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July 31, 2006

Money Matters

My thoughts are all over the place these days. Mostly, they revolve around how life will change for us in seven months. I have moments of peace, when I know things will all work out okay- when I realize how fortunate I am for what I've got. Then, there are other times when I am absolutely freaked out, when I don't know how we can possibly accomplish the things we need to in time for this baby, and beyond that. I go from optimistic to fearful in two seconds flat.

I have always had a healthy skepticism of the american dream. I know that happiness is not to be found in owning a home, driving a new car, or taking yearly vacations. I realize that my children don't need the cutest furniture from Pottery Barn to have a good childhood. Seriously- I get that. I like nice things as much as the next person, but I know they are extra in life. I know that what they need most in the world is two parents who love God, and love them, and show that every day.

It's not the lack of the american dream bothers me. If we live in an apartment our entire lives, it would be disappointing, but not the end of the world. If we don't travel or drive fantastic cars, I can live with it. But it's the struggle that gets to me. Living paycheck to paycheck-- not only cutting out the luxuries in life, but also the things that we really DO need. There's nothing left to cut out of our lives at this point, honestly. We have to eat. We have to have electricity. Other than that, we don't dare spend money. I don't say all this for pity or sympathy or anything like that. I think a lot of people are in the same boat as us-- it's not an unusual phenomenom. It's a reality plenty of folks can relate to, which is why I write this here. You know what I'm talking about. If you don't live this way right now, you probably remember a time when you did. We all have hard times, right?

Counting every penny is exhausting. I don't know how we can take on any more financial responsibility, and yet, we must. Somewhere in there, we must find enough to pay for a new baby (they ain't free, mister), and also, upgrade to a vehicle that will seat six, within the next seven months. It's frightening.

I do pray about it. And I know that God is our provider. So you don't have to post the bible verses. But the thing is, maybe this is the way God wants it for us, for some reason. That thought is what really scares me. That God has decided that this is the road we must take, that struggle is something we need, that we will always need. I guess I should just trust Him. If He thinks we need it, then obviously the alternative is bad. I don't want to be rich and miserable and out of His will. But, it's disheartening to think that we may struggle every day for the rest of our lives. I feel worn down already, and I have lots of years ahead of me.

Trust. Faith. Hard stuff. If it was just me, then it would be simpler-- but trusting Him with my children... having faith that He'll provide for these little people that depend on me... that is a challenge. But that's what it is going to take, because we need miracles in the months to come. Last time I checked, I couldn't take credit for a single miracle in my life. God's gotta do it. And I gotta trust Him to do it.

Anyway, those are just some thoughts swimming around today... sorry to be so serious. I now return you to our regularly scheduled, lighthearted blogging.

Posted by WonderGirl at 11:26 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

July 30, 2006

Yow.

Today's mystery ailment? Severe calf pain. As far as I know, I didn't run a marathon yesterday. There's no trophy to be found anywhere. And yet, my calves proclaim that not only did I run 26.2 miles, I also won the dang thing. They hurt people. I'm practically limping. I at least deserve an honorable mention or something. *pout*

Oh, and whining, too- wow. Sorry 'bout that. I'm going to bed now- enough with my pitiful self. I sure hope I don't wake up tomorrow with my body thinking I've won an ironman competition.

But if I do, there better be some kind of certificate of achievement laying around. I'm just saying.

Posted by WonderGirl at 11:41 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

July 28, 2006

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I know- I said I'd blog this week. And you guys don't give up on me, do ya? You come back, day after day, and there's nada. zip. zilch. I haven't lived up to our unspoken contract. Your job is to pop in from time to time, and mine is to write something worth reading occasionally.

Well shoot. I'm sorry, guys. I've definitely not fulfilled my end of the bargain lately. But the truth of the matter is, I am just downright GREEN. I am having the worst kind of nausea all day, all night. I am keeping my groceries down, at least, but I have this constant gross feeling, and the last few days have been evil. I have no appetite whatsoever-- the only thing I can stomach is really bland food. Even then, it's a chore to eat. I AM doing all the little tricks to help morning sickness- you name it, I'm doing it. But I feel horrible. And I ain't looking so hot, either. I'm literally a pale shade of green.

Anyway, it should be better in this next month, hopefully. I can't say I'll be writing as much in the next few weeks as I normally do, so please be patient. When I get a handle on this thing, I'll write more often.

Now, pass the saltines, please. And the ginger. Oh, and don't forget the B6, the seasickness bracelet, and that bag of peppermints.

Urgh.

PS: As my sister so thoughtfully reminded me the other day, extreme morning sickness can be a sign that you are carrying twins. Thanks, Ashley-poo. You're an absolute doll.

Posted by WonderGirl at 9:40 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

July 25, 2006

Part of the Pudding Club

Well lovies, I promised juicy news, and WonderGirl delivers.

Continue reading "Part of the Pudding Club"

Posted by WonderGirl at 2:07 PM | Comments (15) | TrackBack

July 21, 2006

Things to Come

Today, I am packing Czarina and HeroBoy's suitcases for a trip to the country. We are all leaving tomorrow morning for my cousin's wedding in north Mississippi. King Pen, the Duke, and I will be returning to B'ham after the festivities, but the two oldest will go back to Grandma's house. They'll spend a night there, and then over to the other grandparent's house for the rest of the week. I am looking forward to the spending some time with my little man. He's 14 months old now, and he's such a happy little guy. We're going to have lots of fun while the other kids are playing up a storm with their cousins. It's a vacation for everybody!

I also hope to accomplish a few tasks this week during various naptimes. I need to work on baby books-- oh dear. I have to admit, I have let this fall by the wayside. I just ran out of steam! The Duke's isn't even HALFWAY finished, and I haven't updated the others in about two years. Yikes. Bad mom. Anyway, I'll be working on that, and hopefully, getting some other little projects taken care of, too. Curtains still haven't been hung, and I have a photo album that's begging for some attention. One particular errand I'll be running is quite juicy, actually... top secret for a few more days, though. I'll be unveiling it by Wednesday, so stay tuned.

I'm really looking forward to the break. I expect to have mad blogging time, too. I have a few pieces I've started and not finished, so I'll get those done and up here, too. I predict PRODUCTIVITY this week, hooray!

Anyway, that's all for now. Just popping in to say hey and let you guys know what I was up to this weekend. Have a happy one!

Posted by WonderGirl at 12:40 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

July 20, 2006

Revisited

Once upon a time, I wrote about my brother and his struggles with drugs on this blog. Do you remember? It was the hardest topic I've ever addressed on my blog, and talking about it publicly the way I did was carthartic, but brutal, for my family. There came a point where the healing was outweighed by the hurting, so I stopped sharing our troubles here. But we're in a different place now, and I think I can write about it again.

Ten months ago, my brother was sent to jail by his own actions, despite all our attempts to "save" him along the way. He spent some time in general population, before being accepted into a drug rehab program within the penal system. He was still in jail, but now he was in a boot camp type atmosphere, geared at beating the addiction out of him, I guess. It was tough, but in a good way. In one week, he will graduate from this program, and be released under the guidance of something called The Drug Court. It's a system of accountability, mandatory drug tests every few days, a strict regiment of counseling and meetings, and a work-program. I know there's more to it than that, but that's the jist of it.

I have mixed feelings. My parents are the only ones who've visited him in jail. Some, but not all of us, have written him. I offer no criticism for that whatsoever. We all dealt with him according to where we were- nobody is right or wrong in how they did that. My parents swear they see a different person now- they see a man. It scares me some- I have to be honest. Their eagerness, their belief in him. We've been burned before. I just don't want them to see what they want to see, regardless of what's really there. Maybe he has changed, maybe this was exactly what he needed to make a genuine turn around... I just don't know. I think it's the kind of thing that only time will tell. But that's hard to say to parents who want more than anything in the world for their son to be okay. I understand where they are coming from.

