Shameless Begging

I need followers!!!  I am following you, won't you please follow me?

Monday Meme

A Monday Meme borrowed from MacDonald Clan

Outside My Window...beautiful sunshine-y day!  I love Fall!
I am thinking...I should go eat lunch
I am thankful for...fun weekends, fun friends, fun family
From the kitchen...the noise of the washer...laundry day!
I am wearing...workout clothes...just for show
I am creating...a mural on BoyBoy's ceiling and wondering how Michelangelo did it without chiropractic intervention
I am going...a tad crazy...every day a little more
I am reading...all my favorite blogs and procrastinating
I am hoping...Bubba's eye doesn't need surgery
I am hearing...birds chirping and HGTV...my two favorite sounds when the boys aren't around
Around the house...the desperate need for someone to corral the dust bunnies.
One of my favorite things...living here
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Bubba out of town for a few days, Science night at BoyBoy's school, Power cut if my thighs can handle it!

We now interrupt this blog for a very important announcement...

GO REDSKINS, BEAT COWBOYS!!!! 

Rest In Peace

Rest in Peace, Blue Eyes

Out of the Mouths of Babes

At lunch today...

Wheez:  BoyBoy, would you like one of my onion rings?

BoyBoy:  Yes, thank you, Mother (as he grabs the largest one on my plate).

Bubba:  BoyBoy, why did you take the biggest one?

BoyBoy:  'Cause that is how I roll!

Torn Between Two Loves

I am torn.  I have a very serious addiction that takes up most evenings in the Wheez household.  I have been looking forward to this new television realty season with heightened anticipation.  And, now I am torn.  

Why, you ask?  (or maybe you don't care but I am going to tell you anyway)  I have variety!  OMG, the variety!  385 channels!  One even devoted entirely to reality TV!  In Germany, we had 5 American channels and the reality TV was nicely spaced so that I had no conflicts.  I could watch Biggest Loser on Monday, American Idol on Tuesday and Wednesday, Amazing Race on Thursday and Survivor on Friday.  My addictive life was fulfilled.  Now, I can watch reality TV 24/7!  Doesn't the cable company know that I have a family to feed and carpets to vacuum?  I might OD!

But, still I am torn...with all that variety comes another potential addiction.  Bubblegum, brainless, angst-ridden, over-the-top, silly addiction.  I am talking about 90210 and Greek.  Do you watch these shows?  I am able to relive all the terror of high school and total drunken oblivion of college in two hours on Tuesday nights.  Bubba is also on the path to addiction.  He won't admit it to any other testosterone filled adult but he is just as excited when Tuesday night rolls around.  He loves the keg parties and fast cars, I love the sorority bitchiness and dating drama.  

But what am I to do?  Dancing with the Stars and Biggest Loser -Families are both on during the same time slot.  The Wheeze household has not stepped entirely into the 21st century as we do not have DVR or TiVo nor do we have a VCR that is hooked up correctly.  What's a girl with an addiction to do?

T-minus

T-minus 6 days and counting until the Redskins meet the Cowboys (at Texas Stadium) for the first time this year.  Bubba is already beating the drums around here...getting fired up for the big game.  I am my usual quiet self about it...I have learned my lesson from years of losing at the hands of those pesky Cowboys.  I keep my mouth shut and then, when the miracle does happen and my beloved 'Skins prevail, then I can rub it in his face for a good long while...at least until the next time they meet and the 'Skins turn back into pumpkins who can't play football.  

This year might be interesting.  The Redskins are 2-1...not a bad start and they are a better team than they have been in years.  The Cowboys are 3-0...a great start to be sure but it took them a while to get their game on against the Packers and they looked terrible against the Eagles on Monday night last week.  We might have ourselves a game this time.  

My only hope is that Jessica Simpson is in the stands in her pink Romo jersey and that is enough...   

ZZZzzzzzz...or lack thereof

My dog is snoring...and I am jealous. I would love to be able to drop off without a care in the world. I mean really, what cares does she have? Which squirrel should I chase today? Should I lick myself or the floor? What toy am I going to disembowel tonight? These are not life altering decisions. Well, maybe the squirrel question could have life altering consequences. But, what I wouldn't give for an hour of careless, dreamless, doggie-snoring, sleep. I have a bit on my mind these days - a new house, new mortgage, new school for BoyBoy, new pedicurist, these are all concerns that haunt my sleep. I have nightly dreams, nay nightmares about these things plus a myriad of others that are too embarrassing to post here. I have sometimes resorted to better sleeping through pharmaceuticals - okay, who am I kidding, every night I pop a few from my bedside pharmacy and occasionally, it works. I exercise, go to bed at the same time every night and don't take naps - why can't I stay asleep all night? Help me!

