Unpleasant Weekend

I've been MIA for a couple days due to a very bad headache. (Migraine. It was in my right eye, right temple, went down to my right ear and down the right side of my neck.) It began Friday night and didn't really let up until yesterday. I'm back now and trying to catch up with all my online groups.

Kelly and I are going shopping for Easter outfits today. I've already seen a shirt at Dillard's that I'd like to get Sean if they still have his size available. I haven't really looked at dresses for Kelly yet, so I don't have anything specific in mind. I may get myself something also if I see anything I really like that doesn't cost too much.

Nothing else to report really. I spent the past couple days lying around, head hurting, wishing the medicine I was taking would actually work. Even the prescription ibuprofen my doctor prescribed for the severe cramps I get didn't put a dent in the pain.

Pippin was sick for a couple days also. I tell ya, it's no fun cleaning up dog vomit. *gag* He seems to be doing better now.

It was also raining for the past few days. (Since Wednesday or Thursday.) That, on top of my headache, drained all my energy. The sun finally came out Sunday afternoon. I had almost forgotten what it looked like.

I'm hoping that today will be a good day. I could use a good day. Headaches, rain, dog vomit, bickering kids, husband being gone. These things don't make for good days. The Tar Heels won their tournament games though, so that was good. Here's hoping they win against Villanova and then win the championship. :-)

Aarrgh!!

Between the rain we've had the past few days, my husband being gone for far too long, the house three doors down getting broken into the day before yesterday, the dog being sick and now the kids bickering, I'm about to lose my mind. Seriously. I need to get away. And soon. Preferably with my husband, but without the kids.

Zoned out, not a Jerk

Every morning when I drop the kids off at school, whoever opens the door for them usually says something like, "Have a nice day" before closing the door. They almost never wait for a reply from me. And so I never give one. I'll usually give a quick glance their way and maybe smile before driving off.

Yesterday morning was a bit different. A lady who hasn't opened the door for my kids before opened it that morning. After Sean and Kelly got out, I waited for the quick "Have a nice day", followed by the closing of the door, and then I could drive off. Well, after she said "Have a nice day", she didn't close the door right away like all the others do. After a couple seconds, and with my mind admittedly kind of out of it due to it being early morning (well, early to me anyway), I looked back just in time for her to close the door in frustration and then throw her hands up.

Ugh! I felt awful. "Great. Now she thinks I'm a stuck-up jerk." I couldn't stop thinking about it the whole way home and it kept popping into my head all day. I've thought about writing her a note, but that might seem weird.

-------------------------------
They're calling for rain today (with highs only in the 40s - yuck) through Sunday, so I got groceries much earlier than normal. Y'all might think I'm a wimp for not wanting to get groceries in the rain, but I really don't like having to push a buggy (shopping cart for y'all non-Southerners) while holding an umbrella. Especially when the kids want to get under the umbrella with me. Having two kids trying to crowd under the umbrella with me just doesn't work out too well. Having them try to crowd under the umbrella with me while I'm trying to push the buggy is even more difficult.

So after picking the kids up from school yesterday, we did the weekly grocery shopping, ate supper at Mario's Pizza and went to Borders. Kelly got another sketchbook, Sean got some kind of Sudoku book (or whatever the heck those puzzle things are called) and I got the remaining three Outlander series books that I wanted: Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross and A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

------------------------------
I picked up Twilight on Blu-Ray while at Target. I thought the Blu-Ray wasn't coming out until May, according to what I'd seen at Amazon. So I was a little surprised to see it sitting on one of the end caps at Target. When the kids and I got home from Borders, I watched some of the Twilight extras while Obama was speaking. And since House was a repeat, I watched the rest of the extras while that was on.

As a matter of fact, everything I normally watch on Tuesday nights was a repeat last night. Including HGTV programs. I hate that.

------------------------------
I started reading Jane Eyre back in December, but didn't pick it up during the Christmas season. I only read it off and on through January and February. I kept getting more interested in other books I was reading than I was in Jane Eyre. Well, I've determined to finish Jane Eyre before starting another book. Don't get me wrong, I do like the book. It's just not exactly a quick read like the modern books I've been reading. I'm more than halfway through with it now, so it shouldn't be too much longer before I'm done with it. I'll write a review of it if I feel like I have one in me for it.