And, despite their eagerness, I know they harbor their own anxieties. But it's a little different from what the rest of us are afraid of. For the better part of the last year, my parents have smiled. And laughed. They've been present, they are part of us again. The worry lines faded some, tensions fled, and we have seen glimmers of who they were before all this began. I don't want to lose that. I don't want my family to sink back into that dark place ever again. So, I fear for my brother, yes, but I also fear to lose the two people who have been restored to us for so brief a time.

Anyway, that's been on my mind a lot the last few days, and I thought it was a good time to write about it again. Keep us in your thoughts in the next few weeks as my family makes a new transition with my brother. Pray for wisdom for my parents, and faith for all of us.

Posted by WonderGirl at 9:53 AM | TrackBack

July 18, 2006

Against My Will

Have I told you about my bed? No? Well, it hates me. I don't know what happened. I don't know what I did that caused it to harbor such a vendetta against me, but every night, my bed tries to kill me. And not just me- King Pen, too. This bed is blood thirsty. By morning, we are contorted, twisted, anguished beings.

The bed must die.

We need a new mattress, in the worst kind of way. But who wants to buy a mattress? Seriously! There are other, much more important things we need to be saving for and buying--- some dumb mattress wasn't in the plan. It really ticks me off. (Get it? ticked - mattress? too obscure? oh well.) But, what can ya do? My back will not last the week if we don't do something, so we give in to the evil dictator bed. Yes, yes. New mattress. Coming, Master.

Jerk.

I hate buying boring stuff.

Posted by WonderGirl at 10:38 AM | TrackBack

July 17, 2006

Where Art Thou, Oh WonderGirl?

Hey folks! I'm back after a long, busy weekend of doing absolutely nothing! You heard it. We didn't do a 'thang, and it was great! I know, I know, I could have been blogging, but I just didn't have it in me. Instead, I took the kids swimming on Friday after King Pen got off work. Usually, I have the Duke to contend with on our trips to the pool, and I don't get to play as much. But I left him home, so I got to do some serious splashing around with Czarina and HeroBoy. Then we had Family Fun Night that night- we watched Chicken Little and ate pizza. Good times. The kids had a teeny little bit of coke, and they were high as kites at bedtime. Finally got them settled down and put to bed, and King Pen and I watched Underworld II, which was a nice finish to the day. Saturday, we drove around downtown B'ham, just seeing some sights, until it started raining, then we came home and I took a fabulous nap. Fab.U.Lous. Sunday, we had some vague trouble getting to church (legitimate though, I promise), so it was another home day. I spent the day cozied up with a real winner of a book, Daughter of the Forest. I stayed up until 2 am last night finishing it-- I just could NOT put it down. It was one of those that after you finish it, you lay in bed thinking about it. I was dragging my tail this morning, but it was worth it! For the record, that was a 400 page book, finished in a day. Yeah. My family was feeling a tad neglected.

So today, I have to make up for my lack of productivity over the weekend. Laundry, kitchen, the works. We have one, eensy towel left- ya know the one, the thin, threadbare towel that doesn't quite wrap around you and nobody wants to use? So, must wash. I shall blog later, if time allows, but if not, don't worry, I haven't disappeared into a vat of ice cream or anything. Yet. I'm still around. I'm just busy, doing these super, mega important things.

Yeah.

Posted by WonderGirl at 11:37 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

July 13, 2006

Craving

Dove makes ice cream? Why am I just hearing about this now? And this one is called "Unconditional Chocolate".

Oh. Yes.

Posted by WonderGirl at 3:41 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Show Down

Why is Project Runway such a guilty pleasure? It's like eating cookie dough icecream and reading a Danielle Steele book all at once.

Posted by WonderGirl at 11:03 AM | TrackBack

July 12, 2006

Ahh.

