Last day of "school" for Willa.
As you can probably discern, she is the one who updated my Twitter this morning.
One last Regents exam - Bio - and she's done for the summer.
If nothing else, it takes some of the stress out of our mornings here for a while ... or MY mornings anyway.
Nice to just get up and worry about getting YOURSELF off to work and no one else!

Posted by sunybank at 12:08 PM

What's in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet; - and as such, a puppy without a name still smells like a puppy!

Not many families can own a puppy for five days without naming him, but we have never been accused of being decisive - no, not one of us! But now ... after much deliberation we invite you to Meet Sirius
McC*******'s Wish Upon A Star - Sirius (Black)

But if you're a close friend, you can call him "Padfoot".

Posted by sunybank at 01:21 AM

Well, I did ask for help ...
Of course, my comments were not working (but are now "all better" thanks to the installation of Haloscan comments by my wonderful-techy step-daughter), so those of you who may have tried to stop us were unable due to the non-working comments, and now, well, now it is as they say "Water Under the Bridge" (or "puddles on the kitchen floor")
And anyway, it was Birding Dad's birthday and he really wanted that puppy ...
So here he is ...

He's 8 weeks, and I swear he has grown since yesterday .. It seems that for now he will have to be called "He who must not be named", at least until we figure out agree on a name.
Someone is smitten...

and has suggested names such as:

Riggins (for Tim Riggins on Friday Night Lights)
Albus (Dumbledore)

We were thinking:
Mr Bo Jangles
Joshua (Josh)
Trooper

The family was here today for the Birthday Parth and they have suggested:
Finnigen
Rocky

... anyone got any other ideas?
He is full of trouble, not afraid of anything, bound to be at least 100 lbs, and when he's tired, he drops and sleeps so soundly nothing wakes him. There must be a perfect name out there for this guy!

Posted by sunybank at 04:43 AM

Is there anyone out there who can knock some sense into the three of us before we make the committment to get this really adorable 8-week-old Berner puppy?

As these things do ... this came to our attention yesterday afternoon, and we will need to make the decision today ....
He's one of these
, and here
is the father.
We do want a male puppy, we do want a LARGE dog, and the father is 120 pounds, it is spring ... more time for all of us to be home and take care of a puppy ...

Posted by sunybank at 11:48 AM

So I stumble downstairs in the dark
Power up the computer
Check the school web site and find

TWO HOUR DELAY
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18

Now, thinking that is great news, I wake Willa up, only to prompt thrashing and pillow punching and the AAAGGGGRRRRHHH sound.
Why?
Because apparently this means that the mid-terms that began yesterday will now not be completed until the week of January 28th (next week is Regents week) and all the psych, all the studying all the prep and all the anxiety will have to start over again.
Sorry hon, I thought a two hour delay would be GOOD news ...
... she tiptoes off to work ....

Posted by sunybank at 11:47 AM

Birding Girl is off to bed,
on this night however, I know she won't sleep well.
I will hear her up, I may even hear her TV on ... she will have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. She will toss and turn, she will worry and have trouble quieting her busy mind
Why?
Because ... tomorrow she begins High School.
I actually don't remember my first day of High School (you can say that is because it was so very long ago) but I do remember "the days" of High School, and I would not want to start those years over again.
There were mistakes made, milestones reached, relationships formed and broken, good times and bad times ... and so much to learn that did not come from text books or teachers.
I simply can not fathom how we got to this day from those scant 14 3/4 years ago when she was born ... but here we are.
She is ready, but fighting it ... having recited the Dr. Suess volume I Am Not Going to Get up Today!

"The alarm can ring. The birds can peep....Today's the day I'm going to sleep,"

she returned to her room where her clothes are laid out and her backpack packed.

We were at the school today and she has located her rooms, met most of her teachers and set up her locker, but I fully expect in the morning another recital such as Shel Silverstein's I Can Not Go To School Today

"I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry.
I'm going blind in my right eye".

At which time she will make us laugh, and with trepidation ... she will lift up her chin and head off to her first day of High School.
God Speed, my love, God Speed.

