Chilli Peppers?

I was taking a shower outside in my back garden.

That was the start of it all. It started, I was showering in the back yard, making sure I rinsed all the conditioner out of my hair, it's long, it's time consuming. I was at the same time having a conversation, with the guys who were on their bikes in the back yard. They could not see me, it was the tall red bricks that prevented them from peering in on my shower. Fast forward a few minutes, now I'm chatting with the guys in my lounge room while wearing a towel on my head, takes a while to dry all that hair as well. I'm having a 'come to Jesus' with the guys about how they have been riding their bmx bikes inside my house - a no-no, and how really they should be thinking about what kind of example they are setting for my kids and the sweet little homeschool kids that live across the street. When low and behold I hear a LOUD freight train outside that turns out to be a major tornado coming up the street, I tell the Red Hot Chilli Peppers quickly to find cover while I squirrell away my kids.

And that settles it. No more Ferrero Rocher and vodka right before bed. Those dreams are just a wee bit too freaky, really are the Chilli Peppers going to listen to me?

Dinner and a Ring.

I love birthdays! Family. Friends. Mine. Pretty much I love them all. There are several things that are a must for birthdays in our house. Chocolate must be consumed before anything else on the birthday morning, be it in the form of cake or block or brownie. It really does not matter. If chocolate is you r thing, or if by chance bacon pesto pasta is your thing - have at it! Another thing, you get to pick the evening meal. One day my children might hope for finer, more refined evening meals. Presently they are fairly easy to please, although we have yet to find really nice sushi in TX. And the presents, you get to open them as you wish. All at once, in scattered bits throughout the day, in order by size, the possibilities are endless.

So I had a happy day. I like bagels, wholemeal seeded with a light little bit of cream cheese and a precious slice of roast turkey on top was breakie for me. For dinner we invited some friends here to go out. Outback Steak House. I wanted a steak, what can I say - I am not a vegan. And we haven't been since my sons were tiny. So we went, my self, my 3 rowdy kids, my friends and their 2 kids and an extra kid as well. We sat at the round table. I am fairly certain that even though we tried to be sensible, we kept it to a dull roar. Six children between the ages of 8 and 12. And not all siblings. There was much to be talked about, by everyone. Anyway, the meal was lovely, we ordered, they brought, we consumed, and they they took the dishes away - utter bliss for a single mum. No washing up!!!!!!!!!!! So we asked for the bill, split check please so I can pay for my brood, and Brett can pay for theirs. This is when the waitress smiled just as the cat who has just eaten the pet budgie and told us another customer had paid our bill, and she was not allowed to tell who. We sat, all nine of us. The kids were not aware of the goings on. We sat, me with my hand resting on my little stash of cash I'd saved up for this night and Brett and Lezlie, holding onto their credit card, staring at one another. Stunned. Incredibly curious. Floored. Who would do that? There were a couple of people who stopped by our table during the meal. No one knew it was my birthday. I am not a fan of the singing of the birthday song by waiters & waitresses, so we skip it on my birthday - in public that is, at home - my children can belt it out with the best of them. Such a wonderful present - I asked the waitress to please even though we could not know whom it was to please pass along our thanks.

My grammie and granddaddy are aging. They are going to be 90 at the end of 2007. They usually send me a card for my birthday. I love it, my Grammie's scrawlling writing, still strong as she ages. Always signed love, Hugs & Kisses. for as long as I can remember. I am not my grandparents favourite grandchild, it is common knowledge who is, my dad is their favourite child - he's the baby, and my older sister is the favourite grandchild - they love all of the rest of us dearly, but she is the hands down favourite. I am completely fine with that. I love them, they have always been elderly and retired and lived on golf courses, my entire life. My granddaddy cuts gemstones for a hobby. He always has. Mine is amethyst. Lovely. My duaghter's a ruby. I got a parcel in the post day before yesterday. I like to stack mine and open throughout the day on my birthday. So I did. Something to look forward to after work. I sat and opened the parcel from Grammie, and yes it's from Grammie, she is the one who keeps up with those things in their marraige, Granddaddy plans the road trips, Grammie posts the mail. Inside the parcel was a pink wrapping paper containing a birthday card. Inside the card was a little flea market coin purse, grammie and graddaddy grew up during the depression, they are frugal. Inside the flea market coin purse was a Tourmaline ring my granddaddy cut and hand set with wrapped gold wire for my grammie - to put it in her words "many years ago". Now that is saying something, she talks about my father's childhood as if it were yesterday. What a treasure. My sweet little 4 ft Grammie has given me.

My heart is full.

WHOOP!

My boys have done it!

Texas A&M 69
Kansas 66

That's really all that needs be said.

Oh and they did it AT KANSAS.

Don't mess with the Aggies.