Oh, I feel better this morning! Yippee! I woke up with a killer headache, but knocked it out with some tylenol. The important thing is my throat is better today, which is great, because eating was torture yesterday. I ate some cereal this morning and enjoyed a nice, smooth swallow. Hallelujah!

(Since you care and everything. I just realized maybe you don't, and I've been going on and on about it. How embarrassing.)

Posted by WonderGirl at 11:50 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

July 11, 2006

That's So Sick

Holy moly, don't use the internet to look up illnesses you may or may not have. I mean, I KNOW this, but it's just so tempting to google a few of your symptoms... it's the lazy man's doctor.

Well, I'm dying.

Okay, I'm not. But I do have something. I'm just off. I'm run down, my throat's killing me, my glands are swollen, and my tongue-- well, it ain't pretty. I'll spare you the details- and yes, you should thank me for that. I don't know if it's a viral thing, or bacterial, or a parasite (hey, the internet told me it could be a rare, South American parasite and it wouldn't lie to me. I coulda eaten some bad mangos! I mean, you know, if I actually ATE mangos, which I don't.)

Anyway. I can hang tough a couple of days, see if I'll kick it on my own.

But if I take a bad turn, and my parasite gets the best of me, then I would like "I told you I was sick!" etched onto my tombstone. Mkay?

Now, off to eat soft foods.

Posted by WonderGirl at 11:36 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

July 10, 2006

Excursions

At the fireworks celebration July 4th, we were camped out beside a huge boulder, which the kids immediately set their sights on, despite the slippery slope. They wanted to climb. So, up goes King Pen with Czarina and HeroBoy into the dark, scaling heights that would scare most normal mothers. We had company- and the Rev's eyebrows shot up quite a bit, while I didn't even blink an eye. I'm used to their adventuring. The trio made it up a ways, but then turned back upon closer inspection. A little too slick, even for the bravest expeditioners. They did, however, find another ledge to peer into, with at least a forty foot drop. It was covered in kudzu. I comforted myself with the thought that it would have softened the fall a little, anyway. -Sigh- They are fearless, my crew.

So when we took a family hike up a nature trail the other day, I was prepared. The trail is maintained by an elementary school and leads to a waterfall, a la Indiana Jones. I shot these pictures, though it's hard to tell what's what in them. I lost all sense of perspective- drat. The water meanders down from rock to rock about 20 feet, and in places it's very steep. The rocks were amazing- I don't know if I'll ever get used to being surrounded by boulders! The water was a little "ironish"- so we didn't play in it. The greenery was lush and cool and quite lovely. There were no angry natives or snapping crocodiles though- much to the children's disappointment. Maybe next time, kiddos.

Posted by WonderGirl at 10:34 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

July 9, 2006

Domingo

I clawed my way out of the Sunday Nap just a few minutes ago- and let me tell you, it was a bloody battle. I almost didn't win. But here I am, bleary eyed and incoherent, ready to enjoy the rest of my afternoon.

We went to a MEGA church today- much larger than any one I've ever attended before. We went to the 10:55 service- there was also an 8 o'clock, and then three more services in other languages. (Japanese, Spanish, and uh... Korean, I think.) when I say BIG, I am not kidding. Somewhere around 4 to 5,000 people, no less.

We dropped the Duke off in the nursery (he had an armband and I had a beeper- high security, folks!) and we made our way into the service. Everyone was so dang cute. All these little perfect families-- ya know what I'm talking about. All the kids are wearing matching outfits- and they look like teeny Harvard-bound cutie pies. Money. Not that I'm being critical. The people were friendly, the service was nice. But I don't think it was a fit for us. I think we'd be swallowed whole. We need something a little smaller. What gets you in those big churches though, is the amenties. And let me tell you- it would be sweet in that department. They've got it all.

-Sigh-

Anyway, after our trip to Mega Church, we were wiped out and STARVING. Came home and ate a delicious dish called Caribbean Jerk Chicken. Oh my goodness, that's some yummy stuff. It has spicy chicken, sausage, and potatoes all baked together. Juicy, spicy loveliness. And then, we crashed out for a big collective, digestive nap.