Posted by sunybank at 11:05 PM

I know, I know, I made such a big deal about Birding Girl being away, and then she came home and I said no more. Well, I was settled, and happy, and forgot to come over here and blog.

I can tell you that she had a great time, and aside from a 24-hour illness that took hold of her right after she returned, all is well, and her pictures are awesome.

Posted by sunybank at 07:08 AM

A nice day for a change, sunny and warm, but no humidity!
Birding Dog is having the time of her life with her "cousin" and good friend Shakespeare.
Shakespeare is our "Grand-dog" and he is here with us while my stepdaughter and her family have birding girl with them on vacation. (you see, it was a swap - a kid for a dog)...
Anyway, for Brandy, this is like a week-long sleepover with a freind.
As much as I want to have Birding Girl back - it means we have to give back Brandy's playmate. Maybe it is time for a new puppy.
The weather has brought me back outside (and the fact that it is indeed Saturday - whew) and I took some new photos ~ go see, they're on flickr!

Posted by sunybank at 05:15 PM

It has been decided.
There will be no college for Birding Girl.
She has been gone since Friday night - today is Thursday and I am miserable with missing her.
A week is enough time for her to be out of this house....geeezzzzzz how will I ever handle those college years??
Birding dad says: "That's the way it goes .... they go to college .... they get married .... then they visit with little kids who call you Grammie"
I reality I know this, in my heart ... I'm ready for her to come home.

Posted by sunybank at 01:25 PM

My daughter and I are out of the house early this AM. I am meeting her cousin on the highway to drop my daughter with her.
Birding Girl is going to "Job Shadow" cousin KT today as part of her "Home and Careers" class.
Should be lots of fun for both of them!

Hmmmm... wonder why she didn't want to "job-shadow" mom?
Oh ... "been there, done that" she says.

Posted by sunybank at 11:59 AM

My sister and my niece ran the Nashville Country Music Marathon this past weekend.
My sister did the 1/2 marathon - pacing my niece throught the first half of her FIRST marathon!
They both did great, KT finished and feels fine.

Posted by sunybank at 12:30 PM

Birding Girl and her "team" won third place in the NHD competition for their project on Tiananmen Square.

When I have time, I will post all the photos to Flicker.

Posted by sunybank at 02:10 PM

I have waited two years for this!

Whadda ya think?

Posted by sunybank at 01:03 AM

The Braces come OFF TODAY!!!
I can hardly believe that it is two years (give or take a month) since Birding Girl first got her braces on.
Now today they will come off, and I won't be there to see it. This is one event she will share with Grandma ... I will have to wait until I get home to see that new smile!
I'll post pictures later this week of the beautiful teeth. For now she's concerned about being able to talk with the retainer in her mouth, and at 14 - talking is so VERRRRRRRRYYYY important you know!!!!

Posted by sunybank at 07:46 AM

Wednesday - and already hangin' on by our fingernails for the weekend which, by the way, should prove to be even more manic than the weekdays this week!

Posted by sunybank at 01:01 PM

So there we sat, us, the parents of Birding Girl in the High School auditorium last night ... why ?
(insert horror-movie sountrack music here)
High School Orientation for 8th Grade Parents
the schedules, the credits, the courses, Regents, Advanced Regents, SATs, ACTs, Graduation, College ... AGGGHHHH!
If you think the thought of High School scares kids ... you should know how I feel right now!
The High School principal closed the meeting with these words

"It was good to see you all out tonight, now close your eyes, and when you open them we'll all be standing on the graduation field in 2011! See you there."

