Duct Tape & WD-40

Well, today...

Today I was picking up some toys, when I came across Jack's Cranium Hulabaloo game. I saw the pads and the box, but I didn't see the "talking thing".

"Jack," I asked "where is the talking thing that goes with Hulabaloo?"

Jack says, "In the brown bathroom. I locked it in there."

I go get the screwdriver to open the bathroom door. Sure enough, there it is in the middle of the floor all by itself.

"Jack," I asked "why did you lock the talking thing in the bathroom?"

"I dunno." he says.

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Today, I worked all day in my scrapbook room. You can't tell any difference because I organized all of my paper. It took five hours. I have made two decisions.

1. My scrapbook room is too small.

2. I am going to start an Ebay store to sell all of the stuff that is in my "to sell" pile (not really a pile. actually two large boxes).

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Today, the inspector from the county came to look at our new A/C. He said "It looks great". I said, "Thank you. We are very proud of it."

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Today is the last day to work on scrapbook stuff until I return from Key West next Thursday. It will take the next two days to pack the family.

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Tomorrow, Emily goes to the vet to get her teeth cleaned. Got to do something about that breath!

Finally, St. Teresa Beach photos

Well, yes, it has been almost a month, but I finally posted the pictures in the photo album. I added some captions that I hope are not too corny.

I always think that people get some strange ideas when I discuss the "adults only" weekends at St. Teresa Beach. I simply call it that because sometimes our kids come and sometimes they are not invited. I bet, however, that the mind runs through all sorts of debauchary if under 18 set are not allowed to attend.

I would love to make up some tales. But, nothing illegal (well, no felonies) ever occurs. No drugs, no nudity, no swinging sex parties. I could make something up if you really want me to.

There are, however, four things that are guaranteed to happen every time.
1. Large amounts of beer will be consumed.
2. Something will explode
3. Something will be launched
4. John and Steve will sing the entire soundtrack of "Animal House" using a beer bottle for a microphone.

This year was no exception. We drank a lot of beer. We fired a real cannon several times. We launched water balloons and fireworks. John and Steve sang the entire soundtrack of "Animal House" using a beer bottle for a microphone.

New for this year - Steve dressed up in an inflatable woman suit and everyone had to wear red lipstick while playing charades and pictionary. It was nice to shake things up a little.

Interesting to note: sometimes someone, usually Steve, brings some new friends to the beach house parties. Strange that they never seem to come back a second time. Hmmmm...

Bear Visits Daycare

Check it out!

Yesterday, a Florida black bear walked over to the dumpster at Luke and Jack's school, Starchild Academy.  It stayed on the grounds for four hours!  The staff couldn't let anyone in or out of the school.  Jack got a really good look at him because he walk back and forth behind Jack's classroom.  He was big, but seemed very docile.  Of course, no one was taking any chances.

The police sort of coralled in a corner and he climbed over the fence and disappeared into the woods.  The school is very close to Wekiva Springs State Park.

I am so glad that no one lost their heads and tried to shoot him or something.  The police said that if he comes back, they will traquilize him and move him to another state park.  Apparently someone knows this bear because his ear was tagged.

Anyway, you can take a look at the video at www.cnn.com.  It made national news.  Look at the links in the middle of the page and go all the way down the list to Bear Visits Daycare, Causes a Lockdown.  I'm not sure how long it will be there, but you can probably search CNN with the title and find it somewhere.

Of course, I don' t have any photos of it.  No scrapbooking this one.

Still Thinking About You

So, what do you think of the new design.  See, I have all of this in my head, but it just takes time.  Time is something I have not had alot of lately.

June 9th, my Mom, Ann and I headed up to NYC for a little get away.  We returned on June 12th, so it really was a little get away.  It was very different this time because we stayed at the Ritz Carlton Battery Park.  That is on the southern tip of Manhattan, across from the Statue of Liberty.  GREAT hotel.  It had a bar located on the 14th floor called Rise.  The bar had amazing views of the Statue, Ellis Island and the harbor.  It also had an outside patio, but it was way too cold to sit out there.

That's right.  I said too cold.  Seems an unusual cold front had descended on the city.  I could only wear jeans and pants that were too tight (oops - got to get to work on that).  Luckily, I bought a great coat at Simms.  Bright orange, Michael Kors with a detachable liner for $99.  How awesome is that?

We also shopped at Century 21.  This store is amazing.  Big time designer things at nothing prices.  Just don't go on a weekend.  Start on a weekday in the morning and allow yourself plenty of time and money.  This place is 4 stories tall.  Take a look Century 21.

I've got pictures from Memorial Day at the beach house that are ready to upload.  There is only so much time in the day, ya know?

Oh - my house doesn't just hate me.  It hates all of us.  Since Gary got home on Friday evening, the pool pump motor has burned out and the DirectTV receiver thingy needs to be replaced.

I'll write more sooner rather than later.  I have to tell you about my fun visit from my niece, Laura

**Congratulations to my sister Leesa and her husband, Sergio.  They celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary today.  Boy, I bet they are really tired of each other by now - hee hee!

