Moss Certainly!

Sam Edelman, I don't know you, but I want these shoes.  There was a little discussion regarding comfort with my shopping partners, but I can just see that these would feel great.  I know uncomfortable heels, and I know these are different.  Moss suede and black leather with a stacked leather heel???  Call me!!!

Fast Forward Future Shot

Blast from the future: I think I can see what Romes is gonna look like as a teenager...

Much Belated Bday Commentary

This is also a first day of K post (7/25/11). Here's a girl who's ready for K! She also had the first birthday of the year in her class (8/2/11).  If Laney continues in Chandler schools, she will probably ace that honor in future years as well.  She had cupcakes to share -- what a day!  On Day 1, I liked the part where she said "bye Mom, bye Dad" -- she wanted us to get out of that room so she could start her first day of school.

Growing Up G!

I have a lot for which to thank my parents:
1) work ethic (we had to do a ton of chores, but looking back, they were reasonable. We stacked wood, we bucked hay, and we did the dishes).
2) straight teeth -- I spent a few years in braces and thank the universe for that!
3) college expectations -- in our family, you went to the University of Idaho and you liked it. And I loved it!

I talked to an old friend tonight who saw the ups and downs of my early years. I have to say, it made me the strong (and zany) person I am today.

Happy Birthday to Romes!

Or, more accurately, Roman, his given name. He is amazing and my treasure.  They don't make them better than this!  Love my son!

Photo credit: LAST YEAR 7-2-2010.

One for my 22 Girls!

On our flight to BOI today, the only three seats together were Row 22...(the last row) but due to the great karma of this number, of course, we had a great time!

Happy 75th Dad!

We had the best talk this morning! Talking to my dad reminds me that "the universe will provide." Not because that's what he says, but because that's how he lives -- don't worry so much, things will work out pretty well in the end.  And that you may not always get everything you want but you get pretty much what you need.

M's D and MPG

 

Is it just me, or is there a similarity?  Sure, I always get compared to Molly Shannon. More recently I got a "You look like Kate Walsh" which was awesome -- she's on Grey's Anatomy right now. But Michelangelo's David...who gets that?!?!  I'm really glad MPG doesn't have David's hair...that would just be weird and,um, not very contemporary.

...and THAT makes it all worthwhile...

A perfect finish to the refrigerator!
(not just this, but many many other things make it all worthwhile...)

Bad Mommy!

Just count the total pairs of shoes Mom left on the floor!  Bad, bad mom...
PS One more that isn't even in the picture...
PPS the answer is...7 total...

Princess Party? I Couldn't, I'm Stuffed!!!

Which of these stores is not like the other???  On the right: Paisley's Princess Palace: Hair - Nails - Makeup - Parties Just for Girls.  I just wonder how a little girl's birthday goes next to...a store called Taxidermy (phone number).  Really??? People who stuff dead animals in lifelike poses...Is that the most creative name they can imagine? These are people who pose the bear!!!  Remember?

 

So, gentlemen, may I suggest a great name like "Taxidermagic"??? Come on. The cost to repaint that sign would be negligible next to the image enhancement.  Ahhhh yeah.

Finally, just take a moment to appreciate the front vanity plate on the truck out front.  Like AJ meets savasana.  Really, all of this defies interpretation. So I will let it be.

ASU Surplus Store - Very Nice

ASU Surplus is just east of the 101 on Rio Salado Drive and it's basically an ongoing garage sale of random stuff. They also post on craigslist from time to time, which is how I got Roman's very solid wood desk and bunk beds for about $100. From Irish Hall no less (Honors Dorm, so maybe some smart college mojo will rub off on him?!?!). And a low 3 drawer dresser unit which has another hilarious story that I will save for another time. There is usually a random assortment of bikes and desks and filing cabinets.  Good to peek in there every so often and see what's for sale, because, why not???

Last time I spotted the most random item -- and the price tag was striking. It made me think of my Dad, whose name is also Jim.  The questions must be asked:  what makes an old oil can "very nice"? Its two (rusty) screw caps? Its wooden handle? Why should I pay 20 bucks for it, and cash only???  I think Jim G would like to meet Jim B for a beer.

Easter's Here!

Hoppy Easter Everybunny!

Who's In?

 

Just another one of those days! Happy and thankful for time with my kids in the sunshine.

How Cool Is This Harley?

Now this Road King knows how to have his coffee!  I salute you, Mr. Coffee Holder on the Road King Guy!

Tucson Highlights

Hello Tucson for a weekend getaway.  It has a lot of stoplights, but the Omni is awesome -- you can relax and think about nothing.  Also if somebody barfs, (because of a bad strawberry smoothie) on the artificial grass, they get out a wet-dry vac and groom that grass!  NICE!

