The gourd that ate my house...

The gourds continue to grow and grow and grow!!!

A minor complication

My son had a minor complication last night following a local mowing job. He had dumped grass from his trailer in the woods on the other side of the pond and it was after dark, I am not really sure how he managed this, I think the grass was wet and the tractor slid, but I will probably never know the real story. The one thing I do know is the tree stopped his decent into the pond! It was dark and we could not see to get him unstuck last night so he had to leave his precious baby outside all night and this is the task at hand when he gets home from school today!

Back to work....

I took the mind over matter stance to heart this week and have decided that I am going to be all better. I keep doing more and more each day and its going pretty well.

On Monday I decided to seriously look for a job and I sent out a few resumes via email. Within an hour I got a phone call from a temporary agency with a spot to fill at one of the local orthopaedic firms. I interviewed with the agency on Tuesday and then was called on Wednesday to come in today for an interview with the manager. The agency is housed within the company, so I met with both of them today. By the time I got back home from the interview the phone was ringing and they were offering me the job. Its a temporary spot that I will be filling in as receptionist when needed and then working into other departments also. Its a good thing, because this is about the only way to get your foot in the door at any of the local orthopaedics.

I went back in town this afternoon to do the drug screening. I truly hate peeing in a cup! I am so glad the lady didn't feel it was necessary to be in the bathroom with me. I go in tomorrow morning for orientation and to get my ID and all of that fun stuff and then I start training on Tuesday. Apparently I will be working full time for the next 3-4 weeks. I really am looking forward to it. I have been working off and on from home since the first of the year and I miss people! I might even venture over to Fort Wayne this weekend and get some new clothes!

Just Cute

Little Bruce and Jenny are only 10 years old, but they just know that they are in love. One day they decide that they want to get married, so Bruce goes to Jenny's father to ask him for her hand.

Bruce bravely walks up to him and says "Mr. Smith, me and Jenny are in love and I want to ask you for her hand in marriage."

Thinking that this was just the cutest thing, Mr. Smith replies, "Well Bruce, you are only 10. Where will you two live?"

Without even taking a moment to think about it, Bruce replies "In Jenny's room. It's bigger than mine and we can both fit there nicely."

Still thinking this is just adorable, Mr. Smith says with a huge grin, "Okay then how will you live? You're not old enough to get a job. You'll need to support Jenny."

Again, Bruce instantly replies, "Our allowance .. Jenny makes 5 bucks a week and I make 10 bucks a week. That's about 60 bucks a month and that should do us just fine."

By this time Mr. Smith is a little shocked that Bruce has put so much thought into this. He thinks for a moment trying to come up with something that Bruce won't have an answer to. After a second, Mr. Smith says, "Well Bruce, it seems like you have got everything all figured out. I just have one more question for you. What will you do if the two of you should have little ones of your own?"

Bruce just shrugs his shoulders and says "Well, we've been lucky so far."

Mr. Smith no longer thinks the little shit is adorable.

Are you ready for some football????

It's coming, it's coming, it's really almost here....

Colts-Saints to kickoff 2007 season

The season begins with the NFL’s annual primetime kickoff game on Thursday night. This year the opener on September 6 on NBC (8:30 PM ET) features the Super Bowl XLI champion Indianapolis Colts at home against the New Orleans Saints. In a format introduced in 2004, the Super Bowl champion hosts the NFL Thursday night season kickoff the next year.This season, Super Bowl XLII – concluding the season-long theme of “Who Wants It More?” – will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on February 3, 2008.O ne of the highlights in a season sure to have many will come on October 28 when the
NFL plays its first regular-season game overseas as the New York Giants take on the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium in London, England. The game will be shown live in the United States on FOX at 1:00 PM E

This is some exciting stuff, you can find more information here.

The kickoff party/concert in monument circle would also be awesome to see. 2007 Kickoff celebration from Indianapolis will feature John Mellencamp, Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson and Hinder.

So of course next week I will have my picks of the winners posted and you all can join in on the fun and betting. I want to use my trusted and true system, but AWB is grumbling about changing some rules and guidelines that I will need to follow in making my selections....but we all know what a stubborn and headstrong girl I can be! ;)

The gourd that ate my house...

Some new pictures today. As I mentioned yesterday, last week's storms forced the plant down off of my living room window, there are new "chutes" working their way to the window, and last count came up with 49 gourds.

You can see the new chutes reaching for the window!

