Marriage Retreats on the Road

My '97 Explorer took us to 47 states.  I miss her.  ;) 

We were 20 when we took our first vacation together; only a few months into our marriage and with what felt like the weight of the world on our shoulders.  We were trying to juggle new jobs, the new experience of living with someone, rent, car payments… all so much to deal with at such a young age, but we lived in expectancy just knowing that everything would work out fine.  So when my cousin came to visit my folks and suggested that Tommy and I vacation in Florida and stay a week with her, we didn't hesitate. 

A few weeks later we packed my little Plymouth Sundance with enough snacks and clothing to keep us going for weeks and more CDs than the local music store.  The plan was to leave early Saturday morning.  But at 20 you have the energy to work an 8-hour day, commute, clean the house, pack a car and then drive all night long.  It wasn't till the 16^th hour that Tommy asked me to take over the last four.  The sun was rising and his body had had enough.  Me, well, I wanted to sleep too, but I’d napped a few hours here and there so I really had no excuse.  Navigating a straight shot from Texas to Florida wasn't all that hard. 

When we arrived we had no plans.  We knew we wanted to visit Disney World and the beaches, but beyond that we were open to just about anything.  My cousin suggested Universal Studios, Dayton Speedway and St. Augustine to see the lighthouse.  We enjoyed all the tourist attractions and amusement parks but the best part was the two days just walking the many beaches collecting shells and taking pictures. 

After a fun but exhausting week we still had a 20-hour drive ahead of us.  We repacked the car, loaded up the newly acquired souvenirs and headed west.  As we drove we took our time.  With an extra day to travel and no theme parks or tourist attractions planned we took a few back roads and stop at a local diner.  We drove along the Gulf taking in the sights and during low tide… the smells.    

We realized on that ride home that the best part of the trip wasn't the amusement parks or even the beach, but the drive itself.  With our jobs and stress of the everyday life we stopped making the time like we did while dating to just talk.  That silly, nonsense, “Why do I like this kind of music” or “What made this movie so awesome” talk.

Read the rest of the story at Joy Comes in the Morning... 

Never Drink and Dye!

So it all began with a Girl's Night Out...

Don't most bad decisions?  ;) 

Tuesday evening six of us local bloggers were going to get together and share information and ideas on how to expand our current pages.  Things such as giveaways, ad space, topics, branding... you get the idea.  At the last minute one of the ladies was unable to attend so we cancelled. 

NOT the get together; you serious?  No way we'd forfeit a night out.  Especially me since the husband was staying home with our 3 kids and I had no place to be the next day.  I was ready for this and more excited than a chick my age should be.  (It's a fact, I don't get out much.)

The five of us met at Tia's house, AKA Story of a Girl, and inhaled her super amazing snacks, because if y'all didn't know, the chick can cook.  (So good I've proposed to her on multiple occasions.)  After we made sure to test everything everyone brought we started in on the drinks.  My contribution to the get together was Parrot Bay and Coke.  I like to keep things classy.  ;) 

After a drink or three Jennifer from It's Not My Workout, It's My Diagnosis said she wanted to color her hair.  And not something typical and boring, she wanted straight up red.  Super hero red as she called it.  Being the supportive and slightly crazy friends that we are we told her she had to do it... and right then.

So our friend Chelsey, soon to be blogger, who had not been drinking, decided to drive Jennifer and I to the local Sally's beauty supply store.  While the two of them picked a color and asked the associate what they needed to insure she got the results she wanted, I was down the aisle, checking out the darker shades.  Since my hair was black with fire engine red highlights that had dulled to a burnished orange.  I thought maybe it was time for a change too.  And looking at the box of super hero red Jennifer had I started to have hair envy.   

"I want that.  I used to rock red.  Why don't I any more?"  

Had I not had the 3 drinks earlier or maybe if I hadn't been standing in the supply house with all those fun colors staring me in the face screaming for me to pick them, I might have remembered that not only would the black NOT accept the red (no matter what the associate said) but that with my touch of *cough* gray *cough* the roots would be hot.  And not like sexy, her hair is hot, but like, "Someone did their own hair while drunk" hot.

