Hair Day! Hair Day!

Wednesday is hair appointment day!  Yee haw!

The past couple of times I've gone in to see Deanna - I've had to fight the internal battle with my selves "To cut?" or "Not to cut?"  And "not to cut" has been winning.  But only because with #7 still in his big 2.5 year, $10 bet (yes... ten whole dollars) I have decided that for as long as he grows his hair, I will continue to grow mine.

Here's what I haven't shared with anyone - including The Dad, or Jack, Dan or Boone whom I nuggle up with daily...

My hair can't be short.  It just can't.  And I feel like it takes an unreal amount of time for mine to grow... which is why this is just a thought.

But #7's plan is, when the time comes to cut his hair - to donate his mane to Locks of Love.  There are "rules" to how that's done...  but, it's a cool thing to do.  So...  perhaps I should too?  The only hang up here is - that my hair isn't as long as his.  Or is it?

MOTY & #7

No.  It's not.  And his has these wonderful curls in it, while mine is full of all sorts of bends and cowlicks.  The hair gods favored on these Minn boys (with the exception of The Dad perhaps) and now Blue Eyes is also working on a new do as well.  

But for now - I'm in my own competition with my oldest, even though he doesn't know it - to keep growing mine as long as he's growing his.  This is no easy feat, please understand. Ask any woman and when she's wavering, many times we just cave and say "WTF?"  And if most women are like me - they go home, like it for the rest of the day and then the next day - after showering and unable to style it like the day before - we wish we could have our hair back.

Tomorrow, for now... is hair day!  Highlight, no cut, keep growing, hair day!  

No Seed Left Behind!

For the first time in 23 years - there was not a child in the house to dream about pumpkins, candy, costumes and the fun that was... IS pumpkin carving and Halloween.

When we got our pumpkins up at Siemers at Greenbluff - which, sadly, our favorite pumpkin growers land/home is for sale (someone please please please buy it!) I picked out 3 very large pumpkins and two smaller.  The Dad rolled his eyes and wanted to put his foot down and tell me "enough is enough" but there was no way I wasn't buying a pumpkin for every member (human) of our family.  I HAD to three very large pumpkins - because I knew that's what my boys would have picked out.  

The pumpkins sat on the porch with my bale of hay and corn stalks until it was carving day - yesterday.  There were no faces drawn on scratch paper - I knew all along what would be carved.  My boys loves, hopes, dreams are what drive me.  I want for them, their wants.  I would give anything to be able to give them the world...  

Since I can't, really... I have to stick to the things I know they love.  Even if they won't admit it!  So this week - after cooking seeds today - two of them will get some roasted pumpkin seeds (one of them just doesn't GET how nummy roasted pumpkin seeds are AND in fact, are healthy for you too... minus the garlic salt, butter, johnnys, worchestershire...).  I left it to The Dad to scrape the guts out of the pumpkins and then, as my OCD allows me to do so expertly - I pulled each and every seed out of the guts from the three pumpkins.  There were no seeds left behind.  

I remember last years carving.  Wack, The Dad and I (mostly Wack and I).  Wack is my Christmas lovin' boy.  I sent him a text on Sunday asking if he remembered carving pumpkins last year and he responded "What about it?"  I asked if he remembered WHAT we did WHILE we carved.  His response "Did we watch "The Grinch"?"

Why yes.  Yes we did.  I was ready and prepared to do the same this year but the Broncos were on and... well... they were winning.  It was an internal struggle.  But the Mile High Salute won out. #GoBroncos  (Yes, my Twitter hashtags don't work here, but I'm a fan of the hashtags!)

Pumpkins are carved.  Seeds are cooked.  Candy is safely away from Jacks sniffing and rooting nose...  

And then... just now... I remembered that since our remodel... we haven't had a doorbell.  Huh.  Soooo... that's great.  I have like 14 bags of halloween candy.  

Oh.  I.  Know....  I'll just have The Dad hang out on the front porch on Wednesday  night.  Yeeeaaahhhh.  That's the ticket.  After all, we don't want any candy bars left behind either!

Oh What A Night!

Late October in 2012... What a very special time for me...

My pops bought me (us) tickets to see "Jersey Boys" for my birthday.  The Dad then planned, on top of pops gift, to make that night "birthday night" and take me to Clingerdaggers for my favorite dinner.

We were seated at Table 20, which was actually across from the tables closest to the windows - which was preferable for me since it's cold outside now.  We ordered up the crab dip, a glass of wine... his Washington Red Apple martini and so it begins.

