Robinella's Craft Corner

Well, it's November 30th. I get my camera tomorrow, but most importantly, it's the last day of Nablopomo. I thought it would be fitting to wrap up this whole "month of posting misery" with instructions on how to properly wrap a gift.

A little history. A few years ago, I had a moment of temporary insanity and needed to get out the house after being couped up all day with the boys and decided to get a part-time job in the evenings. I needed a job where I didn't have to interact with other people and didn't have to use one single brain cell. So I got a job at QVC in the packing department. I was so good at being antisocial and putting peanuts in the boxes that soon I was moved to the gift wrapping section.

Still no need for human contact, still no need for brain cells, but it added a little pretty to my routine. I didn't work at QVC long and BN asked that I not work another part-time job again, because it messes us up at tax time. I did meet one of the funniest people on this planet. And to think I spent the last 8 years hooking up with Mom's groups trying to find that special friend that I could call "all mine" and there she was, also in a fit of insanity, working part-time at QVC.

So without further ado and sloppy kisses, let Pogo and I show you how to wrap the perfect gift. This is the technical version (complete with outtakes) - not to be confused with the super creative version showcased by Jenni. (you don't want to miss that.)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbguBuEwTjM&rel=1]

~R

**disclaimer** Youtube adds 35 lbs.
**disclaimer** We were drinking ginger ale. I don't drink and Pogo had to drive kids home.

WoNoBloPoBaby!

**First, business. If you are participating in FM, please consider hosting next week. If nobody volunteers, then I have to host again, and you are not going to like it. I'm not spilling the beans or anything but it'll involve you naked and a scale. That's all I am saying. So please have mercy on us all and take the reigns.**

World No Blog Posting, Baby! @2007

I was thinking about how I feel after this November main attraction and how my blog buddies have been feeling as evidenced by their postings and I think for the month of December, we should rebel.

In the month of December I suggest no blogger post. Not a single word. I think we could crash the system with that single act of keeping our mouths closed. Or fingers still. Think of all the free advertising that wouldn't happen because there aren't any blogs to read. We support a lot of free advertising. Whether you host advertisers on your site for money or you host advertisers on your site because you are using their services. Shoot, having a blog itself advertises the company you use.

Then again, that's not in keeping with the Spirit of the Season now is it? And quite frankly, I don't know any bloggers who can keep their mouths shut for that long. Or keep their carpal tunnel at bay.

In my last attempt to rebel, I refuse to publish every day in December. Especially Christmas.

~R

Just sick about it.

*~First, business: Stay tuned for Friday's Craft Corner. It'll be a "live taped edition" and I'll have a co-host. Don't miss it.~*

Now on to me, me, me...

I made my hubby a deal way back in the beginning of October. I told him that instead of giving me an anniversary present (10/13) and giving me a birthday present (12/11) and giving me Christmas presents (12/25), I would instead like one combo gift. The reason I wanted a combo gift is because what I want is muy expensivo. I can do without more jewelry, new slippers, perfumes and such. But I really, really want a camera. Not just any camera, I want a really, really good digital one.

I have the Minolta SLR on sale at ebay, and we have two digital cameras, but I want one with all the zoom lenses that is digital. I loved the Minolta and even thought about buying new zoom lenses for it but the fact is I am spoiled by the digital ones. And I take excessive amounts of photos.

So I made this deal.

Problem is, he bought it and lots of accessories for me but I can't have it yet. He wants to make me wait until Christmas - but I'm not having any of that!! So he decided to give me some on my birthday and some at Christmas - again, NAh!! Wrong answer. He even tried to suggest giving it all to me on my birthday. I just walked out of the room, leaving him with his mouth hanging open.

What I suggested is that since my Mommy is coming down on the first and will be giving me gifts for my birthday early then he should do the same. Just to be consistent, right. You feel me on this. C'mon, help a sister out. Thanks.

He agreed. So I am just sick with anticipation just waiting to get my gift. I left it up to him to pick out the perfect camera, because everyone knows I stink at all that technical stuff and he reads 800-page technical books all the time, so obviously he gets it. Even though I know what I am getting, I don't know which one he finally decided on. So it's still kinda like a surprise. I can't wait to get it. I am doubly excited that I will have a new digital camera to catch those all important Christmas moments that we will all cherish for a lifetime. Just as soon as I scrapbook them - which will be awhile from now considering that I take excessive amounts of photos and have about 2.7 billion to go through already.

~*~A brand spanking new digital camera with all the lenses and doo-dads.~*~

Oops, I'm drooling and I think I peed my pants a little.

~R

Fun at the Inlaws

I always enjoy visiting family and Sunday was no exception. My in-laws have a beautiful house on the lake and they just added a two story sunroom to the back of the house where the deck used to be. Because their lot is wooded, it's the most wonderful feeling to be in that sunroom all snuggly and cozy chatting with family and having the woods and critters and views of the lake all around you. That and the fact that MIL and BIL are wonderful chefs and always feed us like we are on vacation. Just dreamy.

The foliage...

The promise of summer to come and of summers past...

Boys having fun...

~R

Star Wars Geeks

Come one, come all. Actually, Radioactive Jam asked if anyone collected movie related stuff and I have only one thing to say, other than BN is a movie buff and also has miniature scale models of the light sabers...

It cost me $19.99 a couple a years ago.

Enjoy RaJ,

~R

ps I didn't vote because I am guilty of "it's". Publik scool tawt me that.

