Table Talk

Today was the day for that yearly doctor appointment that every woman looks forward to (NOT!)...so imagine my surprise when at the supper table Tony addresses us "gals" and asks the following question, "What was the worst thing that happened to you today?"

First of all, on any other day his mind is usually preoccupied thinking about ways to make a few extra bucks, tweak a recipe or find a better solution to do something in his daily recruiting process that he struggles to focus on us while we chatter on about our day (like females tend to do =)

Second of all, HE is often the one who groans when I ask similar questions to get conversation going at the supper table.

So for him to spring this one on us and especially on a day when he was fully aware I'd had an unpleasant doctor appointment, seemed cruel. I shot him a look of complete disgust and his eyes just smiled and sparkled in return.

The girls began sharing their worst moments and all the while my mind is trying to figure a delicate way out of this one. When he opened his mouth to speak, I fully expected him to prompt me to share. And then just as quickly it hit me. He'd volunteered to baby sit Megyn the bulk of the day and suffice it to say, she doesn't just have one poopy diaper a day.

Yep, he was so proud of himself for changing what he thought was only a wet diaper and in reality turned out to be, as he described it (at the DINNER table), "green and slimy." And for once I didn't rail on him too much, after all, the spotlight was no longer on me!

A Girl's Best Friend

This post is a little belated but my arms have been a bit too full to type lengthy posts. I think Tony will understand.

When I found out I was pregnant last fall it was really no surprise when at my ultrasound they told me I was carrying another girl. Wish as we might, I have always said if I had boys they would probably turn out to be wife beaters - I don't consider myself to be top-of-the-line mother material and I know that the relationship between a mom and her son is pretty important to how he will turn out. Equally important is the relationship between a father and his daughters. Look at our little family of four girls and you have to conclude (and rightly so) that Tony is an AWESOME dad! I think God gave our girls the best.

Happy Belated Father's Day, Tony! Thanks for caring about all your girls (me included =) We often hear our Sunday School teacher, Sis. Campbell, say that her adult girls know they can call their dad anytime during the day if they need him. I know that you will be the same way when your girls are grown. And you are certainly the one they will be turning to...because you care and they know it!

What Can Brown Do for You?

Today, we were discussing the fact that Tony is trying to get bronchitis. I hate when people pronounce it 'brown ki tus'. (sorry if that includes you =) We don't say it that way around here. But apparently that's what Kerrigan heard since a few seconds later, she piped up and asked, "Do you have to be brown to get bronchitis?"

And you thought this post was something to do with UPS didn't you?

It's My Fault

Having seen this book laying on my computer station this morning...

Tony told me that he is holding me totally and completely responsible for this pregnancy. He said he bought the book at my request and the next thing he knew, I was pregnant! And all along he thought it was a book on discipline.

16 Years Ago Tonight...

...we took an infamous walk on an infamous bridge, Hon. Thanks for taking the chance to ask me on that first date and thanks for asking for another and another and another :) All My Love, Forever.

And just in case anyone else cares to know about that first date, here's what I journaled a couple months ago on a scrapbook page titled "First Date"...

"Two flower deliveries – one from MaryLee and Janiece with best wishes and one from Tony himself. Absent parents (my thoughtful mother had talked Dad into taking her to town for supper so he wouldn’t be there to give Tony the third degree.) A bazillion outfits that didn’t feel right. Finally settled on the purple sweater and purple and teal skirt with black hose and black flats – an outfit Tony remembers to this day and ironically, what ended up being our wedding colors. Dinner at Bill Knapp’s in Midland, Michigan, where I knew something was up when I was able to eat my entire meal without feeling like I was going to throw up. Then we took a walk on the Tridge. It was the fastest, coldest walk I think I’ve ever experienced there and since it was our first date he was a foot or two away from me. Another quick walk through the mall and then a stroll through Meijer. After that we took a LONG drive around Midland city limits, just talking, getting to know one another. Then home after I’d shared way too much information about my family. No goodnight kiss (which was a good thing) but a promise of another date the next week. Perfect!"

Our Addition - part I

Not a new garage or a bigger laundry room; not a tiny little bundle of pink (or blue) but yet another cat. No we are not collecting them. Several weeks ago, Twiz disappeared and Pudge was only coming around about once a week. We have no idea what happened but of course, Britnee started paying attention to Clinton County Humane Society's website. Well, I should say paying MORE attention. She showed us cat after cat; kitten after kitten. I told her if we got another one (which I DID want before fall and mice season arrived) it had to be spayed or neutered. Tony's criteria was that it had to be a full-grown cat - a kitten wouldn't survive all the strays that roam "the neighborhood" (read: our yard!) So, much to her dismay we kept putting her off.

