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June 30, 2006

Three Years Ago

I just got this email from the past- I had forgotten all about it. Cool.

(The following is an e-mail from the past, composed on Wednesday, September 10,
2003, and sent via FutureMe.org)

Dear FutureMe,

If this really works, you should be reading this after King Pen graduates! Yay!
You did it! You both busted your butts and you made it through. The kids are
probably so grown up it makes you want to cry, huh? I can only imagine how
unbelievable life must seem- you'll be, what, like 30 now. You're old!

Keep on making the most of your life, of your time. Don't forget to take more
pictures, write more words, and give more love. These are the things that
sustain you through life, material things fade and rot. Try to keep that in
mind.

I hope that you are the woman you want to be. If you're not, now's the time to
work on that. Don't put it off another three years.

Good luck, WonderGirl.

Love,
The Past

Posted by WonderGirl at 12:03 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Movies

I wanna see "The Devil Wears Prada", if for no other reason than that I love the title! I've never read the book, don't really know what it's about, but a good title hooks me everytime.

I'm so shallow.

I also want to see "Superman", but not because of it's ingenius title. I just have an eternal crush on him. It's kind of embarrassing, actually, but what can ya do?

Posted by WonderGirl at 9:25 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

June 29, 2006

Home Sweet Home

When we moved to Birmingham, we were on a tight schedule. We had, literally, about fifteen minutes to find somewhere to live. We were lucky, and found an apartment that suited us perfectly. We plan to rent for a year, while we get our finances all squeeky clean- then buy our very first house. Yip!

It's not something I've ever considered at length before. Our goals have always just revolved around getting out of school, and keeping our cars running, which was trickier than you'd imagine. There were days I swore our cars came straight from Hell. Smoke and everything. Anyway- I'm a very simple person, I can really only handle one step at a time. Now that we've accomplished our initial goal of graduation, and the cars seem less demonic, we are suddenly faced with creating and achieving a new set of goals. Owning a home now sounds like the best thing I've ever heard. (Okay, a minivan sounds pretty dang good, too, but that's another post) I daydream about what our future home might look like, what will need to be done to it, what neighborhood it will be in, if it will like me, blah blah blah.

Now that King Pen has a job, we are able to pay our bills, which is just great. Seriously, paying bills is a thrill for me. But there is nothing left over, yet. I think each payday will be a little better, we'll inch ourselves a little further out of the red as the months pass. And hopefully, a year or so from now, I'll be picking out paint colors and packing up AGAIN. It'll be the most exciting move yet.

Can't wait for color on my walls again.

Wines and apples and pumpkins.

Posted by WonderGirl at 10:07 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

June 28, 2006

Strangeness

Why, yes, I AM listening to Christmas music today, since you asked. And it's really quite lovely.

I'm in one of those weird, upside down moods today. Wearing my shoes on my hands and my hat on my bum kinda days. Ever have them?

Posted by WonderGirl at 11:57 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

June 27, 2006

Storyboarded

Sunday night, we watched Howl's Moving Castle by Hayao Miyazaki. It was so cool. Some of Miyazaki's other animations are: Spirited Away, Nausicaa, Princess Mononoke, and Castle in the Sky.

He is amazing.

And I know what you're thinking. Cartoons- Japanese animation--- NERD ALERT... but it's not true (the nerd alert is going off because of my pocket protector and retainer. totally unrelated.) Drop the label for a minute and be openminded. Miyazaki's work is stunning. And whimsical. And so full of life. He whisks you away into a world that is fueled by a boundless imagination. I sit there and watch it with the Short Ones and we share the same sense of awe and pleasure. It is a joy to behold. He is a master of his craft, and he tells stories about the best things in life. Bravery and peace and love and friendship-- his stories have wings. Love 'em.

Anyway.

Spirited Away is a great place to start if you've never seen anything from Studio Ghibli. Give it a try- you won't regret it.

Posted by WonderGirl at 4:31 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Oh, snap!