Fun Monday

BlueMomma at Life in the Fish Bowl is a voyeur, I should sell her some used panties, and she wants the following from us Fun Mondayers:

I want you to show me your......projects. More to the point, I want to see your unfinished projects. I have so many that I really need some reassurance that I'm not the only one. Home improvement projects are what I have in mind, but if you don't have any of those show me any kind of project - needlework, cooking, scrapbooking, etc. You can even show me your spouse if they qualify as a work in process.

Well since our home has been improved as much as we are willing - I don't have that to show you. OH wait, I'll show two things on my list to do, which would be an improvement when I am done.

The first picture is of our pantry. It's actually quite large and is built behind the wall where the stove and counters are and under the staircase leading to the 2nd floor. I can't find anything in there and my boys do not help when they rifle through everything looking for junk.

The second is the bottom cabinets on the other side of the kitchen and I rarely use anything under there except the blender, and some mixing bowls. I don't want to get rid of anything because I use everything at least once a year. But I am starting to tire of how much stuff is under there and I also have to toss the colanders in and slam the door so nothing falls out.

So for all of you I know IRL that always tell how wonderfully clean my house is all the time - I have dirty little secrets. Now don't you feel better?

I'll be hosting next week so sign up and find out later what you'll be up to.

~R

***UPDATE*** This was written on Saturday afternoon. Saturday evening while digging for my wok in the cluttered cabinet, I found it with water in it. Apparently we had a leak from the sink. So, BN got to work fixing that and since many of the things in that cabinet had gotten wet with drain water, I was FORCED to go ahead and clean this space. Here it is after I finished. Still too much stuff, but neater. Yeah!

Oooo. Presents.

Looky what came in the mail today.

And it's not even my birthday or Christmas yet! Actually, the contents are for my boys and it'll take all of 2.5 seconds for them to destroy cherish them.

Some time ago, forgot when and what for, Willowtree decided to send me prizes. Oh wait, it's coming to me and if I remember correctly, there was some controversy involved. Everyone tried oh-so-hard to be clever and I took one look at the photo and I wrote something about a fart and BINGO, I won. Imagine that.

The package...ID Recorded? That sounds serious...

Oh, but what is this? I never in a million years would have dreamed this could happen with the USPS or did that happen before they got it?...

I mean, really!!!...

But don't worry, all was intact...

Let's see, two pencil cases, 4 clingy koalas, 4 keychains, two pages of tattoos and a partridge in a pear tree. I think I'll tattoo BN's hiney tonight and NOT show you the pictures.

Thanks a bunch WT. I know the boys will love the goodies. In fact, they already have.

~R

Unmentionables.

Have you seen this category on ebay? BTW, I have a camera on there for sale. Here's the link. Cheap, Cheap.

Apparently, a friend of my BFF, whose son is a friend that is a boy of my BFF's daughter, told her about this site, because she has an ebay store, and does well btw, and they had a great laugh. Why? Because she saw a pair of Old Navy flip-flops, very used with the dirty footprint ground in sell for $100. WTF, right? People who have f3tishes frequent this category. I've heard of f3tishes but never dreamed there was a category on ebay for such a thing - I guess that's why BN calls me sheltered.

She also mentioned there was sometimes used underwear on there. Wait a minute, hold the phone, I realized I am sitting on a goldmine. L.I.T.E.R.A.L.L.Y. And according to this friend, the more used an item, the better. So I thought about what was in my underwear drawer.

Way in the back were thongs I no longer wear. Yeah sure I pull them out when I am feeling sassy, but quickly put them away after looking in the mirror. Just to the front of those and to the right are the Bali hi-cut bloomers that I love because they are comfy and don't show panty lines. To the left of those are the nicer-not-bloomers that I wear on date night and long car trips for just in case we get in an accident and the whole of ER gets a peek at my panties - nice, no holes, elastic in tact. And in front of that are my true unmentionables - the period panties. C'mon, you girls all have them. Plain, white, Hanes, ahem, marked up in a few places.

In fact, if I get in on this unmentionbles and market my period panties, I can even satisfy several different folks. Do you want the stain on the front the back or on the sides in the elastic band? Ooo, and I just thought about the boy's unders and skid marks. I'd be rich!

And because I am too sheltered to sell something like this, if I did it, I'd sell them on BN's account.

~R

Sushi 'til ya drop.

Well, at 4:30am I crawled out of bed and got ready quickly because at 4:45am Suishi and her sister pulled into my driveway for our big day of shopping.

And shop we did. It was a great treat to see Sushi since she's been working so hard lately. There were only two things that I wanted to buy that were already sold out. AND that's only because we didn't line up at 4:00am like the rest of the saps. AND then I found I out I might be claustrophobic and I only think this because we went into Target, my favorite store, and it was wall to wall people and I started getting H.O.T! I was only wearing a light jacket loaded with my phone, chapstick, credit card and license and prior to entering the masses I was freezing. It could have been all the body heat and stinky morning breath, but I only knew one thing and that was that I needed to get.out.of.that.store. It was bittersweet. I'll miss you Target...until next time...probably later this week.

You see, I would rather pay full price than wade through that lot and so other than a few stops here and there and then going crazy at Toys r Us and Michaels, I just considered myself along for the ride. I like being around all that crazy, jazzed Christmas fever, just not IN all that crazy, jazzed Christmas fever.

