It's OK Thursday

It's OK . . .

...to totally & completely adore the people I work with!  They take very good care of me and I know I'm very lucky!

...to like regular Coke so much more than Diet Coke.  I just can't handle that aftertaste.

...that I haven't cooked since Easter.

...to not be crazy about the new Blogger.  

...to be very happy for Guiliana & Bill!

...to crack up when I hear that "Hot Girls Have Problems Too" song!

...to have mixed emotions over the Grey trilogy.

...to want to see the "Avengers" movie.  What am I?  A 12-year old boy???

 

Senior Night (Part One)

Last night we recognized and celebrated the 6 Seniors on the Girls Varsity lacrosse team and their families.  We had never done anything like that before and I think the girls (and their parents) had fun!  The game, unfortunately, was not very exciting and the final score was 19-1 or something ilke that (us).  The Bucs dominated from the first whistle and within seconds KRitchie scored the first goal of the night.  I barely had time to clap when T scored (#99) and then less than a minute later she scored again (#100).  Coach Roy & Coach Al called for a time out and presented her with the game ball and a plaque to commerate the event.  She went on to score 5 or 6 more (maybe 7?  I'm not really sure.  She had one goal called back.  I know that for sure.). 

I've been pretty good about holding my emotions in check during each of her "lasts" of Senior year (in some cases, they were "firsts" -- i.e., rushing the floor after pep rallies, singing the alma mater on the field after football games, Toga day), but last night I was very, very emotional on the field during halftime.  Knowing that was her last home game hit me really hard.  I think Senior Night, coupled with the 100th goal, just sent me over the edge. Not sure how I'm going handle Graduation Day. 

Day Late (What Else is New?)

1. Would you rather give up pedicures or flat/curling irons? The thought of giving up my pedicures makes me positively sick to my stomach!  I shudder at the thought!  I've flat-ironed my hair twice in my life.  So, there's your answer! 

2. Does your middle name have a family meaning? Yes.  I am Valerie Ann.  My mother is Virginia Ann.  She was named after her maternal grandmother, Virginia, and my grandfather's sister, Annie, who passed away at 16.  When I had T-bone I wanted to continue the tradition and she is T-bone Ann. 

3. Do you like to sneeze? Yes! I like a good head-clearing sneeze!

4. Do you think kids should need to learn cursive? Yes.  Especially this generation that texts everything and can't spell to save their lives. 

5. When you go to the beach for the day, what do you take? Sunscreen, water, lip balm, a hat, sunglasses, a cover-up, a couple of towels, a change purse w/ small bills and change, Twizzlers and something to read (either my Nook or a paperback or a magazine). 

6. Which decade had the best music? I really like 70's music (the Eagles, Aerosmith, stuff like that) and I really like to dance around the house to disco while I clean. 

7. Are you a good hand-shaker? I’m a phenomenal hand-shaker . . . firm grip, excellent eye contact.  I hate a floppy wimpy handshake from another woman.  Really grosses me out and totally changes my opinion of them. 

8. Do you have a go-to meal for when you are at a restaurant and you can’t decide? Depends where we are.  If I'm just not feeling anything on the menu, I usually get a Caesar salad. 

9. Do you have slippers? Yes.  I also have a pair that I keep in my weekender bag to wear in hotels.  The thought of barefeet in a hotel room skeeves me out. 

10. Are you easily grossed out? See responses to #7 and #9.  :-)

If it ain't broke...

...why fix it?  I've been blogging for a number of years now and I'm not sure how I feel about this new blogger.  I'm getting a lot more error message than I ever had with the old blogger and so far I'm very underwhelmed.  Maybe as I do a little research and exploring I'll like it.  I'll give it a chance but so far I'm unimpressed.

Meanwhile, please enjoy two posts from a couple of my favorite blogs: http://hookedonhouses.net/2012/04/24/before-after-remodeling-an-old-brick-house-in-kentucky/
and  http://leah-theinsidestory.blogspot.com/

98 and counting

T played Oak Mountain yesterday and started the game off with 97 career goals.  She is now at 98.  I don't know what was going on with her yesterday but her head just wasn't in the game.  She was just "off."  I haven't seen her play that bad since...um, never.  They were double- and triple-teaming her.  I have the most amazing photo of her charging down field with 6 OM girls on her.  She was mad as hell which is good.  She's got an incredible competitive spirit and was really upset with herself.  They ended up losing to OM by 1.  And there goes the undefeated streak.  Personally, I'm kind of glad that's out of the way.  I think the girls were more concerned with staying undefeated than they were with winning the game (if that makes any sense??).  KJ & I were able to leave T's game and still catch almost 3 full quarters of Coach's game.  They beat Grissom so that was pretty good.  Senior night this week for both the boys and girls varsity teams. 