Czarina never lets me down when I have my camera in hand:

HeroBoy is my cannonball. He's very hard to capture on film these days:

Here is the whole gang before VBS one morning with Grandma:

Posted by WonderGirl at 10:19 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

June 26, 2006

Hullo!

Dear Blog,

I missed you! Did you get my postcard? No? That's weird, cause I totally sent it. Anyway, I'm back in town now, so we can hang out and stuff if you want to. Cool. I'll swing by later, after some coffee.

Great to see ya again. (I can tell you got some sun- you look good!)

Later,
WonderGirl

Posted by WonderGirl at 10:48 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

June 18, 2006

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my babies' daddy. In the wise words of Maury Povich, "Being a father is so much more than passing the paternity test. So stay tuned for our next show about child support."

Ha.

Seriously, King Pen, you are the Daddy of daddies. Enjoy your day. Love you!

Posted by WonderGirl at 9:59 AM | TrackBack

June 17, 2006

Updatery

Sunday afternoon, the kids and I are headed to my folk's house for some summer visiting. I am teaching preschool crafts at my mom's church VBS for the week, and the kids will be going along to their own little classes. I'm excited for them-- VBS was a highlight of my summer as a kid. I expect to be worn slap out every day, but it will fun. The week will culminate in a family get together next weekend, a shower for my cousin's fiance. At some point in the week, we plan to hop over to Monroe for the afternoon to see King Pen's family. We have some belated birthday hugs to deliver. Also, I'd like to grab a bite to eat one night with my friend Catherine and her fella. And somewhere in all of that- I need to have some freon put in my car. Let's all hold hands and say a little prayer that that's all that's wrong and that it has nothing at all to do with the air compressor. We have the WORST luck with cars, seriously. It would be laughable if it wasn't so dang irritating and expensive.

Anyway.

So today, I'm running around trying to get it all together to leave tomorrow after dinner. Craziness, thy name is Road Trip With Small Children!

Will write more tonight if life allows. Happy weekend, everybody!

Posted by WonderGirl at 3:43 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

June 15, 2006

She Draws Stories

Czarina has gotten pretty imaginative in her artwork lately. She drew a caterpillar, inching along, and a girl hanging on to his back by one arm, hair flying in the wind, smiling as big as the sun.

It's the fastest caterpillar in the world, she explains.

I
love
that.

Posted by WonderGirl at 11:44 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

June 14, 2006

To Wash or Not To Wash

Dirty dishes in the sink, and I'm GOIN' TO DA POOL!

They'll be here when I get back, never fear. And I will deal with them accordingly, the fiends.

And for your information, I'll be wearing this:

Try to contain your jealousy, dears. I know, it's difficult.

Posted by WonderGirl at 3:41 PM | TrackBack

Part II, Smiling Over:

Sometimes, it's good to stop and think about what makes me smile. I did here. And I'll do it again. So there.

1. Czarina's snaggletooth grin.
2. Our first payday tomorrow!
3. Tan lines.
4. Ice cold caffeine.
5. Dolphin sketches by a 5 yr old.
6. Harry Dresden.
7. Fresh starts.
8. Clean linen candles.
9. Mister Mustard.
10. Letting people in.

Your turn! Go for it. Feels good.

Posted by WonderGirl at 12:14 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

June 13, 2006

Doubts

I'm having one of those "I Should Never Have Been Allowed to Be A Mother" moments. Gah. One of those moments when you realize you're entirely too selfish, too self-centered, too lazy, too inadaquete, too everything to be anybody's anything.

I've been planning on homeschooling Czarina this year for some time now. But when we moved, I wanted to know my options, and I looked at the public schools. (GASP) For the record, they are very good here. I think if you're gonna send your kid to public school, this would be the place to do it. But, it's not for us. I may be a little more lax on the issue because I went to public school myself, but King Pen feels firmly that he wants to avoid the state educating his children. I can understand that. Private school is out financially for the moment, so I am facing the task myself.

Which scares the heck out of me.