My House Hates Me

Every time Gary goes out of town, something in my house breaks or stops working.  I am not kidding.  Remember the A/C?  both times?  Gary gone.  What else you ask?  refrigerator water dispenser, backdoor knob, car battery.

This time it is the half bath toilet.  Won't stop running.  Won't flush.  I don't know how to fix it, so I turned off the water to it.

What is up with this???  Is my house testing me?  Do I need to show it who is boss?  Well listen house: if you keep this up, I WILL start fixing things on my own and I KNOW you don't want that.  If I can't fix it myself, I have a phone and a credit card and I am not afraid to use it.  So cut it out and shape up!

Of course, that doesn't work with my kids, so why would it work with my house?

So This Happened

So, I am watching The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night.  I should have been in bed.  Don't usually watch Jay because I am a huge Dave fan.  But, the Blue Color comics were on last night and as much as I hate to admit it, I think they are pretty funny.  My favorite, Ron White, was strangely absent.  But, I digress.

I was reading my Oprah magazine, not really paying attention, when THIS comes on.

He was singing a familiar song called "Jump" but it was not at all the same.  He was surrounded by a half circle of country musicians playing stringed instruments.  He was prancing around the stage like a ...well like a queen.

This is David Lee Roth.  Or shall I say, this used to be David Lee Roth.  He was the cool lead singer of the '80s rock band Van Halen.  This is the man who gave us Hot For Teacher and I'm Just a Gigolo.  He used to strut on stage with he spandex pants, crazy costumes and long flowing hair - hey wait a minute.  He just did that because his was rock star, right?

He has just released a new CD called Runnin' with the Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen.  Not only has this man completely come out of the closet, he has destroyed some sacred Van Halen tunes.  Don't believe me, go here http://movies.aol.com/celebrity/david-lee-roth/61747/main?sem=1&ncid=AOLMOV00170000000009 and check out Jamie's Cryin.

Now listen, if you know me, you know that I don't care at all about someone's sexual orientation.  But this was just so shocking!  I had to run and the bedroom and wake Gary to watch it.  Then I laughed unitl my cheeks hurt watching the look on Gary's face.

I expected to hear all about this on the radio today, but I have heard nothing.  I guess it was just old news and I was the last one to know.

In other news, I am moving stuff back into my scrapbook room.  I thought painting would take forever, but I was so wrong.  This organizing thing is taking forever.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to organize.  I love the thought of "a place for everything."  But, I don't have a place for everything.  I am having to make hard decisions and wishing I had more room.  Oh well, whine - whine.  I'll post picts when I am done.

I know. I know.  I still need a new header and I have posted the beach weekend photos.  Soon I hope.  I am leaving for NYC with my Mom and Ann on Friday.  I'll be back on Monday.  Then I will be even further behind.

Until later.

A Little Bit Here and There

Went to Costco the other day.  Had to take a pic of my purchases.  Water, Red Bull, beer, apple juice, juice boxes, Propel fitness water.  We Hudsons sure are a thirsty bunch.

No time to post about interesting things such as my Memorial Day weekend trip to John's beach house.  Just throwing a few things out to let you know I am still around.

Cole is out of school for the summer.  I have been with him all week.  He really has been a great kid.  He didn't complain at all today when I made him come with me to tennis (one hour of nothing for him) and then to my Dr's office (two hours of nothing for him).  He has even let me take the occasional nap without complaining.  I can't decide if he is getting old enough to entertain himself, or if I am just a neglectful mom and he is used to it.

Look at this.

Gary told me not to blog this picture. But he is a self-professed non-blog reader, so I guess he'll never know.  Huh!  Anyway my sweet man told me that he would finish painting my scrapbook room and build my furniture as part of my Mother's Day present.

Know this for sure - if Gary Hudson ever offers to paint a room for you, your answer should always be an enthausiastic YES!  You see, Gary is a perfectionist.  Now usually I find this trait somewhat maddening.  Gary never does anything quickly and he seems to hold you in contempt if you, yourself, take any shortcuts.

Painting, especially painting bold colors, requires a perfectionist. When Gary offered to paint my room, I knew it would be perfect.  He would remove all wall outlet covers and picture hangers.  He would take down the window treatments and hardware.  He would cut in straight lines next to the ceiling.  Indeed, the only "touching up" that needed to be done was where I got green paint on the ceiling before he took over.  He has the patience for painting for more that 45 minutes at a time.  My room would be beautiful and done much sooner than my January 2007 goal.  Yes, he finished my room in a day!

Now since neither of us have time during the week, my furniture has not been built.  But, I think that will be done this weekend.  Then I will have the daunting task of putting everything back in the room in an organized fashion.  Which leads me to question Gary's generosity just an itty bit.  Did Gary know that I would not get that room painted for months, therefore realizing that all of my crap was going to stay on his bedroom floor for a long time????  We have been married for 15 years.  I think I know the answer to that question.