SQUEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Okay – just had to get that out of the way.

Why?  Because I’m really excited.  Nervous, yes.  But mainly, really excited.

What could possibly have The Only Girl so excited?

An adventure.  That’s what.

I’m composing this post on Thursday afternoon.  As I sit on an airplane.  BY MYSELF PEOPLE!  Because I’m en route to one hell of a Girl’s Weekend.

Where you may ask?

Hold on tight.  Are you ready for this one???

I’m flying from Toronto to Boston.  To meet these people, who just so happen to be a few of my most favourite Bloggers;

•  Monique from A Day in the Life of a Surferwife
• Jessalyn from Cape Code Awesome
• Kate from Then Again Kate

I know!

And on Saturday night we are going to see the show of this person;

(Chelsea Handler) 

Apparently she’s a famous comedian.  I’ve read about her on many of your blogs, but honestly?  We don’t get her show in Canada, so no one up here really knows who she is.  I’ve been YouTubing her like crazy this week in preparation, but am slightly afraid that I’m not quite up to speed.  AND we have backstage passes!

I KNOW!

No, us Bloggers have never met before.  Well, at least not outside of the safe confines of the Webz.  And yet we know so much about each other.  But meet we will.  Tonight.  Gulp.

Can I just tell you how nerve-racking the thought of meeting these girls in person has been?  Granted, I just decided to join this little weekend meet-up barely over 1 week ago.  A very last minute and impulsive decision for The Only Girl.  She’s is not good with such things.  She likes to plan.  A lot.  Allow me to peel back the curtains of my mind and let you in on what the past week has been like. 

• What was I thinking?
• How can I quickly lose 5 pounds?
• I change my mind!  I’m not going!
• These boys are driving me crazy – how many more days?
• What to pack . . . what to pack?
• Crap – I need to get a mani, pedi and hair cut before I go!
• What if I don’t like them?  What if they don’t like me?
• What if we sit in awkward silence most of the weekend?
• I’ll be one of the few people who actually gets to see what the elusive Kate looks like
• Can the boys be trusted by themselves?  Surely they know to have the house back in order before I arrive home, right? (note: this was a cryptic reminder meant solely for Willie. Hi Honey!  Miss you!)
• Chilling on The Cod – Jessalyn style!
•  I am physically unable to poop outside my home base.  This means no poop for 3 days.  If you should see pictures of me where I appear quite bloated or slightly pregnant, please know it’s the poop.
• Generally, I’m unable to stay awake past 11:30.  I am sure to be the party pooper.
• Oh – Margaritas with Surferwife!  Inventor of the Celebrity Encounter Margarita Barometer!  How cool will THAT be?!

As you can see, I’ve been riding the crazy horse of emotions.  But now it’s too late.  I’m on the plane and the meet-up is eminent.  Wish me luck.

Be sure to visit their blogs to see what they have to say!

Before we get started today, we have ANOTHER office tour (that puts our total up to 17)!  Heather over at A Life For Rent showed us what she’s got right here.  Please enter at your own risk – she’s got fire hazards.  And if you still haven’t done yours – it’s not too late.

Also, if you haven’t entered my Great Canadian Butter Tart Giveaway, then you should.  But you only have until 6pm EST today (Wed July 14/10) to get on it – chop chop.

Okay, now to get on with my story . . .

I live in the suburbs.  The neighbours on one side of us have a pool, a hot tub and 2 teen-aged kids.  We’re not particularly friendly with them.  Well, its not that we’re UN-friendly, it’s just that they kinda keep to themselves.  As do we.  Which is quite fine!  We’ll give each other the mandatory polite smile and head nod if we should find ourselves out front of our houses at the same time.  We’ve spoken on a few occasions when it involved changes to our properties that we felt the other should be advised of.  But that’s about it.

That being said, my boys kick balls against our adjoining fence EVERY. BLOODY. DAY.  Thump.  Thump.  Thump . . . it NEVER ends.  I swear I hear that sound in my sleep.  And every day, a ball – or two – end up OVER the adjoining fence.

Our neighbours are kind enough to just toss them back over the next time they are in their backyard.  Over the years, I’ve apologized for this.  Willie has apologized for this.  I’ve had the boys apologize for this.  And we thank them when the opportunity arises.

Fortunately they just chuckle about it and point to their own kids and it’s understood that they have also “been there”.  Since they’re often away on the weekends, they have indicated that if their back gate isn’t locked, the boys can just run around and grab the ball(s) if necessary.