I'll be honest- I'm afraid I'll do it all wrong, I'm afraid I won't have time to do it properly, chasing after two rambunctious boys, I'm afraid that to do it, my house will have to be a disaster, my writing will slip away, along with any remaining vestiges of my sanity. I'm afraid I'll be compared to other homeschooling moms, the ones who bake their own bread from wheat they've grown in their own backyards while standing on their heads, blah blah blah. I'm not that good. I'm just not. I'm no pioneer woman, and if you don't believe me, you should try my corn pone. And if I'm not shown up by the other domestic homeschooling goddesses out there, I'm afraid I'll be one of those that walks around with the Blank Stare. I'm afraid I'll have nothing left over of myself at the end of the day. Ya know?

I realize how I sound-- I know it's awful. I am ashamed that I feel any of those things. I should have it wayyyy more together than that. But I don't. Being a mom is tough sometimes- because it requires so much, not just of your time, but of your essence. Your creativity. Your emotional and mental energy. It doesn't mean I don't love my children- it just means that I am a person, and like all people, I am sinful and selfish. I don't want to relinquish myself, I don't want to self-sacrifice, any more than anybody else does. Sacrifice sucks. Sometimes, I really don't feel like making lunch. I'd rather finish reading my book. It's true. I'd rather do what I want to do sometimes. Though I know I will always choose what is best for my children, part of me fights it. Part of me rebels at giving up anything more. It is that part that disappoints and bothers me. It causes me to doubt myself- am I a bad mother? Am I missing some vital, maternal element that those "Great Moms" have and I don't? I have this feeling that if I was doing it all right, then I would be content and I wouldn't mind giving up my spare time and interests for their benefit. I'd happily lay it all down, cheerfully take on any task without blinking an eye. I know moms like that. They are masters of their craft.

What am I missing here?

That's not a rhetorical question- help a mama out. Even if you think what I need to hear is just "get over it, quit feeling sorry for yourself." It wouldn't be the first time I had a pity party busted up like that. Give it to me straight.

Posted by WonderGirl at 3:02 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack

June 12, 2006

Monday's Monologue

Morning, world! How are you today? Well, I woke up on the right side of the bed this morning, which was just lovely. Flipping our mattress last night helped, and I felt less like a 90 year old woman when I woke up. Yip! The kids are playing in their room, the Duke is still sleeping, and I'm having a cup o'joe. It looks to be a grand day.

This week will be a fast one, methinks. I got five free passes to the gym across the street, so I'll be doing that a few times, after King Pen gets home in the afternoon. This is good, because I've put a hurtin' on a chocolate cake we had for his birthday for days now. I have some serious calories to contend with!

This week will also be "Taking Care of Business" week. Gotta get AL driver's liscenses, open a bank account, update our new address, blah blah blah. By the weekend, I have to be packed and ready to go to my folk's house for a week. I am teaching VBS at my mom's church next week, and staying that following weekend for a wedding shower for Megan. I kind of hate leaving the house since we just got here, but that's just the way it's worked out. All this moving around has been tough on the kids, but they'll adjust. Um, right?

Speaking of kids-- yay for having them. They make renting movies like "Nanny McPhee" entirely acceptable. We started it Saturday night, and finished it Sunday afternoon. Very reminescent of Mary Poppins-- it was cute. I mean, for the kids. Ya know. I was kind of bored, being an adult and all.

Ahem.

Anyway. We visited an Anglican church yesterday for Sunday worship. It was interesting. For the first fifteen minutes, we didn't have a prayer book near us to follow along, and we were quite lost. Finally, I tapped the lady in front of us and asked her to pass us the spare one beside her. After that, it was easier to keep up. There was a lot of responsive and group reading, lots of up and down on the kneelers. There was an organist and a choir- they did some very traditional church music, they chanted a psalm, which I'd never heard done in person before. There was an altarboy, several people made the sign of the cross, it was all very Catholic feeling to me. The sermon was sterling- it really was. All told, I think the service lasted about an hour and a half. Afterwards, there were snacks and coffee and visiting, which was nice. The people were all very friendly. It was a pleasant experience, but I don't think it will be the place for us. It was neat to get the lowdown on Anglicans firsthand, though.