But my voice of reason was swimming in rum and coke.

Back at Tia's place, minutes from doing the deed, Marlo at Nightdreams & Daymares had to leave to pick up her MIL.  I point this out because she might have been my voice of reason.  The one to suggest that perhaps red might not be what I was after.  But then again she's going purple... or was it blue very soon?

Okay, so there was no hope for me.  I was doing this.  And after seeing Jennifer's results there was no going back.  

<sigh>

The before shot.  Doesn't show the red hot roots in their full glory, but you get the point.  Red roots, black hair... hot mess.

The lunch lady look, this is the color correction bit.
Megan, my super awesome hair chick, she stripped my hair.
Worst smelling stuff, EVER.

Stripper hair, not the pole type, you dirty people!
I mean the artificial color is gone.
No more black, no more red, but a nice bright orange is shining through.

Now to start the dying all over again, but this time minus the super hero red.

 

After rinsing, cutting and blow drying we both decided
there just wasn't enough copper highlights.
Foiled again!

5-hours later, the awesome results.
Not super hero red, but I dubbed it Sexual Chocolate.
<insert Eddie Murphy voice>

The next day in the sunlight... well it's actually overcast,
but still outside lighting.  I'm so very, very pleased.  

When it was all said and done, the $25 trip to Sally's became a $200 hair color correction and recolor.  

M.O.M. tip of the day:  

Don't Drink and Dye... EVER!  

June Secret Subject Swap

Your prompt is: You have lost your internet connection for a week. How do you spend your time? (Besides rocking in the fetal position).

It was submitted by: http://followmehome.shellybean.com

If I lost internet connection I'd probably steal it from the neighbors.  
What?
Just kidding.  

...maybe.  ;)

Oh let's see.  After I knew there was nothing to be done to fix it I'd probably sit on the couch with a cup of coffee thankful that at least I still had that.

Next I'd catch up on laundry and house work.  
Crazy idea there.

I'd maybe work in the garden?  Instead of waiting till it was desperately in need of work I'd actually keep it up and have it picture perfect ready all the time.  
Okay, for just that one week.  ;)

Hmmm, then I guess I might catch up on my blog writing.  I'd of course have to actually use Word and save them for later, but for once I wouldn't be posting them 5-minutes before they were scheduled to post.  

(I'd like to point out that I'm doing this one 10-days early... scary awesome right?!)  

After all that I'd start on those home improvement projects like painting and building a few tables for the patio.  Things I usually put off till the kids are at their grandparent's for a few days.  But with no internet... what the heck, I'd get some stuff done!  :)

And then... then I'd make tea cookies, fire up the kettle and settle down for a good long read.

But of course all of this depends on the kids.  Cause internet or not they demand more of my time than anything.  Trust me, I've tried to squeeze in more 'me time' but they always find something to get into to stop that from happening.  ;)

Now here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

http://BakingInATornado.com                               Baking In A Tornado

http://themomisodes.com                                     The Momisodes

http://dinoheromommy.com                                  Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

http://www.justalittlenutty.com                              Just A Little Nutty

http://followmehome.shellybean.com                       Follow me home . . .

http://mooreorganizedmayhem.blogspot.com           Moore Organized Mayhem

http://hypnoticbard.blogspot.com                           The Insomniac’s Dream

http://sadderbutwiser.wordpress.com                     The Sadder But Wiser Girl

http://stacysewsandschools.wordpress.com             Stacy Sews and Schools

http://menopausalmother.blogspot.com                  Menopausal Mother

http://www.noteveryonecanbeamermaid.com           Not Everyone Can Be A Mermaid

Praising on the Road

It's not been quite a week since Justice's last day of school and I sorta miss the drive picking her up.  Not the wrestling the twins in to the car seats or the waiting in the parking lot, but the drive itself...

