Shadows In The Sky (151/365)

 
 
“A cloud cannot cast a shadow unless the sun is shining beyond it."

Unknown

TIME:  4:30 PM
PLACE:  The sky over the Little League Fields
SUBJECT: Cloud Shadows

Sometimes you look up and see something so beautiful, you catch your breath.  I did today when I saw these cloud shadows that appeared as we were watching StellaDella's T-ball game this afternoon.  I googled the Internet to find out the scientific explanation for these (I'm nerdy like that).  I learned that the shadows are due to a haze layer that is under the cloud.  The darker shadow is actually projecting below the cloud.  In the top picture you can also just make out another shadow that is due to a second haze layer that is lower than the first.  Way cool.

On a related cloud note...we returned to the movie theater to see "Up".  It was worth it.  I think my favorite part of the movie was in the beginning which told Carl's (the old man) and Ellie's (his wife) love story.  It opens up with Carl as a child in a movie theater watching a newsreel and how he met his wife "Ellie" that day.  Then the dialogue stops and the most sweetest montage begins and tells the story of their life together.  I cried for Carl when his wife passes away and he is left alone in the home they built together.  The emotion that Pixar placed into this opening sequence is amazing.  The remainder of the film is wonderful as well.  I highly recommend you all go and see it on the big screen.

A Series Of Inconvenient Events (150/365)

"If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you've got a problem.  Everything else is inconvenience." 

Robert Fulghum (American author & essayist, b1937)

TIME: 6:33 PM
PLACE: The back porch
SUBJECT: Fuchsia - Paula Jane 

We had some "issues" today.  First, we attempted to go see the movie "Up" at the 1:15pm matinee. After the previews, about 2 minutes into the Pixar short, "Partly Cloudy" the screen went dark and then the lights went up.  After about 10 minutes, an employee came on stage and announced that they were having technical issues and the movie should resume in about 5 minutes.  Twenty minutes later, we decided to come see it another day.  The theater did offer free refills on sodas and popcorn if you wanted to wait, as well as free movie passes.  We took the passes and will try again tomorrow.

As we were leaving the parking lot, HandsomeHusband noticed that the low tire pressure light was on in the Jeep.  So we stopped by the gas station so HH could check the tires.  He found the reason for the low pressure...a nail in the front driver's side tire.  It was 2:30pm and we went searching for a repair shop that was still open to get it fixed.  After driving by one that was closed and stopping by one that would have taken an hour and a half to fix the tire, we made it to a repair place that fixed it in about 20 minutes.  We made it back home about 3:15pm with 3 very cranky kids. 

I left soon after to go pick up some plants for the two urns at the bottom of my front porch.  I had planned to plant these fuchsias along with some Portulaca Sundial Fuchsia, Celosia New Look, Hypoestes and a Talinum Limon in the purple planter HH gave me.  However, I had left the petunias I planted last year in the pot over the winter and they ended up growing from the seeds and have completely filled in the container nicely.  So, I guess I will just have to go and buy another planter...I am pretty happy about the "free" petunias though!

No Rain On This Parade (149/365)

  
Skipper the Penguin:  "Just smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave."

Madagascar (Tom McGrath, Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath-directos, 2005)

TIME:  8:37 PM
PLACE:  West Main Street
SUBJECT:  Shriners Parade

The Shriners Circus is in town and that means the annual Shriners Day Parade for our city.  HandsomeHusband, the kids and I have walked in this parade for many years (HH has walked longer than me and the kids).  We usually walk with our state representative and hand out Tootsie Rolls and beads.  This year, he was in session at the capital, so we represented our representative! (That just cracks me up!) The weather was beautiful for this evening's event.  The kids rode in a vintage car, MonkeyBoy in the passenger seat and DramaQueen and StellaDella in the rumble seat. HH and I walked and handed out the goodies.  (That white blob on the lower left corner of the photo is HH's shoulder and arm.  This was a night shot and I ended up performing a "vintage" Photoshop action from The Pioneer Woman on this picture).  This year HH remarked that it was the biggest crowd he had seen in all his years of participating in the parade.  I like walking in it, we get to see many, many people we know on the parade route.  After we finished (around 9:00pm) we went to a sushi bar for an after-parade meal.  SD and MB fell asleep at the table.  DQ fell asleep on the way home. 

