tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73855222024-03-07T17:45:22.687-05:00Insert Catchy Title Hereuninspiring since 2004Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-33868150090344364652009-08-09T11:53:00.001-05:002009-08-09T11:53:00.397-05:00Chatting With My SisterMy Sister: That's ok I will call u after I get home. I'm by myself again. I'll be HOME ALONE!!!<br /><br />Me: You have to do the Macaulay Culkin face.<br /><br />My Sister: I am.Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-8026473954151694782008-02-17T15:53:00.000-05:002008-02-17T16:07:10.634-05:00We Went Through Considerably Less Red Tape Than Angelina JolieIt's official. Please join us in welcoming our new child:<br /><br />George Allen That's Not Yours O'Brien<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdehcwoywHtz8VOzEiIv5WGqgLe_pyjYYl0ModutSi-AjnFHDgOnvPW1g_D2dydFJQ7N8IMpMhWsX_Um_hvtuV5rDzFXdTShWqiSyHmI99VJRoxRCc7dP8I7C89wcTrDvIadh/s1600-h/October+2007+043+tired.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168058270140266034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdehcwoywHtz8VOzEiIv5WGqgLe_pyjYYl0ModutSi-AjnFHDgOnvPW1g_D2dydFJQ7N8IMpMhWsX_Um_hvtuV5rDzFXdTShWqiSyHmI99VJRoxRCc7dP8I7C89wcTrDvIadh/s400/October+2007+043+tired.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1382544919823809172007-12-16T11:53:00.000-05:002007-12-26T22:25:32.949-05:00You Know You've Hosted A Good Holiday Party When...<em>Scene: The Next Morning</em><br /><br /><strong>Guest:</strong> Do you know where my clothes are?<br /><br /><strong>Host:</strong> They're upstairs on the living room floor.<br /><br /><strong>Guest:</strong> Really? Are you sure they're mine?<br /><br /><strong>Host:</strong> Yeah. Your name tag is on them.Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-31066096434752000672007-07-19T22:53:00.000-05:002007-07-19T22:05:29.626-05:00Newest Member of Rowdy Acre<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzkOcu4Gl_BudVaTOUjjlkGRw3ZdOYDqXoYhwLtjyEMlMwjzUHQUobjUUdkqvhKUpYF6cAOl7Uz4lKXR90Du24BMnZZOWFtusraWzH98lp1gLAWuV_HNm_SYVgpOygpHb2LPU/s1600-h/George071707+014enhanced.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089109133214176994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzkOcu4Gl_BudVaTOUjjlkGRw3ZdOYDqXoYhwLtjyEMlMwjzUHQUobjUUdkqvhKUpYF6cAOl7Uz4lKXR90Du24BMnZZOWFtusraWzH98lp1gLAWuV_HNm_SYVgpOygpHb2LPU/s400/George071707+014enhanced.jpg" border="0" /></a>Meet George. He's temporarily ours. We're fostering this sweet boy and working on finding him a great home. <br /><div></div>Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1172114838556026682007-02-21T22:53:00.000-05:002007-02-21T22:27:18.556-05:00Even The Animals Party Hard At Rowdy Acre<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/358/452/1600/853935/sleepy%20doggies.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/358/452/400/447509/sleepy%20doggies.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />So much to post. Huge backlog. A little overwhelming, but I hope to start getting stuff up here soon. For now, please enjoy the doggie pic.Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1164438114753398912006-11-23T22:53:00.000-05:002006-11-25T02:07:08.963-05:00Ummm.....Thanks?You might be a redneck if your Dad breaks out the remote controlled Fart Machine during Thanksgiving dinner.<br /><br />Seriously. I can't make this shit up.Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1133317814586982322005-11-23T22:53:00.000-05:002006-01-02T22:24:15.230-05:00I'll Be Thankful If It Doesn't StickRemember when snow was nothing but fun? And now it's just "Oh crap when the hell did it starting snowing. I still have to go to the store to get potatoes for the potluck. Does the car have gas? The power will probably go out tonight. Where are my YakTrax? Dammit it's cold. Grumble grumble grumble...snow." <br /><br />But I'm not so much of a scrooge that I didn't take The Dog O-U-T to play F-R-I-S-B-E-E in the first snow of the year. She just looks so damn cute with the icy stalactites hanging from her belly hair and the snotsicles coming out of her nose.Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1131817836640594842005-11-12T12:53:00.000-05:002005-11-12T12:50:36.653-05:00I Am WeakToday I fell victim to the cuteness. How much cuteness, you ask? This much...<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/1600/panda%20011%20c.0.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/400/panda%20011%20c.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yes, that is the National Zoo's <a href="http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/">baby panda </a>and yes, I went to the zoo this morning specifically to see him. (I know at least one of my readers is gagging right now.) To counter balance today's shameful adoration of the little charismatic megavertebrate, I trekked over to the small mammal house to pay special attention to the <a href="http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/SmallMammals/fact-nakedmolerat.cfm">naked mole rats</a>.Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1131586321030907532005-10-31T22:53:00.000-05:002005-11-09T21:20:48.883-05:00Boo! And Also Boo!Is it a hurricane? Is it an alien? Is it a plant? Is it a Christmas tree?<br /><br />No...it's a jellyfish! <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/1600/Halloween2005%20010%20crop.jpg"></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/1600/Halloween2005%20010%20crop.0.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/320/Halloween2005%20010%20crop.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This is my second favorite Halloween costume. (The first favorite being when I was 4 years old and dressed up like <a href="http://www.donnafargo.com/">Donna Fargo</a>. I loved her. I think I wanted to be her. I was an odd little child.)<br /><br />The third night of Boo At The Zoo was yesterday. Thousands of happy halloweeny people running around a zoo with a spooky makeover, getting treats, and having fun with animals? Sign me up! This is the stuff I live for. The most exciting part was when a little girl ran up to the Invert Exhibit entrance and screamed "Yay! You're a jellyfish!" And I looked at her and screamed, "Yay! You're a jellyfish, too!" We compared costumes and decided we were definitely the two coolest people there.<br /><br />The Dog didn't have a costume this year. We still have the <a href="http://dts.ystoretools.com/1298/images/250x1000/ecollar125cm.jpg">e-collar</a> from when she had surgery and contemplated putting that on her so she could be Direct TV. But every time we discussed it, she gave us THE LOOK. She didn't, however, get out of Halloween fun completely...<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/1600/Halloween2005%20011%20crop%20c.0.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/320/Halloween2005%20011%20crop%20c.0.jpg" border="0" /></a>Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1130446787789516742005-10-27T14:53:00.000-05:002005-10-27T16:03:42.403-05:00In Case Anyone Was Wondering What The Dog Was Doing While I Was Outside Splitting Firewood<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/1600/102705%20035%20Edit1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/400/102705%20035%20Edit1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">© Screaming Pea Productions<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Yeah...I'm jealous.<br /></span>Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1128749318694221112005-10-07T10:53:00.000-05:002005-10-08T00:28:38.700-05:00Two Drink Minimum. But We Should Maybe Think About Instituting A Maximum.I was recently reminded of this and thought I should share.<br />About a year ago, The Boss and I had former coworker of hers and his girlfriend over to grill out for dinner. We all became inebriated early in the evening, and while the coworker sobered up later for the drive home, his girlfriend stayed quite intoxicated. The next day, he called to thank The Boss for the fun evening and part of their conversation went like this:<br /><br />The Boss: So we'll have to have you guys over for karaoke more often.<br />Guy: Next time I might even keep most of my clothes on. I think I embarassed [girlfriend].<br />The Boss: Well, she was pretty drunk when you two left.<br />Guy: Yeah. When we got home I had to put her in bed. She couldn't even take off her shoes, so I had to help her.<br /><br />As The Boss was relaying this to me, I blurted out, "But she was wearing FLIP FLOPS!"<br /><br />You have to be a special kind of drunk to not be able to take off your flip flops.Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1128394787194206832005-10-03T21:53:00.000-05:002005-10-03T21:59:47.200-05:00How To Make Me Very HappyCome back from your business trip with a 6 month supply of <a href="http://www.cheerwine.com/">Cheerwine</a>.Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1126149016957101992005-09-16T21:53:00.000-05:002005-09-16T22:39:55.590-05:00Helping The Animals<a href="http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=hurricane_home">ASPCA Hurricane Relief</a> - Donate online, sign up to volunteer your time or foster animals<br /><br /><a href="https://www.lpzoo.org/hurricane/relief.html">Audubon Relief Effort</a> - Lincoln Park Zoo is heading the fundraising effort for the Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium and the Audubon Center for the Research of Endangered Species. The aquarium lost the majority of its animal collection, which is especially heartbreaking.