If you look close, you can see the bee in the center of the flower!

Sorting Socks

When you have three kids, some things just get neglected. Laundry can pile up in a very short time. The garage can get messy in what seems like overnight. With boys present, you must keep an eye on all toliets, I finally stationed a scrub brush caddy in each bathroom and just try to make sure there is at least a hurried swirl a day...the one bathroom they use the most is equipped with toliet bowl cleaner sitting on the back of the tank at all times! Things just get out of hand quickly and I am trying very hard to get everything back in hand.

I went on a tour of all three kids bedrooms yesterday and did the dreadful digging out from under the beds.....(picture the mr. yuk smiley face here!). After a couple of loads of laundry I pretty much came up with one and a half baskets of unmatched socks! (This includes the catch all basket that sits on top of the dryer at all times.) I spent over two hours sorting socks yesterday and am pretty sure I came up with enough pairs for everyone in this house to have a clean matching pair to wear every day for at least 5 weeks. Holy wow! The strays that were left over would make Dobby the house elf in Harry Potter a very happy little soul!

The blogging fool is back...

I have really been neglecting my blog the past few months......but apparently my dry spell has dried up, maybe all the rain helped me too!

Blueberry Festival

This weekend is the Blueberry Festival in Plymouth! I used to attend this festival every year. I absolutely loved it. I have not been for over five years now, I can only imagine how big it has gotten now.

I seriously would like to go this weekend. You don't realize what a huge, powerful statement that is for me. You see, this entire summer, since I have not really been myself healthwise, I have missed out on a lot of events that I take in every summer. I did not go to the county fair at all. I did not go to the rock concert in the park. I did not go to the country concert in the park. I barely go to Wal-Mart for very long periods of time. I truly am not sure if I am up to this particular festival and all of the walking that it entails, however, I think I am willing to give it a try, depending on the weather. If it is unbearably hot and humid, all bets are off!

If only....

The winning ticket was sold in Richmond, Indiana. My most favorite aunt lives in Richmond. I am not just saying that, she truly is my favorite aunt, she is the one who has always "got me." When I spend all of my time explaining myself to everyone, she just gets me without the explanations.

Wouldn't it be cool if she was the ticket holder? (Not that I would become one of those begger/moochers, I would truly be happy for her because she has always had things on the rough side.)

Something to think about

Zen truths
1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.

3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.

6. Never test the depth of the water with both
feet.

7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.

14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

17. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

The gourd that ate my house...

I haven't put any new pictures up for almost a week, I had to get a new battery for my camera. The storms on Thursday night knocked the plant off of my window. Well that combined with the weight of the gourds most likely. It was kind of disappointing to all of us to see it knocked away from the window. However tonight when I was out looking at it, there is a whole other part of it heading for the window! So it will be fun to watch again. I counted the gourds and there are 49! A few weeks ago a friend of mine counted 19. There are still a whole bunch of blooms coming on this plant indicating even more gourds. I am checking with the Guiness Book of World Records and getting this plant registered for my son. I don't know if it will make it or not, but it would be very exciting for him if it does.

Mind over matter

Yesterday I posted about finally getting back on the jet ski. It really was an accomplishment. As Sheri commented earlier today, I have struggled with health issues since last November actually. As recently as last week I saw yet another surgeon who is contemplating more surgery after I finish my current dosage of antibiotics. I left his office very frustrated and waited a day or so and took on a whole new attitude. Instead of waiting on the all clear from the doctors to let me start living my life again, I have decided to take on the mind over matter attitude and go forward with my life!

In the past few days I have accomplished so many things, (yes I am quite proud of myself) it just feels good to be back in the game again. I am noticing some of the more icky things the doctor told me to look out for that could indicate I will need another surgery, but at this point, I am not sure if I want to go that route. If I can continue with my mind of matter attitude and accomplish more and more each day, it seems to me I might be back to good sooner rather than later!

First Time this summer

I finally went out on the waverunner today. Like the person pictured here, I went flying. My intention was to just go out and putz around the lake.....but the kids caught up with me on the other jetskis and were making fun of me for going so slow.

I let them get their nice little head start on me and then I opened it up wide and ended up passing both of the other jetskis!!! My youngest son was riding with my daughter and he decided he wanted to ride with me because I am the best jet ski driver ever!!!

My arms are a bit sore, but it sure was fun!