Remembering Mom's Birthday (148/365)

 
"Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad."

Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894), British poet. Remember (l. 9-14). . . The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti. Vol. 1. R. W. Crump, ed. (1979) Louisiana State University É Press.

TIME:  Unknown
PLACE:  Unknown
SUBJECT:  My mother, Ruth Ann

My mother was born on this date, May 28, in 1942.  She would have celebrated her 67th birthday today.  The above picture was taken when she was about 3 years old.  It's from a group shot of her and her siblings.  I just love the fabric of her handmade dress.  Can you see how the sides of her hair are different lengths?  Her older brother decided to play barber and gave her a haircut shortly before this photo was taken.  No wonder she looks a little unhappy!

Round & Round & Round She Goes (147/365)

 
"Each makes this cosmos and its construction the pivot of his emotional life, in order to find in this way peace and security which he can not find in the narrow whirlpool of personal experience."

Albert Einstein (German born American Physicist who developed the special and general theories of relativity. Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. 1879-1955)

TIME:  6:44 PM
PLACE: The alley
SUBJECT:  Storm sewer whirlpool

We had some sun most of the day, but late this afternoon, the rain moved back in.  MonkeyBoy's 6:00pm baseball game was canceled.  About 6:30pm we had a massive downpour with thunder and lightning.  It rained so much that it overtaxed our city's storm sewers and the alley behind our house temporarily flooded.  This is a rare occurrence, I think this has happened only about 4 or 5 times since I moved here in 1993.  This whirlpool appeared as the water was beginning to flow into the storm sewer.  I give credit to HandsomeHusband as he pointed out this photo opportunity to me...what a guy!

Who'll Stop the Rain? (146/365)

 
Western wind, when will thou blow
The small rain down can rain?
Christ, if my love were in my arms,
And I in my bed again.

Unknown. Western Wind (l. 1-4). . . Oxford Book of English Verse, The, 1250-1918. Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. (New ed., rev. and enl., 1939) Oxford University Press.

TIME: 12:41 PM
PLACE: The front sidewalk
SUBJECT:  Rain splashing in puddle

It rained.  It stopped.  The sun came out.  Storm clouds gathered.  It poured down rain.  It stopped.  The sun came out.  It grew overcast again.  The rain poured down.  It stopped.  The sun came out.  The sky clouded over.  It rained.  This process repeated all day long.

The good news is, our DSL service has been restored.  Free from diaaaaal-up at last!  Now I can start commenting again.

Memorial Day (145/365)

 
And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave.

Joseph Drake (American poet, 1795-1820)

TIME: 2:49 PM
PLACE:  Walnut Hill Cemetery
SUBJECT:  Veteran's graves

Today is Memorial Day in the United States, a day that we stop, reflect and remember those who gave their lives for us so we may continue to enjoy all the freedoms of our country.  We as Americans, reap the benefits from the men and women in the military who have made the ultimate sacrifice.  I hope that this point is the overriding theme today, and that this day is not looked upon as just another holiday and three-day weekend.

I'd like to honor the men and women in the military, past and present for their service to our country.  You have given us a great gift of yourself, thank you.

Petunia (144/365)

 
I've gotta gal, oh what a pal
The apple of my eye
With something rare, a peach of a pear
But her dad won't let us meet and I could die

I love Petunia the gardener's daughter
Oooh how that gal can kiss
Her eyes are blue as bluebells
Each cheek a rose to see
How I dance when she plants her two lips on me
I'm as daffy as a daffodil
I long to kiss her all the time
Tonight I'll steal into her garden
And make Petunia's two lips mine

Sid Tepper/Roy C. Bennett, Elvis Presely, "Petunia, The Gardner's Daughter", Frankie and Johnny, United Artists, 1965

TIME: 2:44 PM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT:  Petunia

This morning, I casually mentioned to HandsomeHusband that we really needed to start planting something in our flower beds by the front porch.  I said that I would love to have a yellow rose bush and maybe another one in whatever color he liked best.  He left a short time later to run some errands and when he returned, he had two rosebushes (one yellow, one red) and a large hanging planter of purple and red petunias.  Hmmm, so it just doesn't go in one ear and out the other!  Just when I think I am talking to the wall, he surprises me.  He even dug the holes so I could plant them.  StellaDella watered them and only broke one branch off the yellow rose bush by dragging the hose through the flower beds to water the peonies.  I consider that a success. ;) 

Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail (143/365)

 
"The rabbit has a charming face:
Its private life is a disgrace.
I really dare not name to you
The awful things that rabbits do."