<br /><br />Be sure to check with your local animal shelters and animal rescue leagues. Many of them are sending staff members to help with animal rescue efforts in the affected areas. They need monetary donations, supplies and people to foster animals.<br /><br />For the DC locals:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.phoenixlanding.org/">Phoenix Landing</a> is collecting supplies to care for pet birds affected by the hurricane. Contact <a href="http://www.blogger.com/charlotte@phoenixlanding.org">Charlotte</a> for further information and dropoff location.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.washhumane.org/hurricane%20index.htm">Washington Humane Society</a>'s top officer is currently in New Orleans and the Society is housing animals at their DC shelters.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.warl.org/howhelp/katrina.php">Washington Animal Rescue League</a> sent a team of vets and volunteers to areas affected by the hurricane and will also be housing animals here in DC.<br /><br /><br />The whole situation is sad. Horribly, horribly, horribly sad. And that's really all I can say about it without tearing up to the point that I can't see the screen well enough to type.Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1126929022853128212005-09-06T21:53:00.000-05:002005-09-28T21:32:17.486-05:00To Pee Or Not To PeeLabor Day Camping Weekend was a weekend of important decisions, and I quote:<br /><em>Regular or high octane?<br />Should I get onion rings or pizza?<br />Bud or Bud Light? </em><br /><em>I'm not sure if I should shower or puke.</em><br /><em>Should I pee in the woods or hike to the porta-potty?<br />I don't know whether to shit or go to sleep.</em><br /><br /><strong>Colloquialism of the Trip:</strong> Well you don't have a hair on your ass if you let her take the 4-wheeler.<br /><br /><strong>Thing That Rocked</strong><br />No rain. Not one single drop.<br /><br /><strong>Thing That Sucked<br /></strong>The construction of the new county road that runs through the family farm.<br /><br /><strong>Thing We Were All Thankful For</strong><br />The porta-potty that was there for the DOT workers.<br /><br /><strong>Thing The Boss And I Got The Most Shit About</strong><br />Our brand spankin' new 16' x 10' <a href="http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/large.asp?productid=9804-150&prodname=Northstar%208%20Tent">tent</a> that has a sleeping room, a screen room, and a full rain-fly complete with two skylight panels. Oh yes...skylights.<br /><br /><strong>Thing That Brought Us A Little Closer To Nature</strong><br />The Jolly Rancher that fell out of The Boss' sister's pocket four months ago on our last camping trip, which invited a colony of ants to set up shop in one side of her dad's camper. It was like something out of a horror movie. Even Invert Girl was creeped out.<br /><br /><strong>Thing That Horrified The Boss The Most</strong><br />The substances being emitted from her 3 week old cousin.<br /><br /><strong>Thing That Horrified Me The Most</strong><br />Driving <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=45508194&size=m">Hank</a> for the first time with a very large trailer in tow.<br /><br /><strong>Thing I Most Wish I Had A Picture Of</strong><br />Me sitting on my 4-wheeler in mud/water up to my knees, being pulled out by another 4-wheeler with a winch.<br /><br /><strong>Thing I Am Thankful I Do Not Have A Picture Of</strong><br />Me drunk off my ass at the Italian Heritage Festival.<br /><br /><strong>Thing That Made The Boss Most Happy</strong><br />Making it through the aforementioned mud/water without the help of a winch.<br /><br /><strong>Things That The Boss Bought Me That Are Awesome<br /></strong>Comfy, warm winter vest.<br />Camo West VA trucker hat.<br />Shirt with a picture of an armadillo that reads "Get Stuffed Taxidermy and Donuts."Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1124573032171667972005-08-18T21:53:00.000-05:002005-08-20T16:23:52.176-05:00I'll Take "Places You'd Never Guess I Would Be" for $200Dwight Yoakam concert at the 9:30 Club.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/1600/Dwight%20033%20crop1.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/400/Dwight%20033%20crop1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">© HJB</span>Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1123187487912053112005-08-04T14:53:00.000-05:002005-08-08T09:57:26.833-05:00She's Having A Baby!"Little Cari from across the street" is having a baby!<br /><br />Right now. (Okay technically she'll be induced in 7 minutes.)<br /><br />Cari is the first person in our neighborhood that we met when my family moved to Georgia. She was 4 years old, lived in the house directly across the street, and the day we moved in, I think we'd barely been there an hour and she came bipping up to our garage holding her gloworm and her "nite nite" and introduced herself.