KJ & I had a very successful shopping day Saturday afternoon.  She got a dress to wear to the May wedding, and a couple dresses to choose from for T's graduation.  She got 4 dresses in all and no one cried!  Yay!!! 

T and I sat down earlier today and started to address her graduation announcements.  I'm not exactly sure what the protocol is but I thought May 1 would be a good day to mail them out.  My mom, dad & brother will definitely be here to see her graduate.  Not sure about anyone else.  I don't think Cosmo's mother is physically up for the trip.  Right now, the plan is for KJ to go home w/ Grammie & Pop and spend some quality time in PA and then fly home by herself.  She loves doing that and thinks she's hot stuff. 

Friday! Friday!

Yay! It's Friday!

Should be a fairly "quiet" weekend for us. It's all relative: "quiet" for us is insane for someone else. T has two lax games Saturday and Champ has 1. I will be at T's game in case she makes it to 100.

Sunday friends have invited us over for a craw fish boil which should be tons of fun. Her husband is a chef so I'm sure it's going to be delish!!! And, they are from Louisiana. = Guaranteed deliciousness.

We've got our hotel reservations for a couple of Ole Miss games in the fall. Hotty Toddy! Can't wait to tailgate in the Grove. We've been Alabama fans for years & years (way before we even moved here) and that will never change. However, I have started to be on the look-out for some fun Ole Miss tailgating supplies.

Cosmo & I have been working on our big b-day/anniversary trip for the fall (20 years of wedded bliss!). We've narrowed it down to: St. Thomas, St. Kitts and/or Jamaica. We went to Jamaica for our honeymoon but this trip would be to a different part of the island. We've been to St. Thomas before, too and really liked it. We've never been to St. Kitts so that might be interesting. I just need to do a little more research and see what kind of activities/attractions/dining are nearby. Even though the plan is to totally and completely vegetate on the beach, we still like to snorkel, etc. I think I'd like to give zip lining a try. Hey, YOLO!!!

It's OK !!!

It's OK . . .

...to Google everything.

...that I've worn my hair up all week. I hate doing my hair! There's just way too much of it and it takes forever to dry!

...to be excited about tailgating at the Grove this fall! Hotty Toddy!

...to be insanely proud to watch Coach do his thing on ESPNU!

...to be insanely proud of T-bone . . . she's three goals away from her 100th lacrosse career goal. She's got a game Saturday and two games next week. I don't think 100 will be a problem. Just sayin'.

...that I believe in ghosts, conspiracy theories, aliens and an imminent zombie invasion.

...to covet thy husband's new car. Can't help it. I look SO much cuter it in than he does!

...to watch the History Channel on a regular basis and get my inner geek on.

Nook Time

Earlier in the week I started reading the book that every housewife in America is probably reading (some reviews have dubbed the book "mommy porn."). I had heard about it a while ago in either People or Entertainment Weekly and had it downloaded to my Nook but just wasn't ready to start reading it. Nor did I realize it was part of a series. I noticed a couple of friends on FB had mentioned their book groups were reading it and Cosmo's cousin said she read it on a flight this week and felt like she was a member of the mile high club! So, I thought "I'd better start reading this book and see what it's all about!" I started reading it Monday night and didn't get very far, maybe 5 pages. I read more last night and I'm at the point where they've signed the contract and she then tells him she's never been intimate with anyone before.

The two main characters are kind of stiff but I guess that's all part of the build up. I'm not sure how I feel about the dialogue between the two of them. It's kind of stilted and formal (even though Ana is supposedly a college student and he's only 27). Kind of sterile maybe? The author is British so that may have something to do with it. I don't know. I'm just having a hard time with the interaction between them and I find it distracting.