THEN we drove to Virginia Beach to hit a few more stores and kill time until their favorite all-you-can-eat-sushi-joint opened up. I'm leary of foodbars, but since we were the 3rd group of customers through the door and it had just opened, I gave it a try. I tried a little raw sushi, which I usually don't partake of and I tried some spicy stuff, which I don't usually partake of, and now I am sitting here like a bloated cow typing this post for tomorrow. I think I am done with sushi, the food kind, for a while.

Year two shopping Black Friday with Sushi - check. And we had a lot of fun as usual.

~R

Robinella's Craft Corner

Here it is...the Christmas "gift" gift. The ingredients are: glass block, diamond drill bit, drill, BIG fancy bow, 35-count light set. Optional: glass etching materials. I left mine clear and with a big enough bow, it works just fine. They also sell glass blocks with many pre-etched designs. (Shop for the glass blocks in the spring and save 75%.)

Instructions: Determine the front and back of gift. Drill hole in bottom right or left of the "back". Thread the lights into the block, stopping after the last light. You'll need all of the remaining cord left out. Tie a big fancy-schmancy bow (I used ribbon with wire in the edges - helps with shaping) or you can buy pre-made bows and afix to the top after wrapping the block with flat ribbon. Voila! Fini. I think your family and friends will love this "gift".

And here it is...

~R

What am I thankful for?

Family and friends. Here are a few reasons why...

We went to visit Pogo and kids on Wednesday. It's always a wonderful time and Pogo really puts things in perspective for me. I'll never find a truer friend.

When we were getting into the car, Pete asked when I was little, what did I want to be when I grew up. I told him an artist. He got this really big grin on his face and said that is what he wants to be too. Then he looked at RePete and asked, "What do you want to be, RePete? An artist, a vegetarian or a doctor?" I got a really big kick out of that.

And other than stretch jeans and black Friday, I am thankful that even after 22 years of being with BN, he still types my name in the "high score" log when he plays video games.

Happy Tofurkey Day!

~R

Bowling

I started a home school bowling league last spring and we are in the middle of our second season. We've been having a lot of fun, meeting new people - it's been a positive experience.

Unfortunately, RePete has gone from my compliant, beautiful little angel baby to a shoe throwing, beautiful demon baby. He is three after all. Pete didn't go through the terrible terrific twos and threes. He's giving us a run for our money now, but not then. I don't have anything to compare with for RePete. Hopefully, he'll get it of out his system now and we can breathe later.

Case in point:

We have two little friends that are brothers. They are petite little fellas. One is turning 3 this month and is about half RePete's size and the other is 6 and the same size as RePete. (My boys are big and hers are small) It started with RePete trying to play Tag with them. The older one took RePete's hard tag as hitting and hit back, and then RePete then the friend until the friend ended up in tears. Another time, RePete tried this game with the younger little guy and got the same reaction. He only does this to these two boys.

He was like a shark after it's tasted blood. He wants more. The last 3 times we've gotten together, it happened just like the first time. It's no longer a game, at least not for the other boys. RePete seems thrilled with himself. I'm not. The other mom poopahs it saying, it's his age and stage. It doesn't make it any easier to get him through it. I feel like staying home and not playing with them anymore - to prevent the bullying to them. I remove him from the situation, make him apologize, have him sit out with me. Anyone gone through this? How did you handle it?

~R

Boys and Barbies

**If your name starts with "K" and you are expecting a box in the mail from me, just know that the post office incident mentioned below prevented me sending it today. Going out tomorrow (Tue), pending no further incidents! (snort)**

I had a lot of errands to run today and I decided to check out our local thrift store. I've read so many blogs lately and thrift store shopping seems to be a big deal. BN says I shouldn't shop there because it's meant for folks less fortunate than me. Man that makes him sound like a stuck up snob, but in reality he meant it in a more benign way. There isn't an ounce of pomp in my man and his heart is much bigger than mine.

At the risk of stealing from the poor (insert sarcasm), I decided to see what all the hype was about. So after my trip to the local nursery, and after the BJs run, and after the school supply store, and after the boys had a fist fight in the post office, we ended up in the local Goodwill. It's the only thrift in my little town.

I led the boys to the little section with toys and I perused the kitchen stuff. I'm really funny about used stuff. My mom will buy things at yard sales, take them home, clean them up and use them. I'm a little more hesitant. Actually, yard sale stuff would be better because I can see the folks that had them before me. At the thrift, you never know who had them last. But I looked anyway. I saw a great rice steamer, and I need a new one, but I couldn't bring myself to buy it. Rack after rack I searched looking for something in particular - dipping dishes for sushi. We bring sushi home from time to time but I haven't a proper dish to mix up the wasabi and soy sauce so we need them. And I found a set of four. They are perfect because they match our Pfaltzgraff dishes perfectly. I also found 3 pots from IKEA. I could tell that these things were either never used or rarely used. So I took a chance.

In the toys section, I found a great book, "How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?" (we have the how they clean their rooms one) and Pete found Bionicles ($1 each - all parts present and accounted for) and RePete....well, RePete picked out barbies. Still new in the box ($1 each - knockoffs, not the real Barbie).

Now some of you may be cringing at the thought that I bought a boy, not one barbie knockoff (BKO), but two of them. Obviously, I don't have a problem with this, so we brought them home. The boxes hadn't been opened 10 minutes and those poor girls...

So I got out the Gorilla glue and some tape and performed minor surgery. After a few hours, when the glue should have set-up, I gently removed the bandages tape, and Blondie's leg operation was a success. Unfortunately for the brunette cheerleader, she's now an amputee.

