Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Made me snicker

* Apologies to Mel B. Blatantly stolen off her page. But as much as I know of her, she won't come beat me up for doing this (or will she?). But I had a couple good laughs. Hope you do too!

Every year, English teachers from across the country can submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country. Here are last year's "winners".

1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.

2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.

3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.

4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E. Coli, and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.

5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.

6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.

8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife's infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.

9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.

10. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with vegetable soup.

11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30.

12. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.

13. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.

14. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth.

15. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

16. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River .

17. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.

18. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.

19. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

20. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.

21. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.

22. The ballerina rose gracefully en pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.

23. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.

24. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

Tuesday's Twits

* Brrr-chilly! Last week we sat and sweat at the baseball games. Tonight I think I'll have to pack my long underwear! Gotta love Wisconsin.

* Any great birthday ideas for the Chairman? He's going to celebrate in just days... (that is if his wife gets it together)

* The DS is still a hit here at this house. T-man is showing good discretion on when to use though... which I'm quite impressed about.

* The living room is harboring a massive fort (again). It drives me crazy is a lot of fun for especially Rayna... who likes alone-places.

* Our lawn has zebra stripes. The lawn service apologized profusely and muttered something about a machine not working. They're coming back to fix.... somehow... I hope.

* I started the therapy dog class yesterday. It was mainly an informative class with no dogs allowed. Lisi was quite put out when I told her to get in the porch instead of coming along. Dogs must know time to some weird degree. Next week is the nursing home! Just a couple weeks of practice then another test. And it'll be hard again. But then if she passes, then we can do therapy stuff this fall!

* The kids are hardly fighting these days. I'm not sure why, but I'm sure enjoying it!

* This week 15 years ago the Chairman asked me to be Mrs. Chairman. Best 'yes' I ever said!

* Too much banana cake isn't good for the waistline. Especially with burnt butter frosting. Yum.

* Rememberhttp:this? Well Mira realized that you could actually buy child-sized crutches without a Dr. needing to prescribe them. And so! That is the only thing she wants for her birthday. Weird kid I know...!

Enough twits.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Random ruse

* Wisconsin doesn't have wonderful June weather. Well maybe one or two days. We go from jackets to as little as possible within a few hours. Bam! Here's summer to you! Hot. Humid. And the best thing? My feet are warm! I tend to have cold feet - like all the time. I'm enjoying the warmth of summer.

* Except when I walk. I am feeling lazy and don't like my daily jaunts in this heat. And Ms. Lisi thinks I'm nuts and flatly refused to go with me a couple days ago when it was 95.

* But we turned on the a/c! Finally after days without. When I saw the inside temp was 86 I decided to break down. But! I see "cooler" weather ahead and it'll be open windows for the D's again!

* I love frogs. But a bright green one that jumped on my foot gave me the willies. He was quite a climber! Eeew. He had red eyes too. Is that a WI thing? Or did he escape from some one's cage?

* So I buy a skirt yesterday. Getting ready to wear it last night I feel something heavy. Look and there's the security thingy - you know the one where they need to get that special remover thing to get it off? Well Rayna encouraged me to just use a pliars. And guess what? It is still on and I have a wee hole started in the skirt. Groan. So I have to take it in to get that blasted thing off.

* The Chairman is a conservative to the core. Believes in liberty. A strong work ethic. And really into personal responsibility. I have a bird feeder. You peeps are wondering where I'm going with this aren't you? Well after the kids were off to summer school and the Chairman and I were sitting in the screen porch this morning he looks at me and says, 'Is there such a thing as too many birds?'. And can they be bad for trees? Um. What do you mean? Well you feed the birds and then more come and more come and they don't work for their food. We have a welfare system right here. They're just going to sit around looking for a handout. I think you should cut back on the food so they go away. Hmmmmm.

* Trevor's team won the other night again. I just love his games. You get to know and like the boys, the other parents, the coaches well I like most of them and it is just so fun. Keeps us hopping. And eating warm sandwiches out of a bag.

* There's been a lot of newsworthy stuff with our friends lately. Babies, engagements, death. Life is just such a wonder.... and mostly wonderful.


Monday, June 22, 2009

I passed!


Are all you loyal readers impressed? I'm officially a Canine Good Citizen! I passed my 10-part test with flying colors. The toughest one for me is meeting another dog without getting too excited. But I sat and did just what I should do.

But you know what? The big lady that yells but loves me anyway had a 'wrinkly sound' in her pocket. It sounded like treats. She never gave me one, but when she wanted my attention she used this bait and switch tactic to keep me focused on her. Rotten, eh? She did finally give me a big one once she heard the word... "PASS".

Now since I'm supposedly a Canine Good Citizen, do you think the big lady that yells but loves me anyway will yell less and love more? I sure hope so!

