AWARDS! I cut my hand on broken glass edition

Cluestick posse is headed out to folks who are being unnecessarily obnoxious to Kathy A. We don't need that kind of negativity anywhere near anyone of us.

Kathy gets an award for having had to deal with the TSA person who got all up in her business. I'm so sorry it happened.

QWP gets an award for being on tenterhooks about crib transitioning.

Sue gets an award for having to let go of the perfect sleep period, 2:00 AM to 10:00 AM, because of having to work.

Esperanza wins the whole world for Sweet having had a terrific first week of Kindergarten and Mr. E having had a GOOD meeting when all expectations were pointing the other way.

Whines: I ain't got none yet this week edition

Leased a brand-new 2014 Toyota Corolla (red) through our company. It's so high-falutin' I just don't know what to do with myself. Jumping directly from 1998 to 2014 is like jumping into a whole new universe of blinking lights and gizmos.

At least the blinker and windshield wiper work the same. And the gas tank lever.

What's new with you this week?

Kindergarten Awards Show

Crayons, glue, pink erasers (seriously, have you smelled one of those lately? Instant transport to elementary school), and manila paper for everyone this week!

Hugs and sympathetic thoughts to anyone who is depressed, has been depressed, or lives with someone who is depressed.

A new week at Magic Accessible Cabin to anyone feeling like wilted lettuce. And hoping Sue's hubby feels better soon. (I almost said "crisps up soon" but that sounded creepy).

Hugs to Liz, dealing with car stuff.

Hooray for kathy a's daughter and the new job offer! And we all stand in amazement at your computer skills.

Potty Training Award to QWP and Lil E this week. Ugh, yuck, and sorry that it is so consuming.

Hoping QWP's head feels better. Perhaps an application of lettuce might help? But--hey--at least the new stroller isn't pink!

More hugs to anyone experiencing teacher anxiety, especially Neighbor Lady. (Sweet's teacher confessed she was "nerbus" also).

Kathy a wins the Old Skool Award this week, with the shattering news about the little rod that holds the toilet paper in the toilet paper holder thingie. I know you are devastated.

The posse is armed with a car pickup line this week! And they are headed to kathy a's credit card people. It's simple people. Get it straight, or wait in this line, just because we told you to.

Sorry for the scattered and somewhat unorganized awards this week. They reflect the state of my brain.

It's the "One More Week" Blues

School starts for Sweet in a week. She is "a wittle shy" about kindergarten, so much so that it is keeping her up at night, worrying about it.

Mini is whining because (a) she doesn't get to go to kindergarten this year; and (b) *her* school doesn't start till after Labor Day.

Mama is whining because she is the only person in the household who thinks it might be a good idea to start getting up and ready earlier than, say, 10 AM. Looks like it's going to be cold turkey on Monday morning instead. :(

Daddy is whining because chunky situation is not resolved, people are unhappy, and no one is talking directly to him about it. Things have eased up, but it's still yucky.

What's bothering you this week, Pixies?

Awards

Today's virtual refreshments include strawberries and ketchup by Mini, and appelizers and pasta by the Neighbor Kids.  Aprons and kudos for all the creative future chefs!

Liz wins the Mystery Office Noise Award.  Hope you are able to locate and fix.

Esperanza wins the Teeny Tiny Incident Award for the minor mishap in the parking lot.    

Queen of West Procrastination wins the Fabulous Getaway Award, for a nice vacation at the old place.

May Sue and Miranda have relief from the super duo of Migraine and Insomnia.

Cluesticks to banks that fail to automatic bill pay and/or who freeze accounts unnecessarily;  everyone responsible for bad chunky business; stepford mothers with Big Plans inconveniencing all kinds of other people; and other deserving entities.

Have a great one; see you  next week!

Summertime! Schooltime! It's all so confusing!

I think we are pretty solidly still in Summer, but around here, the public schools start next week; so does my son's night school at the community college.  And other places, the start dates seem to fan out until sometime late in September.