Across from our table was a table of 10.  Nine men.  One woman.  Each of the men were wearing a different color and style of "Comcast" shirts.  Everyone was being polite and they were idly chit chatting.  As their meal was served and everyone settled in - they were now full on in conversations and enjoying themselves.  At one point, the one lady, raised her glass and thanked them all.  At this point - and a glass of wine in myself, I told The Dad - "I'm going to go work there."

Our dinner was served, we inhaled it - but I ordered a big enough portion to have left overs the next day.  I'm no dummy!  As we were finishing up our meal, a few of the guys at the table across from us had left and two were getting up and readying themselves to leave.  At this point they say:

CCG's:  "Sorry we were so loud at our table."

WOTY:  "Oh no.  You guys were fine.  I thought perhaps you were talking over me."

CCG's:  "Oh.  No.  We have a couple of loud talkers"

WOTY:  "Oh yea?  Which ones?"

CCG's:  "Well the guy that was sitting right there (pointing at empty spot)..."

WOTY:  "Oh.  The guy that had to go pick up his kids?"

CCG's:  "Yeh... <laughing> and then the guy that was there in the red shirt..."

WOTY:  "Ahhh ya.  And the guy that ordered his dessert to go."

CCG's: <to each other>  "Man!  She's got it down"  <to me>  "You're good!"

They leave and I look to The Dad and say... "Yep, I'm going to go work there."

The Dad says... <sighing>  "Just what I need.  My wife hanging out with all of those guys."

So we leave and head to the Performing Arts Center - AKA OPERA HOUSE.  We take our seats in the very very front row and we watch this great show.  Great.  Really really great.  Loved it.  Made me want to see it again aaaaannnnnnnnndddd, also ruined any future shows for me unless...

I am sitting in THE FRONT ROW.  So, The Dad needs to hurry up and get employed so we can purchase tickets to "Rock of Ages" and "West Side Story".  

After the show - the cast make an announcement.  Well... "Bobby" and "Frankie" do.  They are raising money to help fight aids diseases, alzheimers, etc and for a small donation you can get this, that, or the other thing - signed by the cast.  We could have walked right out the door by our auditorium entrance, but I told The Dad I'd like to go see which cast members were out in the lobby for this money raising post show "event".  So up we walked and as we looked over the edge - we could see several and I made note of one guy over by the furthest exit from the stairs.  No biggy... just remember it.  I told The Dad, that I was going to make a donation for one of the posters to have our friends frame with the tickets to go in our great theater room downstairs.  As we hit the bottom of the steps, that guy clear over by the door... made his way to us and said <to Jeff> "You were the guy sitting in the front row, right?"  I cocked my head and looked to The Dad... <oh my> and then they and I sat and chatted for several minutes about this show, other shows he's come through Spokane on and about what a great time it looked like The Dad was having in the front row.

So - to back this up a little - after the show and as we were ascending the steps to descend the other steps - I told The Dad.  "Forget Comcast.  I'm going to be an usher here.  So I can see all of the shows.  No... wait.  Forget that.  I'm just going to move to New York and audition for shows.  I'll do anything."  To which The Dad responds with a chortle and a sigh with a...  "My wife..."

As we walked out I said to The Dad... "I should so be in theater."  To which he nervously responded... "Apparently, so should I."

So... the nice thing is - we both got hit on while we were out on a date.  The not so  nice thing is...  we were both hit on... by MEN.  

But wait!  It gets better!  As we were pulling out of our parking spot and The Dad was at the parking lot exit on Spokane Falls Blvd, we were directly across the street from where some of the troupe was heading out.  And there was "Bobby" (John Rochette).  Adorable, cute, witty, "Bobby".  The Dad recognizes him and is amazed that they are standing there, just right there... practically on the street.  (It's not like they are GEORGE CLOONEY OR BRAD PITT darlin').  So he's so excited as he sees Bobby/John start to walk towards the light that he starts to pull out AND roll down my window!  He almost had me taken out Gary Bertier style ("Remember the Titans") and I had a few choice words for him, rolled up my window and reminded him that Bobby's name wasn't "Bobby".  So he rolled up my window.  Thank GOD!

He finally pulls on to the street - safely.  The light changes and as Bobby/John starts to cross the street, The Dad again rolls down my window and  yells "Great job tonight Bobby!"

Oh.

My.

God.

Bobby/John looks up and in his New York accent says "Hey tanks man!"

And I say "His name isn't BOBBY!"

And The Dad says "But he got right into character when I said that."

Like that makes it any less embarrassing?  Not so much.  But it made his night... and I've got to give him that because he and my dad - made mine with these gifts!

Love you guys.  Tanks again!

Oooohhhhh Siriiiiiiiiii.....

Guess what?