Book Review: Dreamers of the Day

I finished reading Dreamers of the Day late Friday night. What a very interesting book it was. Am I the only one who wasn't aware of the reshaping of the Middle East after WWI and the involvement of Winston Churchill, T.E. Lawrence (aka "Lawrence of Arabia") and Gertrude Bell (who, I confess, I had never heard of prior to reading Dreamers of the Day) in that process?

The main character, Agnes Shanklin, is a witness to these events while she's in Egypt and Jerusalem. She meets Churchill, Lawrence and Bell (along with a Jewish German officer named Karl) while in Egypt and travels with them by train to Jerusalem, before returning to Egypt alone and with a purpose.

Prior to leaving Cleveland, OH for Egypt and after a tragic event in her family, she decides to make some changes in her life. This, of course, includes traveling to Egypt. Along the way, she deals with things that have troubled her all her life. I can't say that I like the way she handles one of those things (sorry for being so vague; I'm sure whoever reads this though will understand my not wanting to give too much away), but at the same time I understand that not everyone handles things the same way or would see things the way I do. Still, it annoyed me and, crazy as it may sound, I almost wished I could explain how things really are to her. Tell her that how some people take advantage of an important event or truth doesn't change the truth.

It reminds me of how some people are when it comes to God or church or just religion in general. Because one or a few (maybe even many) misrepresent God and claim to be doing awful things in His name, some people choose to no longer believe in God or the Bible. I personally don't get that. Who hasn't been hurt by a religious person? Lord knows I've been hurt a few times. That's not God's fault. Would you quit buying groceries if someone at the store (even every store) hurt your feelings or was rude to you? You've got to eat. We also need spiritual food.

Does a church that says they picket soldiers' funerals in God's name make it so? Or someone bombing an abortion clinic? (Haven't heard of one of those happening in a long time though.) Or someone attacking innocent people while they shop or dine? No, it does not make it so. They are liars and God's Word shows that they are. The Bible tells us to love our neighbors and to even love our enemies. It's not love to say that God hates homosexuals. It's not love to bomb someone or attack them or picket funerals.

My, but I did go off on a bit of a tangent, didn't I? Sorry. It's just that I really hate nonsense like that.

Anyway, I really enjoyed Dreamers of the Day for the most part. The last chapter got a bit strange and I really could've done without that. It wasn't the conversation, but the location of the conversation that surprised and annoyed me. It really seemed out of place to me.

Book Purchases

The kids and I did a little shopping yesterday (shoes for Kelly, which she desperately needed; bras for me), got groceries and ate supper at La Fiesta.

We also made our weekly trip to Borders. Sean and Kelly each got a sketchbook and I got five books:

Jane Austen Ruined My Life
In Her Shoes
Outlander (Book 1)
Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, book 2)
Voyager (Outlander, book 3)

I'll get the remaining three Outlander books next week - Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross and A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

I'm currently reading Dreamers of the Day. It takes place in 1918, after the first world war and after a flu epidemic. Where I am now in the story (about to start chapter 2 or 3), the main character (Agnes) has traveled to Egypt. I look forward to finding out what happens next. The chapter set up is kind of strange in this book though. They're very long and unnumbered.

Book Review, DH update

I finished reading Revolutionary Road about an hour ago. Although I didn't really like the characters, I thought the book was very interesting. At times I couldn't put it down, often staying up late reading it. (Though since I'm the "Nocturnal Queen", staying up late would've happened anyway.) The story was often raw in its portrayal of a strained marriage. It was almost strange "being there" at such private times. I almost wanted to intervene and say something to make it stop or make things better. (Does that make me sound crazy?) It was obvious where the relationship was headed, I just didn't know how it would get there. I would say that a certain big incident in the book surprised me, but I saw it coming. A person in April's shoes could only go one of two ways. Naturally, the author wasn't going to go the salvation route. Revolutionary Road isn't that kind of book.

----------------------------
I talked to Charlie last night and he said that he might not be home for a couple more weeks. He thought he might be home by the end of the week, but apparently something else has come up. *sigh* It's been 2½ months since he left. It often feels like this is never going to end. Though I'm glad he has a job, especially in this economy, there are times I really hate his job.