Posted by sunybank at 12:54 PM

Family, food, crafts, music and fun - what a wonderful weekend!
Thursday - Thanksgiving!:

It worked out to be 17 in all. Everyone brought food and the food was GREAT - the turkey was perfect (thanks to the watchful eye of my husband) and the family time was quite special. After dinner #1 daughter played Christmas songs on the piano, after much prodding from #2 daughter, who then joined her in singing and before long we were all singing Christmas Carols (while birding dad just stood in the background gazing at his girls with tears in his eyes). My mom and sister were huge help with the cleanup and my father had some special time playing with the two littlest ones. My niece's friend stopped over with her brother and another pie (for a total of 6). I only wish the weather had been better so the boys could go outside. J loves to run with the dogs, and C - well, Uncle Richard was there so there could have been some baseball activity! All in all a wonderful day with my wonderful family! (but no one took any pictures)

Friday:

Worked with Birding Dad, and Birding Girl and #1 daughter as the survey crew for her new house-to-be. A nice warmish day, some fun and of course - brings she and her husband one step closer to the closing.

Saturday:

Some shopping, some running Birding Girl to rehearsals and some prep for my Sunday activity!

Sunday:

Skipped church today - because I was invited to an all-day-crop with my step-daughers! An early birthday present from Sandra and a whole lot of fun! We shopped cropped and shoppedcropped and ate and had lots of fun. (did I mention that there were vendors there?) I finally finished my Disney album (that was vacation 2003) and started on the Cousin's Reunion album. The only down side was that I could not spend the entire day with them, as I had to get back to Birding Girl's concert.

Concert:

Remember Bobby Vee? Well, I guess that depends on how old you are. OK, remember songs from the 50's and 60's like "Take Good Care of My Baby", "Rubber Ball", "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes", "Devil or Angel" and "Come Back When You Grow Up Girl"? Yeah, THAT Bobby Vee. Well he gave a Christmas Concert at the Lycian Center and my daughter was part of the 20-member "Locally Auditioned Children's Choir". (second from the left - top row) Birding Dad and I had second-row Orchestra seats and (although I showed up one song late) we had almost as good a time as she did! Bobby Vee has changed a little in 40 years, but two of his sons are in his band and the music was good - after the first 10 minutes he had the audience with him and gave a great concert!

Monday:

Back to work - how about you?

Posted by sunybank at 01:29 PM

This apple fell right against the trunk. Procrastination
runs in our family - in fact I think it was BORN in our family ... and my daughter had no hope but to get the trait from both her parents (I will refrain from stating which parent is the bigger procrastinator - that would just be name-calling.)
It is 2:00 AM and Birding Girl and I are still up working on a school project that is due tomorrow! (or actually ... that would now be today wouldn't it?)
Not as bad as it sounds, we are actually having fun.
We have spent the week on a cruise to the Western Carribean on the Carnival Valor - relaxing on the beach in the Cayman Islands, snorkelling and swimming with dolphins (go figure) off Roatan Island, Honduras, Mountain biking and cave tubing in Belize and visiting the Mayan ruins in Mexico ... and now we are putting it all together.

No, no, no we didn't, this was all a virtual trip.

The project is a scrapbook of a cruise she was to imagined having taken. She had to research, plan, budget and book excursions ... then write a descriptive journal of each day, post them in a scrapbook complete with pictures, excursion details, prices, weather etc.
So here we are:
She is doing the final cutting and pasting.
Mom is searching out last minute pictures on the internet.
Birding Dad is snoring in the recliner.
Is it really this late????

DAMN! I lost that Mother-Of-The-Year award again.

Posted by sunybank at 07:12 AM

After 17 years (or maybe more - we've lost count), our family has lost a major presence in our home.

His name was Sorin (if you think it's a strange name for a cat - go ask her, she named him), and he was the best cat I have ever known. That's big, coming from me as I don't really like cats, in fact I never wanted this one ... in fact I remember that I actually FORBID her to get a kitten.
So how did this happen that I have a big hole in my heart now because my buddy is gone?