Anonymous

TIME:  7:29 PM
PLACE:  N. Church Street
SUBJECT:  Rabbits

HandsomeHusband and I were invited to a barbeque today and we were able to attend "sans" children.  My dad got stuck with happily watched the 3 kids for us.  We dropped them off at his house about 4:15pm.  We weren't at the get-together for long, just until about 7pm.  We retrieved the kids from Dad's and as we were leaving, HH saw the rabbits in the open lot across the street from the house.  I handed him my camera and he took the picture for me.

Dessert Before Dinner (142/365)

“Life is uncertain; eat dessert first.”

Unknown

TIME:  7:48 PM
PLACE:  Maggie Moo's
SUBJECT:  Ice Cream and StellaDella

Summer is almost here, I can feel it!  StellaDella's last day of preschool was today.  They had a "Water Fun" day with water tables and squirt bottles and got to wear their swimming suits to class.   After going to this preschool with one child or another since the fall of 2000, (although we did have a 2-year break from May 2004 to Sept 2006) it will be strange not being there in September.  They had a wonderful program and great teachers.  On the bright side, all 3 of our kiddos will be at one school this fall! 

Tonight, DramaQueen is spending the night at her BFF's house; HandsomeHusband and MonkeyBoy went to see the new "Star Trek" film and SD and I went to the bookstore and then to Maggie Moo's.  After her bowl of vanilla and cotton candy ice cream with marshmallows and sprinkles, she told me she was still hungry and could she get some white noodles (Fettuccini Alfredo) from Fazoli's?  Dinner after dessert?  Why not!  

Raspberry Promise (141/365)

 
"The month of May was come,
when every lusty heart beginneth to blossom,
and to bring forth fruit."

Sir Thomas Malory (English writer, author or compiler of Le Morte d'Arthur, 1405-1471)

TIME:  7:39 PM
PLACE:  The backyard
SUBJECT:  Raspberry blossoms

A quick housekeeping note...we found out today that we will not have DSL until May 26th.  We ended up switching landline and Internet providers due to service issues.  Once the phone lines switched over, we lost DSL service.  So, I still will be very lax in posting comments on everyone's photos.  I apologize profusely for that.  I do plan to go back to last Thursday and look at all the posts I missed!  I will be backdating my posts to reflect the date I took the picture as I am anal about my dates and photos coinciding.  Our city has wi-fi in the downtown area, so I might just go park, sit in my car and use that!

When we first moved in our house, way back in 2001, we purchased some trees and bushes to landscape our yard.  The garden center also gave us a free raspberry bush.  The berry harvest is hindered by the birds eating most of fruit before we can get to them.  Right now, it is just starting to blossom.  A big fat bumblebee was buzzing around and I was taking pictures, but he would not cooperate for a close-up.  Next time my bumbly friend, I will prevail!   

Happy Birthday Pop (140/365)

 

“My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.”

Clarence B. Kelland (American Writer, 1881-1964)

TIME:  Unknown
PLACE:  A photo booth - Location unknown
SUBJECT:  My Dad

My father was born in St. Louis, Missouri on this day in 1942.  That makes him 67 years old.  He was born to 1st generation Sicilian-American parents and was the youngest of 4 siblings.  Dad shares his birthday with singer, Joe Cocker (65), singer-actress Cher (63) and rapper, Busta Rhymes (37) to name a few.  He still is working full-time as a project estimator for a construction company.  At least twice a week, he works out at a fitness center, usually with my older brother.  On the other days, he likes to ride his bicycle on our town's bike trail.  He is a wonderful person and father.  I am lucky to have him as my Dad.  Happy Birthday Dad...I love you!