Yay for Sundays.

That's all for now- I'll write some mo' later. Gotta go caffeinate if I'm gonna make it through the rest of this day!

Posted by WonderGirl at 5:58 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

July 7, 2006

Mama Mia

I needa pizza. (in my best Italian accent)

A big, juicy piece-- dripping with cheese and sauce. Thick, buttery crust that sorta crunches when you bite into it, and steamy pepperoni that almost burns your tongue.

Please oh please oh please.

It's a culinary EMERGENCY.

Posted by WonderGirl at 2:17 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

July 6, 2006

Squeeky Clean

Okay, you all know how much I love my little city. I live in Vestavia Hills, which is not really Birmingham but part of it somehow. Anyway. It's cute. Let me give you an example. Down the hill from us is a ballpark. After a game the other night, some kids were milling around their car, not causing any trouble, but not doing anything productive, either. They were loitering in plain sight- GASP. Within a matter of minutes, a police car comes racing down the road, wheels squeeling, and practically do-nuts into the parking lot. The police officer gets out of the car, eying the youngsters suspiciously.

"What are you kids doing up here?" he says, as he looks them over.

"We had car trouble," the Brady bunch explain.

"Oh," he says. His shoulders visibly slump in disappointment. "Do you need some help?"

"No sir, our mom is on her way," they respond respectfully.

"Well then. You kids stay out of trouble, ya hear?"

"Yes, sir!" they reply, nearly saluting in their enthusiasm.

The officer jumps back in his car, and tears out of the parking lot, headed for the next hot call.

It's funny.

That's about the worst you can expect to happen on a Friday night here. This town is tame, tame, tame. Which is great when it comes to crime. But maybe not so good in the local library. Not that I'm hunting every book on the Banned List, but I would like to read something other than Reader's Digest and Agatha Christie books. There's plenty of material if you're researching osteoporosis or canyons of America, though. And there's no shortage of Matlock videos to borrow, either.

I'm betting there's no copy of Tropic of Capricorn in the Vestavia Hills branch library. No sirree. You gotta go outside the city limits to get that kinda contraband, mister.

Okay, that's all for now. Stuffs ta do. And none of it has to do with starting an underground book mobile, nope. I wouldn't do something like that. You know me.

Posted by WonderGirl at 10:39 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

July 5, 2006

Beginning

I begin today-- Bayou Sara has waited patiently for me to become settled in my new life, but it will wait no more. I have researched as much as I can at this point, and I am anxious to begin. I am nervous, actually. Sweaty palms and all. I want this, in a way I haven't wanted other written pieces. It's there already- the stories, the people, all I have to do is find them and let them speak for themselves.

It's exciting.

Okay, all for the moment. Before I get to do the fun stuff, there are housewifey things to do, like laundry and spilled cereal on the table. Off I go!

Posted by WonderGirl at 11:48 AM | TrackBack

July 3, 2006

The Penwheel

I haven't felt much like writing lately. I think there are seasons in a writer's life when you need a break, you need to stop writing life and start living it a little. There is a fine line between observing and recording your world but also participating in it. The days have been filled with trips to the pool, the creek, the library, the playground. I have also visited with family and friends and made trips here and there. The days of summer pass quickly before me. I feel the need to make the most of them.

But I haven't forgotten this place, and it makes me sad when days at a time pass with no word from me here. But, ya know. Ebb and flow. I won't force myself to write when I don't feel like it. That's not doing anybody any favors.

I expect that as summer gives way, my writing will pick up. I write best when there is a nip in the breeze, when socks warm my toes. I love the Fall. It is the harvest, a gathering of the words grown during the long, sunny days. Summer is for the living. Fall is for the writing.

Anyway- that's all for now. I just wanted to jot those thoughts down while they filled my head.

Happy 4th, dearies.

Posted by WonderGirl at 9:37 PM | TrackBack