Oh yeah...

Ix-nay on the upcakes-cay usiness-bay for Kelly and myself. There's a new cupcake shop opening in downtown B-town next week called Pinkie-dinks or something like that. Oh well, you know what road is paved with good intentions. Yee-haw.

What the Heck?!

Since turning 40 two weeks ago, I have had the stomach flu, quickly followed by a pretty bad cold. Next, probably gout or arthritis or carpel tunnel syndrome from all the typing I do at work or bifocals. With my cold, my head's been stuffy enough that I can't hear, so I'm saying "huh" and "what" a lot, so I may as well be 97 with a tremendous hearing deficit. Just add a "sonny" after the "huh" or "what" and I'm set. I've been chewing gum constantly, in hopes that my ears would pop. Hopefully, they'll do that soon. Probably when someone is repeating something they've already said to me 4 times at the top of their lungs, and then my ear drums will burst and bleed, then I'll REALLY be in trouble.

Ah, Meme

So, I was perusing some of the blogs on Alana's blogroll, and one had the following meme that I just had to do for this post. I suppose I've tagged myself to do a meme. Here goes:

Name 5 things you were doing 10 years ago

1. I was tending to my 2 year old daughter, Kailey, and in the 6th month of my pregnancy with my son, Timothy.

2. I had lived in Branson not quite a year with my (then) husband, and was a homemaker.

3. I was helping (then) husband prepare for the upcoming National Bible Bowl tournament at the North American Christian Convention, to be held in St. Louis in June, for our church's Bible Bowl team. We were the sponsors. (We made it to Thursday, by the way, and anyone who is familiar with the NACC Bible Bowl tourney knows that Thursday ain't too shabby for a first year team that didn't have any home-schooled kids on it).

4. I was mourning the loss of my dog, Gracie, who had been hit by a car.

5. I was 9 days away from unexpectedly losing my mother, and 2 1/2 weeks away from going into preterm labor from all the stress of my mother's death.

Wow. Okay. Uh, consider yourselves tagged.

Run for Your Lives!

This morning, I stepped outside, and I saw the most unusual thing. The sky was a strange, new shade. It's typical grey shade had been replaced by the most beautiful blue hue. But that wasn't the oddity I spoke of at the start of my post. There was also this big ball of orange fire hanging in the sky. I've never seen anything like it. And it's still there! What next? Mass hysteria? Riots? Suntans? Save yourselves!!! Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggggggghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Was It Worth It?

Yes, it was. Quite worth it, thank you. And my older daughter and I ended up on TV. (Takes a bow).

Picture it. Hammonds Field. 3/29/08. Rain. 45 degrees. Blustery wind. My children, my beloved, his child, and me. Front row, general admission, on the cold, hard, wet ground. Tell me, weather man... where was that 55 degrees and partly sunny sky you promised? Hm? Lies, all lies. Still... THE Cardinals were there. I love me some Cardinals baseball. I love it so much that not only did I endure the elements, but those I care about the most endured it with me. Why? It was how I wanted to celebrate my birthday. THE Cardinals lost to the Cardinals by 7. We didn't stay to witness the loss. We left after the 6th inning. There comes a point, after all, where it's just crazy to stay. I did learn something, however, and that is that it takes exactly 1 minute 37 seconds for nacho cheese to turn cold while walking in the cold air. There's not much worse than very cold nacho cheese sauce on soggy chips. I don't recommend it.

So why was it worth it? A few reasons:

1. Family time. Memory-making stuff. 'Tis good.
2. My friend Kelly got to see Kailey and I on TV, all bundled up, my hair quite the mess.

And last, but not least, something I found out just today:

3. My beloved's beloved son told him upon hearing that I was 40 that I looked 30. My beloved told him that I'd appreciate hearing that. To which beloved son replied, "Well, maybe 37."

Good enough. I'll take that.