Finally one night, she showed me the ugliest cat that she had shared to date and then sent the picture or link to Tony's email. The next morning, I was downstairs, the kids were in school and Tony was up in his office. He hollered down, "Did you see the cat that Britnee is looking at?" "Yes," was my hasty reply, "isn't it ugly?" "UGLY?! It looks exactly like one of the best cats I ever had when I was a kid."

Do I even need to tell you that they went and picked it up either that night or the next? Before they got to the Humane Society, Tony made sure that Britnee understood if the cat was small they weren't bringing it home. They walked in and asked to see Benson. When the lady brought him out, Britnee's eyes got huge and she looked at Tony as if to say, "I don't think size will be a problem."

He is huge. (To give you an idea, Tony thinks Benson could have our friend's Pomeranian, Bitsy, for lunch. Okay, bit of exaggeration there but you get the idea...) If there's anything I hate worse than a gray tiger cat (bor-ring!) it's an over-sized cat! But I didn't get any say in this one.

Stay tuned for the rest of this story.

To Read or Not to Read?

Tony likes to read but he rarely has time to just sit down and enjoy a book. This morning it became obvious just how long it had been when 7.5 yr old Kerrigan discovered him in the living room, book in hand. Her observation? "I didn't knew you read!" (said in her exact words - typo intended - read prounounced as red)

What's Your Guess? round 2

After spending the day in Indy working and shopping, for supper Tony and I enjoyed:

1. Eddie Merlot's - featuring prime aged beef and seafood
2. Mc Alister's Deli - home of Mc Alister's famous sweet tea
3. White Castle - what you crave
4. Cracker Barrel - half restaurant, half store; all country

In Honor of My Mother-in-Law

I bet you were expecting a Christmas post from me today, huh? Well, it ain't happenin'. I am in no man's land (northern Michigan) and internet access is sloooooooowww up this way. So since I've been bantering with my in-laws all day (a good kind of fun :), here's a post I'd already had in queue:

It was the evening of Thanksgiving. Tony was lounging on the couch, I was sitting on the floor in front of the couch and my mother-in-law was across from us doing something with her cell phone (probably answering a call from her eldest who was in the same room.) I guess you might conclude that we were bored. But we weren't. Just relaxed and having some down-time. Of course, my camera was in my hand (is it ever anywhere else?) so I was passing the time by taking some portraits of me and my beloved. I finally had one that I thought turned out really neat. My mother-in-law dared to disagree. Upon viewing my masterpiece, she vehemently proclaimed, "This would drive me nuts! I could never decide which way it should be turned." So in honor of my mother-in-law, I present to you, Betty's Fury.

I should mention that my mother-in-law and I get along famously. She did not mean this in a rude way at all. We all had a good laugh over it and in fact, my father-in-law spoke almost the same exact words when he saw the picture later.

Telling on Tony

Well, I wasn't planning to post today but then it occurred to me that I should share a couple things. First off, Tony actually started a blog. I think it's more for my Dad's benefit than his, but nonetheless, he's the one that took the initiative. It contains nothing written by Tony; no news, no opinions, no interview tips, no brilliant thoughts. What it does contain are the lyrics to a hymn and an audio clip of me playing the piano. I cannot promise that there will be a new one every day. And in order to keep it simple, he is just using a little MP3 player to record...so not digitally mastered or anything. But if you care to check it out (and we will be adding another one or two tonight or tomorrow) click here.

On a completely different note, Julie's post about Jeff wanting to know how much money she brought back from her day of returns reminded me of a story I had to tell.

The weekend after we moved over this direction from New Castle, we had a garage sale with a couple other families. Tony thought I was nuts to have one because it was too much trouble for the little bit of junk we had. But, when moving to a new home, the windows always seem to be a different size than the house you had before. And buying all the blinds, curtains and curtain rods can put a good dent into the pocketbook. So, Tony went along with the plan.

The night before the garagae sale, he approached me, "How much do you think you will make off this sale?" "I don't have a clue. I'm hoping for at least $100 or $150. Why?" Then I saw the wheels turning in his head..."You don't have the money in your budget already do you?!" Sheepish grin means guilty as charged. (I don't think there is a dime laying around that isn't in the budget.)

Then comes the compromise...how about if I give him the first $100 dollars and I get to keep the rest to spend on ANYTHING I want? Now at this point I am a stay-at-home mom and know that I am blessed to not have to work outside the home. I know that moving isn't cheap, so I agree.

Saturday dawns bright and early. Thanks to the insane efforts of the other two families, who stayed up until I don't know what time in the morning making signs for every corner, we were selling stuff like crazy. Never a dull moment until around 2 in the afternoon. We close up shop and start adding up the columns and divying out the money. The Derscheid's come in with the highest sales. Grand total...drumroll please...$351!!!

Tony was kicking himself for a week.