Studios were fighting over the rights to the book and it looks like Universal has acquired the rights to all three books. So now the dream casting begins! Message boards are throwing around Ryan Gosling's name but I keep visualizing someone like Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl....suave, sophisticated. Although I hate the Twilight series, I do think they were well cast. I haven't seen the Hunger Games movie yet but Cosmo saw it and said he liked Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) and Cinna's characters (the one and only Lenny Kravitz!). And, he didn't read the book. I've read all the Janet Evanovich "Stephanie Plum" books and could NOT believe they cast Katherine Heigel in that role. Terrible!

Couldn't Get Any Crazier

This was quite possibly one of the craziest weeks in Cos Fam history. Holy cow. We are all completely mentally and physically exhausted. I slept for almost 15 hours last night and am still tired.

Cosmo was in Memphis for a couple of days and then had to get ready for DALC weekend (which I like to refer to as: "Damn! Additional Lacrosse Crap!"). It is a grueling weekend for him and he's pulled in a million different directions. On a positive note, however, he found out he has been selected to coach a national team for the 2012 Champion All-American Showcase. It's a US Lacrosse event and includes an all-expenses paid trip to Disney World! Whoop! Whop! So happy for him and incredibly proud! He will be coaching a team made up of players from all over the country. It's a great honor and well deserved. One of the guys from US Lacrosse told him he should have been nominated years ago for the work he's done promoting lacrosse in the South and I think this year he's also eligible for the lacrosse hall of fame.

Friday was prom for T-bone. So bittersweet. I can not believe she's graduating in a few short weeks. We had a really nice lunch before her hair appointment and then Seth picked her up at 5 PM for photos at the Botanical Gardens. Unfortunately, Cosmo wasn't really paying attention when I told him where to meet us and instead of driving to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, he drove to Aldridge Gardens.

It was so awesome to see all the kids dressed up! Luv, luv, luv all the different gowns! Pastels were big this year, a lot of black as always, saw some lace this year, some white and some brights, too. In years past, prints were big but I didn't see many print dresses this year and thankfully, those awful cut-out dresses seem to be going away. T spends so much time in work-out clothes because of dance and lax so she luvs, luvs, luvs the opportunity to go glam!

After photos they went to dinner, after dinner they went to prom and after prom they all went back to a friends house. I didn't sleep well Friday night; just get so nervous when the kids are out on the road all night. T woke up early Saturday AM to help her dad at DALC and they went out with their lax family for dinner after the tournament. T met up with some friends afterward and they both left the house super early this morning for the last day of DALC. She's been on the go all weekend. I don't know how she does it.

Had to be up bright & early Saturday AM for KJ's volleyball tournament. Her team was the ONLY undefeated team the ENTIRE tournament and won the tourney for their age group. It was SO much fun and those girls played their little hearts out! All of the parents rushed onto the court when they won and did a big cheer with the girls. She had a friend sleep over last night and now she's running around at the baseball fields. Meanwhile, I have so much laundry to catch up on it's not even funny.

Fun Sized

I know I'm short but I guess I never realized how short. Seriously? I think I was standing in a hole when this photo was taken. Or KJ is standing on a box. And yes, we're both wearing flip flops.

It's tough being short. Sporting events are usually not fun especially when the folks in front of me stand up the entire game. The only way I can see the game is if I watch it on the jumbo-tron.

Movie theaters and airplanes can be pretty uncomfortable, too. My feet don't reach the floor so my legs just kind of dangle and it can get kind of painful after long periods of time.

And, of course, clothes shopping is never a joy. Sometimes the "petite" length is too long. I have a pair of khaki capri pants that can totally pass as regular pants.

I'm so glad my girls are both taller than me. I never wanted them to be giants, but anything over 5 ft is good in my book! I always told Cosmo the only reason I married him was so that my kids had a half-way decent shot at being somewhat tall.

It's OK Thursday

It's OK . . .

...to be insanely proud of T-bone's lacrosse team! Undefeated so far! Whoop! Whoop!

...to be incredibly happy about tonight!!! No lax. No dance. No volleyball. Whoop! Whoop! Go me!!

...that I couldn't care less about the recent Masters. Golf is just not my thing.

...to be feeling a little melancholy -- tomorrow is T-bone's Senior Prom. My daughter is such a beautiful young woman inside & out!