I love that word- Anglican. But I guess that's not a good enough reason to convert, eh?

Okay, well that's the time I got, people. I need to go feed the littlest shmoo his bottle.

I love shmoos, don't you?

Posted by WonderGirl at 9:57 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

June 11, 2006

Yeowch.

These Louisiana legs are not accustomed to Birmingham hills. I went running for the first time here a day or so ago, and ack! my poor shins. How is it possible I went uphill both ways? (Oh, and I think I passed my parent's old elementary school along the way, except it wasn't snowing.)

And while I'm tallying up my physical aches and pains, something is up with our bed. It was pretty normal before we moved, but now? It's like sleeping in the depths of hell. I screamed myself awake this morning. Yeah, it's that bad. I think we need a priest, some holy water, and a couple thousand Hail Mary's to straighten it out. But first, we're gonna try flipping it. If that doesn't help, and the Church won't sanction a bed related exorcism, that mattress is gonna eat lead. No mercy. Cement shoes. Swimming with the fishes. Yada yada yada.

Now it's time for the Sunday nap. On the couch.

Posted by WonderGirl at 4:51 PM | TrackBack

June 10, 2006

Perfecto

Okay, it's just ridiculous how perfect this town is. Seriously. Quit it.

It's the most family oriented place I've ever lived. It's parent-utopia. The parks, the playgrounds, the pools and rec centers, heck, even the skateboard park, which is nestled right beside the police dept. Talk about clever. It's so perfect that I might be creeped out about it, in a Stepford Wives kind of way- except that I can't help reveling in it! It's clean and beautiful and safe. Crime is low, community involvement is high, and I'm loving it. I've been here six days, and I'm hooked. This town is like crack, people.

We have a pool, and a gorgeous little creek, a playground, nature trails, a waterfall, big boulders to play on, oh my goodness. It's insanely fantastic.

I'm not bragging. I'm just saying. Wow. Good stuff.

Posted by WonderGirl at 5:58 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

June 8, 2006

Stort tack

... as they say in Sweden. Thank you very much! Ah, the Swedish. Such an amusing people.

Anyway, yes, THANK YOU. I want to publicly express my appreciation to my mother-in-law, who watched my children for an ENTIRE WEEK so that I could pack and plan this move. She is a lifesaver. Literally. There is no way King Pen and I could have done this on our own, and I don't just mean relocating. His parents have been a tremendous support to us while he was in school, and my gratitude knows no end! They are phenomenal people.

And to Aunt Vickie, Mike, and Nanny who had the U-haul unpacked by the time I got here, stort tack to you, too. It was a great help, and I want you to know how easy it made the transition into the new place. Thanks for giving up a Sunday for us.

And Brittbratt-- thank you for coming the next day to entertain my kids while I organized. They loved it, and I got a lot done because you were here distracting the masses. And Czarina loves the toe polish, by the way. Next time you come, I promise we'll hang out at the pool so you can check out the cute guys.

And to Aunt Janet, Papaw, and Mae, who swept in today for a few hours to check out the new place-- thank you for the goodies, and especially the chocolate cake for King Pen's birthday. I promise I'll save him a piece of it! Thank you for being so thoughtful.

There have been countless loved ones and friends who have stuffed money into my purse without me looking, or given in other anonymous ways ($500 from one such a person!) or paid for my gas or a car repair or something... and I don't even know how I could thank you properly. Thank you for being so generous.

Everybody--- goodness-- you've all done a lot for us, all of you. So many of you have come to my rescue over the years, gotten us out of this bind or that one, and I can't even begin to tell you how much that has meant. Now, finally, we are there, we're done, and it's in large part because of you. As things get situated, we hope to return those small favors, and big ones (though it may take longer on those) because we love you and want you to know we appreciated your help and support through the years.

Well, that's all for now. Just thinking today about the people who helped us get here, and wanted to acknowledge them. Have a good day, everybody!