Now on to the next thing. They keep talking about therapy dog this and that... I'm not hurt, so why do I need therapy? Unless I go places and give other people therapy? Hmmm. I'll have to wait and see.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Dog Daze

He came! My cousin-dog! My buddy. And boy did we go. Whooooeeee!
First things first... put him into the submissive pose in case there's any mistaking who's boss around here. He needs to know this is my turf and that I'm a whole 9 months older than that big bag of fur.
Teeth? I'll show you teeth. You think you look like a wolf? Well... I can too.
I got your tail! No you got my tail! Ring around the rosy! Wheee! Party time! Why are those people yelling at us from the screen porch? Ignore them and I will too. This is a dog party!
PU. You're starting to stink in your pits buddy. Oh wait. Dogs don't have pit stink. It's your breath. Yuck.
I got the ball. You don't! Want it? Really? Want it? Well...
You lose you big dumb dog. I still have the tennis ball. And boy does it feel good on my teeth.
Just a little intermission. The big lady that yells but loves me anyway told me to look pretty. But I'm hot and my tongue is hanging out. Oh no... they're going to take my buddy!
Bye-bye Mavrick! I hope you come back soon. And... pssst. Drool on the driver. He looks nervous about his meeting pants.
Well... goodbye folks. Just another day at the Debelak's. Oh. And one more thing. I keep hearing this word 'test' keep coming up. I think tomorrow is the big day of the 'test' whatever that is. I hope I don't disappoint the big lady that yells but loves me anyway. Or wait. Maybe they are testing her. I hope not because I heard someone say she wasn't real bright. Maybe she's not a pedigree?

Window boxes

finally starting to look decent
too silly
this is better
Love 'em!

Trevor's birthday




And the birthday boy turned 9! He had a great birthday weekend really. Spent time with his very special cousins... and then came home to a swim party/supper with good friends. (Don't have pictures as I left my camera at my folks!). We sang and had birthday cake after supper. Then today was more gifts with Father's Day. He milked this one a long time! And he got some nice gifts to boot! Wow... to be a kid again!


Father's Day





We were so glad to have four excellent examples of Father's in our house all at the same time. I am one of the lucky ones. Since I can remember, I've had a constant source of strength, encouragement, correction, and now friendship from a very dear dad. The older I get, the more I'm like him. Psst. I think he's secretly quite pleased with that fact. And after I married the Chairman, I inherited yet another father. One who is completely different than my own, yet brings such a warmth, caring, and kindness that only he can. And then I've witnessed the dad my brother-in-law was to his children. He is one of those kinds of people that you couldn't think of a bad thing to say about them if you tried. I've liked him from the moment I met him in July of '79. And then there is the Chairman. The dad of my children. A tireless, wonderful, careful, special, dedicated dad that is fair to the core. Wants alone-time with them when he can. One-on-one times. They need him. He needs them. And for that, I'm thankful. And so... Happy Father's Day to wonderful dad's. Those that were here today and also to my big brother that is mean to me but loves me anyway.

Berry Pickin' Time...




But I didn't pick 'em. My kind parents offered to pick and then when I got out there it was a "jammin good time".

Nine batches are safely stored in the freezer waiting to be spread on freshly baked bread for a yummy after-school snack. Mmmm.

Thanks for all your help!

Visitors and Grandpa D's birthday!




Enjoyed a visit from our niece Jaime and boys last week. She happened to come the very day of Grandpa D's birthday, so we had a cookout with him! A fun summer night!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Happy Birthday to T!














Happy 9th birthday to our dear son Trevor. Once again, I don't think I could adequately put into words what it means to have him in our lives. He was simply a gift... and the best one possible. When we heard of a hope of him coming, we could hardly take in what a privilege it would be. Someone once remarked he was a 'strange baby'. I nearly took offence, but looking back, he almost was. He hated being a baby. I know.... weird. But he did everything super early with humongous amounts of determination. He sat up very early. Crawled up the stairs at 6 months of age (Chairman yelling from upstairs while I'm in the kitchen... "Linda? Why is Trevor up here?". Um. He got there on his own??? Oh my. He walked just before 9 months of age. Rode a bike at 3... and has continued on the fast track since.

Trevor loves: the computer, fishing, paintball, the outdoors, people, baseball games, helping others in any form of job, being busy, hanging out with boys, sleepovers, bbq anything, and brownies and I think his family!

Trevor doesn't love: being teased, being bored, being too tired, having to fight his asthma, or not being first in any contest.

And to our dear son, thank you for who you are. You are a unique kid that is growing up to a 'guy' right before our eyes. So many times we see how you treat others and it makes us so happy you are a kind boy. You do drive your sisters nuts tease your sisters, but that's what boys do, right? You are very smart. Witty. Good-looking. And a gift to us... and we just see it unfolding day by day. Happy Birthday to you! Love you lots!!!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Thoughts from the pile

* Finished up a few loads of laundry. Some quick thoughts...

* Never fold socks right away. I always put in a big pile and after folding the clothes, then deal with the socks. It was troubling me how much time I was spending of my life looking for the match.

* I love color-coded socks. Love them. Especially with a family of five.

* I rarely have unmatched pairs. I've always heard about dryers eating them. Mine hasn't very often. Maybe it is because my dryer is rarely hungry since I feed it so much.

* Enough on socks. Why do I feel compelled to make sure all the laundry is done up before company comes? It's not like they are going to take an inventory of our dirty undies. But I do. And that's how I am.

