Send in the clowns

Alaina keeps reminding me that no one likes a "whiny" blogger
(wine-y yes- whiny no ;-).
I am sure she is right, but sometimes it is hard to be cheerful when you have so much stuff to juggle- and none of it is really "your" stuff to begin with.
For example-
Alaina: on her school's decorating committee (means extra chauffeuring for me), English Pot Luck supper Thursday- must make a dish for 25 people (don't think a 15 year old will be doing that alone), needs a costume for said English class' party- it is a "theme" costume party,
(Plus Each set of parents must send in a letter to be presented to their students at said Pot Luck supper telling them just how special they are- (that is a story in itself)).
Genevieve- Ecology club- (more chauffeuring), drama club - supply costume, (more chauffeuring), middle school orientation Tuesday AND Wednesday (seriously), bake cupcakes for class for Friday, Birthday party- with 6 10-11 year old girls - Saturday.
Mark- running club- early drop off, Air and Space museum field trip Wednesday-(must wear "school" t-shirt- must find said school t-shirt-hopefully it is clean) , send in money for teachers' gifts?? (class mother said she is collecting the money until spring break- is this for the end of the year gift? Don't know- but I send it in), write up and send in recipe for "secret" mother's day cookbook (still not kidding).
And that is just this week.
Then I get to focus on preparations for Easter.
(oh, and the circus is in town next week, the kids are hoping to go-(still not kidding)
How do mothers with jobs outside of the home do it???
Not to mention the laundry, and the cooking, and the dishes?
I know, I know, I am blessed.
So
Lord give me the strength to survive my blessings!!

sorry - I'll try to be cheerier tomorrow.

One guess how I am feeling today......

Supporting the Arts

There was a County-wide student art show this weekend in Fauquier County Virginia. The art teachers of all the public schools (elementary through High school) chose the work of some of their students to represent what their classes are learning... Genna (5th grade) had one of her pictures chosen to exhibit.

Below are some of the other amazing pieces of art on display:

This photograph was remarkable- the glow on the beads made it seem mixed media/ 3D, I am sorry that a picture of a picture, does not end up doing the original justice!

So many promising artists- I wonder how many will continue into their adulthood?

my week in review

I sort of skipped on posting this past week.
Another birthday under my belt-
This is how my kids decorated my birthday cake- not exactly accurate-I'm actually older -( if you are counting days)

I guess not too bad looking for a woman who is 14517 :-) Bad lighting helps.

Saturday, we went to the Pet Expo; mostly to help out at the Dog Scouts/ Dogtopia table. But we did spend some time walking around too.

Some dogs actually participated in activities:

While a surprising number of dogs ( to me anyway) were carted around in strollers. (Often while the furless children walked).
And I suppose you already guessed where most of the greyhounds were.

Sunday brought Dog Scouts at Dogtopia. But I decided to make use of their "self -wash" doggy spa before class. No, I guess "owner-wash" is more accurate because "The owner" got washed too.

Not a happy HeroBetter Now
Still willing to work for treats

An excellent job at coming- a less than great photo

I don't know if I should be proud of this..

You Scored 100% Correct

You are an 80s expert, You never confuse New Order with the Pet Shop Boys. You know which classical musician Falco rocked. When it comes to 80s music, you Just Can't Get Enough!

How Much Do You Know About 80s Music?

Well, you did ask...

In her comment for my last post Jen of Never Say Never Greyhounds asked "What the heck is poop freeze? :-)" Well, here is your answer:Product Description : Poop Freeze Aerosol Freeze Spray- POOP FREEZE is the first freeze-spray aerosol made for animal waste pick-up. Poop happens- just freeze it! Just frost and toss! Completely non-flammable. Cools surfaces down to 62° F. No CFCs to destroy the ozone . Does not harm vegetation and can be used indoors or outdoors.Totally environmentally friendly! Spray and then wait 10 seconds and a white crusty film solidifies the waste.
(it is also supposed to reduce the smell)

First of all, right off the bat let me say that :

I find it odd -and pretty disturbing- that Amazon has this product listed under Kitchen and Dining!- (ewww! I don't want to eat at any of their houses.)

Amazon.com: Poop Freeze Aerosol Freeze Spray: Kitchen & Dining



It is also sold by a company called funideas- helpful perhaps, but fun??


This Can Freezes Your Poop For Easy Pick Up! - Order Online Now. At
http://www.funideas.com/Product.aspx?pid=620&catid=26


I had to share this review with y'all:

Poop-tastic, February 24, 2007
By
John Q. Consumer (Kentucky, USA, Earth) - See all my reviews I reminisce about old days when a uncle and his born-again Christian nephew had to make poop sculptures out of WARM poop. Not anymore, Scooter. Now I can finally make that life size poop sculpture of Debbie Gibson in my basement.
(I'm understanding the low happiness score for Kentucky- sorry- beating a dead horse)

Well- anyway, I can not share my own review with you yet.
This product was recommended by the Pet Expo (where Hero and I will be doing a Meet and Greet for the D.S.A. next Saturday.) Hero's bowel movements are sort of unpredictable, (they tend to go "Dairy Queen" on me when he gets a lot of treats; and that is likely to happen at the Pet Expo.) They offered a can of this stuff ( at 1/3 the regular price ) to pet owners buying a ticket to the Expo. I think that is probably a good idea all around.
I hope that it really works-
(What of my neighbor's can I freeze?) Just Kidding- really :-)

Dear Neighbor

If our neighborhood had a community bulletin board I would be posting the following:

Will the neighbor who misplaced the clear plastic sandwich bag with the brown cylindrical remains of a canines' digested meal on my front door step, please come and claim them immediately.

Yup you got it, last night someone left a bag of dog poo on my front step. What is with these people?
I do try to be responsible. I bring plastic bags on our dog walks. I have even ordered some "poop-freeze" for when Hero's in dairy queen mode. My dogs do NOT roam the neighborhood unattended (unlike some others), and my dogs are NOT nuisance barkers.
Now, I do admit that my children may be careless with their clean-up when they walk the dogs (their bedrooms prove that cleaning up is not their strong suit). But there are at least 5 other children ages 8-14, who regularly walk their dogs (with no bag in sight). And this is a neighborhood where the dog owners far exceed those without dogs. So why do I warrant this special delivery?
Sure, it may have been kids pulling a prank; but the way it was so cleanly and perfectly placed in the plastic bag and then on the stoop makes me wonder. - Again, kids are not known for being meticulous.
Not helping my Happiness Quotient people!