Seventeen years ago, I was the newcomer to the house, I moved into a home where the oldest daughter was away at college - and the younger, in high school, then attending college, but still home. Of course she wanted a kitten, but I was afraid of cats, one had grabbed me by both cheeks and snarled into my face when I was a teenager, and now, I'm sorry, they scared me ... especially kittens with their sharp claws and impulsive ways.
So, how did he come into the house? Well, apparently he was living in her bedroom for two days before I even knew it ... and then the evening when she and her dad sat me down and said they had something to tell me ... and "pleeeeaaaassseee" and "I rescued him from being put to sleep ... I couldn't let that happen" (except ten years later her best friend slipped and retold the story of how they went to the pet store, fell in love with him and figured he could live in her room forever without me knowing, so they BOUGHT him). I remember her bringing this little black-and-white ball of fluff to me on the couch where he promptly climbed up my arm and got behind my neck and I thought I was going to have some form of breakdown ... and she said "see?".
Of course I gave in.
Several years later, she moved into an apartment where she was not allowed to have pets ... OK, he could stay with us until ...
then she was away staying with her sister who had a cat already ...
OK, well he's really part of the family anyway.
Then she got married, and they couldn't have pets there ....
Then there was a time when she was able to take him ...
WHAT? ARE you crazy? He's our cat now!
I have never been so attached to a cat, or so fond of a cat. He was a snuggler - since Birding Girl was born, he would always curl up with her. When she was in pre-school, she would come home from school and lie on the couch, on her side, with her thumb and her "old blanket" and there he would be, stretched out along the length of her body, and she with her arm around him.
When she broke her arm - he was right there to comfort her.
Every night, Birding Dad gets in his recliner to settle in for TV, and up comes Sorin ... to stretch across his legs.
When Birding Girl goes to bed ... up he goes, to curl up on her bed with her.
When I go up to bed, he hears me, comes into our room and curls up by my legs, not moving until Birding Dad comes up ... then he snuggles for a few minutes by his chest before he finds his night-long spot in the curve of his legs.
He was Brandy's favorite playmate,
although the dog grew to be 8-times larger than him, Sorin could hold his own and wrestle and play just fine.
Every Christmas morning, there's the game of "fetch" with the balls of tissue paper we wad up and throw across the hardwood floor.
Every time we come home - he's sitting on the bottom step in the foyer to greet us.
And now he's gone, and he'll be missed and we're all taking it a little harder than we thought we ever would.
And by the way ... isn't he the most beautiful cat you ever saw?

Posted by sunybank at 01:03 PM

Life isn't fair - but when you're 13, sometimes it just hurts.
Case in point:
Birding Girl has lots of friends, some old, some what I call "current friends due to class assignment". I like her friends, we think she hangs out with a pretty great group of kids, still hanging somewhere between fun-loving, silly pre-teens and trying-to-hard-to-be teenagers.
One young lady who has been her friend for the past several years,(we'll call her "K"), a kid we all liked, took on vacation with us, shared school projects with her, know her family, enjoy her company etc ... has decided this year that she is "too-cool" for Birding Girl. She is hanging with a faster crowd, and pretty much socially ignores my daughter. The few times I have seen her, school dance, group event ... she barely says "hi" to Birding Dad and I - until we push the issue and make her acknowledge us.
This has caused some angst to Birding Girl, but she has other friends, and handles it all pretty well.
Then today...

