As promised

Now that I've put it off so long, this whole 'surprise with pictures' business is sure to be a giant let down, particularly since my sister-in-law thought I'd be announcing that I was pregnant. Wouldn't that be fun! Guess what! Nope. I told her she was crazy; there's no way I could have hidden the amount of puke that accompanies that condition from her on our marathon shopping day. Besides, does this look like a child who is ready for the responsibility of sibling-hood?

(As an aside, doesn't this little native dress that Bunk and Grammy Lu picked up on their cruise just kill you? With her exotic, cocoa-colored complexion and shiny black hair, she looks darn near authentic.)

Anyway, back to the let down. Here at A Bug's Life, we are pleased to announce a little project for the next, oh, month or so. Below are the promised snapshots, intended to serve as clues for our game. Any guesses on what we are up to?

Good luck!

Oh yeah. One teeny tiny itsy bitsy little detail provided as a partial penance for the disappointment from before.

I.

QUIT.

MY.

JOB.

TODAY.

Chew on that.

This has shifted my entire world view.

I'm not kidding. My life has totally been rocked.

This whole time it's been incorrect to put two spaces after the end of a sentence? What? Who am I?

Curse you, Misters Miller, Wood, and Drake, for never correcting this atrocious behavior. I passed two (TWO!) AP English tests and never knew this. Two college degrees! Am I dreaming?

Goin' to California

Took my chances on a big jet plane
Never let 'em tell you that they're all the same...

Me and the gals on our wild shopping trip:



Not sure why we chose to stand in front of Frederick's for our one shopping picture...





I dig this airport, notwithstanding the fact that it sort of feels like a strong breeze could take out the whole thing. Also, despite all visible evidence to the contrary, my pants are not velour.

 As mentioned, we had a wonderful time on our day-long ladies trip.  Do I hear tradition calling?

Things that suck.

Disclaimer: These are also not the promised surprise pictures.  They are coming, however.  After I take them.

A story:  A couple of years ago, when we moved into our condo and immediately bought a dog that was too large for the regulations, we also made another important, related purchase.  After squeezing the last drops of life out of the very used vacuum I had purchased for $20 off of a roommate in college, it was time for our very own sucking machine.  We sidled in to the Walmart down the street and dropped some hard earned cash on one of their in stock models.  Off we went, proud to clean up our brand new dog's hair with our brand new vacuum. 

Fast forward to a new house with the same dog plus a Cheerio dropping toddler, and our not-so-nice-to-begin-with Walmart vacuum was decidedly missing the mark.  An online visit to overstock.com was needed, and an order was placed for a Shark-- a brand we had heard was comparable to the legendary Dyson without the large price tag. 

It came in the mail yesterday.  While Schmoopsie and Bug worked on assembling the machine, (I don't do Styrofoam.  shudder.)  I decided to conduct an experiment.  I carefully vacummed the floors with our old machine, and then excitedly made the rounds with the new one. 

Cue gross-out mode.  Here is the cannister after one pass of the living room and half of the hall.

In case that visual doesn't get the point across, here is the first load of filth in the garbage on top of a bread bag.



So far, we are over the moon with our purchase.  Besides the all-important sucking power, which the Shark appears to have plenty of, I am also thrilled to pieces with the perfect vacuum lines it leaves when I am finished.  It's the small things in life, really.

P.S.  The title of the post.  Aren't I punny?

Flower child

 This is not the promised surprise or accompanying pictures, but I can't stop giggling at this.  Behold the fruits of my California shopping trip:

I did not buy her in CA.  She was a previous purchase.



Attention world: New maximum value on the cute scale.



Let's be honest, I bought this ridiculous ensemble at the TJ Maxx in Costa Mesa, so it's not like it's exotic or anything, but STILL.  Betcha you wish she lived at your house.

Gobbledeegook.

After a whiz-bang start to the new year, I'm all out of blog juice.  Already.

Here are some things I am thinking about:

Tomorrow I'm going to California (you heard me right) for what is sure to be a hilarious day of shopping and laughing with a bunch of my sisters and Bug's Grammy Lu.  Sorry, Bug.  You're staying home with Daddy this time.

If I didn't feel old when I turned 27, I did when I had to get my very first pair of prescription reading glasses.  Next up: a walker with tennis balls on the legs.

101.9 The End:  see, I was right.  I told you your new programming was embarrassingly awful.  You should've listened to me 9 months ago.  But, we'll let bygones be bygones.  I forgive you.  Thank you for the Californication on my way to work yesterday.  It nourishes my heart.

I have had a four letter word (no, not that kind of four letter word.  One of my twenty-seven-olutions was to stop with those, anyway.  Remember?  A kid who will be talking soon?  Can't have her imitating her sailor mama now, can we?) spinning and rolling around in my head, begging for more study and perhaps a blog post or two.  Your thoughts on hope would be greatly appreciated.

Will you all promise to come back and check out the blog next week if I promise you a very special surprise?  Hint:  it will involve pictures.  Maybe I'll even throw in some sporting my newest senior citizen accessory.

2011 is going to be great, and I'm not just saying that.

Birds flying high- you know how I feel

Sun in the sky- you know how I feel
Reeds driftin' on by- you know how I feel



It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life


For me


And I'm feeling good!



Fish in the sea- you know how I feel
River running free- you know how I feel
Blossom in the tree- you know how I feel



It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life


for me


And I'm feeling good!


Dragonfly out in the sun- you know what I mean, don't you know
Butterflies all havin' fun- you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when the day is done
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world


For me

Stars when you shine- you know how I feel
Scent of the pine- you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine!
And I know how I feel


It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life

for me!


And I'm feeling good.
 
-Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse