Mr. Potatohead! Mr. Potatohead! Back doors are NOT secrets!

The title has no real relevance to the content of this blog. I just like saying it a lot lately.

We have been busy bees around here.

I had the pleasure of volunteering at Lauren's Valentine party last week. I thought it would be fun to have the kids spell the words "Valentine's Day!" by giving them each a letter and having them arrange themselves in the order of the words. Well, I was hurrying because we were running out of time and arranged the kids so it was backwards. It looked like "SENITENLAV YAD." I realized this and quickly rearranged them so it would not look backwards. In my haste, all I did was rearrange them the same way, just facing a different direction. So Happy SENITENLAV YAD it was. My brain just does not work well under pressure!

I also got to go with Dylan and his class to the Negro Leagues Museum and the Jazz Museum. We had a great time and the kids enjoyed looking at all the exhibits. I forgot my camera.

Joe and Dylan have been really busy with Boy Scouts lately. Last Friday, we all went to the Blue and Gold banquet. Joe got up on stage and presented awards to his boy scouts. He looks so handsome in his uniform, and it makes me laugh because Mr. Anti-Establishment is that much closer to becoming The Man.


We kept the kids up a little late on Wednesday so they could see the Lunar Eclipse. Dylan was very prepared by pulling his baseball socks up as far as they could go on his legs so they would not get cold. Eclipses are cool, but I have to admit seeing that red moon was eerie. I kept hearing devily-Omen-type music in my head.

We have also had a very big rite of passage in our home. Last week, I came home from work late and discovered this on Dylan's door:

It had to happen sooner or later! Dylan has also been posting other types of signs. He is apparently running for "House President" and displaying his campaign materials all over the place. He was also kind enough to leave me a note on my computer that read "Bossy Mom."

How sweet.

Go home and take a snow day, Mrs. Braintree!

It seems as though snow days come quite easily to the children in the Shawnee Mission School District. In the olden days, there had to be a foot of snow on the ground before they would cancel school! Whoever the superintendent is now must be freakishly afraid of snow.

Anywhoo, we had fun! We watched TV, ate pizza and went sledding. Katy is becoming quite the sledding dog. She is finally getting comfortable sledding down the hill with us. Dylan got into a snowball fight with some high school girls and was quite proud of himself. It was a good day.

Karatology

This challenge was inspired by Cyndy. I'm copying her.

ARCHAEOLOGY: the study of material remains

What's the oldest article of clothing you still wear? I have a long sweater that I bought in 1992.

What's the oldest article of clothing you won't get rid of? Probably that sweater.

When was the house/building you live in built? 1984

What in your fridge needs to be thrown out? Nothing! I threw out everything that needed to be disposed of at 3:00 today!

BIBLIOLOGY: the study of publication

What are you reading? TEXTBOOKS.

Do you have a favorite quote? "Up from a past that's rooted in pain, I rise." - Maya Angelou

What's the most recent music you purchased? I just bought some Allman Brothers that I swore I had but didn't have.

What book could you read again without being bored? The Secret Garden, The Rainmaker, Jitterbug Perfume, Alive, The Stand, Pride and Prejudice.

CARDIOLOGY: the study of the heart

How old were you the first time you fell in love? I thought it was 16, then I thought it was 19, but it was more like 23 and it was for GOOD.

What charities do you have a heart for? Too many to name. Top of the list? Safehome and MOCSA.

What's the best way someone can show their love for you? Follow through, give me patience and let me sleep in.

Name five things you "love": My husband, my kids, going to the movies by myself, mashed potatoes with a good gravy, and furry pets.

PHYSIOLOGY: the study of physical function

Are you right-handed or left-handed? Right handed

Do you like your smile? Only if it's totally a candid smile. Photo smile, GROSS.

What's your best feature? I've been told I have nice nail beds.

Have you ever had anything removed from your body? 2 babies, although now that I think about it, I did that pretty much on my own. OOOH!! My wisdom teeth!!

Which of your five senses do you think is keenest? THE SIXTH ONE.

OMNOLOGY: the study of everything

What color do you think looks best on you? Turquoise

Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake? No!

Where's the first place you went today? Target

Do you stand or sit in the shower? Well, I stand because there is nowhere to sit and I'm able to stand, so why not stand?

AXIOLOGY: the study of the nature of values and value judgments

Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000? HELL YES! I could cover a 1/2 mile in 5 or 6 minutes. That's roughly 16,666.66 a minute - I did the math! Hey, is that the devil's challenge????

Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100? Sure! Do I have to get into it, or can I just phone it in?

Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000? I have huge student loans, OF COURSE!!! Although I might get sued for emotional damages from the people who saw it or wanted refunds.
What value is of utmost importance to you in a friend? Loyalty

Would you accept an indecent proposal for $1,000,000? OMG have you seen that movie??? It was a big ol' mess, and I can't imagine it would work out any better for me.