In just a few weeks you and I will get to be BFF's!  I went ahead, only 14 days after my upgrade date - and finally, finally took the time to make the call to our friends at Verizon. I got Joshua whom was most helpful and full of personality.  I'm sure you know him... right, Siri?

Joshua told me that you are going to be moving to the Lloyd house in a few weeks and in our discussions I went ahead and paid your airfare to get you here as soon as possible!

I can't wait to tell you about how "Jersey Boys" is tomorrow night... about the party The Dad and I are going to on Friday and share with you all the great things going on with #7, Blue Eyes and Wack.  I'll share my pictures with you and well, we could even go and take some together you and me.  

You'll be arriving in the comfort of the iPhone5 - and I've insured your arrival and monthly stay.  

We are going to have SO. MUCH. FUN.

See you soon!

P.S. - the new show "Nashville" is freakin awesome.  We'll be able to sit and watch it together all too soon.  See ya soon y'all!

King Fiji - WSU Style

Out for dinner last night with family at The Elk when The Dad, at the opposite end of the table, waves his phone in my direction - signaling me to look at mine.  And... so I did.

Ry-Man was encouraged to apply for the IFC last year when there weren't enough applicants for a few positions.  He didn't end up getting it last year - but wasn't overly surprised or disappointed.  He knew that these positions often went to upperclassmen...  

It's quite a process and he hadn't told us he had applied this year.  So this text was as awesome for us to receive, as it was for him to have been selected.

My middle boy took a long time to hit his growth spurt... He came home from his first year of college about 4 inches taller.  He went into the Phi Gamma Delta house on a scholarship that would cover room and board all four years IF he made a 3.5 GPA or above each semester AND if he had a 3.5 or better... they would cut him a $1000 check each semester - which would cover most of his membership fees and dues and leave him about $400 in his wallet.  And he's done it each semester he's been there. When he went into the house, he was told that most juniors move out - they are tired of the house, the noise, the ongoing activity.  Ryan is a junior and this year - for the first time in many many years - there are 35 juniors living in the house.  The idea with these 4 scholarships that were offered was to help improve the Fiji community at WSU.  He's on the house cabinet and he has worked hard each year and has accomplished so much. The Edward R. Murrow School of Communications houses his class load this year, the KUGR radio station is home to him on Thursday nights from 8-10pm, the Martin Stadium pressbox is his home on Cougar Football Saturdays, the Mens golf club can thank him for his nice write ups on wsucougars.com.  My middle boy, with blue eyes, a different birthday than his brothers... wears his heart on his sleeve (the only thing he got from his ma) is living his dream.  He's made it all come true - on his own terms.  

And so:

Happy happy heart.  

I Love...

I love fall.  I love the colors, the smells and that it's football season.  Sure... it's my first fall without any boys in the house and I don't love that part of this fall.  

But this fall has afforded us a lot of time with family... and more to come!

We spent Labor Day weekend with my brother and sister-in-law and our nieces in The Couve.  When the tailgates started - our Eagles nieces AK & BK and soon to be nephew-in-law have joined in on the fun and are so so so so SOOOO helpful in helping me get everything set up, they bring no-bakes, or cowboy caviar, salmon and well... just something to help make the party the successes they usually are.  They've been super troupers after the games when cousin #7 heads out to the spot with some of the other players.  

After #7's injury, their dedication to their school, the team and their cousin (and aunt and uncle) was unwavering.  They stayed the course and while #7 isn't on the field at this time - that doesn't change this one fact for them:  He's family.  And whether your family member is the star of the show or the understudy - they are there to support.  These girls bring this home time and again and remind me of who I want to be, what I hope my kids can or will be.  They don't only send the message - they live the message.  

It doesn't matter if you're winning, losing, playing, not playing, hurting, angry, happy or sad.  My nieces have been there.  For him.  For us.  For their family.

I have been asked before when I've told people about the boys games "Well, is (#7, Blue Eyes, Wack) playing/starting?"  Because if he isn't... it's not worth it to come.  No... that's not been the spoken  word.. it's been the unspoken word.  In fact, with #7 not playing, some people aren't even following it anymore.  So unknowing are they.  Shame on them.  But shame on me for wasting my energy wondering HOW not supporting someone through the rough patches is O.K. but whom will, upon his or their return or successes... choose to brag about someone they don't see or talk to otherwise.

So the energy shift is for the F words.  Family.  Football.  Football players we feed after the final buzzer.  Friends.  Fun. Freedom.  Fellowship.  Fireball!!  

Scott, Jake, MOTY, The Dad, Cyndi, TK, AK, BK, EK  Oct 21, 2012

AK (Soon to be A.S.) October 14, 2012

Not this fall... damnit...

Tailgate Oct 20, 2012

Alli's birthday - taco bash - 10/14/12