Having our "do nothing" 3-day weekend (which is apparently less than fun for a 13 year old) ... we decide to take a short walk up town with the dogs to see how Magic (the new guy) will handle the parade tomorrow. He's a little spooky of cars and noises and such.
So the three of us, and the two large dogs set off into the Village to walk on main street.
We were having a great time, and then there they were, walking towards us. A group of trying-too-hard-to-look-cool teen girls. Imagine my suprise when my daughter whispers "Mom, that's "K" - and I see this girl in a short mini denim skirt - tight black cut-away T shirt - heavy black eyeliner on the one eye I can see under the sleek BLACK hair covering half her face. Not at all the girl I knew last year ... and in this crowd, some other girls who are aquaintences of my daughters, but also one of her very closest friends, "O".
The fact that we had the dogs, and the dogs know at least two of these girls very well, made it hard for them to walk by us ignoring us.
No, they stopped to pet the dogs, make a bit of a fuss over them and we said our "hello's" ... but "K" NEVER EVEN SAID SO MUCH AS "HI" TO MY DAUGHTER - NEVER EVEN LOOKED IN HER DIRECTION!!!.
The other friend "O" was friendly and all, but clearly needing to be as cool as the crowd - did not linger too long. We walked on in silence.
Back at home, I went upstairs where Birding Girl had retreated to finish up some homework and asked her. "Did it embarass you a little to run into them while walking with your geeky parents - while they were clearly walking in town alone?"
She admitted that it was a little embarrasing, but that she is OK with it, because she knows that now and then, when she sees "K" alone, or catches her on IM they still chat like they used to. It's just the appearance she wants to make, Mom. And I can't help it if it's that important to her"
Truth is - I know it hurts - I was there, at 13 - and the memory of that time is not pleasant. There I was, hanging with the cool crowd for two years of Middle School until suddenly they decided my family did not have enough money, and my father didn't wear a suit to work, and my mother drove an old truck and worked as a crossing guard, and we lived in an old house and didn't even have a SHOWER in our tub ... and BAM ... they dropped me like a hot potato! I was crushed, but worse, I could not tell my parents for fear that they would feel it was their fault! My sister finally got tired of me crying alone in our room and told the parents. I remember my Mom asking me "Do you think we're poor?" - and that hurt, 'cause we were far from poor - we just weren't rich, but somehow that makes a huge difference in 13-year-old circles.
I shared this memory with Birding Girl this afternoon ... we had some quiet moments. "I just want you to know, " I said "I understand", and she "OK, mom, really, it's OK"

Posted by sunybank at 07:27 AM

They grow up too quickly.
Case in point:
Compare LAST YEARS baseball card to THIS YEARS.
'nuff said.

Posted by sunybank at 03:56 PM

They grow up so fast!!!!

more here ...

Posted by sunybank at 03:17 PM | TrackBack

after much deliberation ...

...the summer make-over is complete and birding girl has gone from THIS to THIS
.
Thank God she loves it, and in fact we do too.
For complete photos of the makeover step-by-step, see the slide show or the gallery!

Posted by sunybank at 10:47 PM | TrackBack

Have you ever seen two more adorable wenches?

(click to enlarge)
Their mom has all the photos of their Medieval Recreation week over at Blue Frog Hollow. Sounds like they had a great vacation!

They belong to an international society called the The Society for Creative Anachronism (or SCA)
... and spend many weekends at events, many $$$ on fabric to make garb, as well as fencing, scribing and just having a great time.

Posted by sunybank at 07:52 AM | TrackBack

everyone was there ...
Well, not everyone. My sister had to say home with her daughter who is not well.
Well, it wasn't a garden party either. It was an 85th birthday party for my uncle. Sounds like a blast right?
Actually, it was!
I have not seen my Uncle or Aunt in several years, and come to that, I have not seen my cousins ... or thier children in more than I can count several years.
Worst of all, my daughter (12) does not even remember most of them!
At one point, while 10 of us were sitting in the sun-room she asked me "Mom, are ALL these people related to me?"

"Yes, they are" I replied, "why?"
"Because I like them!" she exclaimed.
Shame on me, that she should be almost 13 and not know the people related to her by blood. So, at the end of the day, we vowed, as families always do; that we would plan a get-together before the end of the year .... I hope we do.
Now, if someone out there could please tell me ...
what is MY cousin to MY daughter?
What is my cousins daughter to my daughter?
What is my cousin's daughter to me?
I used to rely on my mother-in-law for this information, but she is sadly, no longer with us ... so
Please?
Anyone know?

Posted by sunybank at 08:04 AM | TrackBack

Today is his birthday ... my grandson!
Go over and wish the kid a happy day would 'ya?
While I was surfing this morning, I came across this ... he's young ... but some of this is really like him.

Your Birthdate: July 22

While sometimes employing unorthodox approaches, you are capable of handling large scale undertakings. You assume great responsibility and work long and hard toward completion. Often, especially in the early part of life, there is rigidity or stubbornness, and a tendency to repress feelings. Idealistic, you work for the greater good with a good deal of inner strength and charisma. An extremely capable organizer, but likely to paint with broad strokes rather than detail. You are very aware and intuitive. You are subject to a good deal of nervous tension.