Then Pete grabs Blondie and takes her upstairs. So I say,

Me - "Pete, what are you doing?"

Pete - "Nothing."

Me - "Then bring her back down here, RePete is going to get upset."

Pete - "I'm fixing her. Going to make her look pretty."

Me - Ummm. okay, but don't do anything crazy."

I start cooking dinner and forget about Blondie and Pete eventually comes back downstairs. I ask where Blondie is and he replies that she is on the bureau by the front door.

After dinner, I go check on Blondie and find this...

Okay so maybe I should put away the BKOs. I'm not ready for this.

~R

Fun Monday

Karisma at Karisma and Kids is taking us back...way back.

"I want you to take a trip down memory lane, and keep right on going, right back to your childhood. And I want to hear "THAT STORY". You remember the one? Yes, you do! The one your parents, siblings, extended family or friends, would never let you forget, live down or get over!"

Believe it or not, that old age thing is at work again, because I could not for the life of me remember any stories. I can clearly see me, Mom, my sister and whoever else sitting around talking about old times, but it's like the mute button is on. We are all laughing our asses off and yet I can't hear it. And here's a photo from that time...

So I emailed my Mommy Saturday night and Sunday I had this nugget in my inbox, in her words...

"Do you want a good one or a bad one. Two that spring to mind are: when you were about 6 you saw something you just had to have in a comic book. You asked to get it but of course money being tight, I said no. So you got an envelope, the comic book page, wrote your name in big letters and a check from the checkbook.
sealed it all in the envelope(blank) and put it in the mailbox. The mail person knocked on the door, to tell me that they could not accept the envelope, since it did not have an address and no postage!!

The other time you were about 7ish and Do was walking so about 15-18 months and you went to the neighbors to play, when they asked if it was time for you to go home you told them that you couldn't just yet because we told you not to, because we were doing what Mom and Dad's do. Of course they had a good laugh and sent you home later, but I didn't hear about it for a while." (Ummm - awkward. She left off that they were just sitting around reading and never said that to me, of course. I made up the other part so I could play longer.)

Much thanks to my Mommy. Can't wait to hear what the rest of you little boogers were up to.

~R

Tired (scratch that) Bloglines

If you managed to hear that fabulous new band, Fivewide, then you heard a little drummer boy.

He's all mine. And I promise that is my last post on them. this month. i told you i was tired this week. i needed fillers. see, i can't even be bothered to press the cap key. bye.

~R

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Wait, I'm back and refreshed. It's date night and per Jenni's pleading, I won't wear crocs (not that I own any).

Dear Blog Friends:

'Kay, down to business. Since April and the beginning of my blogging, ahem, career, I have some folks on my blogroll and along with the other hundred ten or so on my bookmarks that I'm too lazy to add, I've been happily clicking blogsite after blogsite and reveling in your wittiness.

But I kept hearing "bloglines" (whisper that for more effect) and I wondered just what in tarnation this bloglines is. After much research (typing bloglines in google), I found out that I can click ONE button and sit here reading blog after blog but not have to actually visit blog sites.

First, I have a dilemma. I like visiting your blogs, looking at pretties, or changed blog headers, but with the new DSL hook-up, which btw is not that much slower, but is slower enough that I have to wait a few seconds longer than before, and I am on a tight schedule with two boys always asking for food, well somedays I just can't handle a few extra seconds, ya know.

So...I signed up for bloglines. I visited each of your sites last night and clicked them into my reader. Ummm, now what? Can anyone tell me what to do? I did click on my feeder and I saw a bold "1" next to a few of you, so I clicked and lo and behold a new post popped up. It was a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Problem is not everybody who posted showed a "1" beside their names. I expected WT not to conform but why? Why didn't a "1" show up beside his blog when the others did even though he posted a canned near death experience. I would have missed it. the horror.

Am I expecting some kind of magical thing here? Am I expecting too much from bloglines? Please tell me because I don't know if I am or should be. So somebody with bloglines, tell me how it all goes down when you sit at your computer first thing in the morning with a cup of joe or late at night with toothpicks holding open your eyes and read blogs. Step by step, please, I am blond.

Sincerely and with much love,

~Robinella

Thanksgiving Limerick

Want this button?

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I should start by saying that I am totally unqualified to join what I am sure is a fabulous group of wordy people. I never liked poetry but it is on my list of things to conquer.

So without further ado

I present this to you

my first ever poem

don't use a fine tooth comb

I'm not real sure what to do.

****************************************************************

I don't eat a lot of meat.

I made fake turkey to eat.

It's made of tofu

But I can't fool you

This year won't be a repeat.

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Happy 1st, PPL, Robin at Pensieve.

~R

Nablopomo Filler

I am definitely feeling older this year. From my eyes down to my feet. If you had asked me last year, I would have said I felt like I did at 25, but this year...Remember the Fun Monday we showcased our fav shoes and some of us, toesies? Well, last night I had a "Duh" moment. Since the spring, when official flip flop season starts in my house, I've had sore heels. They were sore to the touch, really tight feeling when I stood after sitting for a spell, just plain sore ALL the time. I thought maybe I had injured them exercising or something. Or maybe my shredded ACL had something to do with it.

My massage therapist helped a lot but the relief only lasted a day. Coming from a family of hypochondriacs, I had already diagnosed my problem and was gearing up for all sorts of treatments. Being a procrastinator, I haven't acted on these impulses to fix the problem.

