Today was the day! Or should I say tonight was the night, the little boys and the big boys had been waiting for: Monster Truck Jam! I walked into the living room around 10 am to see my youngest with his shoes and coat on. J, why are you wearing your coat? N says...because he is ready to go to the Monster Trucks, Mom! Bless his heart...he had 6 1/2 hours until we were meeting the others from small group...and 9 WHOLE hours until it started! All in all, there were 3 boys and 3 girls and 3 adults....better ratio than the field trip I chaperoned last week...where I had FIVE boys in my group! LOL!
Three of us moms headed out to dinner down Main Street, St. Charles. At Tony's there was a 2 hour wait. What? Shouldn't everyone else be down at Mardi Gras? We head over to Lewis & Clark's...which is just down the street...so we walk...er, stumble down the old brick road! Only a 35 minute wait that turned out to be maybe 18 minutes. Everything is off to a good start. We were given a table with room for six...we each had a chair to put our coats and purses on.
Salads come, then dinner arrives. Chitter chatter is pretty nonstop and topics change. Suddenly a man appears at our table and says "Ladies," with a very serious tone. One lady had her back to him and was startled, one lady said she felt guilty..uh oh, what did we do, and I am thinking, omg, he recognizes me from a dating website...LOL! He continued to tell us that we were mis-seated (is that a word?) and since there were only 3 in our party, would we be willing to move to a 4-top, so they could have the 6-top for their larger party....and that dessert would be on the house. Instantly, the chocolate lovers that we are...said SURE! Our Mud Pies were MONSTROUS...5 inches high! I could not finish mine, to say the least.
Once we headed back to my house, since I have the fireplace....we continued in wonderful sharing and conversation. I pampered my guests with Satin Hands and we were ready to do our manicures, when one, then two phones ring. The men calling their wives. Then we heard. The Monster Truck Jam tickets sold out right in front of them. After driving 6 kids downtown St. Louis, and parking (which my oldest informed me that Mr. N had to waste $15 on a parking space), only to find out they couldn't get in. I give these dads lots of Plan B credit since they took our bundles of joy to the NASCAR speedpark at the famous Mills Mall (our version of a mini-Mall of America). Obviously, the kids all had a good time...and Mr. B got beat on a remote-controlled (I think) car race by my oldest.
All in all...it was a Monster of a Night...with lots of fond memories!
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Simple Irony
After chaperoning my son's field trip today...I decided to pull through Wendy's to get a chicken sandwich for lunch before heading into the office. I order the "grilled" chicken in my attempts to eat healthier. The speaker crackled loudly as I was told it would take 10 minutes, but they do have the "spicy" chicken and "crispy" chicken available now.
I chose to wait for the 10 minutes in order to get the "grilled" chicken and further my discipline in my food choices. I was sitting and singing along with the radio, feeling rather proud of myself that I had followed through with the "healthy" choice and looking forward to eating the chicken sandwich soon.
Ironically, at 9 1/2 minutes, the server brought out my sandwich and said, "I threw in some free fries for your wait".
Now, that was very nice of the gentleman, BUT, if I was WILLING TO WAIT 10 MINUTES for a "grilled" chicken sandwich, do you really think I would want the "fried" french fries??????
Oh well, praise on customer service for Wendy's! =o)
I chose to wait for the 10 minutes in order to get the "grilled" chicken and further my discipline in my food choices. I was sitting and singing along with the radio, feeling rather proud of myself that I had followed through with the "healthy" choice and looking forward to eating the chicken sandwich soon.
Ironically, at 9 1/2 minutes, the server brought out my sandwich and said, "I threw in some free fries for your wait".
Now, that was very nice of the gentleman, BUT, if I was WILLING TO WAIT 10 MINUTES for a "grilled" chicken sandwich, do you really think I would want the "fried" french fries??????
Oh well, praise on customer service for Wendy's! =o)
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Theme for 2006
Every year a particular song seems to stick out to me and thus becomes my "theme song" for the year. I don't try to "pick" it...it just picks me...lol! Well, I thought I would probably have one from Kelly Clarkson, since I really do like her alot....and even chose one of hers for MySpace site. However, last night on the way back from the grocery store, I heard a great new song, but the DJ did not announce the artist or song name. Oh well....maybe I would remember to do a Google search on the lyrics...
Just now, I heard the song again and quickly logged onto the radio station online to get the "Now Playing" artist: Natasha Bedingfield. I think I may have another artist on my Favorites List. The song is "Unwritten". It was a great song for me to hear last night, being V-day...I always wear black and boycott the day because I have always been alone/single on that day (even when I was married...we were always "separated" by that time) I reread the lyrics just now and have determined this to be my new theme song for 2006. Hope you enjoy the reflection!