Foto(s) Friday

A House Divided...

Just Askin'

Is it possible to go into the commissary/grocery store for milk and NOT come out with $50 worth of groceries?

It might be war...

I haven't decided whether to wage war on the squirrels in the backyard yet or not.  We have two pecan (pronounced pee-can - I am from the South) trees in our backyard and several hundred industrious squirrels (I promise...I have counted).  They are not at all concerned about the four-legged, squirrel crazed,  furry lightening bolt that tends to come flying out of the side porch.  Yes, they will scurry up the nearest pee-can tree but only far enough that she can't reach them by jumping.  And, boy can she jump...witnessWhen she is not in the back yard it is like a squirrel dance party.  They are lying around, picking up pee-cans and sitting on their cute little butts, nibbling like they own the place.  When Lightening McMelly roars into the backyard, they run up the nearest tree and chuck pee-cans at her head.  They have no respect.  

Now normally, they wouldn't bother me.  I do think they are a bit cute and it is funny how they torment Melly with all the evilness of a two year-old little sister.  But, they are ruining my backyard!  I can't walk across the yard without shoes on and since I am from the South, barefoot is my preferred footwear for the summer.  All those half-eaten, half-chewed pee-cans littering the ground and my sweet little feets are hurtin'.

My mom has graciously offered to loan me her squirrel trap.  See, I come from a long line of anti-squirrel card holding party members.  She personally wages war every Spring with her traps and takes them to the local park to release them.  Yes, she is a pacifist warmonger.  I believe that the squirrels, in their infinite, conniving intelligence know the way back to Mom's house and she has caught the same 3 squirrels over and over.  Since she refuses to spray paint their tails pink, we will never know.  

I do know that there is one squirrel who will not be returning to my back yard...he took a detour that he shouldn't have taken and now has been doing his best bat impression for the last week.

He even survived Hurricane Hanna up there so maybe he is on to something.  Now, if I could only get his buddies to take the same detour...

The Name Game

Saw this one over at jill jill bo bill (http://jilljillbobill.blogspot.com/).  You must do this. It is funny.

Your real name: Bev

Your Gansta name (1st three letters of your real name plus izzle, favorite ice cream & Fav type of shoe): Bevizzle Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Nike  - I am definitely the shizzlemanizzle

Your Native American name (fav color, fav animal): Purple Puppy Dog - the pacifist in the tribe

Your NASCAR name (1st names of grandfathers): George Elvin - rode the short bus to the track

Stripper Name (Fav perfume/scent, fav candy): Verbena Peanut Butter Cup - Like a delicate little flower

Soap Opera name (middle name, street you live on): Elaine Westover - The ball bustin' tough girl with the tender side

Star Wars name (1st 3 letters of last name, 1st 2 letters of first name): Clabe - Jedi Babe

TV Weather/Anchor name (5th grade teacher's last name, major city that starts with same letter):  Lake Lynchburg -  Its going to be a beautiful day in the heartland!

Spy name (fav season, fav flower): Autumn Sunflower - She will blind you with her beauty

Cartoon name (Fav fruit, article of clothing you are wearing now): Strawberry Sweatclothes - The "other" Power Puff Girl

Hippie name (what you ate for breakfast, fav tree): Sausage McMuffin Dogwood - only 1/2 hippie

Super Hero name (2nd fav color, fav drink): Yellow BudLight - too afraid to do anything heroic so I just sit at home and drink

Witness protection name (parent's middle names): Page Elwood - who?...exactly.

Goth name (black, name of one of your pets): Black Daisy  - Can curse in twelve languages

Movie Star name (1st pet's name, 1st street name): Daisy Quarterfield - Currently "dating" Joe Jonas

Iraqi name (2nd letter of first name, 3rd letter of mom's maiden name, 3rd letter of dad's name, 1st letter of a sibling's first name, last letter of mom's first name): Elwsn - Owner of local goat deli  

Rock Star name (first pet, current car): Daisy Explorer - Lead singer of Daisy and the Explorers

Okay. Now, join in and have a chuckle...thanks, jill for the content!

