Out in the Backyard

Last weekend, frustrated with my boys spending so much time indoors, I encouraged them to invite friends over. While my eldest was making the rounds at graduation parties with Dad, I forced the younger two to hang out back and taped a note to the front door,

 " We're out in the back yard".

After a water fight and a trip indoors to change clothes, the boys ended up watching TV and playing Yu-Gi-Oh in the family room, never to make it outdoors again, until the car ride to take the friend back home. In my day, we would spend the entire day outdoors. I can't remember ever spending time watching tv or playing video games at friends' homes for hours on end.

Of course back in the day, our video games consisted of Pong and PacMan.

I'm Out Back

When Spring and Summer are in session, I try to spend as much time outdoors as possible. I can be found either gardening, taking photos of my plants and nature in my yard and relaxing in my "Sofa Swing" admiring my garden and catching up on my reading (and usually take a nap).

My blog has taken a "back-seat " to my other online activities like FaceBook and Pinterest (my newest addiction).  For the few blog friends that I have, if you message me, I'd love to follow you if you are on either of these places.

Life is Good

My eldest just finished his first year of high school at an all-boys parochial school. It's been a tough but good year. He has been active in Cross-Country, Swimming,  Jazz Band and Ultimate Frisbee (club team) and seems to enjoy the experience (except for all the homework). I'm impressed that as a Freshman, he has been invited to 6 or 7 Senior graduation parties.

The younger two boys have one more week of school and have had a great year. Both made Honor Roll for the year and received recognition at a special Awards Night. My 8th grader also received a Science Award and had the top score on a special math test given to all 8th graders.Between Choir and Band concerts, I am one proud mama.

No News is Good News

As I seem to be posting less here as time goes on,  I have given up worrying about keeping up with my blogging. I hope to post when I have a anecdote or boast that is better kept private and (somewhat) anonymous.

Hope all is well in your world. I'm ready for my 2nd cup of coffee and then you can find me "out back"!

The Trouble With Teens - Clothing Choices

Dear Friends, Neighbors and Teachers at G.M.S.S.,

I am fully aware that while the mornings have been in the 30's & 40's, my son has been coming to school dressed in shorts, a t-shirt and the thinnest of hoodies. This is not because he is lacking in the proper attire or that I have not fought with him over clothing choices. I simply am tired of arguing and want to get him to school on time.

On the bright side, he is most likely alert in class and we finally have hand-me-downs making it to my youngest with the knees fully intact!

P.s. Don't get me started on school lunches!

March Madness 2012

Happy Birthday Baby

 Five Years Old!

March is the birthday month for not only my "baby" but this blog. I started "Bad Momma" on March 17, 2007.  I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by. I also can't believe how long it's been since my last post. Part of my "blogger's block" has been due to laziness and the rest to being overwhelmed with the explosion of Social Media sites I belong to.

Between my personal and professional life, I have 3 Twitter Accounts, 3 Blogs, 3 FaceBook Accounts/pages, 2 Newsletters and 2 websites to manage. With Google+  and Pinterest on the horizon, I've been having a hard time keeping up. FaceBook has been a big time-sucker lately as I have been posting more of my personal life (reminds me a bit of what happened at the height of CreateBuzz!)  I need to do a better job of allocating my time.

What I've missed most about my absence here was the ability to write longer, detailed stories that I can't post on FaceBook. I am less self-conscious when posting anonymously which helps keep my creative juices flowing. I have noticed a difference in my writing ( or lack thereof ) when I take big breaks here.

I must rectify this situation!


Early Bird

March 20 marked the first day of Spring, which felt more like Summer! In reviewing last year's photos, we are more than a month ahead of schedule with temperatures in the 70's & 80's. I've already started on my gardening. In my vegetable patch, I've planted Peas, Carrots, Lettuce and Spinach. Due to a mild winter, my Swiss Chard had never completely died back and is in full bloom.

Hopefully I won't be rewarded with a plant-killing freeze in the next few weeks. We are expecting frost on Tuesday of this coming week. There are times it is not good to be an "Early Bird". Hopefully this is not one of them!

Official Sign of Spring - Free Rita's

This week it was my job to take the boys to their piano lessons. When we arrived earlier than expected and had a half-hour to kill, I decided to take the boys to Rita's a few blocks away. It was a summer-like day with temps in the 80's. The place was packed but thankfully the lines moved quickly.When I went to pay, the cashier told me our order was free!

I had totally forgotten that it was the first day of  Spring! And about "Free Rita's Day!"  It really made my day. 


Starting the Day With a Bang!

My Poor Tire

$350 Piece of Metal

This week, while taking my middle-son to school, I started the day with a "Bang!". Literally!
While en route, we heard a big bang that sounded like it came from inside of the car. As I kept driving, I had Alex look in the back of the car to see if something fell.

Suddenly my tire-pressure warning light flashed. As I kept driving so we wouldn't be late,  I noticed the pressure rapidly dropping.  I was able to make it within two blocks of the school until I was at 3 lbs pressure and down to the rim. I pulled onto a side-street, let Alex out to hoof it to class and called my hubby.

It took him 30 - 40 minutes to reach me as he had been in the process of taking our eldest to school. After jacking up the car and struggling to remove my tire, he went back home to get better tools and take our youngest to his school. Another hour was spent unsuccessfully to unhook a full-sized spare from his car. We finally gave up. The punctured tire, along with my belongings were deposited in my husband's car. He dropped me at work and went to the tire store.  Three-hundred and fifty dollars and two hours later, I had two brand new tires!

My old tire could not be patched due to a deep puncture. There was no evidence left in the wheel. The theory was that whatever stabbed my tire, was heavy enough to be promptly ejected as the wheel turned.
The bang that we heard must have been the metal shank hitting the wheel well as it exited the puncture wound.

My eagle-eyed husband went back to the crime scene patch of  road where I heard the clang of metal on metal and found a 3-inch shank in the street (pictured above). We are now keeping this memento as evidence.

 To be recycled someday.

Really could have used a Rita's that day!