But when a hand-held sized water balloon that my boys were tossing went over the fence on Saturday night, in the dark, I couldn’t just let it go.

I had visions of the little thing floating around the surface of their above ground pool until it was grabbed by the skimmer hole, forced down into the basket where it would block the flow of water, thus burning out their pump and causing considerable, expensive damage.

Have I ever mentioned that I can be a little OCD sometimes?

This was one of those times.  Panic set in.  Destructive visions danced around my head.  My ears were on high alert for odd pool filter noises.  I knew there would be no sleep that night until the situation was resolved.

So I told Willie “you’re going to have to go over there and get it”.

To which he replied “It’s fine.  Nothing’s going to happen.  I’m not going over.”

Which I took to mean “do it yourself”.

And so I did.  And thus my search & rescue mission was born . . .

Armed with a flashlight, I headed next door.  Rang the door bell.  Noted that the interior of the house was in darkness.  Waited.  And waited.  No answer.  No car in driveway.  Clearly the occupants were not home.

I go around to the side gate.  It’s pulled closed but not locked.  So I enter.

I scour the yard near the fence for the water balloon.  “It was kinda in that direction” the boys say as they attempt to guide me.  But it’s not on the ground.  Ha!  Just as I suspected – it MUST have landed in the pool.  Thank God for me.

I shine the flashlight on their pool and begin to systematically check all areas of its surface.  No balloon.  It MUST be in the skimmer basket as I had feared!  I hope I’m not too late . . .

I head to the back corner of their yard where the skimmer is located and try to peek in.  This proves to be difficult.  It would be easier to remove the lid and look in .  Lid is stuck.  Can’t remove it.  Damn.  What next?

Just then their bright security light in the backyard comes on.  Crap!

It’s at that moment, with my eyes temporary blinded by the security light, that I notice the teen-aged son has come out onto their back step.  BUSTED!  The lazy bugger must have been sleeping when I rang the bell!

“Oh hi!  It’s just me, Cher, from next door” I awkwardly explain (in case he had a gun or a baseball bat)

But it’s not just the teen-aged son.  Behind him I notice the parents.  Who have clearly JUST arrived home and found someone with a flashlight prowling around their backyard.

And so my nervous, busted rambling begins . . .

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.  No one answered when I rang the door bell.  But you see the boys accidentally put a ball over the fence again, but its a really small one, and it floats, and um, they thought it landed in your pool and um, I was really worried that it’d end up in your skimmer and damage your equipment . . . ”

At this point I notice that it is strangely quiet over the fence at my own backyard.  And that my guys have ran into our house like a flock of nervous girls and left me out there on my own to dig myself out of this embarrassing hole – nice.

“Anyway, I don’t seem to see it in there, so I think it’s okay.  ha ha.  Really sorry.”

And then I leave.  Without really giving them a chance to say anything.  Trying to walk calmly and slowly back to my own house like it was no big deal.  When in actuality, my heart was pounding and my face was red and I was totally embarrassed that I had been caught.

I know they were probably thing “WTH???  Does she come over here every time we’re out?  Should we believe her story or was she up to no good?”

Somehow, I’d like to blame this on Willie.

Ever been caught red-handed doing something sneaky?  Will I ever be able to look them in the eye again?  Do you want to win butter tarts?

She did!

Since 50% of you voted in last Wednesday’s poll that I should get the free Botox, I listened to my peeps and went ahead.  Although technically I suppose that also means that 50% of you voted that I shouldn’t.  But I tried not to let that deter me.

Now keep in mind that a) it was done by a highly trained Doctor and  b) it was free.  If not for those two points, I wouldn’t have done it.  Especially the free part.  I mean, yes, I’m old, but I’m not THAT old – yet.  I don’t actually NEED Botox – yet.  But there is a certain part of my face that bothers me.

This is me smiling.

This is me frowning.

This is the part that drives me crazy.

I can hear you all saying “then just don’t frown”.  But here’s the thing;

• I stare at a computer screen for 8 hours a day in deep concentrate.  When you do this, you subconsciously end up with the frowny face.

• Then I sit in traffic for about 2 hours a day, squinting into the sun – regardless of the sunglasses I wear.  Squinting = frowny face.

• Then I proceed to get home and frequently scowl at a husband and/or children.  Again, scowling = frowny face.

