News from the Front Lines

Here are the latest headlines in the war on chaos.

Operation Laundry is proceeding as expected. It is currently in its second wave. There is confirmation that a  smaller target, operation unpack, was already completed earlier and has already yeilded returns totalling in the $.75-$1 range.


Operation Laundry is expected to last into the late afternoon and possibly into the next day, if needed. Officials say they are 'sticking with it to the end'.



Opreation Carpet Bomb was also considered as an option, but was summarily dismissed due to the very high collateral damage anticipated.

Operation Toilet Bowl Sweep, on the other hand, was carried out eariler this morning with complete success though it is anticipated the same maneuveres will need to be repeated in the future on and on-going basis.

"This is not a bad thing, or a sign of failure" high level officials are saying.

"This is more of a precautionary, or pre-emptive, if you will, move. But we feel such actions will decrease any future disruptions due to unsightliness 99-100%. Which in this situation, we consider a complete victory and absolutely worth the small effort. We are also training the natives so in the future they can take ownership."

Experts are also being consulted on  ways to mitigate the necessary frequncy of this response by educating the newer troops on the benefits  of good aim.



Re-building efforts are already underway, with clothing, food, and any medical assistance necessary being provided on demand. A speedier response will reach those who say please and don't whine.



So far, insurgents have been few and when dealt with swiflty and firmly, have so far shown a willingness to reform and co-operate. However we have gotten word troops on the ground are calling for more soap to combat inflammatory or disrespectful language.



So far, all those involved are calling the efforts a success and do not anticipate any setbacks.



"This in not a perfect situation. We can't rule out surprises or side effects of say, running out of coffee. Things may arise and mandate we take a different tactic. We're agile and can adapt to such things as having to make a coffee run occasionally. And we're very quick to get back on track and stay focused on our ultimate goal. Clean House."

Officials also tell us more is going on that at this point they are not able to disclose. Wanting to maintain good relationships with all those involved, they feel it may have undisireable repurcussions to have complete transparency.

"This is a highly sensitive situation and we feel that information on a need-to-know basis serves everyone best. And who is really going to miss the 3-limbs-missing doll or the trailer with one wheel? Seriously. This is in everyone's best interest."

Pee-View

Today is Kateri's Big Day. Where she gets put on frilly clothes. Be in the spot light. Command everyone's attention. And then dazzle her adoring fans with her ingenious and original antics, for which she'll get a standing ovation. Pretty much like every other day in her life so far. I get the honorof seeing her first this afternoon. Shane and Audrey will hit her second show  this evening. I'm not sure we'll ba able to recdord her dance, but I'm hoping so. Last time was such a hit. I think she might be a little more on top of the timing and choreography this time. But I'm secretely hoping we'll get to see  a  few Kateri original moves.

This performance will be a tap dance, which I think she is liking better than the ballet portion of the class. But what's not to really like about black shiny shoes that make satisfying clicks drawing attention to every step she makes. That is if you can hear them over the 'non stop  wanna see how quickly I can talk' monologue phase she is in. And being a girl, she can do both. At the same time. Which is nothing less than dizzying.

She posed for a few shots. The she went into photo shoot mode and went wild. When the Elvis poses started coming out, I figured we should stop. In looking over the pictures, I realize how much of her face you CAN'T see, because of her hair. Even with it all slicked back, the encroaching forest that is her bangs, takes up half her forhead.

Shane had to go To Texas this past week. So I had to make some curtains. Shane actually noticed them when he came home. He said they made the room look smaller and closed in. I told him I was glad he was home.

Maybe sheers would be a happy middle road. I need something to block or at least mute the sun when it comes blazing in. Not that it has been a problem the past few days. But maybe later this summer.

Well, we're T minus two hours. Time to start taming the mane again.

Lots Happening

We've been fairly busy the past few weeks. Unfortuantely, not a lot of it has been due to the sunny weather. Actually, today was the first time I had to water my plants. Hopefully its the start of a new trend. It's hard to believe it is almost July. You certainly would not have guessed it from the weather.

But we've been finding ways to keep busy. We are done with school and into our summer schedule. Which means we're free to go wherever the day and our whims take us.
Except Mondays, when I have a chiropractor visit and then we go to take care of the miniature horses:

Wednesdays, when I have a chiropractor visit and the kids have swim lessons.

Thursdays, Kateri has a couple more weeks of ballet.

But the rest of the time we're free.

