Boo jumps up and settles in with me to find a bit of cozy and warmth on this damp, raw day. Our black kitty is sleeping on my Black Dog sweatshirt. Cat-dog. The irony makes me smile. Then I realize this is nothing new. Boo sleeps with Daisy and Fitz all of the time. Even irony isn't irony in our house! That makes meeting laugh. Life is funny.
There are lessons out there for us everyday...somedays they are more spelled out than others. Today I saw this at Whole Foods. Adults can learn from this too! I do think everyday we can do our best to play nicely with others. Some people or situations may challenge us more than others! If we look to learn something from everyone we meet, rather than judge, we may play with others a little better everyday! It's tricky when we ARE the adults...with only our own conscience for supervision. If we're honest with ourselves, we know when we're playing nicely and when we're not.
Grace walked into the kitchen yesterday, shuffling along as she read her cell phone texts, stopped short, looked up, smiled, shook her head and spoke,"Mimi apologized. Hmm. She texted, Grace I'm sorry. Huh! " Sometimes people surprise us. Hearing the words "I'm sorry" can make us feel better...knowing that we matter enough for an apology. We can be relieved or freed of a huge burden by apologizing. if we grow up...and forgive....our hearts will be lighter and the bonus is that we can play and HAVE FUN like the rules say.
Don't be fooled. I have treats. This is the face of a thief. This cute face looks innocent. Watch out. It's all a ploy. This is the same sweet face that chewed through the pocket of my North Face jacket...because I left treats in the pocket. It was awhile ago but I still remember!
Cold feet? Never! They love it! Daisyp and Fitzy love the water...no matter what the weather. Bifff and I had a walk on the beach and let the dogs run..and run....and swim...and roll in the wet sand and shells. Biff and I only do that when it's warmer!
Remember them? Some days I think it would be nice to whine or just complain. Complain about anything. Or better yet...everything. Sometimes living with teenagers, I hear so many random complaints, it seems ironic that Biff and I do our best to make the best of each day...the good, the bad and the ugly.
I'm tired. I'm sick of doing everything for everybody. I don't like rudeness. I'm bothered by people who are grossly closed minded, judgemental and have a deep seated need to feel superior. I'm annoyed by insincerity and phoney baloney folks...posers. I get tired of being the first one to reach out. Some people bother me when they pretend that their life (kids, husband, dogs, cats, childhood, job...) is perfect.
I would love to be a "Debbie Downer" or "Wendy Whiner" or "Patty Poser" or "Katie Complainer" for awhile. Wouldn't it be fun? Probably for an hour. After that, I think it would get old. And tiring. Maybe an hour would be too long. Writing about all of this negativity is draining.
I'm exhausted from finding fault with everyone and everything around me. Funny...did you ever notice the complainers and downers never think it has anything to do with them? I think life works better for me if I don't look to blame others. It feels better when I'm accountable. Whining is exhausting. I'm already sick of it!
It's Friday afternoon. Apparently we are in the hottest spot in town. As I wait for Grace to select something fun from this trendy little shop, I see mother/daughter duos galore. Grace is here to spend while considering buying a gift card for another sweet 16 birthday party. Cha ching. Cha Ching. Cha Ching.
So many gift cards, so much fun to spend them! Teen girls of every team, clique and friendly group come and go in minutes. Like a drive through window, currency is exchanged and the customer is off and running with a smile. Like the convenience and safety of the known entity on a fast food menu, a gift card from this small town, teen trendy store is a safe bet. Grace was there to cash her birthday cards in and stroll out with the shopping bags.
We walked out the door and followed the gift trail to the silver store....where we found some of the same mother daughter combos. Here is the alternative, more traditional personalized gift. That's my heaven. Sterling silver, engraved sterling silver charms or signet rings....heaven.
Another gold mine....silver in this case. This is my drive through shopping preference. The owner greets us with a big hello! She's been there for us for every occasion. She's lived through our birthdays, graduations, special occasions, Mother's Day gift from our kids, Godchildren, communions....and more. She knows our names and the names of our kids. She knows our stories. That's why we shop there. I'm so happy my girl likes to go the traditional gift route! It's more fun for me. Trendy, lesser quality doesn't do it for me quite so much. And the store owner who takes my business for granted...not so much. Just sayin'.
Listing lots of new merchandise ini my e-bay store today. I get so excited to post things that I know my customers will love. I can't list my finds fast enough! This photo is J. Crew Madras. What fun!
If you like, take a peek at the store! I'll be adding new auction items all night...and all weekend....since the weather people are still calling for snow. I'll be listing the spring & summer merchandise that we're all hoping to wear....this year...we can only hope!
http://stores.ebay.com/littlemarymixup?_trksid=p4340.l2563
Really. The T.V. weatherman just called today's weather a "snow event"....really. Really? "Snow event"....now I've heard everything.
Wednesday Woes. "Precipitation" is what my mobile "The Weather Channel" has in our hourly weather prediction for the day. I remind myself...we do live in New England.