<br /><br /><strong>My Favorite. Cari Story. Ever.</strong><br />I was with Cari the first time she got pulled over by a cop. We learned that when you get pulled over for speeding in your dad's pickup, and the cop asks you for your insurance and registration, and the passenger (me) opens the glove box to get them, and BULLETS FALL OUT, and both the driver and passenger realize that where there are bullets there is probably a gun, and then both the driver and passenger have a small stroke...it's okay because the cop doesn't care. Also, no ticket for the speeding.<br /><br /><strong>Congratulations to the happy little family!</strong><br /><br />I still can't believe she's having a baby.<br /><br /><strong>Update:</strong> Inducing of labor was delayed until the morning of the 5th. Baby Cooter (that's what The Boss and I have decided to call him) was born August 5th at 7:47pm. He was 8 pounds, 19 inches.Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1121797838304764032005-07-19T13:53:00.000-05:002005-07-27T18:25:56.273-05:00Georgia On My Mind...And In The Backseat...And Also The TrunkTomorrow, after nearly three weeks in the great state of Georgia, The Bird and I and lots of my stuff that has been in my parents' attic will be trekking back home in a Ford Taurus (or similar). I hope it all fits. Being able to see out the windows is overrated anyway, right?<br />Lots to write about and tons of pictures to post, however, the prehistoric internet connection here is too slow to upload anything, and I opted for spending more time with people than the computer. But I keep scribbling notes on random scraps of paper so I don't forget the good stuff.<br /><br />The only person who will be happy to see me go:<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/1600/PICT0007Edit.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/1600/PeggyEdit.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/1600/PeggyEdit1.JPG"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/200/PeggyEdit.jpg" border="0" /></a>Affectionately referred to as The Favorite Daughter, this little clown has been stalking me since I arrived. Sometimes she likes me, sometimes she don't. This visit - she don't. Next visit - she might like me. She's a bird. It's what they do.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">© Screaming Pea Productions</span>Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1124571695530649432005-07-16T15:53:00.000-05:002005-08-20T16:01:35.536-05:00I'll Take "Places You'd Never Guess I Would Be" For $800Harry Potter Midnight Magic Party at the Fayetteville Barnes and Noble.<br /><br />Some of you might have to re-read the previous sentence again. I know I did.Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1122600561068215652005-07-11T15:53:00.000-05:002005-07-29T16:52:47.653-05:00Out Of The Mouths Of BabesI went potty all by myself this past weekend (which isn't necessarily all that different from any other weekend, or weekday for that matter) however this past weekend I had the added bonus of being congratulated for it. Spent the weekend with a childhood friend and her 3 year old and 18 month old, and at their house going potty is a BIG DEAL. Being in GA for three weeks gave me a chance to spend quality time with people who I usually see for only a half day at best. A weekend of cartoon shaped cereal, animated movies, bedtime stories, smooching little kid cheeks, and "Yay! You went potty!" was exactly what I needed. The 18 month old wasn't very talkative, but she loves me and that's all that really matters. She <em>can</em> talk, she just doesn't. But you can tell the wheels in her head are going 90 mph most of the time. When she does start making complete sentences, they will have something to do with quantum physics.<br />I can always count on the 3 year old for funny little conversations...<br /><br />L: I can be an animal.<br />Me: You can? What animal are you?<br />L: I don't know.<br />Me: You're a monkey.<br />L: No I'm not.<br />Me: Okay then, what are you?<br />L: I'm a lion *raaawwrrrr*<br />Me: That's a good lion sound. Where do lions live?<br />L: Outside.<br />Me: Yes they do. Am I an animal?<br />L: Yes.<br />Me: What animal am I?<br />L: You're a monkey.<br />Me: Okay, I can be a monkey. But do lions eat monkeys?<br />L: No. They eat rocks.<br />Me: Lions eat rocks?<br />L: Yes.<br />Me: Okay. I did not know that. Do monkeys eat rocks, too?<br />L: No. You eat poop. *cackle*<br />Me: No...I think I will eat you.<br />*lots of screaming and laughing*Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1124250927694570092005-07-11T13:53:00.000-05:002005-08-16T22:55:27.700-05:00Perfect TimingI went with Dad today to one of his many medical appointments. About halfway there I decided this would be a good time to tell him I got fired for two reasons: 1) It's a short ride, so a three hour lecture was out of the question and 2) He's usually a little loopy after he sees the pain specialist and I figured if the news made him mad he wouldn't care by the time he left the office.