Here I Come Mom! (139/365)

 
“We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

George Bernard Shaw (Irish literary Critic, Playwright and Essayist. 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature, 1856-1950)

TIME:  1:31 PM
PLACE:  Tri-Township Park
SUBJECT: StellaDella

My sister, Cathy, babysat StellaDella today while I went to a doctor's appointment.  Afterwards, we picked up the dreaded McDonald's and went to a park near her house.  SD and my nephew and niece played on the play structure for about an hour.  Cathy and I attempted to sit on our butts and chat, but the children and their incessant demands to watch them as they went down the slide and to push them on the swings prevented us from expanding our bottoms.

"Watch me Mom!"
"Mooooom! Are you watching me?"
"Watch me go down the slide."
"Are you watching me now?"
"Here I go....."
"Did you see me?"
"Aunt Suzy, now you watch me!" 

Good gravy, how pesky is that?

Gateway To The West (138/365)

 
“The purpose of architecture is to shelter and enhance man's life on earth and to fulfill his belief in the nobility of his existence"

Eero Saarinen (Finnish-American Architect and product designer, 1910-1961)

TIME:  12:50 PM
PLACE:  Riverfront - St. Louis
SUBJECT: Looking up the North Leg of the Gateway Arch

Today was the school parade and picnic for our school district.  I really don't like going to the picnic, ride tickets were $1.75 each and I didn't feel like spending $35 on tickets to be divided among the three kids.  So I made a proposal to them, they could be excused from the parade and not go to the picnic, but instead, I would take them over to St. Louis and we'd do something there.  They were agreeable to this.  Our first stop was the Anheuser-Busch complex.  My kids love "How It's Made" so we decided that the complimentary tour of the brewery would be a neat thing to do.  On the tour, we saw some of the Clydesdale horses, their stable, the beechwood aging cellars that each hold 3,600 barrels of beer, the brew house and finally, the bottling and packaging facility.  After the tour was over, we each got a bag of pretzels and I was able to sample a complimentary adult beverage (score!), while the kids received soda and water.  Alas, I was not carded. Darn. 

Then we headed to the riverfront and the Gateway Arch.  I haven't been up in the Arch since December 1990 when Iben Browning predicted a 50% chance of an earthquake along the New Madrid fault.  HandsomeHusband and I had gone up the Arch, the Sunday before it was suppose to happen.  We wanted to be in the group that was at the top of the Arch if it did occur. It didn't.  (We did have an earthquake occur in our area last year around this time!)  DramaQueen and MonkeyBoy had been up in the Arch before with HH, but this was StellaDella's first time.  She loved it.  "I can't believe I was in the tippy top of the Arch Mom!"   I just wish it there was more wind.  I love feeling it sway when you are at the top.

Finally, we went to my hairdressers where everyone received a haircut, myself included!  A long, but fun day.

Artists (137/365)

 
“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.”

Henry Ward Beecher (American, Liberal US Congregational minister, 1813-1887)

TIME:  11:56 AM
PLACE:  Downtown
SUBJECT: (R-L) StellaDella, MonkeyBoy, DramaQueen

Since 2002, our city hosts "Art On The Square", a fine arts show each year in May.  This year's event was held this weekend.  After Sunday School, we went downtown with the family to view the art.  At one end of the fair, there was a mural for the children to paint that I believe will be displayed at a future "Wine, Dine and Jazz" event.  StellaDella was on that at once, while her sister and brother took a little more persuading.  When I asked the older two if they wanted to help paint, DramaQueen sighed, rolled her eyes and said "Ohhh, I guess." and MonkeyBoy just shrugged his shoulders and said "OK".  Deliver me from the pre-teen ennui.

Stupid Technology

Just a quick post to let everyone know that I have DSL issues and will not be able to post photos or comment on your photos until it is resolved.  We do have dial-up but it is only on one family computer and not my laptop I normally use.  I never realized how slow dial-up is!  Hopefully this will be resolved shortly.  I'm still taking pictures and drafting posts on my Windows Live Writer.  I will post and comment as best I can!

