Cool Word of the Day!
Scorched-Earth (adjective)(noun)
Definition: (various sources)
Relating to or being a military policy involving deliberate and usually widespread destruction of property and resources (such as housing and factories) so that an invading enemy cannot use them; Directed toward victory or supremacy at all costs; Ruthless.
The policy of devastating all land and buildings in the course of advancing or retreating troops so as to leave nothing salvageable to the enemy.
In extreme cases, this strategy might end up being a ‘suicide pill’.
My note: I have been hearing this phrase lately in the news and I like the concept as it applies to current events. You have to admire the military, if for nothing else, in that they do come up with the coolest terms to describe terrible things.
Can anyone say National Jr. Honor Society?
How do you spend the money you get for achieving high honors in academics when you are 13?? If you are my son, you buy a bunch of Nerf guns!!
But really cool Nerf guns. With extra foam bullets. They got two shotguns and two automatic guns. The shotguns even have fake “shell casings” that pop out every time you re-load. These are the kinds of things my kids like. Even from my old fart perspective, I do have to say, they are pretty fun. And, as a bonus for me, the process to purchase them was highly entertaining.
We were quite the spectacle at the store, picking them out. My children were trying to pretend that they were getting gifts for their younger cousins instead of admitting that these were all for them. There were lengthy discussions in front of the display about the merits of one type of gun over another and who would like which gun better. Do we like the automatic? Should we go with the shotgun? How many extra bullets? What color? What design? Nobody was paying attention. Nobody really cares what you buy, least of all the checkout lady. For good measure though, my daughter asked for a gift receipt. So we, I mean, they, their cousins, who were having a birthday party that weekend, could return them if they wanted. Elaborate lies! She explained this all to the register girl, who I am 100% sure did not give a shit. Pardon my French. A thousand kids a day go walking through and I doubt that two almost-teenagers buying Nerf guns hardly raises an eyebrow.
Props go out to my son who generously spent his smart-money on himself AND his sister. He bought Stevie the same guns and they split the extra bullets. He never even hesitated. So that’s one more thing I can add to my “like” list. And it’s an important one. Really. Good. Kids. I am a lucky mom! Later.
Luckily there are some good things about getting older
For instance, I can buy alcohol any time I want. Any kind. On any day. At any time. And I barely get a glance. Obviously after I get a bit older, I may draw some attention just because they will be wondering what the hell an old lady is doing buying Jack Daniel’s. On a Wednesday afternoon. MmmHmm. Alcoholic. Probably has no kids and a bunch of cats. Or stuffed animals that she thinks are cats. I will try to keep my hair combed at all times and wear clothes that match.
Anyway, the point is, that as I get older I realize that there are things I actually like. A lot. Like, things that I have liked and will probably like for the rest of my life. Things that are comforting. Things that are just for me. Examples may be needed.
Like coffee. I truly enjoy coffee. I just drink it black. I never liked cream or sugar and I am not real partial to flavors. I get the occasional Mocha from Starbucks now and then, but that’s pretty rare these days. I just like hot, black coffee. I drink it every day and I don’t even really think about it.
Another thing, that I just realized, and the reason for this little posting, is that I like Jack Daniel’s Whiskey. That may seem kind of strange, but when I first started drinking it many years ago, AFTER I turned Twenty-One, I was only drinking it because other people did. Old boyfriends, at parties, you know the way we all do it. Then after so many years I didn’t drink it at all. Ever. Then for some reason I tried it again. And I am telling you, it’s just delicious. It has the flavor I like and it’s not too sweet. Just plain old black label Jack Daniel’s. Nothing fancy. I dare say, whispering, I prefer it over vodka. And I can drink it straight, right out of a glass, neat, as they say. (Without ice.) That’s really not something I am bragging about, mind you. It’s not like I am sitting here all day sipping on whiskey and wasting time. Or doing another thing that I realize I like as I get older….
Watching old, black and white movies. I LOVE them lately. I had started watching them in the grip of nursing school. You can put them on and let them play. Now that I am done with that intensity, I still find that I like them just as much. Not all the old movies are black and white. I find I seek out anything made in the 50’s or earlier. It can be any genre. I don’t care. I prefer the smarter ones. With more dialogue. Actually they are all pretty smart, it’s mostly words. Not a lot of special effects in these movies. Some of the cable stations play them all day. If you want to try my new found, I’m-an-old-lady daily regimen, get yourself some Jack and pop in Casablanca to start. Or you can just jump right in, searching thru the cable guide for something that may become your new favorite.
Crap, I think I may be going thru a mid-random-age crisis. No milestone birthday coming up, no medical emergency, no life-changing event. Well maybe, I did just spend the last five years of my life changing my entire future. So it makes me think about what I could have done with all those other years. And my kids have so many years ahead of them. I want to stay around as long as I can. Ho Hum. Anyway, this is getting way off track of my study time. I do still have questions to answer for today. And I won’t have any kind of future if I don’t get my license. It’s getting dark again, so, hopefully you are home from your job now and ready to relax. Have a drink for me and enjoy the night. And if you are still out there, I will be too, soon. But for tonight, I will have a drink for you. Later.
Running is NOT an option
I was behind this Jeep on the way home from school one day. Pretty cool I thought. And now I have a place to put it! I’m going to just have to face the fact that I cannot use my foot the way I want to. Since I broke that toe (or two) three weeks ago, the swelling and bruising have gone away but the pain remains. I’ve been walking on it and doing various other dumb things, like trying to bowl, droppingamotorcycleonit, and even trying to run. Fail. I hobbled out one fourth of a mile. Being generous. My son was walking faster than I could run. And the next day, forget it. I couldn’t even put my shoe back on and the top of my whole foot was kind of fat and swelly.