So since I spend most of my day with the frown lines, they are starting to become permanently etched.  And that makes me look crabby, when really I’m not.  And it bugs me.

Now, I can tell you that the Botox was a breeze!  The needle he used was super fine and I hardly felt it.  I’m not sure, but I think he only did 2 injections.  Three at the most.  There have been no side effects at all.

Here’s a close up of the frown creases right before I went.

What I didn’t realize before I went was that Botox can take up to 7 days to become effective.  And I’m very impatient.  So I spent most the first few days obsessively checking my frown in the mirror.  Or just frowning and feeling with my fingers.  And then getting more impatient and being really glad that I hadn’t paid for it because clearly it wasn’t working.

Day 3 – see?  Still there!  Although I’ll admit – slightly less.

But here’s Day 7 – now we’re getting some results!  Because try as I will – I can NOT get the frowny face to make the creases!  I just can’t.  Everything still moves, but the creases do not form.  Happiness is achieved.

Just look at how smooth it is up there!  (never mind about the bug eyes and the shiny skin.  I was really trying to get it to crinkle up there for y’all)

It’s supposed to last anywhere from 4 – 6 months.  I wish it was longer because in the end, my opinion is that I love it!  It would definitely do it again sometime, but only if the price comes down because it’s still quite expensive.  And I’m not sure my creases are worth it.  Oh, and I’m cheap.

What do you think – can you see the difference?  Would you get it some day?

So Elle, my BFF eyes & ears on the Toronto G20 front line, came through with a few pictures yesterday on her way home from work.

This particular shot was taken VERY near the centre of the action, right at the perimeter of the protected zone.  Only small protests have taken place so far.  Hopefully it stays that way (click pic to enlarge - if you want).

This morning she was riding the subway to work where she was kept company by a “pack” (that’s what they’re calling them) of 8 policeman with full riot gear.  Do they know something we don’t???  Elle desperately wanted to get a picture for y’all, but didn’t think Toronto’s finest would appreciate it.  I may need to find a braver photographer.

(be sure to cast your vote in yesterday’s poll - I’m unable to make any of my own decisions)

Also, you may have heard that Ontario experienced an earthquake yesterday.  It was only a 5.0 magnitude and very minimal damage was reported - certainly nothing around my area.  But we’re not used to earthquakes up here.  I don’t think I’ve ever experienced one.  And as luck would have it, I almost missed it.

I was in my car at the time and was stopped at a traffic light.  Like usual, my mind was in La-La Land somewhere and the music was on.  Then I felt a little something.  A shake or a shimmy you might say.  To which I thought “is that my car?  Is it running rough?  Did someone just give me a little nudge from behind?  Hmmm.  How odd.”  And that was that.  The light turned green, and off a-shopping I did go.  Oblivious as usual.

Till I heard the news on the radio about 30 minutes later and put 2 and 2 together.  Needless to say it created a LOT of buzz and excitement around here, particularly in downtown Toronto.  With all the G20 preparations, people immediately thought the shaking and rumbling was the result of an explosion.  Thank God it wasn’t.

It also happened right around the time the Mr. Obama’s FIVE big honkin’ military helicopters were performing a test run and many people initially attributed the vibrations to them.  Did you know he often travels in a pack of five copters???  Yes, apparently it confuses the bad guys.  “Which one is he in?  Is it that one?  That one?  Ah forget it – this is just too confusing.”

I wonder if that tactic would also work with the boys, our multiple bathrooms and the never-ending “Where’s Mommy” game?

In case of aftershocks, I need to know quickly:  do we head for the basement or head for the hills?  Stand under a door frame?  Cower in the bathtub?  Run out into the street?  Apply pressure and call 911?  I’m not really up on my natural disaster survival skills (Surferwife – I’m counting on you here).

Have you ever experienced a violent protest or a big earthquake?

Guess where this year’s G20 Summit will be?
Toronto, Ontario

Guess which city I live very close to?
Yes!  Toronto, Ontario

Guess what the G20 Summit is?
Yeah, I didn’t really know either . . .

Apparently, it is a gathering of a bunch of Leaders of various countries from all over the globe.  They get together every year to discuss issues amongst their members, particularly those relating to the global economy.  And it’s happening this weekend.