----------------------------
I wasn't feeling well yesterday. Just felt wiped out, run down. I tried to stay awake, but ended up falling asleep on the couch (an hour or so after our French toast supper, which was quite yummy) around 8:00 or 8:30. When I woke up, it was nearly 1:00 AM. Sean was in bed asleep, but Kelly was still awake. She was in my bed reading a book by lamp light. After telling her a couple times to turn the light off and go to sleep, she eventually did. I of course wasn't feeling tired at all after sleeping so long. I watched a little HGTV before finishing my book.

And now I suppose I should go on to bed and attempt to fall asleep. I think I might be able to now.

Memory Lane

Kelly and I got groceries yesterday and ate supper at La Fiesta. (Sean was at Mom's.) Later in the evening, we went to Borders and bought some more books. I got Shopaholic Takes Manhattan and Shopaholic Ties the Knot. Kelly got another Magic Tree House book.

The weather was so beautiful yesterday. We rode around with the windows down and enjoyed the breeze. A couple times while we were out, this feeling of being in Southport and at the beach hit me strongly. Just something about our short sleeves, sandals, flip flops, pleasantly warm sun, and the gentle breeze really put me there in my mind. Seeing seagulls flying above us and walking around in the parking lots added to it. Why seagulls come so far inland I don't know.

This brought memories of my life in the Southport area to my mind and made me long to visit there again. I hope y'all won't mind if I take a little stroll down memory lane.

I was born in Wilmington and lived in Southport and Boiling Spring Lakes (a small "town" outside of Southport) for several years as a child. Life was very simple then. I don't know if my mom would agree or not. Things were probably hard for her because of my dad's drinking, pot smoking and unwillingness to hold down a job for very long. But when you're a small child, some things just go unnoticed. You're blissfully unaware of the hardships around you. Yes, I witnessed a couple situations I wish I hadn't, but overall my brother and I were very happy.

We lived in a little house on a dirt road. Diagonally across from our house was a short road (about the size of a driveway actually). There were blackberry bushes there and I can remember picking them with my maternal grandpa. (Who lived outside of Fayetteville, but would come visit from time to time.) Beyond the little road and the mass of trees were railroad tracks. Behind our house and to the right of it (as you were facing it) were many tall pine trees. Many times we walked through the woods behind our house, crossed a dirt road, and went swimming in the small lake there. It's now privately owned. A lot of people from up north have come down and built houses in an area that used to be all trees and dirt roads. It's sad.

My paternal grandparents lived about ¼ mile or so down the road from us. From a young age, I would walk down that road by myself and visit my grandma. My mom would either call Grandma's or show up to see if I was there. Different times. If my kids tried something like that now I'd have a heart attack worrying about where they were.

Southport is the place where we did our grocery shopping and went to church. Lots of memories of running across the hot parking lot barefooted to get into the grocery store. And a lot of memories of singing on the platform at church either with my brother (we usually sang "Ain't It Grand to be a Christian" or "Let the Sunshine In") or with all the other kids ("Building Up the Temple", "He's Still Working on Me", "The Lord's Army", "The Little Birdie With the Yellow Bill", "The Devil is a Sly Old Fox", etc.); Easter egg hunts in the church yard; Sunday dinners in the church fellowship hall.

Dad, his brothers and their dad were deep sea fishermen and clammers. I always liked going down to the fish house after they came in with a catch, walking the docks, getting a Grape Nehi or Mr. Pibb from the drink machine. One time, my brother (he was about 3 or 4) stepped on a spot where part of a board was missing on the docks and his leg fell through. He freaked out. It didn't help that my dad told him the crabs (or was it sharks?) were going to get him. One of my favorite pictures of my brother and I is of us standing on the docks. I was about 5, my brother was about 4.

Southport is a beautiful and charming small town. Tree-lined streets with old Victorians; a water front park with a gazebo, seafood restaurant and small pier (the water front park and parking lot were in the movie A Walk to Remember in a night scene); boat docks; yacht basin; a cemetery with old graves and tall, gnarled oak trees; antique shops; a view of some of the islands in the Cape Fear River, including Bald Head Island and Oak Island with their lighthouses (only the Oak Island Lighthouse works); and the ferry to Ft. Fisher.

