Traveling oddities.

Have you ever really REALLY thought about how odd it is to fall asleep on an airplane next to a complete stranger?  It dawned on me the other day how outside of public transportation, falling asleep next to a stranger would be weird.  Sleep is personal and make us so vulnerable. Yet, I cannot stay awake on a plane.  As soon as they start going into the safety lesson, I'm out like a light.  Hopefully the passenger next to me doesn't become my pillow.

Have you ever had the privilege of sitting on a plane with a stranger who does nothing the entire trip, but stare straight ahead at the tray-back?  It's very disconcerting.  This scenario has happened to me a couple of times.  They don't sleep.  They don't read.  They don't even look around.  They stare at the lock mechanism on the tray.  For the entire trip.  It makes me squirm.  They must have better imaginations than I do.  

The ferry can be an interesting place to people watch.  People become quite oblivious about those around them.  I've seen people trim their finger nails and floss their teeth.  People also seem to think that just because my back is to them, means I cannot hear them.  Boy are they wrong.  I've heard crazy stories....stories that could be on soap-operas!  I'm just waiting for one day when I hear familiar names.

Amazing creations.

In the fall, my daughter's school holds a "Harvest Fair".  The idea behind it is to take surplus items from your garden and turn them into creations.  Over the years, it has morphed into adding other fruits, vegetables and food items.  Every year I am amazed at what the families create.  This was one of my favorites.  A penguin made out of an eggplant.

Good work, foreman.

We are getting new floors in a couple of weeks, and to save some big bucks, we agreed to remove the old flooring.  

Removing the ceramic tile was messy, but not difficult.  It was the layer of plywood that the tile was laying on that was a real chore.  The lazy people who lived here before us, laid down plywood everywhere (including under the cabinets).  Thank goodness for my father in law.  He saved the day!  We were able to rent a special saw and he was able to cut around the cabinets.  (The other option was to remove the cabinets, and I wasn't happy about that one...)

A huge thank you to Michael!

Scary dream.

My husband always makes fun of me when I tell him about a scary dream.  I admit, dreams are never as frightening when you relay them, versus experience them.

However, last night I had a whopper of a dream.  It wasn't your typical scary dream with someone chasing you.  It was more of an artistic freaky one.  Here it goes....

I saw myself lying (or is it laying?) down on my back, stretched out.  My eyes were closed and I got really near my face to see if I was breathing.  It dawned on me that it was impossible for me to view myself in that position, unless I was dead.  I quickly woke (or is it awoke?).

FREAKY!!!!  Not only a freaky dream, but embarrassing that I don't know the proper use of the verbs laid and wake.  Darn English language.

Ummm....thanks, I guess?

I got my haircut today.  Nothing new, just a trim.  When my son got home from school today, I asked him: 

me:  "Do you notice anything different about me?"

son:   "You got your haircut?"

me:  "Yes.  How does it look?"

son:  "Actually, it makes you look younger....and like you have a lot less moles."

Wow!  I hate to think of what he thought of me before my haircut!

Green cleaning tip.

I can't take credit for this idea.  I got it out of a book.  However, every time I use it, I think "I must spread the word!"

So, here you go.  Instead of buying disposable cleaning wipes(that choke up landfills), make your own reusable ones.  I keep one jar in each bathroom and when I need a quick cleaning fix, wham-o!  Job done.  Here's how:  cut up old t-shirts in about 4-inch squares.  In an old glass jar, put 1/4 c. water, a couple of squirts of soap and some essential oils (if you have some).  Put the lid on and shake.  Then, add the cut up clothes.  Ta-da!  Pre-moistened cleaning cloths.  You may have to adjust the soap/water ratio.  If you use too much soap, you will have a soap-residue.  The beauty of all of this is that no chemicals are used so I just wash the dirty rags in the washing machine and add them back to the solution.

There ya go.

Grab-bag potential.

Call it mid-life crisis, but I'm having a "who-am-I -supposed-to-be"moment.  I feel like for the past 10 years, I have been going through the motions and haven't lived up to my potential.  I've been so focused on the kids, that I have lost sight of myself.  

The funny thing is, I'm afraid to see what my potential is.  One of my greatest fears is to be 80 and still going through the motions.  I think of my potential like a mystery grab-bag.  Maybe there is a diamond ring inside, but what if it's just a bunch of left over Halloween stickers and a spider ring?

And they're off....

School started today.  The kids were both excited to head back....they nicely woke up and were in cheerful moods.  I give them two days.  By Friday, I'll be hearing complaints.  

Last day of summer vacation.

The last day to sleep in.....the last day to not rush out the door....the last day of summer vacation. I told the kids they could each chose an activity to do with me and then we would finish our day with an ice cream cone.

My son chose to play tennis.  He has vastly improved since the last time I played with him.  We actually had a couple of really good volleys and he beat me four games to three (wink-wink).  My daughter chose to walk to the U-Pick flower farm.  We each picked beautiful boquetes of Dahlias.  

This summer flew by at record speed.  This is the first year that I'm not quite ready to put them on the bus in the morning.....

Ahh, who am  I fooling?  I will be dancing down the street.