OH, and one more ....

No, not mine. This is birding girl's birthday, and I think it suits her. I'll do mine later, as long as I don't have to put in the year!

Your Birthdate: October 23

With a birthday on the 23rd of the month (5 energy) you are inclined to work well with people and enjoy them. You are talented and versatile, very good at presenting ideas. You may have a tendency to get itchy feet at times and need change and travel. You tend to be very progressive, imaginative and adaptable. Your mind is quick, clever and analytical. A restlessness in your nature may make you a bit impatient and easily bored with routine. You may have a tendency to shirk responsibility. Very sociable, you make friends easily and you are an excellent traveling companion.

Posted by sunybank at 08:50 AM | TrackBack

Meet Lynne:

She is the Lyme Disease Awareness Bear.
Truth! Check here if you don't believe me.
How do I know this? Well, it seems they were finally able to give my husband a diagnosis.
Lyme Disease.
...and in searching web sites for information (which is were we ALL get our information now isn't it?) I came across Lynne. Just thinkin' ... he probably doesn't want a bear ... just some more advil and antibiotics.

He has no strength in his limbs, and alternates between fever and chills all night. Each morning I find him on the couch (doesn't want to keep me up with his tossing and turning) Seems to me that this should be a "worker's Comp." case, as he is a surveyor and spends his days traipsing around in the woods and fields acting as a tick magnet.

Posted by sunybank at 08:05 AM | TrackBack

I hear you, a picture is in order ... and will be posted soon.

On other topics-
Back from a two-day vacation at the Jersey Shore with family. Visited, played on the beach with the kids, and guess what else? I actually did relax, which is quite an accomplishment for me, especially after the "rocky start" ...

Sunday afternoon ... at 2:15 pm ... we arrive at the Kennel where Brandy was born to drop her off for a few days (as previously arranged). What do we find? NO ONE HOME! Except for many kennels full of Bernese Mountain Dogs!
What?
Not here?
I TOLD her (via e-mail) we'd be there at 2:00. She said "just e-mail me what time you are going to drop her off" ... my husband says "did you tell her WHICH Sunday"? - well, yes ... Did she confirm with you? well, she said if I don't hear from her it's OK.
So what do we do? We get back in the (fully-loaded-with-vacation-stuff) car and go back home. After trying the phone several times and leaving messages, Birding Dad and I both manage to fall asleep. Him, while playing a video game with Birding Girl ... me while folding laundry on the bed (just lie here and think a minute).
Two hours later when the phone rings ... We're OFF!
Seems the breeder MEANT to send me an e-mail to tell me that they would be at a graduation party between 2 + 4, and to drop her off sooner or later. Problem is ... she wrote it, but forgot to send it!
No real problem. We considered that we both needed the sleep, and didn't miss much Sunday since we were getting there at dinner-time anyway.

Posted by sunybank at 06:41 PM | TrackBack

So it has come to this ... after 14 years of marriage ... for the second night in a row Birding Dad has slept on the couch, and I spent the night in bed alone.
I tried talking to him, I even begged, but he is intractable.
Why you ask?

Because he has some form of Plague/Flu/Illness/Cold/Fever that has kept him home from work for two days and he does not want to give it to me.
I offered to sleep in the spare room, and give him the comfy bed ... but no, he says he's OK on the couch.
So this morning I found him, once again, with the lights and TV still on ... sleeping away.
This morning at 9:30 he has an appt. with the doctor nurse practitioner.

Posted by sunybank at 07:21 AM | TrackBack

By the way, if you wish to congratulate the graduate ... GO tell her in person!
She has more photos over there too.

Posted by sunybank at 11:43 AM | TrackBack

The monday morning after a very full weekend ... still is a Monday morning.
But let me tell you about my weekend!
We spent Friday and Saturday attending the graduation and related festivities for my husbands oldest daughter.