Feet pic: MPG aka Superman, LEG, and the G-girls: SLG, HMG, and AJG.  The G-girls have remarkably adult looking feet though they are all under 13. This happens when your dad is 6-6. You are gonna be tall, and you will have proportionate feet.

Good to know: LEG posts a gratuitous picture now and then.

Lastly, the Ostrich Farm at Picacho Peak: FUN!  Feed ostrich, goats, deer, and rainbow lorakeets!  Little trivia:  1 ostrich egg ($18) = 2 dozen chicken eggs.  Hmmm...is that a good deal???? Caption: LEG trying not to look strained with wild birds crapping on her favorite Roxy flip flops.  FAIL.

Ostrich Festival 3-11-11

Ok, after Gilbert Days I'm getting the hang of the rip-off carnival tickets and rides...also thanks to the pay it forward lady who gave me 7 tickets on her way out!  We found a better deal on the carousel ride than Gilbert Days (see Laney smile, top): for kid alone, 4 tickets. For kid + parent, 5 tickets.

The petting zoo was free (unless you fell for buying the $1, $2, or $3 cup of food) and had the coolest hooved ungulates:  Jacob goats (with 4 horns!), a zebu, a yak, a long-horn steer, and a watusi (see second photo).  Say wah-TOOO-si, it's fun!  Note to petting zoo owners -- they're YOUR animals, YOU buy the food!! There were two particularly aggressive begging goats that were hilarious!

Follow-up edit: I was thinking maybe ungulates are all hooved, so that's redundant, and I checked, and it is redundant. Because ungulate means hooved.  Sigh...it's hard being a word girl.

Lessons learned:
A carnie in a clean shirt is still a carnie.  But fresher!
A 41 inch kid looks like a 42 inch kid in a fuzzy hoodie with the hood up.
"Free" is not free
The ostriches on display at the Ostrich Festival need to be easier to find.
I need a t-shirt:  "I survived the 2011 Ostrich Festival" but didn't see them anywhere!

Hmmm...do you think there was a lottery for this one?

Back story desperately needed.  Veteran, check. American flag ribbon magnet, check. And, the obvious: wow! How many people who should have this plate do not?!?! Oh wait, I guess if you label yourself that, it kinda defeats the purpose. You need to be identified by a third party.

 In closing, I quote the movie Birdcage:  "Shouldn't you be holding the crucifix? It's THE prop for martyrs."

Thanks Chuck Taylor - Still Cool After All These Years!

Converse One Star, All Star...Superstar!!!

We are officially retiring the 1st pair (3 strap velcro, we appreciate your years of service, but...it's over! moving on to laces and it's high time).  And for the girlies, here's how you look cool in pink high tops:

In closing, let me just add a big huge thank you to Tony Hawk for making my life easy in the morning. Throw any one of those shirts and some jeans on Roman with a pair of tennies and he's good to go for school!  YES! Chuck and Tony, you rule!

Happy Birthday Laura is Jane!

I dedicate these shoes to Laura on her birthday.  I am more a platform girl but she doesn't need the height...they have style and a little heat (for the biker side).  Plus, jingly!!  Happy birthday, hot chick!

Nice Shirt!

So simple! So perfect!  It's kinda zen meets Sesame Street. But works for adults too. And under $5...I'm going to miss Target clothes deals when Laney gets to size 6 and the prices jump up (but I have well over a year to worry about that - she's still a 4).

Kid Snax from the Xmas Cookbooks

This is how they look in the book ("enlarged to show detail" of course!!!):

This is how ours look:

Martha Stewart isn't scared but not bad for the 4, 7, and 43 year old with a fear of kitchen messes! Lots of fun either way ...
PS How can Cool Whip come in "regular" and "extra creamy" -- really, don't we all want extra creamy???

Like A G6, Like A G6

Ok, is this oddly reminiscent of an airplane restroom or what???

Whew, ok, now I can pee in peace...

Taking it to the next level, there's also a light on the outside "Restroom is occupied when light is on" but when it takes 3 signs and 2 wall buttons to open, lock, and close a bathroom door, we have issues.  This was sooooooo designed by an underutilized engineer.

PS prize to the first reader who can tell me where this restroom is...

Shine! Shimmer! Glimmer! (but not in that order)

The flairies are characters from Laney's favorite Barbie movie.  They're NOT fairies; fairies have wings. These are wingless.  Glimmer is on the left -- she's my favorite.  Love her pigtails. Shimmer is the purple one. Shine has the best shoes.  I didn't notice their shoes 'til they came out of the package on Christmas morning. From the standpoint of physics and function, they are impossible! They could not be walked in by a normal human, which is fine, because in the movie, the flairies fly (despite their winglessness).  Anyway, the shoes.  From a purely design standpoint:  AWESOME! And that's what makes Barbie world so perfect and magical.