The list of G20 attendees look strikingly similar to the list of World Cup soccer teams and will include;

• Argentina represented by Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, President
• Australia represented by Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister
• Brazil represented by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President
• Canada represented by Stephen Harper, Prime Minister (Host)
• China represented by Hu Jintao, President
• France represented by Nicolas Sarkozy, President
• Germany represented by Angela Merkel, Chancellor
• India represented by Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister
• Indonesia represented by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President
• Italy represented by Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister
• Japan represented by Naoto Kan, Prime Minister
• Mexico represented by Felipe Calderón, President
• South Korea represented by Lee Myung-bak, President
• Russia represented by Dmitry Medvedev, President
• Saudi Arabia represented by Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, King
• South Africa represented by Jacob Zuma, President
• Turkey represented by Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, Prime Minister
• United Kingdom represented by David Cameron, Prime Minister
• United States represented by Barack Obama, President

(yes, I realize there’s only 19 countries on the list, but I just copied it from Wiki.  Clearly some country’s invitation was “lost in the mail” or maybe they just brought really bad gifts to the last Summit and the rest of the countries voted them out.  Not sure.  Always pick your “thank you” gifts wisely.)

It’s also a way for the host country to spend a CRAP load of money.  Last I heard, Canada’s bill will be over $1 billion for this event – that lasts 2 DAYS!

Why?  Because apparently securing the safety of World Leaders is big business.  These Summits are known to attract lots of protesters and activists.  Some have even been known to turn very violent.

Some of the precautions being taken?

• Removal of mailboxes, garbage bins, benches, bus shelters, newspaper stands and even some small trees (all potential weapons don’t you know)
• manholes sealed in the “protected zone” (about a 3 block  x 3 block area where most of the big-wig action is taking place)
• boarding up storefront windows
• 66 new CCTV security cameras
• miles of 6 foot high fencing around the entire “protected zone”
• A team of people that are solely responsible for ensuring the food is safe for the Leaders to consume (there will be no fatal poisonings on our watch!)
• Police presence like we’ve never seen.  And military. (mmmmm . . . uniforms . . .. )
• Sound canons (that emit an ear piercing high frequency that can cause pain) and water canons have been brought in (or maybe we already had them.  Not sure)
• cell phone reception will be blocked as each of the Leader’s motorcades arrive and leave the city (apparently bombs can be triggered by cell phones.  Who knew?)
• Residents and workers have been warned to basically “get the heck out of Dodge” if at all possible because the core of the city will virtually be on lock-down
• Airspace restrictions
• Many businesses have closed for the week
• Tourist attractions, theatre productions and sporting events have been canceled in an attempt to keep people away from the downtown core

Pure. Craziness.

Now, as it happens, I live about a 60 minute drive from the protected zone.  When I’m at work, I’m only about 30 minutes away.  I could easily get myself down there to the front lines.

My BFF Elle actually works right downtown.  Immediately beside the protest area.  In a large hospital.  Where they’ve been warned they could have a large influx of emergency room patients if things get ugly.

Which is EXACTLY why I have put her on the payroll as my eyes & ears in the downtown core.  She is to report on any and all action and sightings this week leading up to the Summit.

Then I got to thinking . . . why couldn’t I just drive down there myself, park as close as some nice Mounties will let me and walk the rest of the way in?  But that begged the question – what will I do once I’m down there?

So I’m going to leave it up to you my Bloggies.

Today we will have another addition of . . . WSCD! (What should Cher do)

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All responses will be considered, but not necessarily acted on.  I can’t afford to have my ass land in jail for y’all. Although it could be some very needed downtime . . .  (if you follow me, @Surferwife or @thisisScoMan on Twitter, you know why that word is in bold.  The rest of you should all feel very left out).

Oh, and be sure to come back on Friday to find out what happened with last weeks poll.  You may remember the question posed was “Should Cher get the free botox or not?”

Submitted for your consideration . . .

You have a real life BFF.  She’s the Admin Assistant for a very prominent Doctor.  A Doctor of Plastic Surgery.  At a leading Canadian hospital.  Who, from time to time, holds training sessions on various techniques for other Doctors who are looking to learning said techniques.

These training sessions often require a “Patient”.  Someone who will allow said technique to be administered to them for such training purposes.

These “Patients” could be considered Saints with very giving hearts that like to help others.  Or just really lucky people.

Anybitches . . . just such a training session came up this week.  It was for Botox injections (which, here in Canada, can only be administered by a Doctor, in a Doctor’s office.  No “Botox Parties” for us).  As I had previously instructed my BFF to place me at the top of the potential training patient list, I received this call;

Elle:  Hey – you want some free Botox?

