Death of a Snowman

A dead snowman was found in the backyard of a northern Minnesota family. Cause of death has been determined to be exposure to temperatures that the snowman could not tolerate. By the time the snowman's remains were found they had already reached extensive decomposition, with only it's hat, scarf, and arms recognizable.

"He was always out there with his big smile and wave," said one woman. "He just made me feel good every time I saw him."

It's well known that snowmen have short life spans. In this case it was a life cut even shorter. "I knew he wouldn't be with us long," said a man. "But it's not even the middle of March. It's just too soon!"

This isn't the only case we've heard about premature death in snowmen. It seems to be happening all over the state of Minnesota. And with the recent rain and continuing warm weather, it seems that there is no hope for any that have somehow managed to make it this far.

Things That Go Beep In The Night

Sitting on Facebook last night getting my fill of what everyone’s been up to and enjoying my super quiet house, (All you could hear was the washer and dryer! And those are GOOD sounds!) I suddenly hear an alarm going off. I RACED down the stairs following the noise to the family room just off the side of my daughter’s bedrooms. They had had a late dance practice, needed to get up early for school, and have confirmation tonight. I need them to get their sleep!

It sounded like it was coming from near the TV…but when I got there, it sounded like it was coming from near the sofa. Then it was gone. Relieved, I headed back upstairs to peruse Facebook a bit more. Five minutes later, there it was again! This delightful dance of hide and seek lasted for at least a half an hour, and then finally quit. Was I hearing a cell phone alarm? A toy? A prank by my comical children? Was I being Punked?

Before logging off for the night I updated my Facebook Status to share my solo evening games with all of my “Friends” and then I called it a night.

I’ll bet it goes off again TONIGHT. I’ll bet I find it TONIGHT. And I know that this has happened to many, many others….because my “Friends” told me so.

Cuddle Duds

It's November 3rd. It's Cuddle Dud Time in Minnesota!

Cuddle Duds are the MOST comfortable "long johns" available to us Northern Ladies. They feel soft and, well, cuddly against your skin. They don't bulk up when you try to pull your pants over them and they don't add an extra pound, as I tend to feel that traditional long underwear do. Soft, silky, Cuddle Duds. I'm wearing mine now!

I truly think Cuddle Duds should hire me to write ads for them. I could come up with new ads allllll winter long for them! I should know! I'm their biggest fan! Hee hee.

Now, some insider tips for wearing Cuddle Duds;
1. A gal can tuck her turtleneck INTO her Cuddle Duds to feel super warm.
2. A gal can pull her socks OVER her Cuddle Duds to keep them in place as she pulls up her jeans, even insulated jeans when the subzero weather hits us. (Warning: Though the Cuddle Duds promise to not add extra pounds the insulated jeans are guaranteed to add a minimum of five up to around ten. You can choose warmth or you can choose slim. Your pick.)
3. A gal can never have too many Cuddle Duds.
4. Cuddle Duds make great gifts for mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, and basically any female who lives in or visits Minnesota and it's neighboring states.
5. Cuddle Duds can substitute for pajamas. They don't climb up your legs like flannel pj's.

Now go out and get thee some Cuddle Duds! Unless your winters are more fortunate than mine and you live in a state that is warmer.

Book Clubbin'

I've always wanted to belong to a book club. A real life, gathering of people who sip coffee or tea and discuss the latest book selection, preferably wearing full J Crew attire with ultra white teeth and head tossing laughter. So I can't afford full J Crew attire, I can blend! So I drink too much coffee and my teeth aren't ultra white... The point IS, that it just seems like so much durned fun! Heck, I'll even sip chocolate soy milk in the kitchen and promote it!

And THEN, la la la laaaaaaaaaaa ~ I found myself a crew of real life FUN women who want to form a book club! I was SUPER pumped and searching the clearance selection at J Crew Online. (No, not really!) I had all great intentions of purchasing my copy of The Great Gatsby, our first pick!

And THEN, summer took over, and with it a busy workload, three kids at home fighting as I work and/or asking repetitively, "Can I have a friend come over? Can I have a friend come over? Can I have a friend come over?" As well as, "Can we go to the mall? Can we go to a movie? Can we go to the park? Can we go on a bike ride? Can we go buy , Can I have a pony?" (again, not really...) And also, "I'M BORED!" There were business meetings, camping trips, birthday parties, a small vacation to The Wisconsin Dells, and once in a while, sleep.

SO ~ I still have not purchased my copy of The Great Gatsby. What's wrong with me? Two girls are done with it, one is halfway through, one couldn't get past page seven. And then there's the book club dreamer, ME, who hasn't even made an attempt! But ohhhhhh, that will change. I shall go out and buyeth my copy and I shall retire to my bedroom at a respectable hour and read that which is a classic. Soon!

Horror Flicks & Thrill Rides

When I was a kid I loved scary movies and thrill rides. Bring on Freddy Krueger and Jason in the hockey mask! I loved them! The bigger the roller coaster the better! Now that I'm an adult I avoid horror like the plague and the kiddie coaster would be enough to set my stomach off. Occasionally I can watch the end of a scary flick and then be okay with watching the whole thing...weird, I know. I found this out by subscribing to HBO and watching Shutter and The Ruins. I ended up liking both of them, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go watch Saw or even The Orphan! No thanks! I'll go see The Time Traveler's Wife and romantic comedies.

My lack of desire to sit on a ride as it clicks higher and higher into the air before a drop has disappointed my children, I do have to say. They cannot understand how I would not LOVE it as they do....or that I used to love it and then fell out of love. They think it's because I'm scared of something happening to me now that I'm a mother. That's really not it! If that was it, how good of a mother would I be allowing my children to endanger their lives? No....as the years have aged me I have grown very fearful of heights and my stomach just won't stay put when given too much of a jostle. It's a feeling that I'd rather avoid, like scary movies.

My friend did a study in college and found that there's something in our inner ear that isn't fully connected when we are young and as we grow it makes the connection between what we are seeing and how our bodies cope with it. That's not put the right way, but I was told about it years ago and I just don't fully remember how it went. However, it does make sense to me. I wish I had that free feeling of flying through the air and loving it! This has nothing to do with horror movies. I chalk that up to overexposure on my part!

Sorry kids ~ Mom will stand at the bottom of the rides and take pictures of your exuberant, smiling faces! Sorry kids ~ Mom will be known as the STRICT mom among your friens. (I've been told this by a tearful thirteen year old...) R rated movies aren't allowed yet. I allow PG-13, so I can't be all that bad, can I? My response to being told how awful I am because of my rules.... "I'm sorry you feel that way. I'm your parent and it's my job." Thank you Love and Logic, for supplying my appropriate words!

In the blink of an eye...

Thirteen years ago I gave birth to my first daughter. Sweet and tiny, she was the first to make me a mother. Then, I blinked. Today I am the mother of a teenager! I cannot believe how quickly time flies! I have loved each and every age, every year, and (almost) every moment. My new teenager keeps reminding me how close she is to driving, to college, to leaving our nest. She's excited about life and that's fantastic - I am excited for her! I'm also that mama bird who wants to put her wings around my girl and shelter her, protect her from the big bad world.

In two more years my second daughter will become a teenager as well. My home will be filled with the joyful laughter of two teenage girls who get along splendidly, as did my sister and I. But I need not wait for the teen years to hit dear daughter number two. They ALREADY get along that blissfully! They also enjoy the love and gentle affection of their younger brother who will turn eight next month. Yes, my house is the shelter for all of the peaceful affection passed along between my children.

This message is brought to you by summer vacation and 13 years of parenting.

Rejection #1

I received my very first literary agent rejection yesterday from The Knight Agency. I did receive some very positive feedback and some excellent suggestions on what it lacked, so I'm actually quite pumped about it! I'm going to take some time now to comb over the manuscript once again and really incorporate a lot more into it. I think it will really improve things!!! And then... time to query another agent! I've been doing some research and know EXACTLY where I'm sending it next!

June is National Birthday Month. Just kidding...but it is a BIG month in my family! First comes my sister, then my husband, my daughter, my niece, my anniversary, my close friend's anniversary, my dad & step-mom's anniversary...surely I missed someone or something in there! That must mean it's a DURNED good month! Full of love and...birth! I mean life! Hee hee!