Oh Oh Domino (136/365)

 
"Family love is messy, clinging, and of an annoying and repetitive pattern, like bad wallpaper.”

Friedrich Nietzsche (German classical Scholar, Philosopher and Critic of culture,
1844-1900)

TIME:  8:13 PM
PLACE:  My sister's house
SUBJECT:  Dominos

My sister decided to have the family (Dad, my oldest brother and his wife and my family) over tonight just because.  I made a salad and she had hamburgers and hotdogs, cheesy potato casserole, and chips.  After we ate, we played a game of "Chicken Foot".  The game became quite loud with much shouting, grumbling and other carrying on.  This is par for the course when my family gets together and plays any game.  HandsomeHusband did not participate in the raucous goings on.  Instead he sat himself on the couch and got acquainted with his new cell phone.

Mom's Peony (135/365)

 
"I have been here before,
But when or how I cannot tell:
I know the grass beyond the door,
The sweet keen smell,
The sighing sound, the lights around the shore."

Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882), British poet. Sudden Light (l. 1-5). . . Oxford Book of Nineteenth-Century English Verse, The. John Hayward, ed. (1964; reprinted, with corrections, 1965) Oxford University Press

TIME:  6:21 PM
PLACE: The front yard
SUBJECT:  White Peony

The peonies have started to bloom!  The plants have about 6 full flowers and numerous buds.  I wish the Internet had smell-o-vision so I could share their wonderful fragrance with you.  StellaDella spent about 30 minutes outside smelling the flowers.  The smell brings back so many happy memories of my childhood.  I hope when she gets older, it will do the same for her.

I apologize about the late postings and commenting.  My DSL went down about 3:30pm Thursday afternoon and we also lost phone service for about 36 hours.  I used Windows Live Writer to do Thursday's and today's posts.  When you see these posts, it means either my electronic connection to the rest of the world has been restored or more than likely, I went out in search of free Wi-fi! 

Sunflare and Shadow (134/365)

 
"Black creeps from root to root,
each leaf
cuts another leaf on the grass,
shadow seeks shadow,
then both leaf
and leaf-shadow are lost."

Evening, Hilda Doolittle (American, poet, 1886-1961)

TIME: 7:02 PM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT: Red Sunset Maple Leaves

Just behind these leaves is my neighbor Marilyn's house.  As I was taking this photo tonight, another neighbor walked across the street and delivered some bad news.  Marilyn passed away Wednesday while at the doctor's office.  She had gone to the doctor to have an ultrasound on her abdomen, and while having the procedure, she had an abdominal aortic aneurysm and she died.  Her daughter was with her at the time.

I was and still am in a state of shock.  I considered Marilyn a good friend as well as a good neighbor.  She and I would talk often.  She was the "go-to" person for any neighborhood gossip.  I did her taxes.  She babysat my children.  She was always one of the first persons I would invite to see any improvements we made to the house, whether it was new paint, floors or garden plants.  When I shared SD's Neighbor paper with her, she was both amused and touched that she was the subject.  I will miss her.

Do Not Operate Any Heavy Machinery (133/365)

 
“I have a few cavities. I don't like to call them cavities, though - I like to call them 'places to put stuff'. 'Do you know where I can store a pea?' 'Yes, I have some locations available.'”

Mitch Hedberg (American Comedian, 1968-2005)

TIME: 2:53 PM & 3:24 PM
PLACE:  Pediatric Dental Office 
SUBJECT: MonkeyBoy

MonkeyBoy had his appointment to have his cavity filled today.  I could tell he was a little nervous while we were in the waiting room.  However, he went through the procedure like a champ.  The laughing gas helped a bit with that.  Can you see how much more dilated his eyes are in the second photo?  The dentist and her assistant were exclaiming over how full and red his lips are...they teased him how many women pay good money to get lips
as full as his!