The good news is,,,,despite the challenge of getting Grace and T.J. up and out the door, we've done it! Team work? Kind of. At least AFTER the part where I was able to get them to stand up. Once they're standing, it's all down hill from there. Unless they miss the bus.
Unlike the bus drivers of previous years, this woman waits for no one. We have always lived a life of well timed bus routines. Like clockwork..the bus...and us. On the rare occasion, we were running a minute behind, the bus driver would sit for a moment...in case. But no more. Running out the door...arms flailing, running, doing a sprint, the long jump, even screaming or summer salts...the conscientious driver glides by. Bye bye, that is.
Today, they made it without gymnastic pole vaulting. Phew. I was sure to be the scapegoat if we were one topsider short of catching the bus driver on a mission. Biff was already off on "vacation" as he merrily drove off toward the morning sunrise, whistling while he worked....ALONE in the car with his XM Radio, I had Grace and T.J. critiqueing my warnings. "WHAT? 2 MINUTES, you're supposed to give us more notice than that!.....Are you kidding me? 2 minutes?" T.J. spouted as he gathered his backpack and lunch while simultaneously pushing on his sneakers. Grace scrambled alongside...agreeing with her brother that I had failed them.
Oh well, at least our dueling teenagers could agree on something! As I review our children's cohesive manner in which they found fault with my meager attempts at warnings, it warmed my heart to have them in agreement. As T.J. said earlier, "Are you kidding me?" I'm happy to see them agree on anything these days!
What a gorgeous day. What a delight to be at the beach as the weather warms up. What a joy to be at the beach with wind that doesn't have sand whipping me into a bad Elizabeth Arden Red Door facial experience.
It's lovely to be at the beach as the weather gets warmer. The days with the dogs playing in the water, getting wet, shaking themselves dry...all over me.... jumping in the car with wet sand frozen solid in the hair, defrosting all over the mats of the car, as the heat begins blowing throughout the wet dog scented car. In. case you had any question...I'm referring to me...just kidding...not me...the dogs.
In the middle of winter, the wet dogs, the smelly, puddled up, sandy car doesn't bother me. Now that the dogs are swimming and drying off in the sun before the car ride, I am grateful.
Whether the car windows are open or closed, rain, snow, sleet, hail or sun...Grace and T.J. will blame the dogs for our clean car status....due to paw prints.
Now it's the little things that make me happy. No frozen fingers, no frozen toes, no runny nose....things are looking up. That makes me happy.
My only concern in the warmer weather....things like the dead fish head Fitzy attempted to take home today.
Daisy visiting with Ranger, her handsome beau. They've frolicked together since their puppy days. They each celebrated their 9th birthday within the last week and they've both been on puppy love since they met!
My eBay store has kept me busy as a bee. It's so much fun to sell. Having my own store is a dream I've had since I set up our basement as a store at age 5 when I invited all of the kids in the neighborhood to shop.
The sea shell necklaces were stunning highlighted on display high atop the ping pong table. Here in my eBay store, it's less about display and more about packing and shipping. I'm working on that. Originally I wrapped each package like a gift with pretty ribbons and colorful wrapping paper. I thought it would be nice for the buyer to open a little wrapped gift. My friends suggested a simpler method with a more no-frills wrapping. It works. But I still believe presentation is everything.
Selling is something I love...on eBay or face to face. It always amazes me how interesting people are. Even from afar.
Like our kids, I began by selling lemonade and girl scout cookies. T.J.and Grace are delighted when their things sell on eBay. As teens, money is a wonderful motivator. Listing, pricing, selling and shipping are all good learning tools.
Grace has come a long way. When she was almost 5 years old, she sold string cheese to the neighbors for a dollar a stick. Interesting choice of merchandise. Still, the cheese sold well. In 4th grade, Grace created a frenzy on the playground selling 25 cent paper clip bracelets. The testimonial advertising worked! 4th grade girls love trendy fads...especially when the supply and demand create the bigger buzz. Grace had to enlist friends to help sell when the supply was less than the demand.
Shortly after the business growth, the assistant principal had to shut down the shop. Shopping on the playground became too much like Macy's on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
As for T.J., he loves selling on eBay. He's more of a barter man and he drives a hard bargain. In preschool, he bartered his used Jeff Gordon #24 racecar for another boy's new Jeff Gordon #24 racecar. Now, that's a gift! T.J. always had a right if recision clause...it was a 24 hour rule....in case either child had buyer's remorse at bedtime.
It's all in the family. Quite the sales force. Who knew?
1. Who won't share
2. Who wants to be liked by everyone
3. Who won't obey the rules
4. The whiney one
5. The bully/teaser
6. The roughneck
7. The tattletale
8. The sneaky one
9. The loner
10. The loud, bossy one
Star Jones, lawyer and ex-cohost of ABC's "The View"
Dionne Warwick, singer
Marley Marlin, award winning actress
MiMi, one of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta
LaToya Jackson, Singer? or just the sister of Michael
Some woman named Hope?
This is not a cohesive group...