This is the first time in my life that running can not be my main form of exercise. Walking is really pushing it. One more reminder that I will not live forever. Suh-uh-ucks!
So I have to find a way to do cardio type, but stationary, working out. Preferably with no shoes. I have some Yoga X and some Kenpo I can do from the P90X workout system. And I have to say, Jillian Michaels Beginner dvd’s are pretty good. It’s something new I added to my page, What We Have In The House Right Now. (I’m trying to do this fabulous site and update all this old information.) Anyway, like I said a few days ago, we are trying to accomplish alot this summer. Body and Brains. Now that daily school is over, exercise needs to be the only option along with healthy eating. The weight is creeping up and so is my B/P. We weigh again tomorrow to see if any of our small changes this week have knocked out an ounce or pound or two. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy big. Remember, if you are doing it too this summer, anything the same or less is good as long as you are moving every day and trying to make the better choices.
Speaking of which. I need to get some water. It’s HOT over here! 96 degrees. I guess the heat is here to stay for awhile. I’m going to take that water and sit out in it for a bit. Sweat some of the gunk out.
Oh wait a second, Two and a Half Men is about to come on the TV. That reminds me of my favorite kind of water made by Skyy. Yes, I have seen them all, but that doesn’t make them any less funny or easier to watch with a big glass of. Of. Ummm. Liquid.
Later.
And since we’re here anyway…
Here’s that summer flip-flop, all isolated and alone and stuff. This is a record for me lately. Two days in a row! Hold onto your shorts, because there are more to come!
Bench of the Day!
So the fourth is over, but summer is really just beginning for some people! This is a bench encouraging you to go take a vacation! As a bonus we get to use motorcycles, cars, trains or planes! Much faster! Mostly safer.
Some of these benches have designs on the back too. This is one of them! If you get the chance, go take a walk and see them for yourself. Later!
America-type fun stuff to celebrate the 4th of July!
Courtesy of Target. The other store of America.
We only have two stores in this country now. So if you don’t shop at Wal-Mart you probably shop here. We can debate all night about which one is better, cheaper, cleaner, etc…but I am obviously a Bulls-Eye-O-Nian. I took pictures of all their fun summer advertising hang-ups. And I will also be using this as the stepping stone to post one a day until all my pics are gone. The thing about these displays is that they look 3-D but they are actually FLAT! That’s good art work. If you find yourself just amazed and cannot believe it, go check it out for yourself. They should still be hanging.
That’s a pinwheel above. With a sandal behind it, because you can’t get a good pic of the pinwheel all by itself. It’s a two-for-one special! And if you find yourself just sadly shaking your head because it’s a beautiful day and you are looking at pictures of fake summer items when you should be outside doing anything else, know that they already have the back-to-school advertising up. What’s worse is that the store is probably open today. Consumerism never takes a holiday. Those poor workers.
Make Summer Funner!
HAPPY
Brought to you by the Tinley Park “Benches” Summer Art Project. I don’t really know if that’s what it’s called, but it’s pretty cool. I drag my kids out every year to walk the few miles around the downtown streets of Tinley and take pictures of the benches. This year’s theme seems to be “America”. It’s the perfect way to kick off this little (hopefully) daily new feature. I had started posting them a year ago and never finished. So now I have this year and last year to catch up with.
I will be watching my son march in the parade today. For our town. He’s in the band. And I think there’s fireworks. So it should be a fun night.
Have a safe and happy Fourth wherever you are!
We’re just a bad-ass motorcycle gang now
Well, HALF of us are. The other half (me) would be classified more as “lame-ass”. The BF’s bike is on the top. Mine is on the bottom. The BF’s is twice as big and weighs tons more. You can probably tell from the pics that my bike is significantly smaller. But that still didn’t stop my pathetic, “weak-ass” self from dropping it in the driveway yesterday afternoon. So sad. For me.
Don’t get all crazy or worried or call me. I am fine. It was not all that dramatic. I tried to get it off its stand and when I was finally able to rock it to the ground, the stupid thing started tipping over and I was not strong enough to hold it up or prevent it from falling all the way down. Luckily the side bags we put on it and my leg broke its fall. Yes, the leg with the broken foot. It only laid on it for a quick second. No extra damage, but I don’t think I am going to get fixed anytime soon. I keep doing really dumb things to make it worse.
Now in my defense, I had just worked out. Like, weights and cardio and crap, and I was sore and already in a weakened state. My muscles were unable to move fast or effectively. Obviously. And for some “dumb-ass” reason I tried to get it off its stand by standing next to it. Brilliant. I should have been sitting on it. That’s how I did it before. I guess it’s kind of funny now, especially since no one was hurt, it wasn’t on the street while riding, and the bike is totally fine. However…that still didn’t stop me from crying like a huge, big, giant, girl, baby. I felt stupid and weak and scared and frustrated, I guess, and I wasn’t even going to say anything. But I have to, because if you can’t laugh at yourself or admit you made a mistake you will never get past it and other people will dog you just the same. So, it was a stupid thing to happen and now I know what NOT to do, and they tell me everyone drops their bike at one point or another and maybe my turn is over now.
I did get on anyway, even though I stomped around angry and weepy for a little bit, and we drove around for an hour or so. Fall down. Get up. Conquer the fear. Blah blah blah. Inspirational quotes and words lose their impact when you feel like an idiot. But luckily I have an awesome boyfriend and a head that is only mostly made of rocks. Some stuff still trickles through! Thank you and I love you.
See you all on the road! I’ll give you a little hand wave. From my car.
just shy of pretty 