Oak Island can be reached from Southport by boat or by the Oak Island Bridge. (I think they're building a second bridge.) They're so close to one another that they're almost one town. I spent a lot of time there on what was then called Long Beach. There was a pier there (they tore it down a few years ago after the owner sold it to the town; I think they put condos in its place), at that time "North Carolina's longest pier", that we fished from many, many times. My brother and I even slept on it a time or two while our family (Mom, Dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles) did some night fishing.

When I was about 1½-2 years old, I nearly drowned on Long Beach. My dad had jumped into the water for a swim and I went in after him. My mom and grandma were there, but couldn't swim. Dad saw me go in though and got me out. :-)

Really, the only thing I remember not liking about living there were the big spiders that got into our house. *shudder* They were so big you could hear them walking on the kitchen floor. My mom once found one in the pile of laundry on the floor as she was loading the machine. I went into my bedroom once to find ol' Shelob sitting on the floor in front of my dresser.

For a time, we grew our own potatoes. (We also grew other vegetables and had chickens for meat and eggs. Dad would go deer hunting for meat, catch fish and clams. We were poor and it helped to not have to get as much of our food from the store, if we could help it.) I remember one time helping dig up the potatoes. I grabbed what I thought was a potato and it turned out to be a spider. Oh my word, did I freak when I saw those legs moving around! Of course, now that I think of it, the spider was probably a little freaked out too when all of a sudden something had a hold of him and he was up in the air flailing around.

Other than the hideous spiders, it was great living there. I really could go on.

• Eating at the Sea Captain Restaurant (it's since been torn down, replaced with pastel-colored condos, and then rebuilt with a new name - PJs - next to the condos). I remember really liking their burgers.
• Powerful thunderstorms.
• The way the beach smells right after it rains.
• Walking on the beach at night.
• Eating "Jesus bread" at my grandma's. (It was really just flour tortillas she warmed up in the oven with butter melted over them).
• Spending the night at Grandma's house all the time.
• Seeing the light in the sky from the lighthouse at night.
• Playing outside all day, barefooted in spite of the sandspurs and itch weed.
• Going to the little curb market with my maternal grandpa to get a Push-Up or Nutty Buddy (they tasted better back then).
• Trying to rollerskate around the kitchen and dining room.
• Birthday parties with a bunch of yummy food (cake, cupcakes, chips, ice cream, candy) and family around.
• Prayer meetings in Grandma's living room.
• Singing "Jesus songs" while swinging on our neighbor's swing set or the swing set at Grandma's house.
• Hearing whipporwills in the evening.
• Finding doodle bugs.
• Dodging fire ants.
• Making crafts at church or Grandma's house using seashells.

And on and on I could go.

I realize this was probably boring to anyone who bothered to read this. Sorry about that.

You can find links to Southport sites along the left margin of my blog. Scroll way down. :-)

Book Review

I finished reading Confessions of a Shopaholic the night before last. (Actually, yesterday morning as I couldn't put it down and stayed up all night reading it.) I had a hard time getting into it for those first few chapters. But by about chapter 7, it got really interesting to me and I couldn't put it down. It didn't help that each chapter ended right as I was waiting for a situation to play out.

For about the first third to half of the book, I found the main character (Rebecca Bloomwood) to be very annoying. Constantly in denial and sabotaging herself. "She's doing it again!", I'd say as I read a new situation she'd either lied herself into or shopped herself into. She seemed to me to be very immature for a 25 year old. She drove me crazy. I rolled my eyes several times for about the first half of the book. "What an idiot", I would think.

She does eventually make an effort to change and better her life. At the end though, it's obvious it could take awhile for her to grow up. But at least she's beginning to try. I wasn't planning on getting the next book in the series, but by the time I finished I changed my mind. Now I'd like to see what happens next.

When I finally crawled into bed after finishing Shopaholic, I thought about how we all sabotage ourselves in one way or another from time to time. Whether it be financially, spiritually, physically or in our relationships. Maybe we get carried away too often with our shopping or we fail to put money away in savings. Or maybe we lose sight of God and begin doing things we shouldn't. Maybe it's overeating or eating things on a regular basis that are unhealthy. Or perhaps we are selfish or dishonest or not as in tune as we should be with the ones we say we love.

As annoyed as I often was with Rebecca Bloomwood (she did seem a bit extreme in her lying and overspending, but then I reckon that's done for comedic purposes), is it really fair to look down on someone like that (were she real) when we're all guilty of making a mess of things or allowing things to get out of control in our lives from time to time? Don't we all sabotage things in our lives, even just a little, at one time or another?