Cardinals baseball season opened today. Then after an hour and a half rain delay somewhere around inning 5, closed again. They'll officially open tomorrow. I can probably knock 3 years off my looks and get away with it. I have wonderful children who keep life from being dull. I am loved even when I am unlovable. Life is good.

Yep, totally worth it.

It Wasn't Nearly As Bad As I Thought Until...

The (apparently) not-so-bright waiter at Olive Garden just couldn't seem to keep his trap shut about women our age knowing about MySpace and blogs and the internet and oh... ELECTRICITY, in general. Hello!! Did your mother never teach you not to make comments like that? Oh, I'm sorry, she probably hasn't hit 35 yet, and hasn't yet learned about tact, etc.

Forgive me, I've ranted without setting up the cause for said rant. 3/28, approximately 7:00 p.m., Olive Garden. 9 women, ranging in ages 20-something to 50-something. All celebrating yours truly's 40th birthday. We had a fabulous time talking, laughing, eating things we shouldn't eat, especially that late in the day, and just enjoying being out of the house and the daily routine of life. I had dreaded the birthday, but it was turning out quite lovely in spite of my fears. Until Seth, our waiter, couldn't keep his comments to himself. He obviously didn't ever practice thinking before speaking. I'm sure he thought he was trying to be funny or coy, but uh, my advice? Don't quit that serving job at OG for that stand-up act you're contemplating, and poorly attempting to hone by insulting a group of nice women who could probably hand your butt to you in a fair fight if need be. I did not let it slide. I pointed out the blunder(s). The more he tried to explain himself, the deeper the hole he was digging. Wonder how that foot in his mouth tasted? Methinks he wasn't even aware of what he was doing, which made it all that much easier to laugh at him.

Oh well, still a quite wonderful birthday. Wonderful to be with friends. And even more wonderful that, after all these years of trying to impress others, I no longer care about impressing anyone. Others' opinions no longer weigh so heavily on my shoulders. There is a burden we tend to carry in our 20s and 30s of which we're not really aware. I wasn't aware of it until recently, upon contemplating 40, that I saw how much time and effort I'd put in to making sure others thought certain things of me. Why did I do that? Did it make any sort of difference in my life? NO! Not one bit.

So ladies, if you're still carrying around that burden, no matter what your age, I recommend you set that burden down and walk away. You don't need it. Take care of your family, your job, your spiritual and emotional health, and first and foremost your relationship with Him. Nothing else matters at all. And, in taking care of those things, how could anyone think anything but wonderful things about you? Sort of all falls into place, doesn't it? It's quite nice. And you'd be amazed at how much better you sleep!

Campbelli Ristorante

That was the name of my kitchen and dining room tonight. Only the best chefs will create their masterpieces here. Tonight's line-up of chefs? My children. Why? They were preparing my birthday dinner (a day early because I have some fabulous plans for tomorrow night, thanks to Alana and 7 of my friends). They wanted to get me something for my birthday, and this was what they decided upon. And let me say, it was the best idea ever.

Last week, the children put together a menu with 3 choices in each of the following categories: appetizer, drink, main course, side dish, dessert. I got to pick my preference from each, and the menu was set. We had spinach artichoke dip and chips for the appetizer, pink lemonade to drink, salad as our side dish, and chicken bacon ranch sandwiches for the main course. It was all incredibly delicious (I'm serious!), and I'm absolutely STUFFED. Kailey also made the dessert: chocolate chip pound cake. It smells scrumptious (just out of the oven, and has to cool before we can dig in)!

After dinner, there was entertainment: DVDs of my favorite cartoons - Bugs Bunny (there is no one better, although Spongebob comes in a close second to ol' Bugsy). I am watching these as I type this, and it's quite a treat. Not since I was a kid, living with my parents, has anyone fixed me a birthday dinner. That's been over 20 years ago now. The kids were quite pleased to be the first to do this for me. This has been quite the memorable evening, and my heart has been warmed beyond imagination. What thoughtful, fun children I have! How blessed is this birthday girl!

Time for some cake, then the birthday girl has to clean the kitchen. Heh!