Me:  WHAT!?

Elle:  Answer the question.

Me:  As in – you’re going to steal some from work and inject me at your house? Ah, no thanks.

Elle:  NO!  He’s doing another training session and needs a Patient.

Me:  Seriously?  Is it free?  Will I have to wear one of those horrible backless hospital gowns in front of a bunch of people?

Elle:  NO!  I mean “no” to the backless gown, but yes – it would be free.

Me:  hmmmm . . .

So my Bloggies, here’s where you come in.

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Submit your vote.  You have my destiny in your hands.

I’ll let you know what I decide in a few days . . . gulp.

Have you ever wanted to get Botox?  And if you’ve had it before, was it a good or bad experience?  Would you do it again?

My husband has announced that he’s leaving us.  Tonight.

Okay, he’s only leaving for the weekend, but I thought that initial announcement made for a much more interesting opening line, no?

He’s actually heading up north with some other guys to a friend’s cottage.  Try to guess what they’re going to do?

a) help fix a leaking roof

b) play a round of golf

c) drink more beer than I will likely drink in all of 2010 (and possibly 2011)

d) take the riding lawn mower for a spin

e) all of the above

I believe the answer is obvious.

And it’s all fine with me.  In fact we’re hoping to get up to said friend’s cottage for a few days this summer with the boys, so “helping to fix the leaking roof” might just be what seals the deal on our invitation.  And I get a quiet weekend at home with my boys out of the deal.

So last night he packed for his 3 night / 2.5 day excursion.  It took him exactly 5 minutes.  No, perhaps I’m being generous.  It might have been closer to 4 minutes.  4 MINUTES! To pack for an ENTIRE weekend!

Do you have any idea how long this would have taken me?  Probably as long as it would have taken you – because there’s lots to be considered, isn’t there?

First you have the weather.  We’re in Ontario, so there can be a very wide variety of weather thrown our way over the span of 2.5 days.  You need something for a hot sunny day at the beach, something for a cool rainy day spent lounging in the cottage and something warm for around the campfire at the end of the day that protects you from mosquitoes.  Something that’s suitable for hiking.  Something that’s suitable fishing.  Something that’s suitable for going into town . . . there’s just so many scenarios.  And of course things need to match.  And be comfortable.  And be cute.  But not look like you’re trying too hard.

And of course I wouldn’t wear half of what I took.  But I would have it with me just in case.  Because I like to be organized and prepared for any and all cottage situations that may possibly arise.

THEN there’s all the different types of appropriate footwear.  And hair & make-up.  And first-aid related items.  And stuff to do (like a good book, perhaps a movie or two, maybe a laptop with a wireless air-stick . . .)

THEN there would be the food - planning the menu and shopping for it.

It would take me HOURS to pack.  He, on the other hand, apparently only needs one change of clothes, a toothbrush, a ball hat and 4 minutes.

I shudder to think of the state of him when he walks back through the door on Sunday.  But I’ll be glad when he does.

In the meantime . . . girlie sleep-over party at my place Saturday night!  Who wants to come?! (yes, I’ll have buttertarts)

Could you pack in 4 minutes?  If you were coming to my sleepover Saturday night, what would you bring?

(not my leg – mine is far less defined)

The summer season has come to Ontario.  Early and with a vengeance.  Bringing with it weather that rivals that of Cancun, heat alerts and record breaking temperatures.

It’s fabulous!

And with it comes the summer wardrobe.  The shorts, the skirts, the capris and the bathing suits.

Of course this means I’ve had to quickly shift into “summer legs” mode.  Which involves regular shaving and moisturizing – two things that have been grossly neglected throughout the winter months.

Which is partly due to the lack of a requirement when the gams are buried beneath long johns, pants and socks and partly due to sheer laziness.  Did you know that after a certain point, stubble gets soft?  It’s true.

But the older I get the harder it gets to shave properly.  I’m finding it increasingly difficult to see what the heck I’m doing.  And no matter how much time I take, or how careful I am, the minute I step out into the sunlight – there they are.  Fuzzy knees.

Would it be so hard to invent a proper knee shaver?  Or perhaps one already exists that I don’t know about.  I’ve considered shaving out on the back deck where the sunlight will surely aid my cause, but I don’t think the neighbours need to be subjected to that.  I’ve also considered stashing a ravor in my purse for when I’m at work.  Apparently fluorescent lighting helps to shine the light of truth on the little hairs that seem to fade away in the dim light of my shower.