The weather has been cooler and about a month ago, I put away the flops and pulled out the winter shoes. Last night I realized, my heels no longer hurt. Hmmm. It's amazing what a good pair of shoes can do for your feet. I'm going to miss my flip flops. A moment of silence, please.
~R

Promotin'

A little birdie, oh yeah, I'm the birdie, wants to showcase a new and upcoming band. Fivewide.

Go take a look-see and listen and come back and tell me what you think. If you like it, tell your friends.

I have a good feeling about this band. *wink wink*

~R

Robinella's Craft Corner

We didn't make into the attic this weekend. We were supposed to clean out the garage and attic and that didn't happen. (I'm still pouting) So next week, I'll show the "gift" and this week we'll settle for...

Christmas Cards (You can easily substitute whatever you and your family celebrates.)

I started making my own a few years ago and darn it if they aren't pretty enough to frame. Because I put so much work into the actual card, I don't sit down and write personal notes in my very own handwriting to everyone. Instead, I make a small note giving a few highlights from our year, which I type on the computer, and tuck it and usually pictures of the boys inside. I type it up with neat font and make it a little decorative just so nobody feels cheated that they didn't get to see my sloppy penmanship.

Here's the cards I made in 2005 and 2006.

Yes, that is a beer tab on the first one. Recycle - check. I used a decorative piece for the ones I sent out.

Some people think cards are a waste of money and I can see their point. I mean what do you do with them after you've read them. My solution is simple. Since I don't write on the ones I make, the card itself is a gift that can be reused. If I give you a card, feel free to use it next year or for a family member you forgot. We all get those cards from friends or families after we've already sent ours and it'd be rude not to send a quick card and note back.

Now to get started on this year's cards.

~R

Playmates

And not Hugh Hefner's kind. If you did your homework, A++. My observation was that your friends were of the 3-5 feet kind and I loved hearing the stories.

When I was growing up, I played with my sister, my cousins, neighbor kids and my Aunt (she's only a few years older). I can't for the life of me remember even one moment when my parents played with me. Maybe they did, I just can't pinpoint any particular time. No memory is coming out, nothing. I also didn't hear any of you mention parents.

My husband and I play with our kids. A LOT. It's rare to find a moment when we aren't playing with them. Sure, Pete has neighbor friends he plays with after school or on weekends. Yes, I arrange playdates all throughout the week to make sure my kids receive proper socialization. (ha) But when we are home, we play.

When BN and I are tired and don't feel like playing, we feel guilty. Why is this? It's not that the boys can't play by themselves. They do. It's us. We feel extreme amounts of guilt when the boys ask us to play and we try to dissuade them. So we talked about it and wondered about it and we still haven't figured out why we have the guilt.

I know as parents we want to make sure our kids have the best life ever. We want to make sure their life is better than ours was. You'll hear those same things from most parents. I feel very loved by my mother. I always felt that she loved me very much even though she didn't play with me.

Just talking out loud, but I wonder why we feel guilt and what kind of difference this will make in their lives compared to ours - which is good, really good, despite our parents not playing with us..

~R

I want my m-t-v...

Well, not really, but I think we need cable or satellite again. I know, I know, it's only been a week.

First I have to admit that I may have been underestimating the amount of time my kids watched tv or maybe not, maybe now it's what is on. You see, before last week, my kids only got on my nerves for about 1 hour each day. This week, it's doubled. They aren't watching what is on when I need a quiet moment - like for important phone calls. I applaud them for not watching the tube, but for goodness sakes, get out from under my feet and give me five minutes of breathing space and quiet please. Yes, I know it will pass and before I know it they'll be grown and married. Whatever.

Homework: Who were your playmates growing up? Names aren't needed for this assignment, just who they were in relation to you.

I'm dragging this out until tomorrow, so that I can drag out this Nablopomonomo another day. I'm out of steam this week.

~R

Gift cards.

I love getting gift cards but am bothered when I am not able to spend the entire gift amount. Take for instance, last year. My Mom sent me a JC Penney gift card, just 'cause. I never shop at Penneys. I don't know why, probably because it's in the mall and other than lunch dates with BN and the boys, or trips to Target (ours is in the mall), I just don't go there.

But I dutifully went to Penneys last year and bought new sheets and I found comforters for the boys that were half price. I enjoyed that little outing but still had $9.98 left on the card.

At the beginning of school, she buys my nephew school supplies. Since my boys are schooled at home and we don't use the standard supplies, she just gave me a gift card to JC Penneys. I've just been holding onto it since, remember, I don't shop there.

Today I decided to go blow the whole wad and find Pete some new long sleeve shirts, he outgrew all the stuff I bought him last year. My goal was to try and spend it all. I picked up five shirts and after it was all keyed in and the gift cards deducted, I STILL had a balance of $0.96! I just can't get rid of these cards. I asked the sales person if she could use the card somehow and she said someone always is a buck short. I told her to keep the card.

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I once got gift cards to Penneys

My trips to the mall aren't many

But I bought some sheets

And I bought some shirts

And still had 96 pennies.

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That was for my little birdie friend, Pensieve Robin. See that little poetry thingie on the right sidebar. That's her creation and because I love a challenge, I'm doing it. I am not good at it, obviously, as you can see from the attempt above, but that won't stop me. And yes, I know that it is not totally correct for a limerick. So what. Check her out to play and find out more.

Fun Monday

Hootin' Anni has adopted us all for a little game she calls "Mother May I?" Take 30 giant steps forward and take a picture, take 15 tiny steps back and take a picture.