Train of Thought (132/365)

 
“Life is the childhood of our immortality.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German Playwright, Poet, Novelist & Dramatist, 1749-1832)

TIME: 9:34 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen Counter 
SUBJECT: Wooden Strombecker Toy Train

I was soooo tired this morning, I don't know why, I did manage to get 8 hours of sleep last night.  In any case, I ended up taking a short nap this morning on the couch with StellaDella and the dog.  After lunch, the three of us walked down the street to pick up HandsomeHusband's truck from the mechanic.  Then it was time to pick up the kid's from school (they had field day today), make dinner, clean up after dinner and make sure MonkeyBoy's ball uniform was washed for tomorrow.  Next thing I know, it is 9pm and I realized I hadn't taken a picture for today.  Needless to say, I scrambled to find something to photograph tonight.  I ended up taking this photo of HandsomeHusband's wooden train that he played with as a child.  It sits on a shelf on a wooden corner hutch that he purchased for me for our fifth wedding anniversary.  The hutch came unfinished from the store and I am embarrassed to say, 9 years later, it is still unfinished!  

Tansy Ragwort (131/365)

 
"What ye have been ye still shall be,
When we are dust the dust among,
O yellow flowers!"

Henry Austin Dobson (English poet and essayist, 1840-1921)

TIME: 10:17 AM
PLACE:  North side of Cemetery on Green Mount Road 
SUBJECT: Tansy Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)

I went back today to try to capture a photo of the yellow flowers I mentioned yesterday.  They are called "Tansy Ragwort".  This plant is an invasive, toxic biennial and is classified as a noxious weed in many states here in the USA.  This weed is one of the most common causes of poisoning in horses and cattle if consumed.  Even the milk from affected cows can contain this plant's toxins.  Still, I thought the fields looked pretty with all of these yellow flowers blooming in them. 

I Spy With My Little Eye... (130/365)

 
Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.

George Cooper (1838-1927), U.S. poet. Only One Mother (l. 5-8). . . Our Holidays in Poetry. Mildred P. Harrington and Josephine H. Thomas, comps. (1929) The H. W. Wilson Company.

TIME: 1:43 PM
PLACE:  A farmer's field on the east side Green Mount Road, just north of the Cemetery
SUBJECT: Trifolium pratense (Red Clover) 

Happy Mother's Day!  The kids and HandsomeHusband had cards waiting for me to open this morning at breakfast.  DramaQueen's handmade card has coupons for me to redeem (a clean kitchen, shiny dog, hugs, a wonderful dinner, etc).  HH made a very tasty dinner as well: pork steaks, baked potatoes, slaw and cake with fresh strawberries for dessert.  Around lunchtime, I left the house to visit Mom's grave and place the flowers I purchased for her in the stone vase.  When I arrived at the cemetery, I noticed that Dad had been there earlier in the day and left a single red rose.   

I took this picture just up the road from the cemetery.  There was a field of yellow flowers I thought was quite pretty but HH calls them "noxious weeds" and some clover.  Can you spy the tiny bug nestled in this flower?

To a "T" (129/365)

 
“I wish I had a kryptonite cross, because then you could keep both Dracula and Superman away”

Jack Handy (American Writer and cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1991-2003. Famous for his Deep Thoughts comedy sketches.)

TIME: 4:08 PM
PLACE:  Little League Fields - Monroe Street
SUBJECT: Ballfield lights

I took many photos at StellaDella's T-ball game this afternoon.  The clouds were white and puffy, the sky a nice blue, but I just couldn't capture what I wanted for some reason.  *shrugs* What are you going to do?  It was bound to happen sooner or later.

I am going out with the girls tonight.  The group I ran around with after graduating from college is meeting up and hitting the town.  I'm looking forward to it...and It should prove to be an interesting evening!

Forewarned is Forearmed (128/365)

 
"The most precious jewels are not made of stone, but of flesh."

Robert Ludlum (American author and novelist, 1927-2001)

TIME: 6:23 PM
PLACE:  In the Lincoln on Highway 15
SUBJECT: HandsomeHusband's forearm and
costume jewelry on my forearm

Another busy day.  I went to my client's office this morning until about 11:30am and then left for a Mother's Day Luncheon with StellaDella.  The preschool class made the moms a lunch consisting of chicken and noodle casserole, applesauce, salad, garlic bread and fruit.  For dessert: chocolate dipped strawberries and iced sugar cookies with sprinkles.  They also put on a short program.  It was so cute and they were all very proud of their work.