She graduated from Rider University at the age of thirty-something! An amazing woman for sure! Not only did she choose to return to full-time studies when her boys were both in school all day, but she graduated summa cum laude, and will be starting grad school in the fall!
We had a wonderful weekend and are so very proud! Photos are in the gallery ... but I'm a little brain challenged this morning, and the link over on the side bar isn't working so just go here!

Posted by sunybank at 02:55 PM | TrackBack

Just for fun, if you're haning around the blogosphere today, and you ever had a Mom ... let's have a little fun.

Leave a comment, telling us something your Mom always said when you were young. It could be one of the old standards (I'm not "everyone else's" mother), or something totaly unique to your mom. Next question is, if you are now a mother ... do you say the same thing to your kids?
What was my Mom's favorite saying?

When we were complaining of feeling ill on a school day she would always say, "get up and get dressed, you'll feel better."
Not sure how that worked, but by the time you were up and dressed, you might as well go to school!
I find myself starting to say this to my daughter, chuckling to myself, then changing the phrase around a little ('cause I don't want to imitate my mother) and telling her to shower, and we'll see how she feels.

Posted by sunybank at 07:33 AM | TrackBack

My husband makes me think of the song "Desperado" (OK, so I'm dating myself). Want to know why?
Because he's going to turn this pile of sticks:

Into a fence!

This weekend it had to be laid out, and once all the preliminary work is done, we'll have 800 feet of split rail fence ~ all for the love of a dog.
So this weekend, between the rain showers, my honey has been "out riding fences"... and the dog?
She's been watching him!

Who was it who said "it's OK for the dog to be on the furniture"? I don't recall it being me!

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now

Posted by sunybank at 07:51 AM | TrackBack

If you happen to be scrolling down the sidebar to the left, you may see a photo of Brandy, and the link to her personal website.
Under that the link to the home page at Dogster.
What? you have a dog (or a cat) who DOES NOT have their own website??
they can you know:

Posted by sunybank at 07:35 AM | TrackBack

Amid all the stress and stuff ... we got her makeup and hair done ... and she is off to the show!

A WHO Child!

She's a WHO child!

Posted by sunybank at 11:02 PM | TrackBack

Tonight is the play ... and it's about time!

Birding Girl (alias "Who Child"), has spent this past week with rehearsals EVERY NIGHT from 5:30 - 9:30, so needless to say, she's a little stressed!
Her Aunt, Uncle and cousins are coming tomorrow night, (as are Birding Dad and I of course), then Grandma and Grandpa Saturday afternoon (with me of coure), then sister, brother-in'law and nieces on Saturday night (along with Birding Dad and I, of course)
(any detail you want to know about this production I'm sure I will be able to tell you by Sunday morning.)

As each of the two past years, we get to this "final countdown to opening night" and she is so stressed and tired = us yelling often; she is short-tempered = we are short-tempered; she cries often = we send her to bed .... that at some point I will say "Next year lets skip drama club" ... tonight it was Birding Dad's turn with "YOU KNOW WHAT? NO PLAY NEXT YEAR AND THAT'S IT!"
... and By late Saturday night when the curtain comes down ... she'll be flying high and signing up for next years performance ... and we'll gladly sign on the dotted line because she loves it so much (and we're just a little proud"
So stop back in a few days and check my prediction ... you'll see!
...and I'll probable even post some pictures!

Posted by sunybank at 07:13 AM | TrackBack

Umm ... DID I tell you about my grandson?

Oh yeah, I did ...

Posted by sunybank at 09:02 PM | TrackBack

Grandson C is starting Little League ...
can I show you some pictures?
There's a slide show over here.
...and my favorite two - here
and here.

Posted by sunybank at 12:58 PM | TrackBack

My favorite blogger and friend (and step-daughter) has done it again.
Although I have heard this story many times from her perspective as well as from her father's perspective ... it has made me laugh once again ... and if you're a parent of a teen-ager (or were ever a teen-ager with a parent) chances are you'll laugh too!

Posted by sunybank at 09:05 AM | TrackBack