Friday, February 1, 2008

Snow Days, Laziness, and Dinner with a Friend...

Courtney brightened my day with this wonderful award. Courtney, herself has a way with words, and two adorable little girls that she shares with a wonderful husband. Hers is a blog I visit to smile. I encourage you to wander on over and see what she's up to. She's definitely worth the visit. And thank you, Courtney. To know that people enjoy reading my writing means a lot more than I could actually put down in written words. I'm going to think on who I will nominate because everyone on the blogroll on the right, and the blogs I end up surfing to off of theirs, are worthy.



Those? Those up above are pictures of me now. A face with a name and all. I am not the fresh faced girl to the right anymore. My daughter gets to be that now.

Today, to my children's immense happiness (not to mention mine because I thought I could sleep in), school was cancelled due to snow. Nicole already knew that she would not have school. Her school is quite a distance (35-ish miles) away and they often call it at a hint of snow. Or cold weather. Or a monsignor's birthday. Or...sometimes for no real definable reason that we can figure out. It often irritates her brother and it is rare that his school calls it...even when 4 inches have fallen by 7 AM over a sheet of black ice. Because they care... and they like to get back at the teachers who forced them to hold to a contract that had already been cut by---well by endangering the lives of the children.

We lounged around most of the day... watching some of Netflix movies. Crash and Degrassi Jr. High. Actually I watched Crash (no I had never seen it before and found it to be an interesting view on not only black/white relations but also the many other nationalities that make up Los Angeles. And I cried a lot. And Matt Dillon looked so much like my husband in his v-neck tshirt that I cried some more, and more because his character is so unlike Leonard that it messed me up...because those types of things happen to me now for no real good reason. I didn't even manage to "put the bed away" i.e. fold up the couch that I sleep on at night. We did, however, get to Costco. Costco=bad in a good way. I absolutely needed a big bag of M&M's and we needed the Havarti cheese, and the makeup. In my defense, I did buy some energy saving light bulbs, so there's that. Also, we picked up dinner for my father's girlfriend. She had Lasik surgery today and I thought it would be nice to bring something over. Costco has a really great swedish meatball platter that's all put together and just needs to be heated. We bought that and some chicken parmesean, caeser salad, and those yummy ---5 are nothing so why not have 10-cream puffs that you thaw and eat. There were only the four of us, but you never know. It worked out perfectly. As we were pulling up in her driveway, she was rummaging in the kitchen for something to eat. Yay, us. We had also picked her up a bouquet of carnations, which I learned in random, idle chatter, were her favorites. Mine too! They last a lot longer than roses. The one time Leonard bought me flowers (I am not so very big on flowers and, after August, really don't care if I never see another arrangement again) it was 3 dozen carnations in party colors...after we lost one of the babies. Some would say, Wow! He only bought you one bouquet in all your time together??? And I would say, yes...because he "got" me. In a way that no one else ever has. I am going to miss that more and more as time goes by. Oh how I wish time would not go by.

I also, rather stupidly, colored my hair last night and then cut it today. (I can do this because I have a license *snort*) James asked me to. And then he told me I looked 10 years younger (what a wonderful little boy I'm raising). I said,"You mean I look 27?!!!" and he answered,"Never mind..." He is a delight.

16 comments:

Marshamlow said...

Lovely pictures, you are very beautiful. I often cut and color my own hair, even though I have no license or training or sharp scissors. I hope you enjoy the weekend with the family.

Anonymous said...

Yep, the eyes have it...mine look the same way when I look in mirror. Just empty. But for you and me both (and a great deal of others out there) IT IS TEMPORARY!

I yelled, as I am trying to convince myself too LOL

My son persist in going in the Air Force and I persist in denying it. I am at a virtual standstill in my life and wondering what the hell I'm supposed to do now.

Does this young man know he is my ONLY and we are at war? This is not XBOX!!!

Debbie in NC

Rach said...

You can cut your own hair???? Color me impressed (no pun intended :oP).

I related to your comments about Matt Dillon and "Crash". I'm having a very difficult time with Jessie and Ella and Gabriel. I'm not sure what it is. Maybe they are the perfect little family and I'm left longing for my Monkey who was a big sister like Ella is. I'm not sure and it hurts to think about.

Your hair looks fantastic, and the things you mentioned are the reasons I don't hit up Costco that often. ;oP

Hug that sweet boy of yours, he made me lol! :o)

Laurie in Ca. said...

Okay, I leave the haircutting and color up to my girlfriend who has a license *snort* I think you are a beautiful girl and all you need in those pictures to make them come *alive* is a big old beautiful SMILE.
And that James, boy he has the lines down doesn't he? He is such a typical guy, comments short and sweet. (Unless you dig a little deeper):) Then you get the "Never mind". Have a really good weekend Laura, and thank you for reminding me that my grey is getting a little too "out there". I need to call my girlfriend who is licensed.:)

Love you, Laurie in Ca.

Donna said...

Gads you've got pretty hair girl!!
Good that you had fun with the kiddos! And SO sweet of you to do the "dinners" thing! It was so sweet and kind...but that's you. hughug

Shannon said...

You are gorgeous!

Nance said...

Carnations--pink--are my favorite bouquet flower, too. But my all-time favorite "real" flowers are lilacs and lilies of the valley. Carnations have that glorious spicy smell and last forever, and the other two just smell perfectly like the true beauty of spring.

M & M's are my major weakness, esp. the peanut ones. I have resisted buying them for almost a year now. I eat them like it's my job.

Good luck!!! LOL.

Anonymous said...

Great pictures - you do a much better job on your hair than I do on mine. But I don't have a license. :)

BTW, I love to know that other adults out there watch Degrassi. Makes me feel much better about myself.

Kathy said...

Snow days are great! Shoveling snow not so great. That was sweet to deliver dinner. I never think of those things til later, when it is too late. You are a beautiful person Laura, inside and out! Hugs! I guess I need to hear your Maytag story. *sigh* yep, they are Maytags....

Ronni said...

Laura, you need to sleep in a bed. If you can't stand the bedroom, redecorate it. I had to do that. Get a different bed, even, or use a different room, but sleeping on a fold-down couch for five months will play havoc with your back. And, when your back is out of whack, so goes your whole attitude.

Considering what you've been through, you are doing so very well. Hang in there, and please quit sleeping on the couch.

Betts4 said...

Laura, I agree with Ronni. I slept on my couch for a couple weeks but then one saturday my niece and I rearranged our bedroom. The really critical thing was the sheets and such. I got all new sheets and comforter for the bed. I couldn't stand to sleep on the sheets that Jim and I had slept on. Though I still use the old pillowcases because I want something he touched.
If you redo the bedroom, have someone help you. Don't do it alone. It will be tough, but worth it in the end. Wish I could come visit and help.
Hugs!!

Unknown said...

Havarti Cheese...yum. The hair looks great. That snow day..yeah that got me 2 hours of sleep! Liv got to stay home, therefore no sleep for me.

Donna said...

Laura...I know that Nita (Red Tin Heart) sometimes visits you here...Can you please visit her? She lost her husband, John, this morning...such a shock. Her link is on my post this morning..Thank you sweetheart...

Sven said...

I don't know what your talking about, you are a very pretty lady!

Anonymous said...

Aw. I love carnations too!!
You look gorgeous. You and Nicole look like sisters. Seriously.

James is such a sweet little man. I'm glad you have such loving children in your life.

You're in my thoughts and prayers every day.

-j

Courtney said...

Taylor and James should hang out sometime...NOT!!!