...that I have had a TON of engagement parties, weddings, baby & bridal showers this Spring! It's all good and so fun to celebrate such happy occasions!

As If I don't Already Have Enough to Worry About

C'mon people. I can't have this. My baby is going off to college in the Fall. I'm a wreck as it is and really don't need to be worrying about bomb threats, riots and on-campus violence!!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47013276/ns/us_news-the_new_york_times/

http://blog.al.com/tuscaloosa/2012/04/drowning_indicated_as_cause_of.html

http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2012/04/10/um-student-allegedly-assaulted/

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/04/kentucky-students-riot-after-ncaa-championship-win/

Ozzie & Harriett or Ozzy & Sharon???

From Hooked on Houses:

Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne are selling their home in California. What a beautiful, light and airy home designed by one of my favorites, Martyn Lawrence-Bullard. Definately not what I expected from the Prince of Darkness!

http://hookedonhouses.net/2012/04/09/sharon-ozzy-osbourne-selling-their-cape-cod-inspired-estate-in-california/

I love the blues and the barn doors in the living room. So cozy! I could do without the creepy doll/puppet collection, however.

I . . .

I've seen these prompts floating around the blogosphere and figured it was time I jumped in as well!


I Am ... a little of this and a little of that.


I Want ... to live a little closer to my niece and nephew.


I Have ... been blessed with an amazing husband and two beautiful daughters.


I Wish ... doctors could find a cure for cancer.


I Hate ... liars, gossips and people who talk about money or their looks all the time.


I Hear ... better than I can see.


I Search ... for interesting books to read.


I Wonder ... what the future holds.


I Regret ... not finishing college.


I Love ... my life and the people in it!


I Ache ... when someone I love is hurting.


I Always ... have ginger ale in my fridge.


I Usually ... have a book in my hands.


I Am Not ... afraid to show my emotions or speak my mind.


I Dance ... every chance I get (much to the embarrassment of my children).


I Sing ... in the car (much to the embarrassment of my children).


I Never ... enjoy driving over bridges.


I Rarely ... cook dinner and will go to great lengths to avoid it.


I Cry ... very easily.


I Am Not Always ... a morning person.


I'm Confused ... about why "Glee" is so popular.


I Need ... a Louis Vuitton Neverful GM


I Promise ... to always try to be the best version of myself I can be!

Easter Sunday

What a nice, wonderful, relaxing Easter Sunday! Just the 4 of us and a yummy spiral ham! It was so nice, we decided to take dinner and ate out on the back deck. We just really needed a good family day. Cosmo had been in Dallas all week (and spent Tuesday afternoon in a stairwell during the tornadoes -- scary stuff!). He got home late Friday night and Saturday evening we helped friends celebrate their son's recent marriage.

We spent most of the day looking at old photo albums and did a lot of reminiscing. T was a very, very serious baby but is now a very silly adult. KJ was a very silly, happy baby but is turning into a serious teenager. She still comes up with some one-line zingers and is a smart ass but she was a much happier baby than T. You could not get T to smile in ANY baby photos! It was so aggravating!

I got a lot of photos off my camera and spent some time organizing my H:drive. I had a bunch of KJ's vball tournaments still on my camera, some lax photos and mine & T's recent trip to Ole Miss. And now we're gearing up for another crazy week . . . a couple of lax games (T & Cosmo), senior prom (wth???), DALC and a vball tournament. Sheesh.

10 Things

A little different take on the usual 10 on Tuesday.
I've seen this on Pinterest and Facebook recently and thought I'd share, too.
I love #1, #4 and #9!
I think #1 can apply to women of all ages. Especially those with "store bought boobies." Yes, we know you've got new breasts. You've certainly put them on display for all to see. (Let the record state I have absolutely no problem with plastic surgery. If you can afford it and it makes you feel better about yourself, go for it!).
Regarding #4, for years and years, ever since I've known this woman, I have repeatedly heard her talk about how much she "hates drama." One day I told my husband, "I think the mama secretly loves the drama." She's certainly created enough of it in many, many peoples lives and her child always seems to be in the thick of it, too. (But then by typing this post, am I in violation of #3???).
http://kateelizabethconner.com/ten-things-i-want-to-tell-teenage-girls/7