What you see is what you get. I won't sugar coat it with knick-knacks (not that I own any) or pretty furniture arrangements.

~*~30 giant steps forward~*~

I ended up in the laundry room which is just off the kitchen. Yesterday, I carried all the laundry baskets to the rooms and put all the clothes away. Today, I've done two loads and the hamper is again almost to the top. Perpertual laundry will be my undoing.

~*~15 tiny steps backward~*~

Takes me back into the kitchen, where lo and behold, my stove is at work. Holding wall patch supplies for dear BN. He, like a lot of menfolk I know, is obsessed with his electronics. The reason he needs wall patch materials is because he cut two 4"x4" holes in our family room wall so that he could fish CAT5 wiring from the office computer upstairs to the PS3 downstairs. We can't watch dvds the normal way. You know, get up off your hiney, get a movie from the case, put the movie in the dvd player, go sit back down and fumble with the remote. NOOO, we only have to pick up the remote and choose our movie from a menu and voila, we watch said movie. (the movies are stored on the computer upstairs) The upside of this, other than sitting on our lazy hind-ends the whole time, is that those unsightly movies will no longer be sitting around taking up space and looking hideous. (not that mine would because I buy cute cabinets from IKEA for storing them away) The downside of the holes in the wall is that I get to paint. Everytime BN cuts holes in the walls, I get to paint - it's my own fault, because I have a steady hand and never use painter's tape and when BN paints, even for tiny little areas, he has to pull out drop cloths, blue painters tape, wears a painters cap (exaggerating a little, the rest is true) and frankly, I can't handle watching the whole production when I can so easily get a can of paint and a brush and do the touch up in about 2 minutes.

So thanks for viewing, come back again, I promise not to complain about holes and laundry - just think if the laundry had holes and then I had to sew. (shiver) Now go see what other Fun Mondayers are up to.

~R

Speaking of Ostrich

After all the drama and hilariousness in my comments when I received the wonderific "Emu-zing" award (man it is so cute), I realized I had a great photo of an ostrich. I thought I had deleted it, thinking what will I ever need that for. I took the picture on a whim, because, well, it was funny to me. It doesn't take much. BTW, is the plural of ostrich, ostrich or ostriches? I read either.

While organizing my 2.5 billion digital photos, I found the original and here it is. I finished organizing through 2004 in case you are interested.

While it's not a close-up and won't add to the commentary from the award, I thought it'd be a perfect post for a Sunday. You know, love thy neighbor, AND while some might consider this lame or frivolous for a post, I beg to differ. Nablomemofo - check.
~R

Lestat or Bubba

You decide.

I just love this picture. It looks like RePete had fangs or bubba teeth, but it's really two little spills of vomit. Happy Saturday!

Robinella's Craft Corner

Well, it's that time of year again to start making little gifts. For family members, friends, postal workers, teachers, the gardner - doesn't matter. Everyone likes gifts, especially when they are made with your own wittle hands.

The first craft we'll visit is the snowman. I made these two Christmases (did I just make up a word?) ago and received a few requests from folks I purposely left off missed on my list.

You start with a stone from your local homestore.

They come in a brick or concrete color. Doesn't matter which one you buy because the next step will be painting. You can buy a good outdoor paint or do what I did and stir up that old can of Kilz in your shed. Two coats should work - stones are porous and will show through the first coat.

Next you can glue buttons on for his eyes, nose, mouth and buttons - just don't use hot glue. I did this and after a few freeze-thaws, those little boogers popped right off. Instead, pull out that tiny paintbrush and be artistic.

My BFF's daughter hand-crocheted the scarves for me. You can also use fabric scraps. Plaids are nice.

I used RePete's old size 12 month socks. I sewed decorative buttons and flowers on the fronts and then glued those babies down on the heads. The freezing-thawing thing didn't seem to bother the hats.

And there you have it.

I used a silver cording to tie on a gift tag. It read something like this:

"From our family to yours."

"BN bought the bricks."

"Robinella painted."

"Pete helped with the glue."

"And RePete donated his socks."

These were a big hit and I hope you too can make someone smile with a homemade gift this year.

~R

If I can get up into the Christmas stuff before next Friday, I'll post another "gift". Gift is the operative word for our next crafty session. Attics really creep me out, so if I can't bribe BN to go up this weekend, then it'll be the Friday after Thanksgiving post.

A little Sompin' Sompin'

Debs over at Debs Melon Patch gave me the most adorable little pretty to put on my sidebar. She didn't know this, but we heart Emus. We have two in our local zoo and the boys and I always stop to say hi to them. We speak Emu - I lie not. It's actually not too hard to master but can be hard on the throat. It's like itching the back of your throat but you have to really put some umph into it. Go ahead and try it - you know you are trying it right now. If you get really good bass, those emus will tell you all the zoo gossip. We knew the lions were having pups before the zoo keepers did. The whole "lions messing around" was apparently a scandal because she's older (shhh). Reminded them of Demi and that Kutcher kid.

Anyway, Debs, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you! I'm supposed to give this to five funny people. Frankly, if I visit you and leave a message, I think you are hilarious. I just can't narrow it down to five. See my blogroll.

~R

Great Dismal Swamp

Our 4-h group's project for the year is Wetlands. We have a lot of those around here, considering we are on the coast, have many rivers, and reside in the swamp.

Monday, we visited the Great Dismal Swamp and more specifically the Washington Ditch. This ditch was an attempt to drain the swamp and was commissioned by George Washington. They failed. They used slaves as laborers in this arduous task. Here's a shot of the ditch.

