Approaching the Final Bend

Southern Exposure

View from foyer

View from Kitchen looking into Dining

Backyard

From bottom left: Kitchen cabinets in sand/cream, hardwood floor in "cinnamon", tile (that we are not choosing), top center-large piece of granite that I am desparately trying to justify and above that, a backsplash that I love but don't think will go with the granite (still hoping) and therefore will likely wait on. : )

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So, we're nearing the end. Or at least it's in sight. The folks are sanding this week, putting in interior doors with trim, kitchen cabinets go in Monday, the fireplace for the backyard has begun, columns for the front porch have been ordered...it's all starting to come together. : )

Decision

I realized today:

"Life's too short not to mix the play-doh."

The previous court ruling has been overturned.

Men and Women and toddlers are dancing in the street.

Bringing Back Rainbow Brite

Julianna sporting the latest in "retro" fashion. It reminds be of a simpler time.

I am not sure when it happened. But everything from my childhood suddenly became "retro." The reality of it set in when I was shopping in the cd aisle the other day. The first metaphorical sound wave hit as I talked with a young woman working at the store. I asked her where I could find Phil Collins Greatest Hits.

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"Oh, yeah. That's "old school easy listening." Right?"

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Um, scuz me? Since when do I listen to "easy listening." And hold on there just a darn minute little sassafras. Old school? My memory panned to a vision of Phil Collins and his rapidly depleting hair line. At that moment I realized the vision was actually from 1989. I was then forced to asked myself the inevitable. Was Phil Collins even alive?

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Arming myself for musical battle I tried to impress her with my knowledge of current musicians. Um. Hm. Areosmith? U2? Janet Jackson? Ace of Base? C&C Music Factory? Roxette? Fruit Salad (Yummy, Yummy)? Clearly I was making no headway. I think it was at that point that she made a comment about 80s hits being "two decades old." Second wave hits.

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Though I was tempted to belt out a couple of lines from songs I had heard on the radio just that very day (not that I knew the name of them OR had the foggiest idea who sang them AND even though most of what I actually listened to was classical (what?!))...I refrained.

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I bowed out gracefully with an "I'm not really sure what I am looking for. I'll just browse a little. Thanks."

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And I moved on.

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I forgave her.

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It was big of me.

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(I just figured that someone living in the deprived state of not even knowing who Roxette was deserved a little grace.)

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As if.

Next year's Christmas present for all the men in my family!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

Sigh. That just never gets old.

Our little ar-TEE-st (or so they say in France)

"Deer eating grass"

"Kangaroos jumping"

"Giraffe eating a bird"

"Hey! I see the bird!" I said to Jules as I pointed to the red shape that actually looks like a bird.

"Mom," she said in a 'you're so silly' sort of way... "that's the giraffe."

"Oh. Gotcha." I said. : )

My Week In Satirical Song Lyrics

When God-fearin' women get the blues
There ain't no slap-dab-a-tellin'
What they're gonna do
Well I've got a Mustang
It'll do 80
You don't have to be my baby
I've stirred my last batch of gravy
You don't have to be my baby…
-Martina McBride

(as sung by me to Chad when he requested to eat his dinner in front of a football game and we were already seated.) : )



I believe I can fly. I believe I can touch the sky. I think about it every night and day. Spread my wings and fly away.
-R. Kelly

(as sung by Ava as she tried to catapult herself down the stairs on four separate occasions)



On top of spaghetti all covered with cheese I lost my poor meatball when somebody sneezed…

(as sung by my first born to a very kind, elderly lady who Jules sneezed on whilst waiting in the grocery store checkout line. Big sneeze. The one that will be known as the "Tsunami Sneeze" for years to come. Because let's just face it. The little lady never saw it comin' and she never had a chance.)



We’ve only just begun…
-The Carpenters

(as sung by me to the lady at the cabinet store two hours into my fourth trip with little hope of a decision on the horizon.)



I’m a redneck woman, I ain’t no high class broad … *
-Gretchen Wilson

(as sung to myself this evening when I caught a glance in the mirror and realized I hadn’t seen the shower in a fortnight.)

* This was followed by a couple lines from Westside Story:
I feel pretty, oh so pretty
I feel pretty and witty and bright
And I pity any girl who isn't me tonight
I feel charming, oh so charming
It's alarming how charming I feel
And so pretty that I hardly can believe I'm real.



I’m turning Japanese, I think I’m turning Japanese, I really think so.
-The Vapors

(as sung by Chad to me on the fifth (or was it sixth night) of chicken and rice dinners.)



“You're what!? Tin roof. Rusted.”
-B-52s

(as sung by me (just the “what” part) to the flooring guy when he gave me the new and improved price list for 2008.)



Well parents are the same
No matter time nor place
So, to you other kids
all across the land
Take it from me
Parents just don't understand.
-Will Smith

(as sung by Ace to her father and I as she turns into a pre-teen over night.)



Everybody Wang Chung tonight.
-Wang Chung

(as sung by Jules as I walked her back into her bedroom at 12, 2, 3:30, 4:45, 6, & 6:53 on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights/mornings.)



Getting giggy with it. nah nah nah nah nah-nah. Yeah. nah nah nah nah nah-nah.
-Will Smith

(as sung by me when I finished picking everything out for the house this week.)




It's been one of those weeks. You know. Like when the series of minorly frustrating events almost becomes comical. Which it did. : ) But, today it's been quiet and I've been able to reflect (in song) about the past week and appreciate it for what it was. There are a number of events that didn't make the Billboard. You'll just have to stay tuned for those to post at some later date. Let's just say Adam Sandler, Barenaked Ladies, and the theme from Out of Africa will be included.

Here

I'm hanging in there like a hair in a biscuit.

Zuri *

It was a good day.



* Julianna's name for our alma mater.