<br /><br />Me: So I got fired.<br />Dad: You what?<br />Me: I got fired.<br />Dad: How did that happen?<br />(Insert discussion of standard questions and answers that go along with my firing.)<br /><br />We arrive at the doctor's office. Dad fills out forms. We continue the discussion. He's not mad. And then at the end of the conversation he says what I have determined to be the best statement made during a discussion related to my firing: "Well, a few guys I worked with got fired for making guns on their lunch breaks with company machinery."<br /><br />The kicker? Those guys got their jobs back.Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1123028873892811362005-07-04T22:53:00.000-05:002005-08-02T19:27:53.900-05:00Happy Blow Some Stuff Up DaySpent most of the day hanging out at my sister's house. Mom called me around 9:30pm to let me know that the neighbor kid* and his buddies were "setting off a lot of fireworks and apparently a couple of them just left to go get Drano and some eggs**. His mom will be confiscating the Drano once it arrives, but be careful when you come home as fireworks and other projectiles may be headed toward you." <br />My mommy's always looking out for me.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">*I call him a kid, however, he's 18 years old and recently graduated high school. I'm allowed to call him a kid because I babysat him from the time he was 9 months old until he didn't need a babysitter anymore.</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">**The Drano and eggs were not going to be used together. Apparently if you put liquid Drano in a container and some aluminum foil, and seal it, the chemical reaction causes pressure to build up and it eventually explodes. The eggs were used separately for target practice. DO NOT try any of this at home, even though Drano, eggs, and aluminum foil are common household products.</span>Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1119333275786168422005-06-30T00:53:00.000-05:002005-08-02T19:29:48.056-05:00A Bit OverdueWest Virginia Camping Weekend went well. Two of our friends met at our house the Friday morning before Memorial Day and we loaded up the truck, trailer, and Jeep, cranked up Willie Nelson's <em>Midnight Rider</em> and headed for the mountains. Traffic was a little slow heading west out of DC, but thanks to the informative truckers on CB channel 19 we knew that once we passed exit 42 it would be smooth sailing. Best CB quote from the weekend? "I hope all these sons of bitches knows where they're goin'. 'Cause if they don't, they're fucked." Listening to CB chatter is generally way more entertaining than any book on tape.<br /><br />Friday evening we set up camp, caught up with the few of The Boss' family members that were already there, and went on a midnight 4-wheeler ride with Uncle T. I unintentionally ate a bug.<br /><br />We woke up Saturday morning to rain. It wasn't supposed to let up for a while, so we decided to head into town, shower at Uncle T.'s house, and then drive over to The Boss' hometown. As soon as we left Uncle T.'s, the sun came out. We got to Hometown in about an hour and ate at The Boss' favorite restaurant. Best. Onion rings. Ever. I was extremely happy to finally be at a dining establishment that had real sweet tea. (Note to DC restaurants: Sweet tea is not you bringing me a glass of unsweet tea and a few packets of sugar and artificial sweetener. That is simply just gross.) After lunch we swung by Grandma B's place for a visit and then to the store to get more beer and also veggies because our bodies were going into carb shock. By the time we got back to camp that evening, The Boss' dad and his kids had arrived as well as Uncle G. and his family. The rain arrived upon our return, and the four of us were blamed for it. I took no responsibility because when one is traveling in a truck with three lawyers, one does not have to.<br /><br />Sunday was beautiful and rain free. After breakfast, assembly of the ATV convoy began. It was briefly interrupted by The Boss' brother catching a large rainbow trout. We all went to "ooh" and "ahh" over the fish and then Operation Trout Resuscitation began. It was just like one of those dolphin releases you see on Animal Planet except that there were no cameras, no tears, no one in a wetsuit, no PETA freaks, and no endangered animal. I have to say I was a little perplexed as to why no one was going to keep the fish and eat it. But I was glad that Mr. Trout would be able to live on and tell all of his river friends about his alien abduction.