In any event, I live near several schools:  2 middle, an elementary, a high school, 2 preschools.  So the start of school means keeping track of time in a more diligent fashion than usual, to avoid the morning minivan crunch and the afternoon kids wandering into the street because that is so hilarious.  Not to mention the sports teams using the nearby park.  Must Avoid Major Street Full of Student Obstacles.

Momcat did not get adopted this weekend, so she is back for more quality fostering!  She has gotten very playful and brave, and she is flirting with Spot the resident cat.  He is flirting back, in his socially awkward way.

Tonight:  another window estimate person, and the bonus of son coming to work on his truck.  Joy squared.

What's the scoop for you?

Awards, music and mystery edition

This song speaks to me.

Mysteries of the universe: Why do mosquitoes like to bite under the under-wire of my bra and in my belly button, along with the aforementioned crease behind my knee? WHY? They get my husband in easy-to-scratch places, like on the bicep!

Awards today are going to:

• Esperanza for dealing with scary church people who are exploding horror all over what should have been a relaxing vacation, which isn't too relaxing in any case due to High Energy Cousins bringing out teh over-tired worst in Sweet. 
• Sue for dealing with dad and stepmom's temporary? break-up that is looking not so temporary. 
• QWP for not being able to find a light-weight but sturdy umbrella stroller in all of Canada. I'll see about smuggling one in to you! 
• Kathy A. for dealing with the dreaded REPLY ALL email chain. 

 Hugs to both anonymous commenters this week. I hope everything got better.
And hugs to those who didn't comment this week, but may have needed to.

Wednesday Whining Volunteer Tomatoes and Squash Edition

It's amazing what grows in pots that are filled partly with compost. We planted basil and got tomatoes alongside them. Separated the tomatoes into their own pots, got volunteer squash. Now the squash is in its own pot. I wonder what will grow with it?

Meanwhile, Muffin Man is in the computer-programming and other science education day camp that he has gone to for years, and I expect to hear good things when he comes home.

Also, the weather has been phenomenally good. I mean, like May. Not too hot. Only occasionally too humid. I mean, seriously, this is August?

What's up with you?

Bananarama Awards

This week's ceremonial refreshments include the world's largest non-contiguous virtual banana split, and warm pudding with bananas (courtesy of ND).

Many camping tales this week!  Neighbor Lady wins the Not So Bad After All Award, since daughter now believes camp is the only place to be, following last week's "I hate it here" letters.  The Let's Ditch and Go Touristing Award goes to Liz and family, who did just that after giving bike camp another shot.

Future Campers Prizes go to QWP's Lil E and Esperanza's Baboos, who suffered variously from boredom, crankiness, and other ailments of kids in summer.  Featured ailment of the week:  Mini Baboo's impetigo!  Word we don't want to hear:  "oozing." 

Andy wins the coveted Elevated Risk of Mullet Award, for "Punk Neighbor Kid Lawn Mowing Service really stepped up their game this week. They chopped down all the giant weeds, obnoxious shrubs, and small trees that had decided to grow along my fence line. I paid an extra $10 for that service, on account of classiness."  Also, yay, the cat came back!

Unpacking and Decluttering Award for Queen of West Procrastination, who has been busy as heck.  But that part's over!  Best with the trip west!

KLee wins the Interstate Parental Breakup Award, for the 'rents feeling so darned upset that mom fled the state.  Seriously.  But then she came back, so hoping peace and happiness are restored.

Many hugs to U.C.,  who had a couple truckloads of bad happen, but extended family is more focused on her love life.  Huh?  Priorities, people!  Cluesticks have been dispatched.

The Posse will also be visiting persons who dis KLee for thinking gay people are, like, human; and to the administration at her school, for not giving the books that teachers are supposed to certify they have read.  Oh, and also increasing the work day without increasing pay. 

Much love to Sue!  Glad the family is on the same page about changes in Dad.  And such a relief your sister came through surgery OK.  xoxo