How many times have you smacked yourself on the forehead and thought what an idiot you were for doing or saying something you wish you hadn't? You thought for sure you had ruined things. Maybe you actually did. But you learned from it, I hope. You're only a failure if you continue to do the things you know haven't worked out well for you. As Dr. Phil says, "How's that working for you?". (Not that I watch his show often, but I've heard him say that a couple times the times that I have watched.)

You can only ignore things and be in denial for so long, as Rebecca Bloomwood tried to do, before it catches up to you. If what you're doing is making life worse (in your relationships, or financially, physically, spiritually, mentally), try something else.

Anyway, didn't mean to preach or lecture. :-)

Yesterday, This and That

Before getting groceries yesterday, the kids and I went to Olive Garden for an early supper. I had seen on TV that they have brought back the Tuscan Garlic Chicken, which I ordered as I did in the past - without the peppers and spinach. And, also as before, I added some lemon to it. Yum! They also have a couple new desserts. Kelly and I had something I can't remember the name of, but it's basically Italian donuts. (Though they're not round and don't have holes.) They're served with a chocolate dipping sauce, which is kind of strong. A little goes a long way.

We went to Target, the gas station and Food Lion after supper. After getting home and putting the groceries away, the kids and I went to our favorite hang-out - Borders. Sean got Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne, and a golf bookmark. Kelly got two Magic Tree House books and a bookmark with a puppy wearing a pearl necklace on it. I got The Reader by Bernhard Schlink and The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie.

When we finally got home (we were at Borders for about an hour), we watched American Idol. What a pleasant surprise when Simon said that they'd decided to have 13 final contestants this year instead of 12 so that Anoop could be in. The kids and I cheered loudly. :-)

-----------------------
The kids and I went to the video store on Wednesday and rented a couple movies - Australia and Beverly Hills Chihuahua (ugh). I watched Australia that night. I liked it, but probably won't buy it. I told the kids that they can't watch Beverly Hills Chihuahua until they get their rooms clean. It's looking like it will be going back to the video store unwatched. I certainly won't be watching it. It looks like a really stupid movie.

-----------------------
Charlie thinks that the parts that they've been waiting for might arrive by early next week and that he could be coming home in another week or so. That is, of course, if his boss doesn't send him to Arizona (there's been talk of it) or somewhere else. There's really no knowing with this job where he might go next, when or for how long.

-----------------------
I'm looking forward to the pretty weather they're forecasting for today and the next few days. Temps in the 70s! Perfect. It makes me long for another trip to beautiful Southport - my childhood home along the North Carolina coast. I don't see that happening anytime soon, unfortunately.

Snow Days and a Recipe

The kids have enjoyed their two days off from school to play in the snow. A two-day weekend turned into a four-day weekend. Of course, they have to make up the days later.

As you can see, Pippin also really enjoyed the snow. He was hopping around and digging his nose in it. He's been in need of a haircut for awhile, but I suppose it turned out good that I haven't cut it yet. He had little snowballs all over his legs and got snow all over his face and back.

Kelly and I made a little snowman, which you can see above. I don't have any shoes to wear in the snow, so I couldn't help her make a real one. I stood on the sidewalk in my slippers and made a little one there. Kelly added the sticks.

No news yet from Guilford County schools on whether there will be a delay or not. Every other county around us decided in the late afternoon on a 2-hour delay. Guilford County (which I think got more snow than any other county) hasn't said anything. Typical. They're always the last to decide and they usually wait until the wee hours of the morning to make a decision. It's frustrating. I prefer knowing before bedtime. And I hate that recorded call they make before 6:30 AM waking me up to tell what their decision is. I'm turning the ringer off this time. I can check the news when I get up at 7:00.

------------------------------------
I made a delicious dinner Monday night. About a week ago, I saw someone on TV make this tasty-looking chicken. I don't know what they called it. I call it Lemon Oregano Chicken. I couldn't wait to try it. Kelly and I really loved it. (Sean was at Grandma's, but wouldn't have eaten it anyway.) I had used thin sliced, boneless, skinless chicken breasts and Kelly and I each ate two. :-) This is the recipe:

Chicken (whatever cuts or kind you like)
Chicken stock
Extra virgin olive oil
Lemon(s)
Salt
Pepper
Garlic (minced or powder)
Oregano

Clean the chicken. Put it in a good-sized baking pan of some kind. (Like a 13x9 cake pan. I used a long, shallow glass pan.) Add chicken stock and olive oil. (Don't completely cover the chicken.)

