Firehouse, Firemen, and FireStarters

In honor of our favorite Pop and our favorite Uncle Grady, toiling physically and mentally for the good of Firehouse Subs....the FireStarter.

Birmingham Weekend

Why bother writing my own story about my trip with Ben to Birmingham when this one says it all so well... http://birminghammundyfamily.blogspot.com/2008/08/difference-few-years-makes.html Thanks for saving me all that time, Christie. Now I have time for an extra beer.

Does he know what day it is?

I have heard tales that all week long Ben has slept til 8:30 or after. But today it is finally Saturday, and he wakes up before 6:00. Does he know it's Saturday? Seems to happen every weekend. They must have a chapter on that in the Handbook of Being Two. Thank Goodness Mimi Jane and Grandma are still here to smooth the waters and provide entertainment.

Nothing to Blog About

I really have been trying to do better with this blog. But Jeez! Nothing happens that is bloggable. I read all these terrific blogs and find them hilarious and exciting and passionate. I am afraid to say that I seem to expend all of my expendable energy at work. I could probably blog for weeks on end about the bizarre, laughable, disturbing, frustrating, maddening happenings at my company, but then I might lose all five readers of this blog. All of whom, I might mention, are largely followers only for the pictures of B. Along those lines, is it too early to get him his own cell phone? Seriously, yesterday he got three calls. Diaper duty I signed up for, but my new role as switchboard operator I am just not so sure about.

Oncle * Tio * Zio * Uncle

What a lucky boy.

In no particular order...technology I can't live without

1. My DVR(s)
2. All my iPods, past and present
3. My troublemaking Blackberry
4. Pivot Tables in Excel

Beach Shots

In Memoriam

You came into my life unexpectedly in a freak bagging incident at Sams after choosing another. You weren't meant to be mine but you were. I will admit I judged you at first because of your size. But soon I came to understand that it really is what's inside that counts. We had some good times, good travels, and our share of laughs. We liked all the same things: music, movies, books. It was great. But now you've fallen into the arms of another. I'm sorry I drank too much wine. I'm sorry I ignored you on the beach. I'm sorry I didn't take better care of what I had with you. It was me, not you.

Arrivederci iPod Touch. You will be missed.

April 2008 - July 6, 2008

Bubbles

Atlanta Field Trip

We went on an impromptu jaunt to Atlanta to meet the Mundy gang...some pics.

Benny's Big Bed

I said that I wasn't going to take out the crib until he managed to launch himself out of it, but I folded. Last night Ben woke up around 1 am and refused to get back in the crib. He said he wanted to sleep on the floor - and that he did. And it was just fine. So I decided that the little chap deserved some additional freedom. So today, Ben graduated to a big boy (well, a toddler boy) bed. I may have gotten too bold, though, when I took down the crib. Maybe we should have given it a test run first. Oh well, I am going out of town for a few days this week, so I am sure Daddy and Benny will get it all worked out without me.

Either that or D2 will be summoned for emergency crib assembly.

Well, I spoke too soon - guess who just walked out of his room....

Bye Bye Thing

Unless you are one of the few who have seen "the thing" you will never understand. But it is gone. Bye, Bye. Good riddance. I swear this is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen....my new tub.

Whoops, wrong tub!

Winter Scenes

D2 Pulls the Trigger

D2 is notoriously tight. And on top of that very fine quality, he is not famous for his stellar decision making skills (though in his defense, this is a quality we share). So for us to take off one afternoon and end up with this... ...is one step away from a miracle...as is the fact that all of us (including the sofa and other drivers on Hwy 53) made it home unscathed. I am so proud. I will be even more proud when I am sure that he actually likes the couch. This is how I sold him, though.....

You have to have vision.

Christmas Card Rejects

My Current View

Outside the house... And inside the house....

The Stroller from the Deep

Well, the good people of Florida and Alabama seem to keep sucking our lake dry at an alarming rate. But to be fair, I should also give a shout out to some endangered mussels taking more than their share of heat for this problem and the Southern Company power plant that is not being blamed nearly enough. It is very sad to watch. But even sadder is what is uncovered as the water flees to the South.....so much TRASH! I have done several retrieval operations, but the volume of empty bait tubs, cans, bottles, cups, paper, etc., is just astonishing. Certainly I understand this is from years of accumulation but nevertheless, this is inexcusable. If we treat a (semi) natural, (formerly) gorgeous body of water this way, what must we be doing to other less appreciated parts of the country. But enough of that...there are plenty of "Green" blogs out there to further this rant. The most disturbing thing that has popped out of the cove is this: A stroller - bogged down in the mud and appearing from where it would have been submerged under a good 15 feet of water. This stroller is really freaking me out. How in the world did it get there? Is it empty? (yes, I do watch to much crime documentary television, I realize) Believe me, if I could get to it and pick it up, I would....just to be sure. I tried to make it out there and sunk to my knees in this quicksand-like mud - the vision of the Hall County Fire Dept having to pull me out with a rope and a boat crossed my mind and it was not pretty. So I have given up the quest. At least for the moment.

THE MALL: a lesson learned

Kim said not to feed him the baked beans. She said I would regret it later. She was right; I did regret it later. And so did the many patrons of Colonial Lakeshore Mall. If you are not familiar with this mall, it is a very strange setup - you have to walk through the JCPenney's to get to Belks on one end and Sears at the very distant other end. So we parked at Sears, and we were in Belk's when it happened. NOT GOOD. It was not good for many. Besides the godawful green cloud around us as I ran back through the mall, the REALLY fun part was the Public Service Announcements Ben chose to make to every, single passerby:

"I POOPIE"

as if that wasn't obvious.

THE CYCLE ENDS IN TRAGEDY.

Oh, Carrie Fuller Tharpe, I am so disappointed in you. You have always been the sensible one...the stable one....the Rock. The one whose wise advice and counsel have led your nutty sister and your equally nutty cousin all these years. But now. This. You told me the dishwasher worked like a charm. That they would come out great....like new. Yeah, like new shoes for an ELF*! The following photos compare Crocs** of the same STARTING size. The really odd thing is that I believe that the Elf Crocs will now fit Carrie perfectly.... Probably part of her Master Plan. * It is quite possible (actually, it is quite probable) that Carrie's instructions did mention turning off the drycycle.

** For those of you still thinking Crocs are God-Awful... you just haven't worn them. I am devoted, and I just don't care.

That's One Sad Dragon