<br /><br />Convoy assembly resumed and Uncle T. led us on a three hour ride complete with deer sightings, storytelling, bird watching, outdoor urination, and scenic views. He also showed us how to get to the beer joint. (You know...if you're too drunk to drive to get more beer.) The trail dumps out about 100 yards from the Riverview SomethingOrOther bar. I'm assuming this is logic that makes sense only under intoxication, because there were parts of the trail that I could barely get through sober without dumping myself down the mountain or in the river. Can't get a DUI on an ATV, however you can kill yourself a lot easier.<br /><br />Sunday night turned into campfire storytime. I laughed 'til I hurt. The entertainment consisted of stories including drunken dental hygeine, shooting at things, being shot at, saluting outhouses, various animal mishaps, and someone's wife driving for 30 miles on a flat tire ("Uh...the car's making a funny noise."). I was crowned with Best Technique-S'mores Marshmallow Melting, and have been instructed to add that as a resume booster. While discussing moonshine, Uncle G. came out with the best colloquialism of the trip. "That shit is so strong it'll make you take stuff back you never stole." Yes...yes it is.<br /><br />Monday was pack up and get the hell outta dodge before it rains day. Went for one last short ATV ride and took pictures down by the river. I combated car sickness by sleeping for most of the trip home. We picked up The Dog and The Bird, who had a wonderful time at our friends' house. The Dog was like, "Oh...are you back? Whatever. They love me here." And The Bird was like, "Screech! Screech! Prettybird. What? What? What?"<br /><br />And then our happy but pooped family went home and ate dinner and went to bed and passed out.Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1120066217598158632005-06-29T11:53:00.000-05:002005-06-30T17:03:27.666-05:00Love Is...Love is letting a certain someone out of her cage for three hours, knowing full well that there is a 100% chance that this certain someone will:<br />- pull half my hair out of the ponytail holder<br />- pull several hairs out of my head<br />- chew on the ponytail holder<br />- scream in my ear<br />- aggressively help me eat my lunch<br />- try to drink out of my glass<br />- try to take a bath in my glass when she's finished drinking<br />- attempt to dismantle everything within reach<br />- poop on me approximately twelve times<br /><br />But she's just so darn cute... <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/1600/Edit062905%20005.jpg"></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/1600/Edit062905%200051.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/358/452/320/Edit062905%200051.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">© Screaming Pea Productions</span>Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1119500716646908772005-06-22T22:53:00.000-05:002005-06-23T00:47:48.910-05:00I Had A "Bunny Hugger" Moment TodayBut really, I don't think anyone will hold it against me given the fact that when I looked out our back door window this afternoon, I saw the CUTEST STINKING THING. EVER.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/134/1550/640/EditPicture%20089.jpg"><img class="phostImg" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/134/1550/400/EditPicture%20089.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">© Screaming Pea Productions</span>Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7385522.post-1119330588872549412005-06-20T23:53:00.000-05:002005-06-21T00:10:38.880-05:00Blue Screen Of Death Victim #2,748,924,653A couple weeks ago, our laptop hard drive crashed like a NASCAR pileup, only with a lot less fire and a lot more cursing. I have some advice for you all: BACK UP YOUR HARD DRIVE! Do not pass go. Do not collect $200 (because seriously, that 200 bucks only puts a dent in the hard drive retrieval fee). BACK THAT THANG UP NOW!<br /><br />The Boss and I both did really well in not having a nervous breakdown when it happened. Thankfully most, if not all, of our files were retrievable. We had our priorities. First, our photos. Second, AOL emails. Third, tax files. Fourth, whatever is left but please make sure you try to get all the photos. I'm sure the computer guy was perplexed, "These people are paying me to recover nine billion pictures of a dog. I think they're all of the same dog."<br /><br />Our photo collection is a bit biased towards one of our kids. It's not that we love The Bird less. She's just not as photogenic as The Dog. And when The Bird is out and about, I'm either occupied with preventing her from destroying windowsills, pillows and anything with buttons, or I'm playing "Catch the Poo Before It Lands on the Couch or The Boss."Marsha (no need for anonymity anymore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03299048463277562983noreply@blogger.com0