Freaky Friday

What I learned on our beach trip was mind-blowing, simply astounding...my Dad and I are like twins separated at birth. Alright. Slight-exaggeration. However, it has been a long time since I have spent several days together, under the same roof, with my dad. We have taken vacations together, but the crowd is always too big to stay under same roof. Actually, I think no one really wanted to stay with our three, very loud, very young, rising at the crack of dawn children, so we ended up in a place of our own. I can happily say that much of that has changed, except their volume.

Over the past four days, I have learned the following:

1. We love to eat cookies for breakfast. Homemade chocolate chip is favored with Oatmeal Raisin coming a close second. The cookie is served with a cup of black coffee. We have no shame in this horrible choice of nutrition. We don't even think twice about it.

2. We talk a mean, mean game prior to engaging in one. Even if we have NO skill in what we are attempting to play, we still think we are good at it. Oh, wait. That may only apply to me and a pathetic game of ping pong I goaded my dad into playing against me. Dad 50, Kelsey 0

3. We are horrible sports. The pure glee we get when we are winning borders embarrassment. We can also come up with every excuse imaginable if we are losing. The earth's alignment with the sun caused a slight blind spot when trying to putt at the 9th hole at Treasure Island putt putt which resulted in 3 strokes, one-over. You get my drift?

4. We have the same feet and hands and have passed that physical attribute onto Ethan.

And finally,
5. We love the beach. It brings out the best of us. Period. It was my dad who drove us as children to spend every vacation we had at the beach. My entire youth was spent at Myrtle Beach (weekends, every break, summers, etc.) and I could probably drive those back wood/logging roads blindfolded.

Nothing relaxes me more than sitting on a hot beach, hearing the waves and sipping on a cold beverage. It rivals any prescription for me. We are usually one of the first on the beach and almost always the last to go in. My dad is also a great weather forecaster of the clouds while on the beach. He will note the size, shape, and color of the clouds, wind direction, etc. in order to determine if packing up is necessary. Others will run inside, afraid of the possibility of rain. My dad keeps a steady course, sometimes sitting out in a very, very brief shower. What dedication!

While on the beach, I can't say we read a lot, stay in the water or get out of our chairs more than a couple of times. We just sit and talk (mainly about the weather!) and take the occasional nap. It is heavenly.

I am thankful for all those trips to the sand, Dad. And, for giving me that part of you!

Getting to Know You...Getting to Know All About You...

Got tagged again. This is fun! Here it goes:

Place an (X) by all of the things you have done.

Have you ever:
Gone on a blind date (X) Cute boy but not my type. Ended up being my best friend's boyfriend for a year or so in high school, OH - forgot a horrible one in college. Yuck!
Skipped school (x) - to do things I am ashamed about! Parents never knew.
Been with someone when they died (X) Only one. Ansley
Been to Canada () Nope.
Been to Mexico ( ) Nope.
Been to Florida (X)
Been on a plane (X)

Been lost () Notice empty box. I can say I have never been truly lost. Maybe a wrong turn or so, but never have I driven in the wrong direction with out knowing I was going in the wrong direction. This is an area in which I have a little pride.

Been on the opposite side of the country (X) California and Washington State
Gone to Washington , DC (X) Over Easter was the latest. I actually drove there when I had a 3 mo. old and a 2 year old (5 hour drive)
Swam in the ocean (X) Dipped my feet in it yesterday - WAY too cold for a swim!
Cried yourself to sleep (X) More times in the last year than I would like
Played cops and robbers (X) I am not sure... but for sure cowboys and Indians
Recently colored with crayons (X) Just a day or so ago
Sang Karaoke (X) Oh how bad it was singing Country Roads in a bowling alley bar named Chauncey's. Need I say more!
Paid for a meal with coins only? (X) Many times b/c keep coins in my car! Stealing Robin's answer
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? (X) - I said that whenever I sewed paper together for scrapbooking I would quit. Obviously, I did it and still scrapbook.
Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose (X)
Caught a snowflake on your tongue (X)
Danced in the rain (X)
Written a letter to Santa Claus (X)
Been kissed under the mistletoe (X)
Watched the sunrise with someone you care about () Empty because I am NOT a morning person. I could put an X if it were sunset.
Blown bubbles (X) Will do it a lot today on the beach
Gone ice-skating (X)
Gone to the movies (X)
Gone water skiing (X) In Jamaica - it was pitiful