About once, sometimes twice a week we drove past a girl walking from one of the local colleges to what I can only assume was her home or possibly work.  She always had her backpack, sometimes a sweatshirt or t-shirt with the college logo and headphones.  Always the headphones.

The first time I saw her was about a year ago and I only noticed  her because she had her hands lifted, just a little, but I knew the position.

You see, I go to a fairly charismatic church.  We don't speak in tongues or dance in the aisles, though the band will make you tap your toes and clap along.  But many will lift their hands in praise.   Not me mind you, I praise in song.  Very loud, sometimes with tears, but lifting of hands, just never been one for it.  (Maybe it's my sit in the pew with a huge hymnal upbringing that keeps my hands in my pocket.)  But I digress.

As the weeks went by I would find myself tuning to the local Christian stations just to see if she was listening to one but knowing she could have just as well have been listening to an MP3.  But sure enough when I tuned in to Air1 she was singing right along with the lyrics.  For 30-seconds or less we'd be singing together.

And as I drove past and the climax of the song hit, I'd look in my rearview mirror and see her raise her hands unashamed.  It always brought a smile to my face.  I wish I was that free with my emotions.  She was a reminder that praise doesn't have to happen at church or a ladies Bible study, sometimes just walking down the road you gotta let go and praise Him.

In my mind I'm a ninja!

A black SUV was chasing the kids and I in our SUV.  When I tried to turn down a country road with lots of foliage the other SUV used a cell phone connection to turn my engine off.  My car stopped dead, but I had enough momentum left to steer it right next to the trees lining the road. 

“Justice, jump out, take your brother and sister.  You run till you can’t breathe anymore.  Then you run some more.  Find a water source, pond, lake, river, creek… whatever the first is and stop.  Find cover.  I’ll find you.”  I tossed her a half full water bottle and a Swiss Army Knife. 

While speaking I unhooked the twins from their car seats and without hesitation she jumped out the side door and ushered them out.  We flashed each other the I Love You hand sign and they were off.  I checked my H&K to make sure it was ready.  Pushed in the lighter and grabbed my mini Maglite.  Stuffing it in my back pocket I was just about to jump out the passenger side door, near the trees, when the driver side window was busted out.

Looking around I saw men in front and back, I didn't turn towards the trees for fear my kids were in sight still.  And not wanting to draw attention by jumping out on that side I ‘gave up’.  As I scooted back to the drives side I pulled out the red hot lighter.  The man who busted out my window was reaching around to open the door.  I check the ignition one more time to see if the engine was enabled again, but it wasn't. 

I waited till the guy had the door open enough for me to slip out and his arm still wrapped around the window frame.  So that the two other guys couldn't see me I held the guys hand in place while trying to get out of the car.   He thought nothing of it and didn't move it and the other two, though armed with shoulder holstered hadn't drawn their weapons.  

As I was just about to stand up I hear my youngest cry out.  She must have fallen in their run.  The men lifted their heads in that direction.  So at that moment I used the red hot car lighter to burn the man’s hand so his yelling would cover hers…. and then I ran like hell the opposite direction of my kids. 

I ran fast.  I could feel the rush of adrenaline as I ran headlong into dense foliage.  Branches and bushes scratching my arms and face, I didn't care.  I wanted to make so much noise that the guys would have to be deaf and blind not to hear and see where I was going.  When the first bit of lead zipped past my head stuff got real.  Just as I turned to take cover and fire back I heard a strange knocking;

“MOM!  We’re hungry.”

… and this is why I woke up in ninja mode.  

May Fly on the Wall

Welcome to a Fly on the Wall group post. Today 13 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house.

So this week... this week has been a bit dull.  Or exciting if you considering having you gallbladder removed exciting.  I don't by the way.  It's actually very lame.  I mean, of all the organs to have removed, that's like the most uncool.  A kidney or spleen... cool.  A lung... bonus points.  But not me.  Just a ugly green organ that spits out bile.  Seriously... eww!