I had signed up to give blood for Monkeyboy's and DramaQueen's school district at 3:30 this afternoon.  So I go there, wait in line, get the finger stick, (my iron levels are very good!); the nurse takes my temperature (97.6 degrees) and blood pressure (106/70); then I complete the standard questionnaire on the laptop.  I get to the "Have you had a tattoo in the last 12 months?" question...Doh!  I completely forgot about my tattoo.  According to Red Cross regulations, because of the risks, I am unable to donate blood for a year.  Oh well, I tried.

Then HH and I dropped off the kids at Dad's house about 6pm so we could go to a Trivia Night to benefit the Race for the Cure (fight against breast cancer).  On the drive there, our arms were lying next to each other on the armrest and the early evening sun shone on them.  I liked the lighting, so I took the picture. 

(In case you are wondering, our trivia table came in 5th out of a total of 19 groups.) 

Give Life a Push (127/365)

 

“A wise woman puts a grain of sugar into everything she says to a man, and takes a grain of salt with everything he says to her."

Helen Rowland (American journalist and humorist, 1876-1950)

TIME: 5:36 PM
PLACE:  Concession Stand, Little League Field
SUBJECT: Push Pops

Monkeyboy's Little League requires that team parents man the concession stands during the baseball games.  Tonight was our team's turn to volunteer.  I worked between 5:30pm and 6:30pm, so it was just for an hour.  It brought back memories of my early foray into the work force - working at a Wendy's fast-food restaurant. 

A Capitol Idea (126/365)

Hugh and Lisa leave the airport in a car belonging to the Otto Cab Co. (established 2003).
Lisa: [to cab driver] Hey, I remember you! Mayor Quimby, right? Mayor Quimby: I, uh, er, uh, uh, no. Look at this licence: Mohammed Jafar.
Otto: [on screen] Quimby, after this fare, get your indicted ass out to the convention center.
Mayor Quimby: [to himself] I cut the ribbon at that convention center

The Simpsons, Lisa's Wedding, 26 March 1995 (Season 6, Episode 19)

TIME: 10:11 AM
PLACE:  Springfield, Illinois
SUBJECT: The State Capitol Building

First a disclaimer regarding the quote used today...any resemblance to real Illinois governors, living or dead is purely coincidental. *wink* 

DramaQueen's Girl Scout Troop took a field trip to Springfield, Illinois today for Girl Scout Day at the Illinois State Capital.   I think the troop's highlight of the trip was a stop at the Cozy Dog Drive In restaurant for some of their famous corn dogs.   She wanted to take a picture of that, but her batteries had died in her camera...poor thing.  So to answer your question, yes, DQ took this picture and yes, this is yet another guest photographer post.  I know, I know, I've done this two days in a row.  What can I say, I'm a slacker!

Wake Me When It's Over (125/365)

 
"Every kind of music is good, except the boring kind.”

Gioacchino Rossini (Italian, Composer of opera, sacred music and chamber music, his best known works include "The Barber of Seville" and "William Tell", 1792-1868)

TIME: 7:38 PM
PLACE: Junior High Gymnasium
SUBJECT: Mom's hands covering StellaDella's ear

DramaQueen plays the clarinet, and Monkeyboy plays the alto saxophone in their grade school band.  Tonight was the spring concert at the Junior High school.  My Dad even joined us for the big event.  StellaDella was less than impressed with the quality of the playing.  She told me that it was too noisy.  She did declare however that she was going to play the cymbals when she got in school - "Those banging things" as she called them.  She was very wiggly and restless throughout the evening's entertainment.  We had to visit the restroom twice.  About three-quarters through the concert, she laid her head on my lap and asked me to cover her ear so she didn't have to listen to the music.  As my hands and lap were full of SD tonight, I did not get to take many pictures.   Luckily, HandsomeHusband brought his camera and therefore, gets all the credit for this photograph.  He is my guest photographer today. Thank you so much for the picture honey, you really know how to help a girl out-love ya!

I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watching Me (124/365)

 
"Elwood Blues: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.
'Joliet' Jake Blues: Hit it."

The Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, John Landis - director, 1980)

TIME: 4:15 PM
PLACE: Dashboard of the Jeep
SUBJECT: HandsomeHusband's Sunglasses

I think I missed the one-third point of this Project 365.  By my calculations, that point occurred on day 121.6667. *wink*  Wow, I find it hard to fathom that a third of this year has already come and gone.  Time is just speeding by...Guess that's what happens when you turn 42!  

I spent quite a bit of time in my car today.  Driving StellaDella to school, meeting up with my sister at Kohl's to spent my $10 certificate, heading to an appointment, running to the grocery store to pick up fixings for dinner and for what I need to make for Teacher's Appreciation Food Day on Thursday, then I pick up SD, go home to let the dog out, back out to pick up DramaQueen for her doctor's appointment and finally head home for good.  HH had left his sunglasses on the Jeep's dash and there they were, staring at me the entire time I was in the car.  About 4 blocks before we arrived home, I snapped this picture.  It seemed appropriate.

Under My Umbrella, Ella, Ella, Eh, Eh, Eh (123/365)

 
"Now there's three things you can do in a baseball game: You can win or you can lose or it can rain."

Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel (American, Baseball player and manager, 1890-1975)

TIME: 4:16 PM
PLACE: Little League Fields - Atom Diamond 
SUBJECT: Umbrella

The day started out with a little bit of sun, then became more overcast as the day wore on.  At 3:30 this afternoon, right as we arrived at StellaDella's T-ball game, it started to drizzle.  It wasn't very hard, so they went ahead and started to play the game anyway.  It rained the entire time.  Thus I was able to take this picture of the view under my umbrella.  The girls really enjoyed playing in the rain and the mud.  See my Suzy Homemaker blog for a few other photos from the T-ball game.  We came home after the game to a pork roast and vegetables that I had cooking in the crock pot.  But the best part was dessert - two types of pies: chocolate with fresh whipped cream topping; and lemon meringue (I finally made my birthday pie).  Yum!

Mr. Jeremy Fisher (122/365)

 
"Delmar O'Donnell: Them syreens did this to Pete. They loved him up and turned him into a horny toad.
Ulysses Everett McGill: I'm not sure that's Pete.
Delmar O'Donnell: Of course it's Pete! Look at him!... We gotta find some kind of wizard to change him back."

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Tim Blake Nelson, George Clooney,
Joel Coen -director, 2000)

TIME: 10:57 AM
PLACE: The backyard 
SUBJECT: Toad

MonkeyBoy was outside practicing his pitching this morning while I was on the laptop trying to get caught up on reading and commenting on everyone's 365 blogs.  He comes bursting into the house yelling excitedly - "Mom! Get your camera.  There's a toad out in the yard!"  We live in a fairly  urban area so seeing "wildlife" like this is a big deal around here.  This is definitely a toad (short legs, bumpy skin, chubby body, large ridge and big eyes) and not a frog (strong long legs, smooth or slimy skin, teeth, large webbed feet).  He wasn't a very appreciative model.  In fact, he looks pretty darn grumpy in this picture, doesn't he?  Maybe he didn't get any from the "syreens".

Margaritaville (121/365)

“Enjoyed it! One more drink and I'd have been under the host.”

Dorothy Parker (American short-story Writer and Poet, 1893-1967)

TIME: 8:12 PM
PLACE: Margaritas Mexican Restaurant 
SUBJECT: $1 Margarita on the rocks

I got a "kitchen pass" to go out to dinner with my old college roommate and good friend, Denise.  She wanted to take me out for my birthday and catch up because we realized that we hadn't gotten together since StellaDella's birthday in February!  So we went to a local restaurant, had dinner, some beverages and chatted.  Then we went to a tavern that happened to have a band whose keyboard player/singer is a friend from high school.  His wife, who was there as well, is another former high school classmate.  We haven't seen either of them in quite some time.  We ended up doing even more chatting and catching up with her and when the band took their breaks, we did the same with him.  As for the bar scene, all I can say is I am SO glad I am married (and happily so most of the time -right honey? *wink*) and am not out there in the "searching for someone" arena.  It's brutal out there!