Bullet Blog Post

Since I haven't posted in a while and I don't have that much to say, I'm going to blog in bullet format. In no particular order

• We still have a gas shortage and lines in Charlotte.
• The economy concerns me, but I am learning that my security is in Jesus Christ and nowhere else.
• David has been in two golf tournaments over the last week or so. Last week he was in New Life 91.9's Golf Tournament. Yesterday the same group (Brad, David, Steve and Terry) WON Carmel Christian's Golf Tournament. Congratulations Gentlemen! (this is for you Leslie!).
• Matthews Matters turned out great! Our church had over 1100 people come out to help beautify the town of Matthews.
• I'm not exactly following a menu plan, but tonight for dinner I am making Shrimp Fried Rice (i.e. Shrimp I saute served over Trader Joe's Vegetable Fried Rice - we are gourmet here!)

I think that's it for now!

Let's Talk About Gas

From the title let me first say that I am not referring to the type of gas in my post earlier this week. I'm talking about the kind of gas that runs your vehicle!

On Tuesday I had half of a tank in the Van - but was by the Super Wal-Mart and just decided to fill up. I had no problem filling up. Fast forward to early Wednesday morning when I had an email from a friend asking me where she should be looking for gas. She had been looking on Tuesday and had not had any luck finding gas. This was the first I had heard of a shortage.

Well on Wednesday I headed to Blakeney and was shocked to see the line at the Texaco at the corner of Providence Road and Ardrey Kell. The line literally went from the gas station, onto Ardrey Kell Road, onto Providence Road. RIDICULOUS I say!

The Texaco at Blakeney had ONE pump working and there was a line for gas from that one pump.

Today David needed me to run a key to him at his Matthews Matters site (near Costco). So I delightfully and with great joy delivered the key to him this morning when I should have been at Bible Study. When I passed Costco, I discovered Costco was out of gas.

So today I have a little over a half of a tank - seriously people I have driven to the barber shop in Waxhaw and a multitude of other places this week! But David has a plan! He's going to wake up REALLY early in the morning - I'm guessing like 4 am - and he is going to be driving all over the area searching out gas for my van.

I never thought I would say that Gas is my love language!

Update 6 AM: David just called while waiting at a BP Station - where he is second in line at 6 am. He said there were bunches of people in line, but the pumps were not activated. While we were talking he said a Tanker truck arrived to save the day. Those things take some time to unload, but he's waiting.

Step Away from the Clippers

In my quest to become more domestic, I bought a set of hair clippers at Target today!

Since I have both children in school all day, I feel the need to learn things - sometimes things that are better left to the professionals. Anywhoo - my particular kit came with a cape and everything. This afternoon before football practice I took Jere outside to the driveway and decided to play barber.

David had just arrived home and was unloading and reloading his truck for Matthews Matters (which will be a post all in itself on Saturday!). When he realized what I was about to do I swear/promise I saw his eyes roll. Too bad I did not have my camera with me!

I started to use the clippers on Jere's head and I guess I wasn't holding them correctly, because nothing happened - i.e. no hair came off his head. So I went inside and loaded the clippers with the shortest one possible - it still wouldn't cut.

So David tried it - oh it worked all right. It took off some serious hair. I decided to switch clippers back to a longer one. Long story short - I BUTCHERED my child's hair. It looked pitiful.

David announced that there was no way he could go to school (or anywhere for that matter) with his hair looking like it did. He suggested I take him to the only place that he could think of that could rectify the horrible hair situation - the Waxhaw Barber Shop. I would link to the Barber Shop, but they are not technically savvy and do not have a website.

So into the van we go to the Waxhaw Barber shop - it took a while to get there due to the traffic and all. On the way there, Jere was saying how he could wear a hat tomorrow because tomorrow is Hat Day - it's Homecoming Week at their school. We walk in there and it's like a return to Mayberry. Everyone is talking about current affairs - Was it right for McCain to "suspend" his campaign? What will Obama do? Have you seen gas anywhere?

When Jere's turn comes up I explain to the barber what I did and everyone in the place starts laughing! Jere's shirt was covered in hair and the hair on his head was a complete mess. Of course, all's well that ends well - his hair is fixed, he made it to football practice and I don't think he is messed up for life because of this.

Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to try my barber skills on David!

Does He NOT Know Any Other Tricks?

What I'm about to share is not my proudest moment as a mom, but I'll share it for the sake of being real!

Jere's teacher uses stamps on a calendar to indicate whether the child behaved or not during a particular day. Today Jere did not have a stamp. I asked Jere why he did not have a stamp and he was very honest.

The Guidance Counselor visited Jere's class today and I guess she was talking about how everyone has something they are good at and everyone is good at different things. They went around the room and were supposed to tell what they were good at. Here's where it gets good.

Jere says he is good at AND DEMONSTRATES the arm under the other arm that makes a very bad sound. The sound sounds very much like a bodily function that I don't like AT.ALL.

Delightful.

Also, would the blogger whose child taught my child how to do this please comment! (I had forgotten until you reminded me - your child would be so proud!)

Happy Birthday Christy!

Christy is a special person. We met at a Sunday School Christmas Party the Christmas before our boys' were born - we were both expecting our first baby's and lived in the same area. After our boys' were born -two weeks apart- we would get together and let them "play" while we would visit. As our boys' friendship developed so did ours.

Our girls' are three weeks apart - and yes we planned it that way. (As much as these things can be planned). And our girls' are sweet friends as well. They were together all through pre-school from the toddler class through 4s. We like to stick together.

Christy is one of the most thoughtful, giving and selfless people I know. She would do anything for anyone at anytime. I love how laid back she is (and wish I could be more like her) and how patient she is with her children. She and Richard added a third child late last year and she makes having three look way to easy! I know it's not, but she makes it look that way.

So on Friday, Dawn (with Lexi), Sherri (w/Jason), Christy (w/Hannah) and I (all by myself thankyouverymuch) had lunch at Cheesecake Factory to celebrate Christy's birthday. We had a wonderful time and I could not believe how well-behaved all of the children were. They were delightful and we really enjoyed ourselves.

Hope you have a great day, Christy!

Martha I am Not

Is there some talent you wish you could do? Among other things, sewing and the creative arts are some things I wish I could do. But because I am not gifted in these areas choose to focus on things that I can do.

As a child, I grew up with a mother who could smock, sew, etc. But after my required semester of home economics I figured out that sewing was not for me. Lately, my mom has taken a renewed interest in such crafty things as quilting, making cards, and now this:

She turned a Hanes sweatshirt into a jacket for Caroline. And Caroline loves it!

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

For those of you who don't know, it's triple time here in the Queen City! When I found out the date for Triples, I was a bit concerned - I have Bible Study on Thursday Mornings at 9:30, promptly!

Thanks to my wonderful husband - who drove the children to school -, I was able to hit the Harris Teeter at 7 am! I made two trips and spent around $17.00 total. Here is a picture of my loot:

Included in these transactions were:

3 10 packs of Powerade (approx. $16)

5 Colgate Toothpastes

4 Jif Peanut Butters

2 Boxes of Gripz

Brown Sugar

3 Dukes Mayonnaise
Cheese-Its

Butter ($4.xx to send off for a rebate!)

Welch's Grape Jelly

3 Boxes of Dole's Mandarin Oranges

Minute Maid Juice Boxes

Several boxes of Success Rice

Several boxes of Zatarans Rice

4 Taco Seasoning Packets

6 Packages of Crescent Rolls

Lysol Cleaner

2 Nesquick Milk Drinks

2 Marie Callendar Dinners

And I made it to Bible Study on time!