Two Babes and a Brain

Some Thoughts of My Own...

First... If you want to get a head start on your baking for the holiday, make sure you HIDE the fudge... hubby will eat it and then blame the dog.

Second... If you haven't started the tradition of allowing your kids to place orders for...oh I don't know... let's say 20 different kinds of cookies.... DON'T.  I'm going to have to rent a U-Haul to carry everything my three darlings have "ordered".

Third... and this is for the guys... Look fellas, if you know what the surprise is in the box under the tree that your wife worked so hard to keep a surprise, DON'T let her know that you know what it is.  I don't care how many hints she gives you.... she is really enjoying all the hint dropping.  Give her that joy.... keep your mouth shut.

Fourth... again for the guys.... When you buy your wife her Christmas gift, take the time to wrap it.  And don't tell her "Honey, there's a box coming from Fed Ex... don't open it when it gets here".  And whatever you do, don't march it in front of her and says "oh, I wonder what this is".  Just quietly take it in the back room, wrap it and slip it under the tree.  I promise, she will love you for it.

Finally....

Even with the crappy economy and business not doing so well, I still feel like the richest person in the world.  I am blessed with a wonderful husband who thinks I'm the best thing since sliced bread and who doesn't mind me dragging him out in the cold to go look at houses all dressed up in Christmas lights.  I have a daughter who is expecting my first grandchild, a daughter who is about to graduate college with honors and a son who is at the top of his history class.  I have a beautiful mother who is healthy and active and a brother who makes me laugh every time we talk.  I have my health and just got my flu shot.  What more could a girl ask for?

I wish all of you a blessed Christmas and will be checking in from the road on my I-pod touch (that just happened to be in the Fed Ex box on the porch).  ;o)

Lisa

Mother's Day...

Happy Mother's Day!
There is no harder job...
Chris and Lisa

I Get So Sick of This ....

It's so now nobody can put up Christmas trees without getting some sh*t about it.  Sea Tac Airport in Seattle took down Christmas trees displayed in their lobbies because a rabbi threatened to file suit if they didn't also display a menorah.  Look, I'm all for celebrating all of it...Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, Soltice and any other holiday Hallmark wants to envent to exploit the season... Heck, you Jewish folk get eight days of presents....I'm with that program baby.... but can't we stop all the law suit threats?  I mean, geeze people, what ever happened to discussions and negotiations....

This rabbi must have known that the airport was going to put up Christmas trees.... they do it at the same time every year...why would this year be any different?  Why didn't he go to them in October.... plan ahead... instead of waiting and making a huge public media scene and getting everyone all riled up?

I guess everyone wants their 15 minutes of fame and will use any situation to get it... even a man of religion.

Lisa

Christmas On The Mean Streets

I've watched this about 6 times and I laugh harder each time....

Merry Christmas to all....

Lisa

Do You Find This Offensive???

Some in this community do and are demanding the resident take it down. 

Major blonde moment here....I'm not sure I get it.  Isn't Christmas all about Peace on Earth???

Where am I wrong?

Lisa

It's Time to Pause....

....and give thanx.  Of course, the steadfast opinion is that we should all be thankful everyday of our lives and that is oh so true.  But today....today is set aside especially to stop and take a deep breath and break away from our hectic daily lives, look around at who we have in our lives and be thankful. 

So today folks, when you are sitting around your table, enjoying all that this world has offered up to you, please take a moment and be thankful for those who have made it possible for all of us to live free.

Thank you.... BFB, USMC Steve, SSG Rob, Mike, RD, Colonel Hunt, Chuck, Billy (my brother), Rob (my cousin), Matt...Please feel free to add names to this list. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all...

Lisa

Memorial Day...

Usually, we each write a post for Memorial Day. This year everything is up in the air. We've had some changes. Lisa is adjusting to her new life and her new schedule, Colonel Hunt has departed for bigger and better things and I am flat out with kids and work and trying to get my act together before I officially become old on Tuesday.

I sat and thought for a long time about what I wanted to write and no one thing jumped out at me. This Memorial Day is a jumble of thoughts, so that is what you are getting.