Am I the only one that has this problem?  Do I simply need to get my eyes checked?

Yes, I’ve been absent.  I’m sure you’ve missed me terribly.  Or not.

Where have I been?  What have I been doing?  Did I join the circus as previously threatened?  No.  I’ve been at home.  Doing all those things us busy working Mom’s do.  Such as;

- Winning an awesome Le Creuset giveaway from Rita at Fighting Off Frumpy’s Reviews & Giveaways blog!  Woo Hoo!  I NEVER win anything, and these are beautiful, so I consider this event particularly helpful in breaking The Funk

- Attending MANY of my boys soccer games.  Which frankly I don’t so much mind on a nice, sunny summer evening.  Call me a fair-weather fan if you will, but you won’t find me sitting on the sidelines in the rain.

- Sitting in a STINKING hot school gym for 1.5 hours to watch a musical adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland”.  The Youngest was one of the many “back up singers” but we couldn’t even see him let alone hear him.  Fail.

- Spending approximately 6 brutally hot hours staining our large back deck with Willie.  Back breaking, but it looks great.  That’s where you can find me for most of the summer.

- Sweating my ass off.  Don’t know if you’ve heard, but Ontario Canada has been experiencing some highly unusual HOT weather lately.  Not that I’m complaining.  I spend 9 months of the year putting up with crap weather just to get to June, July & August.  But MAN it’s been hot!  Thank God for air conditioning and pools.

- Obsessively water the lawn and gardens.  See above.

- Buying a new summer chick-lit book.  I’m not going to tell you which one till I’m finished in case you say “oh, I read that.  It was crap” because that will really piss me off, and I’m looking forward to diving into it.

- The Eldest kicked some major ass at his school’s area track meet and came home with a collection of ribbons!  How can a child born from me be such an uber-athlete in all sports?!  Fortunately he looks like his Father’s twin, or else I’d suspect a hospital switch.

- I managed to complete another month end at work.  This is basically 3 days of hell that comes in the form of reports and spreadsheets.  Fortunately I kick ass at reports and spreadsheets, so I haven’t had a month end beat me yet.  But it’s stressful nonetheless.

- I had a date with Willie.  Okay, maybe less of a date and more of attending a funeral together (the elderly Father of a friend – no one close).  But we were out together.  Without the kids.  So I say that counts as a date.

- Almost forgot to get The Youngest to a friend’s birthday party.  It just totally slipped my mind.  Good thing Toys R Us was on the way.  Gotta love gift cards.

- Enjoyed a dinner out with some girlfriends on a local restaurant patio!  Nothing helps drive away The Funk like estrogen, good food, frozen drinks and neighbourhood gossip.

- My Niece gave birth to her first child!  Her daughter Cali was unexpectedly born via emergency c-section at 30 weeks and only 3 pounds, but is doing really well in spite of her tiny size.  She’s expected to stay in the hospital for awhile and we’re all keep our fingers crossed for her continued progress.  A few of your fingers wouldn’t hurt either.

- And finally, I been trying to identify something I enjoy about each day in an attempt to drive out The Funk.  If you only concentrate on the negative, then that’s all that will reveal itself to you.  Concentrate more on the positive and you will find that there are many small moments worthy of your attention and your affection.

Hope you find something to love about today!

I’ve been in a funk for the past week.  For no apparent reason.  Just one of those things that happens from time to time I suppose.  Hormones?  Lunar cycles?  Pollen?  Who knows.  I certainly have nothing to be funky about – health is good, kids are fine, job is still paying, weather has been great, even the husband is in the good books!

And yet the funk.  Which, frankly, is getting kind of annoying.

I figure if I go about doing regular things then maybe I’ll start to feel regular again, instead of this increasing desire to run away and join the circus.  Clearly I’d look terrible in tights, a top hat or a clowns costume, so that’s just not an option.

So, rather than continue to wallow in my own melancholy, I decided that maybe I could try to happy myself up a little with a new summer haircut this weekend.

I’m really happy with it, so if you’re not – please keep it to yourself.

Now, if you’ll pardon my spotty posting and commenting, I’ll do my best to get back on track sooner rather than later.

And in the meantime, I’ll be in the backyard practicing riding a unicycle and training lions – just in case.