Just now, I heard the song again and quickly logged onto the radio station online to get the "Now Playing" artist: Natasha Bedingfield. I think I may have another artist on my Favorites List. The song is "Unwritten". It was a great song for me to hear last night, being V-day...I always wear black and boycott the day because I have always been alone/single on that day (even when I was married...we were always "separated" by that time) I reread the lyrics just now and have determined this to be my new theme song for 2006. Hope you enjoy the reflection!
Unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield)
I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined Im just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned
Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you can not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way
Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you can not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
But the rest is still unwritten
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Pre-Superbowl Ads
Since everyone knows that my degree is in Marketing and my emphasis was Advertising....I am a Superbowl fan by default. After my Advertising Class with Nancy Pace-Miller, our assignment was to watch the Superbowl ads, record each one of them, critique and list pros/cons to each. After doing this for a couple of years, I actually got into watching the game! =D
So, here is a snapshot of a couple of ads that caught my attention this weekend BEFORE the debut of new ad campaigns:
1. Walmart is using the subliminal "Smiley Face" in each scene of their ads. Good way to outsmart the negative publicity they received over the holidays.
2. Old-Spice Body and Shampoo gel for men decided to forget just the "sex sells" idea and is promoting "cheating on their wives". I was abhored at the idea. The wife is getting ready and asks her husband who is in the shower, "if you were to be with one of my friends, which one would it be?" He gets an odd look on his face and hurries to finish his shower, with no response. This needs to be taken off the air.
3. The best one I saw was for an auto commercial. Obviously, it did such a Great Job that I don't even know the brand...lol! But you see 4 beautiful 30-somethings in the 4-door mini SUV/car, cruising along. The ladies are laughing and pull up to the hotspot with valet parking. The driver smiles at the guy and says "you'll take care of my baby, won't you?" He looks at her stunned and realizes she is Pregnant! And so are all of her girlfriends! The point of course, was that you could fit 4 or 8 or maybe even 12 comfortably! I loved it! Just too bad I have no idea which auto company it is....LOL!
So, here is a snapshot of a couple of ads that caught my attention this weekend BEFORE the debut of new ad campaigns:
1. Walmart is using the subliminal "Smiley Face" in each scene of their ads. Good way to outsmart the negative publicity they received over the holidays.
2. Old-Spice Body and Shampoo gel for men decided to forget just the "sex sells" idea and is promoting "cheating on their wives". I was abhored at the idea. The wife is getting ready and asks her husband who is in the shower, "if you were to be with one of my friends, which one would it be?" He gets an odd look on his face and hurries to finish his shower, with no response. This needs to be taken off the air.
3. The best one I saw was for an auto commercial. Obviously, it did such a Great Job that I don't even know the brand...lol! But you see 4 beautiful 30-somethings in the 4-door mini SUV/car, cruising along. The ladies are laughing and pull up to the hotspot with valet parking. The driver smiles at the guy and says "you'll take care of my baby, won't you?" He looks at her stunned and realizes she is Pregnant! And so are all of her girlfriends! The point of course, was that you could fit 4 or 8 or maybe even 12 comfortably! I loved it! Just too bad I have no idea which auto company it is....LOL!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Caught off guard!
It's 8:00pm. Normal bedtime routine with the boys of pjs and brushing teeth.
The doorbell rang. Who could that be? We don't have anyone that comes over to see us. And, heaven help me, I am in sweats and glasses...lol!
Strangely enough, two ladies, Mary and Maryanne holding a gift bag with gold embossed letters "St. Charles River Church". Hmmm....
I am surprised, yet very pleased to have had "welcome visitors" from the "A/G" church! :)
OH YEAH, and in my gift bag, there was a travel cup that can be hot/cold, a packet of cider, a granola bar, and some loose wrapped candies.
I know that we don't visit churches in hopes to receive a gift, but I will say the visit was definitely speaking my love language. And in a strange divine way, prayers are being answered for me in my search for a home church. The cool part is they are both A/G and Willow Creek associated...truly the best of both worlds for me! Contemporary worship with Childhood values.
The doorbell rang. Who could that be? We don't have anyone that comes over to see us. And, heaven help me, I am in sweats and glasses...lol!
Strangely enough, two ladies, Mary and Maryanne holding a gift bag with gold embossed letters "St. Charles River Church". Hmmm....
I am surprised, yet very pleased to have had "welcome visitors" from the "A/G" church! :)
OH YEAH, and in my gift bag, there was a travel cup that can be hot/cold, a packet of cider, a granola bar, and some loose wrapped candies.
I know that we don't visit churches in hopes to receive a gift, but I will say the visit was definitely speaking my love language. And in a strange divine way, prayers are being answered for me in my search for a home church. The cool part is they are both A/G and Willow Creek associated...truly the best of both worlds for me! Contemporary worship with Childhood values.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)