1. Any nickname: No - well, actually, I had the nickname Spike in Junior High because I had gotten some tree sap in my hair - right at the top - and had to have it cut out. When it grew back I had spikey hair. It was awful! In 8th grade - what could be worse at that age?
2. Favorite breakfast cereal? Granola
3. Favorite drink? Sweet Tea or Lemonade
4. Body Piercing? Ears only! But I do have a tattoo which morphed into something very unattractive due to stretch marks from three pregnancies! If you are going to get a tattoo - think about where you are putting it!!!
6. How much do you love your job? SAHM - love it, President of RaRa - who knows?
7. Birthplace? Virginia
8. Favorite vacation spot? The Carribbean
9. Ever been to Africa ? Twice - Once as a heathen and once as a believer. Heathen: Hitchhiked through Botswana into Zimbabwe, was in South Africa 6 months after the vote to end apartheid - very exciting and also very scary. Believer: Ghana. Beautiful. Planning a 2009 trip to see Ansley's church.
10. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? I am sure I have, although, I would say it happens for breakfast more often!
11. Ever been on TV? A few times as a child.
12. Ever steal any traffic sign? No, but someone gave me one in high school. Robin, I have the SAME answer!!!
13. Ever been in a car accident? Yes - a few. Once drove a truck into a pond in high school. Upon exiting the vehicle, I was waist deep in water!
14. Favorite salad dressing? Tried and true 1,000 Island
15. Favorite pie? Jay's homemade and incredible Dutch Apple Pie - the REAL deal
16. Drive a 2 door or 4 door car? 4 Door
17. Favorite number? 3 - the number of my children, the trinity among others
18. Favorite movie? Jane Austen flicks, Life is Beautiful
19. Favorite holiday? I have to say Easter - for the emotion. And I'll admit it, I love Halloween. Call me a heathen, people. Even as an adult, I like getting dressed up and the candy. I love fall festivals!!!! This year, in a strange twist, Ethan was Darth Vader and I was Princess Lea. He was my father!
20. Favorite dessert? Anything with dark chocolate
21 Favorite food? Homemade pimento cheese salad and chicken salad from Company's Coming. To die for!
22. Favorite day of the week? Friday
23. Favorite brand of body wash? Body wash? Are you kidding me? I never use it. Robin, I'll pass along any I have when I see you.
24. Favorite toothpaste? Crest
25. Favorite perfume/cologne? Never wear it. But I think I have some Beautiful or Happy that I throw on once or twice a year.
26. What do you do to relax? take a hot, hot bath and sleep.
27. What is your number one pet peeve? People who continually complain about their lives and then keep repeating the same behavior that got them there. Usually it is a result of unreliance on God. Boy, that sounds really, really judgemental. Gotta work on that.
28. How do you see yourself in 10 years? I have no idea. That is a really strange question. I mean, kids will be teenagers - 17, 16, 13. So, I would imagine I would spend a lot of time pulling my hair out, locked in my bathroom?!?!?! We are at such a cross roads with our family - new business, etc. WHO KNOWS!!?!?!
29. Farthest place you will send this message? I don't know who is reading except for three people. I just added someone who is in Asia. Who knows?
30 Of the people who read this, who will do this first? Obviously, can't answer. See above.

Friday, April 18, 2008

We're leaving for the beach today! Yippee!! We'll be back on Monday and I am very, very excited. Thank you, Dad, for the unexpected treat. I am sure this will be the last vacation for a very, very long time. Jay is taking the laptop so I hope to get some serious blogging done and have lots of posts on Tuesday!

Launch time for RaRa Telecom Supply: T-minus 12 DAYS!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

I miss you.

Leftovers

Note to self: Not everything the market renters leave behind is worthy to keep.

Our market guests decided to do more cooking this time around. At least that is what they intended with all the food they purchased. And, it wasn't the cheap stuff either. Lots of fresh fruits, nuts, olives, crackers, organic, etc. A lot of items I would never purchase. Lucky us, they bagged the whole idea of eating in about halfway through market. They left a ton of unopened food in our fridge. (I am not talking leftovers, people, I do have some standards).

I decided to try out a new recipe combining several items, including the all gourmet sounding polenta. After a little investigating, I found that polenta is a very finely ground cornmeal. In this case it was presented like a sausage. I thought it was some sort of pasta/rice something so at least I was close with a starch. I made the very uppity sounding Italian eggs with Spinach and Polenta. Let me tell ya, we are a polenta eating family now. The kids loved it - particularly the Italian eggs. Sadie, "This stuff is awesome." I think it really had to do with what was on top of the polenta because the polenta itself was marginal, at best. After all, it is cornmeal.

Tonight, Jay said, those Thai peanuts are terrible. This statement coming from a man who could eat Thai food for breakfast, lunch and dinner was suspect at best. Thai peanuts? I hadn't seen them in the pantry. I doubted him (at least his assessment of them) and asked him to bring them to me. His desire to see me gag obviously got the best of him and he literally ran to get them. Heinous. I couldn't get a glass of water fast enough. The official name of the product: Traditional Thai Lime & Chili Peanuts - found at your local Trader Joe's. BLAH!

So what have you had lately - good, bad or ugly that you can give a shout about?

Comments

I have opened up my blog with some fear and well, excitement. If you read this post, I hope that you will take the time to make a comment. After each post there is a place to click that says Comments (duh.). My good friend, Robin, aka Hillbilly Robin is really good at this, (note her various comments) . I like to know who is here and I want to get some feedback.

Can you relate about what I am writing? Does what I have written seem true or contrived, etc.

My blog is about my family. Occasionally, I will write about past experiences, particularly regarding my sister, Ansley, who passed away over a year ago from breast cancer. So, enjoy, but let me know you are here - even if you do it anonymously!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Sadie declared she was going to love on our dog, Bobo. He is an outside dog with one eye who really deserves his own post. Old, faithful, slightly nasty, Bobo.

Anyway, she came inside and asked for a snack. I said - sure, but make sure you wash your hands. She came back to ask if she could have the "bad mommy snack du jour" Yogos. I saw that her hands were wet, but I had a feeling no soap had been applied. She was standing in the door frame and put one hand on the white painted frame. Here is the conversation:

"Sadie, did you wash your hands?"
"Yes."
"Did you use soap?"
"No, but I am the only one who will touch my Yogos."

I love her qualifier. At least she doesn't want to get anyone else sick, but is ok with making herself sick. At this point she moved away from the door frame. There was this nasty little muddy imprint left on my white painted door frame.

See, Sadie, that is why you need to use soap!

On another note...if you have never purchased Yogos for your kids...DON'T! I only bought them because they were at Aldi's and appeared to be a good price. They taste disgusting, but my kids would lie, cheat and steal to get them. I don't want to think about the nutritional value...or lack thereof.