Suzy Q Homemaker reporting in

My O My. My 15 yr old son has turned into the bottomless pit. I hit a point of total exasperation today when he filled a dixie cup full of peanut butter for a snack today. Yesterday he cooked three whole chicken breasts for a snack just before he was going to Grandma's for a steak dinner. I intercepted the chicken snack and think I am going to make up chicken salad with it.

We went to Aldi's and filled the cupboards with generic staples that the kids like. Then we went to Jone's in Leesburg and got the good meat and stocked up the freezer a bit. I also bought about 8 pounds of grapes and cleaned them and put them in snack bags and froze them. My kids love frozen grapes for a snack. I have to be honest, I do too. Then I bought 3 dozen ears of corn at Sweet Corn Charlies and cooked it all up and cut it off the cob and froze ten packages that will be perfect with evening meals. My grandmother used to have a similar corn cutter like the one pictured here, but I don't, I just used a knife. When I was a kid we used to put up corn like crazy, I swore I would never do it again and now look at me. Hehehe....

I know if I was a really good blogger I would have taken pictures of the grapes and the corn and put them on here for you to see, but I am shfizzled out....

What a storm early this morning....

So last night as I was entangled in one of my late night phone conversations, it started raining just a bit before 10:30, then the thunder and lightning came, once while on the phone lightning struck so close it made my phone cut out a tad bit, and a nearby car alarm was going off from the crack of thunder that followed. Probably 15 minutes later lightning struck again and took out all of the power, this time it was so loud it woke up my oldest son, (the other two sleepyheads slept right through it)! So with no power I was disconnected from my late night chat with my best friend, no problem, the conversation was switched to my cell phone - hehehe. Thank God for modern technology!

The storm raged on, the power stayed out about two hours and I was really glad that I had charged my cell phone earlier in the evening. The absolute miracle of the storm was the speakerphone option was employed by both on this on this marathon conversation and the result was we can talk much longer without our ears or wrists getting tired from the phone! So as inconvenient as the storm was, I think it may have been a blessing in disguise! Not even my daughter can hold a candle to me when it comes to marathon phone conversations!

Walking With Dinousaurs

My youngest son is going to Columbus Ohio this weekend with my sister and brother-in-law to see Walking With Dinosaurs. He is really not sure what it is all about, but it looks very awesome to me for a kid his age who is enthralled by dinosaurs. He knows so much about them, he just gives you all kinds of interesting information out of nowhere about the prehistoric creatures, I can only imagine what its going to be like trying to live with him when he returns from this show. I am so excited that he gets to go on this trip!

Candy Factory!!!!

I have been aware of this Candy Factory over near Merrillville and have wanted to take the kids there for quite some time. I read an article on the net that indicated it might be closed, so I sent an email inquiring and received word back that they are in fact open and bigger and better than ever! My kids are getting to the age where all of their interests are very diverse from one another, but come on, a candy factory???? Doesn't that just bring out the kid in everyone? This place boasts a chocolate waterfall! I am planning on making a Saturday trip over with the kiddos sometime in the near future, of course I will have to wait for the Tippy Dance Hall to close for the season before I can convince my oldest son to go on such an adventure!

Tuesday, August 22

Did you ever notice....

Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to think and to talk once you come to terms with what your heart is telling you? Once you do that, everything seems to be so clear and matter of fact. Things might not always go the way that you want, but at least you know what it is you want.

First Day Of School

Whew! All three kids are off to their first day of school. No one missed the bus and its on the same schedule as last year. So all is well on that front.

My daughter is a junior and my son is a freshman so this was his first day of high school. He was very calm, cool and collected. We went shopping for their school supplies last night, and it was $150! Besides the regular supplies they now have to have memory sticks and "scientific" calculators. Geeze o' pete.....

My youngest son is now a big bad third grader! And the big bad third grader had me meet him at school after he rode the bus and go in with him to find his class and meet his new teacher. It does a heart good to still be needed. Now his teacher is going to have a major challenge this year, he has two Koles and and Kolt in his class. hehehe.

I always like it when the kids go back to school, its time to get back into a normal routine and have dinner at a normal time again. In the summer we are all just here and there and everywhere. I have a doctor appointment this afternoon and the kids have an early release from school. My daughter is going to cook dinner tonight and we shopped for all of her ingredients last night....so yay! We are getting back to normal.

The accidental gourd

The gourd that ate my house...