* Always do neat stacks when folding for the family. That way each kid can put their own stack away. It's only recently that I decided that hauling the folded clothes wasn't my job anymore. And now they know where they put their own stuff.

* I still have a few (cough) unnamed family members that occasionally have a stack of clean clothes without underwear in their pile. After a few questions, it gets better again.

* Bleach is a blessing for those nasty dishcloths in the kitchen. Except my hands are nearly raw after handling it.

* Leaving the laundry pile behind... today was nearly perfect. Wonderful weather. Had work time. Beach time. And a family walk to boot!

* Having the kids around has been quite fun. Trevor got an early birthday present of a fishing pole today. Only one major snarl so far.

* And tomorrow is Sunday. How much better can it be?

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Bavarian Forest!

Siesta time!
Starting the unload
Here's one shot of some of them...

The Chairman found a 'deal' and went and picked out some new foliage for our farm. So eight new trees went in today. Rafael, Jose, and Rudolfo came 'promptly' at 11. They worked exactly one hour and then it was time for SIESTA! They sat on the trailer for an hour and a half. Then worked at a snail's pace for the rest of the afternoon. They did a seemingly good job though... but we have a 2-year guarantee, so if they die, we can replace them I guess...

p.s. School is officially done as of tomorrow noon. And so my dear faithful peeps, the posts will become much more infrequent. Unless I have good blog fodder which is entirely possible since I have three very outgoing, fast-paced, busy kids at my side.

Capitol Field Trip

(Enjoying Gpa and Gma R)
(must have been sunny!)

Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma R. for stepping in and joining Rayna for her field trip in Madison! They got a royal tour of the capitol. Plus a venture to the local zoo. I couldn't be there as I had another end-of-school-year function for Mira at the very same time.

I asked Rayna what her favorite part of the field trip was and she said without skipping a beat, 'when Grandpa and Grandma were there'. So sweet she is.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Tuesday's Twitches


* Not twitters. I don't do that, remember? My life isn't that interesting moment by moment. But I do remember it is the moments that count. Hmmm.

* First grade picnic with Mira today. She loved, loved, loved (in her words) Ms. Anderson. A very young, pretty, special teacher fresh out of college. And a good one at that.

* Tomorrow is a "Me Day". It is my last full day before summer break. I'm not sure what I'll do... probably more dog practice for Lisi. But we'll be outside and alone with no one needing anything.

* Lisi is doing so-so with her Canine Good Citizen class. Two weeks until the big test. She's still completely bananas too silly with meeting other 'neutral dogs'. That'll be the part that causes her to fail if anything does. Today she ate her own homework. I came out and the homework sheet we were given at dog class was shredded to bits.

* You don't know how good it feels to feel back to 'normal' until you haven't felt good for awhile. I think I'm a little hard on people sometime. Wondering why they aren't more enthused about life. About exercise. About reaching out. And then I truly felt really bad last week physically. And I wanted to go into a cocoon and stay there. I hope to remember that lesson for a long time.

* I couldn't help myself at the store. I came home with more plants. I wasn't going to do much this year, but they are so cute and look like they need me to take care of them. Good thing I didn't go to the dog pound today!

* On a related note. Why does my garden shovel have a green handle? It is officially lost right now and it is sitting in the grass somewhere.

* I love baseball season for Trevor. The games are so fun. And the socializing that revolves around it. But the suppertime part of it is irritating. How many times can you pack pasta salad and sandwiches? Any great ideas out there?

* Today someone I love is having a 40-year milestone of living for others and not himself. I can't put into words how much that has encouraged and influenced my life at times when I really needed it.

Ok this is enough for today.

Monday, June 8, 2009

"Crunches"

(note the bunny ears in the upper-left corner compliments of Rayna)
DJ broke his leg. He was doing dirt bike racing and up he went and crash. And a broken leg was the result. Now mind you DJ is only 6 or at the most 7. I guess he's rated quite high in the statistics of dirt bike racing for small fry. But now he has a broken leg to show for it. DJ is in Mira's 1st grade room. And apparently when you're in 1st grade and someone has something that is unusual you are quite popular. To the point that others try to emulate your "unusualness". And so Mira came home a couple weeks ago looking for the 'crunches' that were downstairs. The Chairman had a bad sprain years ago and we kept the crutches as I thought some day we might just need them again or some future child of ours would have fun with them. How true. I digress. Every day when she gets off the bus Mira races for the "crunches". She hobbles around with them. Every... day. It is hard to clear the table when you are handicapped. She knows. And so... how long this will last no one knows. Except for Mira. But! I can tell you this... she no longer sleeps with this on anymore...

Graduation Picnic

the grads...
the mom's who made it all possible
would you call this close fellowship?
where's Waldo?

Five of our friends graduated from this area. A very chilly, damp just plain lousy weather kind of day. But it was so nice to be with everyone again. Friends... that feel just like family. I must say I was quite impressed. With the choices these young people have made. Their plans for the future. Their respect for others. Yes, there are still very nice teens in the world! And I'm glad to know some of them.