School's Out (again)

No snow days this time. Optional School Conferences. Two days where we may but don't have to chat with our children's teachers about their progress. Most people take the four-day weekend and leave town.

Not us, though. We're here to weather this weather together in a mad frenzy of cleaning house that will likely devolve into watching last night's "American Idol." Again.

I think they have 2 full weeks coming up and then a week and half of Spring Break... because this winter has taxed their little brains sooooo much. Almost as much as it has taxed mine.

New Artist of the Year?

Dear GRAMMY People,

Esperanza, I'm certain, is fabulous. How can she not be? But, and I'm not just saying this because I'd like to slap a diaper on him and nurse him to sleep most nights, how could you pass up the Bieber?

How could a young yet overgrown Ken doll with more talent in his little toe than most major populations have in all ten grown-up fingers be passed over like that?

And where was Kanye to defend him in his moment of need?

Sheesh.

Other than that (and the mental image of Mick Jaggar without the 10 pounds the camera supposedly adds forever burned in my brain), the show was outstanding.

For an infinitely better analysis, check out my friend, Ron, at http://www.BeDifferentlyOnline.blogspot.com/

Peace out,
Jules

I'm (Still) with the Band

Always a bit late to the table, I have found a New Year's Resolution I might be able to complete. 

Maybe.

I've decided to learn to play one of my favorite '80's anthems, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," on acoustic guitar for our friends' annual fiesta this summer, which includes a margarita contest, a salsa contest, and open mic night. I love margaritas and salsa, we'll see how I take to guitar. Six months to learn to play. And sing.

In the meantime, I am still listening to my basement full of dads pretend, if only for a few minutes, that they are one with Billy Idol. Dancing with themselves.

Snow Days

The Blizzard of Oz came dancing in this week, leaving little doubt in my mind that Mother Nature is a complete bitch who probably needs to retire.

With all of my darling children home this week, we got to do some serious bonding.

Ellie has enslaved me now as her personal hair braider.

Amelia is my number one foot massage client.

Caroline very thoughtfully informed me that "there is a commercial on TV for a lotion you can rub on your skin and it takes away stretch marks." (Luke added that if you call in the next 5 hours, you can try it for free.)

And dear Luke and I have had quite a run. He was hired by a neighbor to shovel the drive. What the neighbor failed to mention upon hiring was that his driveway was nearly completely covered with snow drifts over 3 feet high. I helped Luke drag his snowblower to his customer's drive and looked at the nine-year-old boy, alone with a shovel and a snowblower and 1200 cubic feet of snow and decided to help.

Two hours later I was certain of two things:  I never want to live in North Dakota and I would likely not be able to get out of bed in the morning.

But get out of bed I did, and a good thing too. Luke had the stomach flu. I wasn't positive he was sick until he threw up all the way down the hall from his bedroom (which, btw, boasts a toilet within five feet of his bed) to our bathroom, violating rule # 2 in our house (rule # 1 being "love thy brother and sisters"): "head for the toilet, not Mom." Because vomit is hard to clean up off carpet.

On the plus side, I have found a new distraction hobby and am working on accompanying myself on guitar to my own acoustic version of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun."

And that is how we spent the Snowpocalypse.