However with this surgery came a TON of food.  Between my friends and the husband band mates we're set for a month.  Okay a week, but still loads of food.  It's been great.  And the best part... I didn't gain a single pound.  I mean... I didn't lose any either, but sometimes you just have to be happy with maintaining.  ;)

Here are just a few pictures from this month:  

May 4th was free comic book day... we took advantage.  Justice insisted on Star Wars... not free, and then she took it to church the next day along with markers and a drawing bad so she could draw while in church.  I just can't get upset about that.  I just can't.  ;)  

Mom's night out with Tia from Story of a Girl, and Jennifer from It's Not My Workout, It's My Diagnosis and our friend Leila who is right now over in China adopting a little girl.  <3!!!

May 12th... Mother's Day, was also the husband's 40th birthday.  How dare he take my day.  ;)
Justice wanted to make him an apron since he does a lot... most of the cooking these days.
Don't you just love the skull and cross bones with a chiefs hat?  She drew that.  <3!

My Mother's Day gifts, perfume I've been wanting, handmade cards and lots and lots of hugs... cause my kids are cheap.  ;)  

...and then this week I bought a few more Spider-Woman's from the late 70's just cause I can.  ;)

Hope y'all all had a fantastic May!!!  Now go check out these other bloggers who no doubt had a much better month.  ;)  

Buzz around, see what you think, then click on these links for a peek into some other homes:

http://www.BakingInATornado.com

http://www.justalittlenutty.com/                               

http://followmehome.shellybean.com                      

http://stacysewsandschools.wordpress.com/                  

http://sadderbutwiser.wordpress.com                      

http://menopausalmother.blogspot.com/                  

http://mooreorganizedmayhem.blogspot.com/                 

http://hypnoticbard.blogspot.com/                       

http://themomisodes.com/                                

http://spatulasonparade.blogspot.com/                 

http://momrantsandcomfypants.wordpress.com

http://www.tinystepsmommy.com

www.therowdybaker.com      

May Secret Subject Swap

Your “Secret Subject” is: 

Tell us about your best Mother's Day you've ever had.

It was submitted by: http://hypnoticbard.blogspot.com/

                   
My best Mother's Day ever was probably the one just before the twins were born.  
Mainly because Justice was old enough to participate.  
That year Tommy made me a Mother's Ring with Justice's birthstone, a blue zircon and the soon to be born twin's birthstones, which were peridots.  The light blue and light green stones look so pretty together and with twins you know you always have two stones to offset the center.  (I couldn't have planned it better.)  ;)  

But the fun part was Justice trying to sneak in the room that morning to give me the present.  I acted like I was still asleep when she crept in the room in her best creepin' position... a half squat half shuffle.  She went to her daddy's side of the bed and made sure it was time.  
(I believe she had come in before dawn the first time and he told her to wait a bit.)  ;)  

When he gave her the okay she crept over to my side of the bed and jumped up in the hopes of surprising me.  She was so excited she couldn't wait for me to open the box.  After much encouragement from her that included tearing at the paper and rushing me, I finally opened the box and put the ring on.  She clapped and bounced on the bed and then rubbed my very large, 6-month-pregnant-with-twins belly and said, 

"Next year we can surprise mom together."  :)  

 

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

http://www.BakingInATornado.com                        Baking In A Tornado

http://hypnoticbard.blogspot.com/                          The Insomniac’s Dream

http://dinoheromommy.com/                                  Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

www.thepursuitofnormal.blogspot.com                    The Pursuit of Normal

http://themomisodes.com/                                     The Momisodes

http://singlemumplusone.blogspot.com                    Searching for Sanity

www.theblacksheepmom.blogspot.com                    Black Sheep Mom

http://mooreorganizedmayhem.blogspot.com/          Moore Organized Mayhem

www.dailydoseofdamn.blogspot.com                       Daily Dose of Damn

http://www.tinystepsmommy.com                           Tiny Steps Mommy

http://momrantsandcomfypants.wordpress.com        Mom Rants and Comfy Pants