Yeah, I know, don't wet your pants or anything. The boardwalk and the trails leading to the lake were great but the ditch, eh, not so much. Knowing that you are standing on the ground where prominent historical figures stood and worked could be exciting if you are into all that. I am.

What the boys found most interesting on our adventure was this: A grasshopper, I am assuming.

What I found most interesting about our excursion today was learning the history. Apparently, runaway slaves used the swamp for hiding and were known as maroon colonies. Research shows these to be one of the largest maroon colonies, or hidden communities of escaped slaves in the US. Some used the swamp as a gateway to the VA/NC ports for finding safe passage north. Amazingly, these people lived isolated in the swamps upwards of thirty years and lived only on what they found on the land. No outside food, pots and pans, or building materials were ever found as they never ventured out for fear of being captured and returned to slavery.

I've heard of the underground railroad, but never of these people. I love homeschooling my son. I am learning so much more than I ever did the first time around.

~R

Boys and Anatomy 201

Prerequisite: Boys and Anatomy 101

There comes a time in all boys lives when they discover that little hangydown between their legs and from that point on, no decisions are made without a direct consult with their penis. Usually, the penis is not all that responsible and when the boy asks it if he should climb on top of the minivan, the penis will 9 times out of 10 say, "YES!". Or if the boy asked the penis if the marble will fit in his nose, once again, a resounding "YES!".

So it comes as no surprise that boys will compose songs about their penis. A tribute, if you will. Here's a few heard around our home. Feel free to sing along.

"Row, row, row your penis"

"Old MacPenis had a penis, P-E-N-I-S" (they get points for spelling)

Perhaps you have some favorites you'd like to share with me. Feel free to leave them out of my comments section.

~R

Fun Monday #40

The Humble Housewife, or Deborah, asked for the following:With the holidays coming up I thought it would be fun to get an insight into holiday traditions in peoples homes. I want you to share a tradition, event, recipe or quirk that you or your family does or aspires to do during the holidays. (short version)

Well, Deborah, you wouldn't want any of my recipes, because I am a lousy cook. As for traditions. The day after Thanksgiving we shop and pull out the decorations. We use a 7' fake tree because I like the height and I put it up that day and leave it up through New Year's Day. A fresh tree, while appealing, just won't last that long.

We used to open a present on Christmas Eve. We haven't done that as much in our little family because BN's family didn't do it and he wants to wait until the morning. I think this year, I'll start buying matching pajamas for everyone and let us open those. I've always loved that idea and think it'll make for prettier pictures. Now that we kids have kids of our own, we started visiting the weekend before Christmas or the one after with our parent's and siblings. It's different than what I grew up with but it's fun for our kids because they don't have to open all their gifts and then have to leave them to go to Grandma's house. We also aren't as rushed for time because we visit our parent's on different days.

My Mom passed down her angel that topped our trees since the year before I was born. She'll be 39 this year and even though she is just made of cheap plastic and isn't fancy, I ADORE this angel. I think my sister is jealous, although she's never said so directly. Unfortunately all the ornaments from when we were younger are long gone and broken. We moved a lot growing up. My mom had some really fantastic stuff and I loved, loved, loved decorating the tree. In fact, with my boys being so young, I'm devastated that I have only been able to decorate the top part of the tree or no decorations at all. Last year, RePete thought jumping into the Christmas tree was a sport. I sure hope he's outgrown that this year. And when he does, I have some very beautiful glass ornaments to display for the boys to sit and ponder like I did as a kid. The wonderment is wonderful.

Her lopsidedness is courtesy of Repete. I had to crop this out of a family shot, so the image is not so good.

I'm anxious to read yours. Maybe I'll find a new one - I may still even play "find the pickle". (*snort* K)

Come back later in the week for some crafty gift ideas.

~R

She Said, He Said.

I'm starting to like WordPress. I still don't get uploading photos which is why I use Photobucket now. Doesn't allow "biggin" but it'll do for now. I added another page. See those tabs at the top of my header. Look at the 3rd one entitled, "The Crew". That gives the low down on my posse. Click to be in the know. I also added my "how I became Robinella" post to my About page. Check that out if you haven't already read that bit.

I love the definitions for posse given by Merriam-Webster. I already knew the meanings, I just needed a spell check.

1 : a large group often with a common interest 2 : a body of persons summoned by a sheriff to assist in preserving the public peace usually in an emergency 3 : a group of people temporarily organized to make a search (as for a lost child) 4 : entourage 1

Number 2 cracks me up thinking how it could apply to me. I'm not known for being a troublemaker, but I've caused a lot of ruckus in my mind and my posse helps me keep that in check.

Now on to the news of the day.

Dawn at Colours of Dawn is such a sweetie. She gave little ole me an award. Her write-up wasn't flattering but it was snarky and really struck my funny bone. She said:

Robinella is very funny. She is a home school mom living on the edge, the edge of paranoia that is. I won’t go there for fear of an episode, but suffice it to say, if you are at all creepy, don’t visit her, and if you do visit her, even if you are creepy, leave a comment!

Ummm, errr, then Willowtree at A Dingo's got my Barbie gave me an award for giving him the coveted NASW button, which he promptly dirtied up a bit and that suited me just fine. He said:

And last but not least, I got this from a paranoid schizo blogger who got so freaked out about something that I wrote once that she closed her blog and started another one under an alias! Now that's power!