From Sunday, August 5:

Tuesday, August 14:

The gourd that ate my house...

Three days since the last pictures. This isn't quite like watching a slab of cheese age online, but close!

It's heading over to my tree that is dying, I expect it will start climbing up it soon....

And it is starting to obscure the view out of my living room window!

The gourd that ate my house...

The neighbors are stopping by, the kids are intrigued with it, and it just keeps growing and growing!

The life of a cat

This is Mercedes taking one of her afternoon naps in her favorite "throne" of sorts. I think she sleeps 80 percent of her time and spends the other 20 percent being one of the oddest cats I have ever seen. She chases the laser light around the house, falls from the bookcase and the balcony. One evening I witnessed her trying to jump from the organ to the tv, a distance of less than a foot and she did a slow motion fall to the ground. What a silly girl. She loves her family, but she is not a very snuggly cat. You can maybe get a minute and a half of cuddle time before she slaps you across the face.

Another day in the life of a gigantic gourd plant

I awoke this morning to the sound of thunder cracking and I swear I could hear the vines on this thing creeping further around my house. I went out this afternoon and did some more redirecting and am amazed at the amount of gourds on this thing.

This is a group of the gourds that are hanging in the bush the vine is enveloping.

This one to the right is hanging from my front window. It was a blossom on Sunday, and this is Thursday so you can see how quickly they are growing!

I am really glad that AWB has talked me into journaling this little escapade. Hopefully you all will enjoy the progess of the "accidental gourd" too!

I cannot believe this

Tuesday, August 21st will be the first day of school for my kids. I took my two oldest to the high school for registration yesterday and registered my youngest one at the elementary school this morning. Summer is coming to a close and I've not yet ridden the jet skis. My oh my.

I was informed today at registration that the first day of school will be an early dismissal. You've got to be kidding me, talk about creating more chaos than necessary. I asked the reasoning behind this and it seems the school system installed new computer databases over the summer. They have offered training all summer long to the employees of the school system, but for various reasons, vacations, summer school, etc., not all were able to attend. SO.........Since attendance, grades, everything is kept on these computers, they have to complete the training the first day to get everyone up to speed. My opinion? Perhaps the teachers shoud have their first day of school on Monday, before school starts. Duh!

The accidental gourd

The accidental gourd is alive and doing quite well. The rains the last couple of nights are really helping it along. I am trying very hard to guide it off of the sidewalk, but it is now taking over another bush in the landscaping and getting so large that by week's end I will probably guide it into making the curve around the house.

My boys spent all of last week at their dad's and were very surprised at how large it had gotten when they returned Sunday evening. My youngest son is absolutely delighted and my oldest is exasperated. He does several mowing jobs in the neighborhood and I have stressed to him the importance of keeping our lawn looking nice because it basically is his business card. He feels this "accidental gourd" is a poor representation of his work and wants to tear it out. I have explained that it has now become quite entertaining for all of us, many of the neighbors included and we just have to see it through until this fall.

I don't know, we may even have to spend Halloween in our "gourd patch" and await the appearance of the "Great Gourd"!

No matter what, the blooms on this thing, and there are many, are very pretty in the early morning hours.

Finally

I finally made it out onto the lake this weekend for a moonlight cruise, but the moon decided to hide behind the clouds and it sprinkled on us just a little. It was still beautiful out on the lake and we found a home where they were having a party, they had a tent set up in the front yard with an awesome band playing music from the 70s. We thought perhaps it was the band "Nostalgia" but weren't certain. We just floated out front and listened for awhile.

The boat ride was beautiful, the wine was good and the company was my best friend in the whole world, who could ask for more?

The gourd that ate my house, part one...

Last fall when I had the kids clear away the pumpkins and gourds to make way for the Christmas stuff, apparently, a gourd was left behind. When we were out pulling weeds and discovered this little plant coming to life, my youngest son was sure it was a pumpkin vine and would not let me pull it out.

Now each time it rains, I swear you can stand at the door and watch it grow, each day, it just keeps stretching out further and further...it has overtaken the bush beside it and is climbing up the window. I reroute it quite frequently to keep it off the sidewalk somewhat and try to keep it out of the yard so my oldest son doesn't mow over it to tick off the youngest son.

The thing is, its gourds not pumpkin, upon close inspection this weekend it was discovered there are at least 19 gourds growing on this thing, hanging from the bush and my window too! Its turning into a monster, hehehe.