The Quest

...is over.
For the past month DH and I have been out pounding the pavement in search of a new(er) car for DD. Every spare moment we had- and even some that wasn't spared - we spent searching. My birthday and our anniversary consisted of shopping for cars.
And now it's over. Finally. DD is mobile again. No more late nights picking her up from her job, no more running out of milk 5 minutes before dinner, having to stop, turn everything off and going to the store. No more racing to daycare to pick up the man-child before they charge me $15 for every 5 minutes I'm late.
Needless to say DD is a very happy young woman. She's learning new things like "full coverage" and "you will not be a taxi", etc but she's ok with that. She is mobile and that's all that matters.
We're happy with the buy and won't worry about what she's driving when she moves out.
So, I told DH, "now that we are done looking and have all this "free time" now and DD has a car - we can go to U-WRENCH-IT to find the parts to fix my old, broken down, high-mileaged van" .
He sooooo did not get the hint.

10 years ago today...

I married my husband.
In some respects it seems like yesterday; in others, it seems like forever. Maybe because I've know him since I was 11, we were best friends through junior and senior high. Who knows - doesn't matter. We're here. 10 years. Would I do it again? You betcha.
We've seen some rocky days, some really rocky days and some really really rocky days; but we've seen more of the most beautiful, life touching days and moments that some can only dream of. Those are the days we cherish on our hearts, give thanks to our mates for and live for. I know in my heart how lucky I am. To find the kind of love that will endure "the test". I've found it not once - but twice.
Happy Anniversary to the both of us 'cuz we deserve it. ;)

Today is the first day.....

...of the rest of your life.
Today is DD's 18th birthday! She's graduated now and all grown up. Her first decision as a high school graduate and an official adult is to sleep the day away. She is exhausted she says. Graduating Friday night and immediately attending Project Grad until 6 AM, coming home to get 4 hours of sleep before we race off to watch FDIL graduate nursing school and later attending her party until the wee hours of the morn and then Sunday we had her party. Then she spent half the night on the phone with her friends talking about all their parties. Yep, she's tired.

It Ends as it Began

It was the first day of kindergarten for DD. Back then they had half day kindergarten and DD was in the afternoon class. It was unbearably hot and on the first day of school they canceled the afternoon class due to heat. DD inconsolable. She cried and cried. She had been waiting and waiting to go to the "big kids school" along with her older brothers. It just wasn't fair. She really wanted to go. She'd have to wait another day.
Fast forward thirteen years.
DD is standing there in her cap and gown. It's warm outside. DD is dressed for Bacceloreate and she's all teared up. It's not fair. She's afraid to go. She doesn't want it to end.
To see her in her cap and gown, to see the light of excitement and yet a glint of uncertainty in her eyes; to see her face what we both have literally fought for; I can't think of a better Mother's Day gift. I am truly blessed.

Turkey's: 3, Rambo, Jr.: 0

Well, spring turkey season is over and there isn't one turkey in my freezer. Now I've heard all the excuses before A) there weren't any turkey's to be seen, B) the weather wasn't right for hunting and C) the animal was just out of range. I could go but I'll stop with these. The thing is now YS is learning them!
Seriously though, I'm disappointed for YS, for it would have been "the bomb" for him to shoot a turkey his first season out. It's taught him a lesson none the less, and that is that it takes patience. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. "Just one of those seasons" is what this season will be chalked up to and that ain't all bad really. When you learn something, frustrating or not, it's not a waste of time.

Deja-vu

Wow! What a movie! I highly recommend seeing this movie. It's out on DVD and it's incredible! The story moves at a quick pace and the "techie-parts" aren't too bad. By the time you get to the "ahhhh so that's how that happened" you're at the end of the movie. Well worth your time!

The Queen

I was able to finish watching the movie "The Queen" today. I have to admit I enjoyed the movie although I'm not sure why really. The story line was only so-so, abrupt in places and long drawn out in others.
The movie relvolves around the Queen of course, starting back when Tony B took office and during the untimely death of Princess Di.
Helen Mirren showed over and over why she received the Oscar for Best Actress. She bloodly well earned it! The only thing I could say negative about her performance - and it's not really a negative point as much as an observation - is is her mimicing The Queen's walk. It looked very unnatural for Helen, almost painful to watch in one particaular scene.
The rest of the acting left something to be desired, and again it shows what a professional Ms. Mirren is. To have to work with the less-abled actors had to be difficult at best. All of them, from James Cromwell to the actor who played Prince Charles, all over-acted their parts to the point of unbelievability.
I have one more movie to watch this weekend. It's "Deja-vue" with Dentzel Washington. I love this man as an actor. Kind of like Tommy Lee Jones and Nicholas Cage. They very rarely make a bad movie!
I'll let you know how it turns out!

It's coming

The weekend that is! The time is flying by right now. I'm starting to get the hang of my new job and that helps the lower the tension factor and make it enjoyable. The fact that I got so much accomplished last weekend has also made an easier week for me so I've been able to come home after work and do nothing but hang out with the family.
This upcoming weekend, DH is taking YS turkey hunting again. DD is going to spend the weekend with a friend so that leaves me all by my lonesome. While I have a list of things to do, none are "gotta have done yesterday" items so I can take my time. The only thing that should be done is the planting. I have my tomato plants and some flowers that need to be planted but I have everything I need so I'm good to go there and I have all weekend to do it!
I bought another movie too! "Dejavue" with Dentzel Washington. Gonna finish "The Queen" and got me a back up!
All in all the weekend looks promising!

DD made her statement to the insurance company yesterday and the adjuster came out and sure enough - they considered her car totaled. We're looking for a new(er) car for her now so she can become mobile again. That's what's been the hardest on her and I can so relate to it! It's been quite the reality check for DD. Life ain't fair sometimes and you just gotta make lemonade out of those lemons or you'll drive yourself nuts and that my friends is a hard lesson to learn whether you're 2, 20 or beyond!