Cut a lemon in half and squeeze as much lemon as you like over the chicken. (I used two halves of a lemon for four thin, boneless, skinless chicken breasts.) Add the salt, pepper, garlic and oregano. I didn't measure anything. Put one or two of the lemon halves in the pan with the chicken, but not on the chicken.

Broil (top rack) for about 10-15 minutes. Chicken with the bone might take a little longer. Just check that the juices are clear near the bone.

The guy on TV cooked it until it was black in places, but I cooked it only until it was brown and the juices were clear.

I loved this chicken and can't wait to make it again. I served it with black eyed peas, rice and green beans. I think some kind of pasta side dish would be good with it too, since it's kind of an Italian chicken.

Fun at the tax office and Flirty Waiter strikes again

The kids and I were on our way to the tax preparer's office at close to 3:30 yesterday. It was a miserable, rainy, cold afternoon. My appointment was at 4:00 and I got there about five minutes early. They took me right back and when we got to the office, we saw that there were only two chairs available. They were watching a basketball game in the main office/waiting area, so I told Sean he could watch that since there was nowhere to sit in the little office we were in. I also told him not to bother anyone. He can be nosy and asks a lot of questions.

The same guy (Joel?) who did our taxes last year did them this year. He's a quiet man. Never says much. A white haired man (who I think runs the place) came in and was talking to the guy doing our taxes. Somehow the conversation turned to webcams and how that Charlie and I (and the kids) talk to each other using webcams sometimes. Joel (?) said that he has one too and that he talks to his siblings and friends. White Haired Man asked if he ever talked to his mom in Mexico City (Joel's Mexican), but Joel (?) said that his mom can't use a computer.

When Joel was done with our taxes and stapling things, paper clipping things and putting it all in a folder, Kelly and I walked back to the main office/waiting area to get Sean and leave. When we got to the main office/waiting area, I saw that Sean was wearing the Carolina Tarheels football helmet that's normally on display there. Apparently White Haired Man had put it on Sean. I told Sean to take it off so that we could go, but it wouldn't come off. I gave it a few tries and couldn't get it either. I handed Kelly my purse, umbrella and folder and tried again, putting my fingers between Sean's ears and the helmet, and still it wouldn't come off. It didn't help that I was laughing and that Sean would stand up when I pulled on the helmet. The receptionist and other customers (two groups of two) were also laughing. The receptionist called White Haired Man into the main office/waiting room and he managed to get it off Sean's head.

Finally, we were out the door and back into the cold, blowing rain. We got into the car as quickly as we could and I got the heat going. Next stop - Great Clips at Friendly Center. Sean was in bad need of a haircut. For several years now, Charlie's been cutting Sean's hair in a buzz. Since Charlie's been gone for two months, Sean's hair has grown out. I've been spiking it for him for school every morning. But it was getting too long to look good spiked, though I spiked it anyway. He has a bad cowlick that a spike conceals. When the lady was done cutting Sean's hair (shaped and trimmed, not buzzed), I mentioned that I normally spike it, but that I had done it in a faux hawk once and it looked cute. So she gave him a faux hawk. :-)

We then went across the way to Rack Room Shoes to get Sean a new pair of brown church shoes, which he was in desperate need of. That done, we needed some nourishment for our empty bellies. Sean wanted Olive Garden, but we had had Italian food the past three nights. (Spaghetti at home on Wednesday night, Bianca's on Thursday & leftover spaghetti on Friday.) There's a pretty good pizza place close-by (Briixx), but I wasn't really in the mood for pizza. Kelly mentioned Mexican food, and though it meant possibly having to put up with Flirty Waiter again, Mexican food did sound good.

So off to Monterrey's we went. There was a decent-sized crowd there, so I hoped that Flirty Waiter would be too busy to come by our table too often if he were our waiter, and hopefully not at all if he weren't our waiter. He was our waiter. Nice.