We enjoyed our first arugula from the garden , dressed with only some olive oil and balsamic vinegar. My favorite.

The strawberries are doing very well. Lots of berries popping out. Now I just need to keep the slugs away.

And we also celebrated my parents' 40th wedding anniversary.

On top of all that, Shane has been travelling a bit. Florida a couple weeks ago, San Diego the next, last week N Carolina, this week Houston and Austin. July might get crazier if he gets the Japan-Taiwan-China-India trip as well. I think I'll line up some projects. There are still lots of window needing to be dressed.

Knock, Knock

Things have been fairly quiet here. The weather has been very fickle. I got a sunburn on Saturday. Sunday our outdoor party got rained out and we had to make alternate plans. My garden is doing mostly well. The slugs are still getting their snacks, but since Shane trimmed the grass around the boxes they have fewer places to hide and I think I am gaining on them.

We are rapidly losing interest in things like math and phonics. Cyril finished his reader yesterday. Audrey has a few more math lessons and I am looking forward to calling it quits. I was looking forward to a slower pace for summer. But then I signed the kids up for summer swim lessons, made chiropractic appointements for 2x a week, and we are continuing taking care of the horses once a week. Somewhere in there we will fit trips to the beach and other summer activities.

I've been super spacey the past few weeks and a litte on the grumpy side. Yesterday I had an appt with the chiropractor. Luckily Shane was able to work from home so I didn't have to haul the 4 kids with me. When I got in the car the "empty" light was lit up. But when I saw the ramp to the free way was already being light controlled, I figured I'd better not stop. It is crazy that a 12 min trip took 20 min,. At 10:00am! I got my last cel phone call while driving in, and the office said to come anyway.

On the way home I got lost, which is not unusual for me, but kind of ridiculous as I've been to the same building to see my midwife for three pregnancies. When I finally found the AMPM the silly card reader acted like it was not really a card reader, just a decorative slot for you to slide your card in and out of multiple times without giving you the slightest aknowledgement. Rather irritated, I darted across four lanes to the other gas station, which was far more responsive, and finally filled up. Then while sitting at the light, my phone rang. It has had this habit lately of hanging up and shutting off when I push the answer button. And as expected its usual performance. I saw it was Shane but didn't have time to boot up, enter my password, and dial before the light turned green. I was so frustrated I fantasized about smashing my phone repeatedly on my steering wheel. I could just feel the case cracking as I bludgeoned it again, and again. At least the visual made me laugh. Kind  of a laugh cry though.

Finally it connected a minute from home. It was Shane again, worried and wondering where I was. I told him the appointment was a little longer than I expected and I had gotten lost and had to stop for gas. Then I ranted about the phone for a bit and I told him I was ready for a new one. He's been wanting to get me  a Kin. I feel a little old for one, but if it is super user friendly and won't keep dying on me I'll take it.

I decided it was a soup kind of day, the rain had not left us yet. Just as I was sauteeing the shallots the doorbell rang. I left the pot and ran to open it, thinking it was one of the kids and would just be a second. No. It was a salesman. I told him I was in the middle of dinner- it was 6:00, what did he expect?. He said he'd just make it real brief. He was going to be doing some pest control in the neighborhood and since he's already be here he could give me a "really, really good rate". He had just signed up my neighbor "Doug" who had to replace his patio and was signed up for a spider control treatmen.

 Firstly, I don't know of a single neighbor named Doug. Secondly, all the houses around here have aggregate patios- which I loathe with  passion, and I'm not sure what spiders could do to them. Thirdly, my shallots were going to burn.

I told him again, I really had to go. He offered to come back. Actually , he just stated that he would come back. So I told him,

"Don't bother. We really don't need your services."

"You mean you don't have any pests you want to get rid of?"

"Just door-to-door-salesmen" I answered.

He look confused a second.

"I'm sorry. What did you say?"

"Nothing" I said. Feeling kind of remorseful for being snippy. But really, why is is impolite to communicate in a "this can't mean anything else" way, but a sales man can trespass on your property, waste your time trying to get rid of him, and try to make you feel like you need whatever he is offering.  I told him seriosly, I was in the middle of making dinner. Thanks but no thanks. And finally shut the door
The shallots didn't burn. But I did burn the garlic twice and had to re-do it. Maybe I deserved it.

This morning after breakfast the kids looked out and saw in the swing set area a large rat loafing around. I had to wonder if possibly it was a set up.  I think a  pellet gun will be fine for pest control.