Posted by WonderGirl at 5:46 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Coming Alive

Today is gonna be a good day, I can feel it in my bones. Thursday! Whoohoo! I don't know why I'm excited about that, but I'm gonna go with it.

So, I have my first "official" visitors today. Aunt Janet, Papaw, and Mae are passing through town on their way home to Mississippi after a trip, so I get to show off the new hizzy. It's really coming together quite well! It's bigger than our house in Baton Rouge, except for my kitchen, which is microscopic. I think I am going to have to pull out my old Barbie dishes, 'cause that's about all that will fit. I hear the plastic food diet really works though. I mean, look at Barbie. She's almost as skinny as Nicole Richie! They're on to something. Or on something, either one. Laxatives can do wonders for a girl.

Anyway. Back to the house.

Okay, it's probably the best spot in the complex, no joke. It's at the back, it's quiet and I look out my windows and see down into a very nice, wooded valley. You walk into the front door, and the dining room is on the left, and the living room on the right. Off the living room are French doors to a little deck. When you're standing at the front door, you can look down a long hall, and at the end of that is the master bedroom. The other bedrooms are off to the right of the hallway, bathroom and laundry room to the left. There is a bathroom in the master bedroom, which is lovely. We only had one bathroom at our old house, and lemme tell ya, that was getting old FAST. Let's see... what else.... it has a playground, two really nice pools, and free extended cable. Oh, and I have a dishwasher! Hallelujah!

The people were SO nice when we moved in. The apartment was immaculate- and they had even put some cokes in the fridge, filled up icetrays, and left a "welcome home" note, along with a little snack basket. I was impressed. We've never had that kind of treatment from a landlord before! It's a good beginning.

Well, I probably should get going. Plenty to keep a wondergirl busy. Have a good day, people. I'll write more later.

Posted by WonderGirl at 9:25 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

June 6, 2006

From Here to There

Oh, poo. I'm still too tired to write. I am down to the piddling boxes-- ya know, the stuff you didn't know what to do with before you moved, and now is no different? Football icetrays, keys to SOMETHING but you're not sure what, and about three thousand lint brushes. Fun. Oh, and also my wall stuff. Haven't done that yet. Hanging things will be an all day event, and I like to save it for last. I like that part. It's like icing the cake. With a hammer. Wahoo!

Sorta blue right now-- tomorrow is King Pen's birthday, which has just gotten shuffled down to the bottom of the pile mentally and financially. I feel bad about that. It's not gonna be a birthday to go down in the books, I'm sad to say. I'll make up for it with the next one though. Clowns. Balloons. Pony rides. The works. Sorry, babe. Really, I am. You've worked so hard the last few months- I wish I could celebrate your day properly. I know it won't be much fun to blow out the candles in your pudding cup tomorrow. But hey, at least it's wiggly. Right?

The money thing- wah. U-huals and gas and car repairs and deposits and you name it... we're so wiped. New job- yes, FANTASTIC. But he's got to work at least two weeks to get a paycheck. It's gonna be tight. But, we know the drill. And hopefully, we're on the upswing and life will soon be all peaches. Peaches, baby. Big, juicy, scrumptious peaches.

Okay,that's all I got for tonight. If I'm not writing, you know it's cause I'm setting up house. I'll be back online in a jiff, I promise. Don't go too far.

Posted by WonderGirl at 9:34 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

June 5, 2006

Relocated

Hulloo!

Well, it's mostly done. We survived our move, BARELY. I cannot wait to tell you guys the story- you just won't believe it. Statistically speaking, it should have been impossible for two people to have as much bad luck as King Pen and I have had in the last week. I have blog fodder for years with this whole experience. It was one of those weeks that you either had to laugh or cry. I laughed, long and loud and maniacally.

I scared people.

But, the story will have to wait. I am for bed, my dears.

ZZzz...

Posted by WonderGirl at 11:50 PM | TrackBack

June 2, 2006

Insomnia

4 am.

FOUR IN THE MORNING.

I am SO mad at my brain right now. SHUT IT, BRAIN. Seriously. Don't make me come up there.

Posted by WonderGirl at 5:28 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack