crazy girls.  Bella got these stick on moustaches at the bowling alley and she couldn't wait to wear them with Sarah.  They went to the park and rode their bicycles and played on the swings.  I can only imagine the looks they got.  Love these guys!!

This was a lovely sight as I was going to work.  I love the sunrises here.

Then we have Bella's latest oil painting.  I hung it in my room at school, and I think it is just wonderful.  She told me that it was Rich and me walking together.  So sweet.

This Friday Bella got to spend the night on the gym floor in her sleeping bag for a Math Mentor's sleep over.  Our school pairs middle school girls with high school girls for math help and support, and Friday was their annual sleepover.  Sad to say Bella was one of the only one that didn't have an air mattress, I told her that sleeping on the floor was what made women women.  She was a trooper and did what any middle school girl would do in her case, stayed up until midnight, jacked up on Sprite, and slept it off the next day.

Saturday Sarah, Rich and I picked up Bella and went to get breakfast together.  Sarah ate a huge plate of Eggs Benedict. 

cue sound effect of a record needle scratching over a record

Yes, this girl who was the pickiest eater on the planet loves Egg Benedict, runny egg and all. 

We then went to the mall to shop for Bella's cotillion dress.  It was fun to watch my sorta tom boy try on dresses and actually like them. 

one tear

Rich and I went back to the mall that night and ate at our favorite Italian restaurant, and walked around the mall yet again.  The mall in the evening gets a little weird.  We saw a woman huddled on the ground with her family crying, a very elderly man stare for a few minutes at a poster in the GNC of a very buff man, and a pair of $495.00 white Prada shoes at Nordstroms...crazy I tell you.

Now mind you I don't usually shop at Nordstroms, maybe Nordstrom Rack, but never the actual Nordstroms.  However, I had a gift certificate and it is the only place in the mall that sells Spanx.  Considering I wept when I put my thumb through my last pair, I needed a new pair.

Sunday was the usual.  Except Rich grilled steak and salmon, and oh my goodness the salmon was melt in your mouth delicious.  After dishes, homework, and laundry was done we all sat down to watch our Tivo'd Modern Family episodes.  I laughed so hard I could barely breath.  Andrew came home from orchestra and we ended up watching one episode almost twice.  I love that show.

So I have a few pictures of the weekend.  Namely Bella's cotillion dress, and a bridal window display at Nordstroms where the mannequins had wedding cakes on their heads...yeah, only at Nordstroms.

So hopefully Photo Friday is a go this week...

...unless I do decide to roof test my computers.

More Later

- A Ro

Thankful Thursday

This week has been very busy.  College night at school, rehearsals, kidlets at home stuff.  I am proud, however, that I have been able to blog this week AND still get some shut-eye.  I am also proud that I have taken 2 pictures for my photo Friday post tomorrow.

OK...not so proud that I have only taken two pictures, but it is better than the 0 pictures I took last week by almost 200%.

Did I do that math right?

Anyway, I have a lot to be thankful for and I am going to share with you.  Maybe my blog will inspire you to be thankful today too, or at least to review your percentages.

1.  I am thankful that I have a cast of Pink Ladies who can learn a song in three part harmony in under an half an hour.  Did I mention that we are doing Grease this spring for our high school musical?

2.  I am thankful that Rich nudged me out of bed this morning to go work out because it was faculty food day and the moms of our school put together a big brunch for us.  Yeah...if you remember my brunch question from yesterday's hodgepodge you will understand why I needed as many kettleball swings as possible.

3.  I am thankful that I get to help Bella study Greek mythology.  I like Greek mythology.

4.  I am thankful that I don't have to help Andrew study Pre-Algebra.  I hate Pre-Algebra.

5.  I am thankful that Sarah asks me "Guess what?" and when I answer "What?" she says "Chicken Butt".

6.  I am thankful that Sarah also tells me she loves me.

7. I am thankful that my school has an amazing college counseling department.


8. I am thankful that my school's college counseling department offered practice SAT and ACT tests free of charge.

9. I am thankful that Andrew took advantage of those tests.

10. I am thankful that Andrew scored a 27 on his first practice ACT test.

11. I am thankful that the SAT was only a practice one.

12. I am thankful that Bella and Andrew are 5 years apart, because 5 years might just be enough time for me to recover.

13.  I am thankful that I am done applying for college because let me tell you...it ain't what it used to be.

More Later

- A Ro

The Super Hodgepodge

It is time for Joyce's weekly hodgepodge.  Head on over and answer her well thought out, thought provoking, and amusing questions then link up to your blog.

Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.

1. The NFL playoffs were held this past weekend and this year's Superbowl lineup will feature The New York Giants versus The New England Patriots. How do you define 'patriot'?
Someone who loves America and is willing to fight and self sacrifice for her good.

Right?

2. What's something in your life right now that feels like a 'giant'?

Starting the college finding process for my son.  Woah...big time worry.

3. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think back to being 18?
I turned 18 the summer before I started college so when I think back to that time I think about starting college and feeling like my life was just beginning.  I was nervous and excited at the same time.  Wow, what an amazing time.

4. Coconut-mashed potatoes-vanilla ice cream-mayonnaise...which white food would be the hardest to give up?
Well, I hate coconut, and really don't eat much mayonnaise, and ice cream is ice cream so I could give up Vanilla easily.  So that leaves mashed potatoes, and I think that would be hard to give up.  I love those spuds!!

5. Describe an incident or a day you remember as the coldest you've ever experienced?
I went to college in Iowa City. (Go Hawkeyes!!)  Anyway, I was a music major and to be cruel (or weed out the wimps) we had an 8:00 am music theory class everyday.  University of Iowa has a river that runs right through it, the music building was on the opposite side of the river from my dorm and every morning I walked that walk, rain or shine.  This one particular morning I remember walking across that river and it being SO cold and windy that I thought my forehead was going to explode.  I just remember taking off in a run because I thought I was going to pass out from the pain of that cold wind on my forehead.

6. You're hosting a brunch...what's your favorite dish to prepare and serve?
Well besides the mimosas, of course, I love a good breakfast casserole.  I also love coffee cake, and croissants, and bagels, and quiche, and fruit salad, and good warm coffee, and muffins...I love muffins.

Well, there you go.

7. How do you combat negative thinking?
You just gotta push it out.  I also love the mantra "I think I can I think I can" or "just keep swimming just keep swimming" I also believe that just like in the movie We Bought a Zoo that anyone can be brave for 20 seconds.  Just get through the 20 seconds and then move on.

Yeah...you gotta have a lot of options when the negative ninnies come a calling.


8. In Summary:
I I'd like to believe that I am a true patriot but in any case I am a Patriot because the school that I teach at are the Patriots.  I'd like to believe that I can tackle Giants, so we will see when next year comes around.  I'd like to think that 18 was the best year of my life, but I think that was just the start of the best years.  I'd like to think I could get rid of white foods altogether, but then you have to add whipped cream to the list and I would crumble.  I'd like to think that i could go back to living in the mid west, but I have to say that my forehead has never hurt here in CA.  But I know for a fact that 20 seconds of bravery wouldn't work with a brunch laid out in front of me.

More Later

- A Ro

It's Raining It's Pouring

It has been pouring rain and just miserable today.  Here in Southern California when it starts to rain, or rain is predicted, certain things happen. 

1.  I start singing "It's Raining Men".  Now I know that particular song isn't really about raining, but for some reason it is the song that sticks in my head and I sing it all day. 

2.  The local news stations send every possible reporter out in the field to report on the "Winter Storm".  OK people calling this a "Winter Storm" is like calling Theresa Giudice from Housewives of New Jersey Mother Theresa. Technically it is winter and it is a storm and her name is Theresa and she is a mother, but ...yeah. I always feel like we are insulting every mid-westerner who knows what a winter storm is really like and it isn't what is happening outside.  Not even close.

3.  My room turns into a place for a gaggle of giggling sixth graders to eat lunch, who leave a wake of crumbled Doritos and Naked Juice bottles behind.  We have an ouside campus so when it rains there really isn't anywhere for the kids to eat.  I am more than happy to give up a quiet lunch to keep them dry.  I must admit I kind of enjoy it.

4.  Drivers here go to the extreme.  Either they drive way too fast for the road conditions and end up bugging up traffic for hours, or they drive way to slow and end up bugging up traffic for hours.  Just drive like you have a head on your shoulders people.

5.  I get to wear my cute Target rain boots and my outlet mall Columbia rain coat.  The very rain coat that I held in my hand and debated the $15.00 price tag much too long for it being a $15.00 Columbia rain coat.  I really had a hard time justifiying buying a rain coat period, I live in Southern California for pete's sake.  However, each time it rains I look at that coat like it is gold...$15.00 gold.

Luckily I had this video to keep the sunshine in my room.  I swear I watched it 50 times.  It is a video of my neice Abby, you know that adorable red head that I can't get enough of.  She is reading a book to her mom and she has the teacher thing down.  You can hear the animal names pretty clearly, but the rest of the words she says are all  her own, and  I am certain that she knows EXACTLY what she is saying, but her mom has no idea.

I'm telling you, you will be so much happier after watching this so please enjoy and save it for a rainy day.

More Later

- A Ro

Weekend Highlight Reel

OK...things are looking good right at the moment.  It is an hour before my bedtime, brownies are cooling on on the counter, last load of laundry is almost done drying, the rest of the laundry is put away, and I am starting on my blog.  It looks like I just might get everything done on my Sunday to do list!!

I am also planning ahead.  I have already taken two pictures for my Photo Friday blog, so look forward to that.  My sister also uploaded an amazingly cute video of Abby reading a book like she is a teacher to Facebook.  I was going to save that for Friday too, but I think that as soon as she uploads it to YouTube so I can put it on my blog, I will share.  I'm telling you that video alone is worth the visit back here.

This weekend had a couple of firsts.  The first one being I stayed up until 11:00 pm Friday and Saturday night watching movies.  The second one was that I stayed up until 11:00 pm Friday and Saturday night watching action movies, that didn't even star Chevy Chase.

I know...who are you and what have you done with A-Ro.

We watched Green Hornet, and Captain America.  Now here is the deal.  These action movies violent scenes were very comic-book-esque.  Not very realistic at all.  They both had a romantic element and they both ended relatively happy.  Plus, I am kinda looking forward to The Avengers movie that is coming out.  It combines the characters of Thor, Captain America, The Hulk, and Iron Man.  It looks really good.

No, no, don't worry I'm OK, no fever or delirium.

I didn't have my kidlets this weekend so it was nice to do something with Sarah and Justin, we all usually just sit around and miss Bella and Andrew.  Sarah fell asleep halfway through the movie on Friday night, and I wish I would have taken a picture because she puts her sweatshirt hood over her eyes and falls asleep sitting up.  It is so cute.  On Saturday night she was so proud when she made it past 9:00, but shortly after that the hood went on and she was sound asleep.  When Rich woke her up to go upstairs she was so happy that she made it through ALMOST the whole movie.  We must really wear her out because she goes to be SO much earlier than when she lived in Iowa. 

Rich and I got away a few times for some alone time.  We went to breakfast Saturday morning and got coffee together before the movie on Friday night.  I really enjoy those few moments together.

Regular cleaning, super cleaning the bathrooms, and grocery shopping rounded out our days off.

Overall a very wonderful weekend and it didn't even involve Chevy Chase.

More Later

- A Ro

Photo Friday

Well one of the reasons I blog is to share my life and my kids lives with those family members who live far away.  I also thought Sarah's Mom might like to see some pictures too.  So I decided that on Fridays I would do some photos of the week. 

Great idea...right?

Yes fabulous idea, except I didn't take any pictures this week.

So much for Photo Friday.

Well I took some pictures earlier this month...

Wolf Camp Departure

Soccer girl, goalie no less...YIKES! (they won it was all good)

OK two pictures.

And none of Sarah, Andrew, or Justin.

I suck at Photo Friday.

I'm sorry, I'll try better next week.

More Later

- A Ro