I am up early to take my kids to the parade. This year was unique in that I wasn't going to go. I have lunch plans with a friend from college and thought that I would skip it--except my kids won't let me. It's Memorial Day, they told me. It's important to go and say thank you and honor the soldiers, Mom. Every now and then, the stuff you do right comes back to bite you in the butt. :o)

Yesterday, on my way out of the grocery store, I tried to sneak by the two teenagers sitting there collecting money for what I assumed was some sports thing. I heard them ask the lady behind me if she wanted to donate a dollar to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. I turned around and went back to buy my poppies. They thanked me for my donation and gave my poppies for my kids and I. I wondered where the veterans were and why it was these disinterested kids doing the poppy thing. It's not like we are short on Vets...

My 9 year old has recently developed that 9 year old fascination with soldiers and war and killing the bad guys. I assume it would have happened even if we weren't currently at war. Young men doing amazing things is always fascinating. My Dad told him the story of how my Grandfather was wounded at the Battle of Metz and captured by the Germans. Eventually, he found his way home with a bum arm and a purple heart. I had never heard the story of how my Papa was wounded.

The Marines under in investigation for criminal acts in Haditha are on my mind lately. I am shocked and appalled and outraged...and heartbroken. Obviously, there can be no excuse for what they are accused of doing but there can be understanding. An impossible job in impossible circumstances...media reports say they were on their third tour...friends blown apart in front of you...constant fear that you will be next...a war where the enemy looks the same as the people you are trying to help...all of this...I think of the things we ask these young men and women to do and the price they pay for it. I think of the missing limbs and the scars we don't see.

I am thankful for our soldiers, impressed by my grandfather's service, proud that my son recognizes some of the great things our military does and saddened for the things that happen to our soldiers as a result of wars. I'm hopeful that one day none of it will be necessary but expect that it always will...

Say thanks to a soldier today. Say a prayer for them. Remember the fallen. Happy Memorial Day.

Chris

Mother's Day...

Yesterday was Mother's Day and I hung out with my kids. (My husband is travelling for work. Yeah, oh boy, is he in trouble.)For those of you who don't live in New England, it has been raining here since before I was born. Thus, these pictures of our Mother's Day celebration...

Continue Reading for more Mother's Day at the Beach...

Easter questions and an Easter Tale...

Well, Easter is over...kind of. My kids will spend the next three days hiding plastic eggs and making their brother or sister look for them and the candy will be here until next Easter because even three kids and a woman with hormonal swings can not eat all this junk...but it's over.

Yesterday, the adults at my Easter celebration had a discussion about whether or not the Easter Bunny was a boy or a girl. The children we surveyed and no consensus has been reached. If you know the gender of the Easter Bunny, please let me know...I want to be ready for next year.

We also touched on the age old philosophical question of how an bunny can lay an egg...which led us to, why is it an Easter Bunny and not an Easter Chicken? Again, if you have the answer, please let me know. I am so confused and my children keep asking...

For a real accounting of the funniest Easter moment ever--at least in my life...continue reading.

Chris

WARNING: The following contains some potty humor. Just an FYI. A heads up. You know, a warning which is what I said in the first place. Sorry, candy hang-over.

Happy Easter from the Beautiful Mountains of Western North Carolina

And a special Happy Easter to my good friend and blog partner with the snarky attitude, Christine...

;o)

Actually, I'm on the road today heading back to Richmond...hitting every Target on the way.  The restaurant needs a few new chairs and Target has some on sale that I love and would work wonderfully.  I just hope my "He-Man" Expedition can hold them all.

Yes, Colonel, I know it's not an Escalade, but it's paid for and works for me.  ;o)

I promise I will have something political posted next week that we all can argue and fuss and fight about.  But in the mean time.... sit back and relax...it's Good Friday.  Let's all have a shout out to God for our men and women who are in harms way. May God protect them and bring all of them home safe and sound.

Lisa

P.S.  Thank you, Lucy, for the Easter e-card.