He behaved himself at first. He was friendly, but not overly friendly. However, after we had been eating for awhile (or perhaps I was already done; I can't remember) he started in with the compliments and what seemed like an invitation. Told me I was beautiful, had a nice face, a pretty smile. This after calling me "Bonita" and "Sweetie".

Charlie called while we were eating and Flirty Waiter showed up while Sean was talking to him. (This is when he told me I was beautiful, etc. While Sean was talking to Charlie.) He asked me if that was my husband and I told him it was. He remembered that Charlie was in Texas and asked when he'd be home. I told him in a couple weeks. After telling me I was beautiful, etc., he said, "I like you". *pause* "I know you're married, but I like you." I just laughed nervously.

When he brought me the check, he asked me if I would be coming back next week. I told him I would if I were in the mood for Mexican food; that Monterrey's is the only Mexican food I really like of all the Mexican restaurants I've been to. He told me that he has been working there for about 6 years, then he kind of trailed off/got quiet, as he often does. It makes it hard to understand him. I told him that I've been going there for about 13 years or so and he was surprised by that.

Then he asked me something that, after I thought about it later, made me wonder if it were an invitation. He asked me if I had ever been to Mexico. Well, there's a Mexican restaurant in Greensboro called Mexico, so I asked him if he meant the restaurant or the country. He said, "The country". I told him that I had not. Was it just curiosity because I mentioned trying many Mexican restaurants or was it an invitation? The former sounds most likely, but I can't help but wonder. And, no, I would never go to Mexico or anywhere else with that fella.

I had hoped that Flirty Waiter would be too busy to bother me, but he wasn't. I'm seriously considering finding another Mexican restaurant to dine at and only going to Monterrey's when Charlie is with me.

Anyway, we made our way back towards home on the other side of town. On the way, I remembered that I needed to get air filters for the house. We stopped by Lowe's, bought a two-pack and came home.

It felt good to be home and out of the cold rain. (Cold is bad enough. Rain is bad enough. Cold, blowing rain is worse.) I got into my t-shirt and sweats and the kids and I watched some TV.

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers came on at 8:00 and since there was nothing else on that interested us, we watched that even though we have it on DVD and have seen it many times. I actually fell asleep about an hour and a half into it, I was so tired. I only slept less than an hour though. Charlie called and the phone woke me up. The kids talked to him first, and then me. He was on his way to bed and wanted to say good-night.

The kids and I finished watching TTT and then I had them brush their teeth so that they could go to bed. Ah, but then Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives came on and we really like that show. (It gives me tips, ideas and recipes.) Funny that Sean likes it, considering he only likes chicken nuggets and pizza. :-\ So I let them stay up way too late watching a couple episodes. Of course, they both fell asleep by the time the third episode was starting (I was making tea at the time), so I woke them up and made them go to bed.

I finished watching the third and fourth episodes of Triple D (as the host, Guy Whats-his-face likes to call it), and also watched a couple more shows before getting online. Yes, I'm putting off going to bed again. I'll be going soon.

---------------------------
They're calling for a pretty good chance of snow tonight and into Monday morning. We could get a few inches. That's a lot to get at one time for these parts. I'm kind of hoping we get it. Not having to get up early Monday morning? Sounds good to me.

---------------------------
Forgot to share something else.

Sean was in the bed before Kelly Friday night. I let her watch a little of Becoming Jane with me. About 40 minutes into the movie, I paused it and laid down on the floor to pet Evie. I don't know how, but somehow Kelly and I started doing this thing where she'd ask me to spell a word and then I'd misspell it on purpose using a deep Southern accent. (I have a Southern accent, but it's not deep.) I had Kelly cracking up. I'd misspell a word in that deep accent, she'd laugh and then spell it correctly.

Kelly: "Spell cat."
Me: "C-e-t. Cet."
Kelly (laughing): "No. C-A-T. Spell teeth."
Me: "T-e-e-f. Teef."
Kelly (LHBO): "No, t-e-e-t-h. Spell hair."
Me: "H-a-r. Har."

And on it went. Fish sticks, f-e-e-s-h s-t-i-k-s. Sweater, s-w-e-h-t-u-r. Movie, m-o-o-v-e-e. Light, l-a-h-t.

I can't remember any of the others. She had me do it at Monterrey's too and Sean also thought it was pretty funny.