Mercy me. I just don't know what they might be talking about. Although, my posse is probably shielding me from that catastophic event. First off, Dawn's right. Say hello. And WTs right except he let that go to his head just a smidge.

Can I get a Whateverrrr. Thanks you two and you there reading this, don't forget to look on the side and see my pretties. Dawn gave me the one that looks like a clover, which I already had, but enjoyed receiving again and WTs is the Aussie looking one.

~R

Holey Soap and Inflatables.

Today was full of play. No school done but plenty of things learned...by me.

First, there was the soap thing. Pete uses the half bath for his "lair". There was a time when Pete would only use one square of toilet paper at a time and I kept a nail brush on the side of the sink just for him. The warning given to all first-timers in our home was, Don't Touch The Nail Brush. I thought about having a placard made for it just to save the poor soul we forget to tell. You know how snoopy people are in bathrooms.

Anyhoo, today while Pete was on the pot, he played around with things in the bathroom. I meant other things - I don't want to know about that stuff. Gag. Before he entered the bathroom, I saw him looking a bit suspicious, but figured, nah! Twenty minutes later he walks out of the bathroom saying, "Mom, the soap has a hole in it!" I say, "How'd it get there?" His standard answer is, "I don't know."

Initial inspection showed this. (actually, it's cleaner now, but all the evidence was replaced exactly as I found it, minus the soap and water all over the counter - I can't show a dirty house to you (the www) now can I?)

Wait a minute, hold the phone. What's this?

That's right. It's a stick pin that is suspiciously bent all to hell. Pete swears he didn't stick the bottle. Pete has been telling a lot of fibs lately.

Later that same day we went with some friends to Kangaroo Jacs. It's an indoor inflatable playground. What's great about it is that you can let your kids go and you, the exhausted parent, have a few minutes to breathe deeply. I ran into a lady once who asked if I had seen a little boy about this high with a dark blue sweatshirt. She hadn't seen him for 30 minutes. I let her know I had just seen him run past. I also told her to take it easy on her free time and not to breathe so deeply she passes out next time. The kids still have to be attended, you know . Here's how that place looks.

THEN, we had another playdate and dinner with friends immediately following Kangaroo Jacs. Has anyone else noticed the very high winds we are having? It kept knocking my kids over in our friend's backyard. Oh well, what doesn't kill them makes them stronger.

~R

On Day 2 I got DSL

You know I don't like "the man". And if there is a way to stick it to him, I will. Unfortunately, he has been sticking to me for quite some time.

We don't watch a lot of tv, but BN is ALL about the picture. We have this humongous tv and we mostly watch movies on it. I also like to have it on at night for background noise while I am on the computer. On Monday night, we have to watch Heroes and the kids watch a little Nickjr or Noggin each day, but only when I need them to just shut up and let me blog to do laundry, mop, cook slop dinner, you know all those home kinda duties. But still not much TV watching going on. By choice mind you, not according to some enlightened yuppie philosophy.

After conversating with a friend about her cable and her bill, I asked BN that evening how much our bill was. He said, "Oh I don't know, about $125 a month." I said, "what the f*ck, are you serious? Let me see that thing." Sure enough it was $124.90. So I talked him into canceling the cable tv and just keeping the cable internet - at 5M. BN bought an HD antenna and the cable boxes were all turned in. I checked us out online to make sure everything was tidy and found out our internet charge went from $49.99 to $59.99 per month now that we don't have the "discount for more than one service". BN and I looked at one another and said sign up for DSL - at 1.5M - which is only 27.99 with the first month free and a $20 Target card. (they had me at Target)

Now I don't really understand all that mumbo-jumbo megabit stuff, but I know I have $20 to spend at Target PLUS another $100 per month staying in our checking account and I am a pretty happy girl. I'm easy.

Sooo, things might get hairy with these switcheroos going on. If I miss your emails, I'm sorry. I'll find them eventually. Oh and when I just did a little blog surfing on this "so much slower 1.5M thing", well, it wasn't slower, at least not that I could notice. So there cable internet, that's one long-time customer you've lost along with $124.90 a month and I'm feeling a bit giddy about it.

~R

PS I sure will miss HD Discovery Channel. I liked to watch/listen to it while on the computer at night. Local channels just don't hold the same appeal. And what's up with this ER? I've never watched it before, but it was on in the background and before I knew it, Stamos helped a kid die and I was crying. (I might need my cable back) Maybe I'll make it part of the NaBoFoLoMein challenge and see if I hold out on cable as long as I post.

Hello November.

Well, the whole Nablofopomofono thing is starting. I figured since I will have a few new visitors I should give a quick re-introduction. To my regulars, don't run away, you might learn something new. Then again, maybe not.

It all started for me last April with this entry on my old blog. You won't find the old blog because in a fit of crazyladyness, I deleted it. Although, I am in the process of adding old posts to this new blog...memories. *snap out of it, woman*

April 6, 2007

Have you seen Stepford Wives? I don't think it did well at the box office, but what a concept. I decided that I had become a Stepford Wife after finding out that not only did the majority of wives of the men at my husband's company stay at home, but they were also either homeschooling already or would be when their little ones were ready for school. Now don't get me wrong - this is a homeschooler's dream - what a resource for friends and shoulders during this process. It was just one of those weird feelings that came over me and that movie came to mind.

If I start posting cookie recipes, send the calvary!!

And I think pictures can say so many things and this one speaks to me.

Don't be a creep stranger,

~R