TECHNOLOGY: usage and knowledge of tools

What's the last movie you saw? E. T.

What's the first website you visit when you log on? Perezhilton.com

Would you quit blogging for $25,000? I'm sure many people wish I would, so sure.

What piece of equipment do you wish you owned? One of those pretty, large, flat TV's.

GENEALOGY: the study of relationships within families

Is there a specific family member you're really missing right now? BRANDON!!!

Are you named after anyone? I was told once that my parents liked the name Kara because of Kara Kennedy. I didn't quite have the cool last name to go with it!

Is there anyone really famous in your family tree? I am related to the dude who started Dickinson Theaters. Does that qualify as really famous?

Reunited, and it feels so good.

Will is back. The kids got to have a friend over last night and she chose Will. Dylan had Mitchell spend the night. Mitchell was seeking refuge from his little sister's slumber party. They had quite a good time, and as you can see, there was a lot of giggling. We ate pizza and watched "ET."

You know you have problems when...

This is a follow up to the "I need to get out more" post.

1. You know you have problems when you experience anxiety because you might miss who got kicked off of "Rock of Love 2 with Bret Michaels" because you are trying to find out what will happen on the next episode of "Gone Country," the new fantastic reality show featuring celebrities who want to make country music (Maureen McCormick, Dee Snider and Bobby Brown, most notably). You don't even LIKE Bret Michaels. Why do you care who will no longer be able to strip for him? Because you have problems.

2. You go to get your new but old as hell car registered. You draw number "76." You're told you need to drive 3 miles to get your car inspected. You spot number "70" walking out the door to have his car inspected. You peel out of the parking lot and race number "70" to the inspection station and get inspected well ahead of him. You're not worried about the fact that the large number of miles on the car alone could disqualify you from the ever-coveted Kansas Registration, noooooooooo... not you, Sicko! You are only worried about being faster than the dreaded "70."

You find yourself cursing the paperwork guy because he's going slower than the paperwork guy number "70" got. Number "70" sneers at you when his paperwork guy asks YOUR paperwork guy to look something up on the computer, thus hindering your registration race victory. Number "70" sneaks out the door 10 seconds before you. Now you're full-on pissed because the only road to victory is a two lane street and there is no way you can pass "70." Karma gives you the middle finger as you get caught at every red light. You pull into the parking lot with your heart pounding, only to find number "70" streaking into the building. You're disappointed. You're mad. You curse yourself for your loss because, well, you have problems.

I think I need to get out more.

Here's why:

1. Lauren and I had a slumber party last night because Joe and Dylan were at the Boy Scout Lock In. Since 7:00 last night, I have seen "High School Musical 2" FOUR TIMES. By the fourth showing, I actually found Zac Efron kind of cute (he does this thing where he slides a basketball down his back and continues to dance with it to upbeat music, you should see it). I felt kind of like Michael Keaton in "Mr. Mom." Or a little like Mary Kay LeTourneau.

"I'm losing it. Lauren and I are watching the same shows.

AND I'M LIKIN' EM!"

2. I had a client at noon, and afterwards we went to The Great Mall of The Great Plains (Joe calls it the Mediocre Mall of the Great Plains). This mall does not do the business that it was hoping it would and a ton of its stores are closing (I know I am personifying the Mall, but we feel kind of sorry for it because it's sort of the loser child of Malls). There is this AWESOME store there called "Enchanted Gifts." I think everyone who works at the Renaissance Festival shops there. They have swords, numchuks, brass knuckles, knives, lots of pictures with sparkly unicorns, dragon statues, tarot cards, and dare I say, the BEST incense in the world. I love incense, so anytime I can find quality stuff I'm thrilled.

Well, we got there and the store was gone. My heart dropped! This mall is set up like a huge square, so I complained and whined all the way around the huge square that my most favorite incense store was gone. I inspected the incense at "Earth Traders," and it just wasn't the same. I crumpled my nose in disgust and walked out.

We had just rounded the last corner and I said, "Well, this was a bust." At that moment, we crested the carpeted mall ramp hill and it was like we'd discovered Excalibur! ENCHANTED GIFTS HAD MOVED! AND EXPANDED!!

Yes, the Enchanted Gifts store seems to be the only store in the entire Mediocre Mall that is doing really well. Apparently there are more people out there who need incense, swords and sparkly unicorns than I thought.

I picked out 40 of my favorite incense flavors (20 for $2.00) and a huge box of Nag Champa. I gushed the entire time to the ponytailed owner about how excited I was that he was not only still open, but doing really well. I think he was like, "OK Lady, I get it. You like incense." Geez!

The Nag Champa is burning brightly and I am smiling!

Are the Blogger people trying to tell me something?

My profile keeps saying my industry is "Accounting." I've tried to change it to all sorts of interesting occupations, but it always goes back to Accounting.

Do they know something I don't know?