Foto Friday

Still in love...

Never Forget...

Fun Test of the Week

What Your Little Black Dress Says About You

You are elegant, classy, and sophisticated. You know how to turn heads when you enter a room... and then keep people interested with your witty banter. Your style is classic, tailored, and flawless. You don't fall for silly fashion trends. If you were a shoe, you would be: Classic black pumps

The Little Black Dress Test

Things I miss about Germany

1.  My friends - Fearsome Foursome where are we now?  Florida, Germany, Belgium and Virginia makes having girls' night out a bigger challenge.

2.  The speed limit (or lack thereof) - I am so not used to watching my speed on the highway that I know that it is just nanoseconds before I will see those flashing blue lights in my rear view.

3.  H&M - Loves, loves, loves that store and the closest thing is Old Navy which is great but not as fashion forward as H&M.  The closest one is 3 hours away...boohoo.

4.  Anonymity - I am running into old high school friends here!  Yikes!  There is a reason I haven't been back for a reunion in, like...EVER!  

5.  The weather - OK, I complained about it in  previous posts but when faced with Tropical Storm Hanna, massive humidity, and thunderstorms with regularity and add to that the incessant mosquito's that have infested my backyard, I'll take the cooler summers of my beloved Deutschland.

Just Askin'

Why is the day after a hurricane always sooooo beautiful?

My Redskins

Another year of NFL football starts tonight. I love the beginning of a new season . . . so full of hope and promise. Every team has the chance to make the Superbowl. Even my Redskins. My Redskins, who haven't been a to a Superbowl since 1992. I believe in them. I am not a fair weather fan. I have cheered them on through good years and bad. Yes, I cuss at them on a regular basis but I still cheer for them to win no matter how bad they play. I have been a fan since I was born. I had a Billy Kilmer jersey that I wore completely out when I was 6 years old. I bleed burgundy. My hopes for this year are big, as they are every year, but this year I may be pleasantly surprised.

I did throw a wrench in the works when I married a Cowboys fan. People still asked how our fledgling relationship made it past that first football season. I believe I owe that to the pure fact that, for the last as long as I can remember, when the Redskins are playing good, the Cowboys are having an off season and vice versa. You can count on the Redskins and Cowboys for a great game every time they meet. Sadly, the Cowboys are leading the series, but who's cares about stats like that (Bubba)? My Bubba once wore a Cowboys jersey to a game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Redskins . . . he bleeds silver and blue. We make it work, though and I secretly root for the Boys when they are playing anyone but the Redskins and I think Bubba does the same, though he will never admit it to me. I also should be nominated for the most understanding wife of all time since our only child is named after a Cowboys quarterback.

Mostly, I just love football. I love the smell in the air during football season, the cheer of the crowd, the tailgate parties, and the way it feels when your team makes a big play. Here's to a truckload of big plays this year . . . Redskins, I am watching and I expect big things! Hasn't it been long enough?

Kicking it up a notch

School has started and Bubba is out of town. It is time to review my workout routine. Since it has been nonexistent since we moved into the house, it ought to be a quick review...

Back in Germany, I had a pretty good routine. I would drop BoyBoy off at school and go to the gym 3-4 days a week for strength training and cardio. I was pretty dedicated and the results were great. I had a plan and I was sticking to it. I always slack off of any exercise routine when we move strictly because of the logistics - one car, summer/no school, eating out often, visiting family and friends - not a lot of time to workout. Now that school is back in it is time to kick it up a notch.

I was getting bored with my cardio/weights routine and had been surfing the web for some new ideas to spark my interest. I thought of training for a 5k but then realized my strong hatred for running would make that unpleasant and sticking to it would be impossible. Then I ran across the website http://hundredpushups.com/index.html. I have never been a strong upper body person but this website lays it out in a simple format and I have decided to accept the challenge. I took the initial test today which was a bit humbling to say the least but I am not in the absolute lowest category so I have that going for me. I will follow the program and hopefully sharing with the blog-sphere will keep me on track. I am still going to go to the gym 2-3 days a week for weights and cardio and do this on the other days. I like that I can do it anywhere and in the privacy of my own home so that no one else can see my spaghetti arms trembling through the last set.

I will keep you posted on my progress...wish me luck!