i really like dinosaurs, i like 'em a lot, 14 pteranodons is what i've got

14 pteranodons, they're friendly and tame, and i've given each one a special name...
and not one was named Bob. ;-)* (I can't quite figure out the picture thing but, if you click each picture, you should get an unobstructed view.)

It was hot. Man, it was hot. It was still 93° at 7:30 p.m. so you can imagine how nasty it was in my backyard at 2 p.m. in the afternoon. Yet...

14 little pteranodons decorated their wings...


then swooped their gliders into the "fish pond" for fish. (Though, of course, pteranodons eat fish, they found that the construction paper variety had a little too much... fiber... for tasty consumption and happily traded them for the surprise of a secret prize from the prize box.)

14 pteranodons then transformed into 14 junior paleontologists and excavated dinosaur skeletons in the sandbox and listened to Skippyjon Jones and The Big Bones before eating their cake and ice cream.

We finished the afternoon with much flapping around - the pteranodons flapped their wings, we wingless ones flapped our fans. It was... hot.


~~~
with apologies to Sandra Boynton and her "15 Animals" song... ;-)

New Piece!

I've a new custom piece up at my jewelry blog if anyone's interested. :)

It's for real, darn it, go flippin' figure!

It was a day for music high notes today (pun fully intended).

I got my brand new personalized choral folder today (looooove the folks at UPS, they bring me all sorts of fun stuff).

I also got a sneak peek at my gorgeous new music bag (which the wonderfully talented and completely amazing h. at Marsbarn Designs made for me to replace my now outgrown one). Yes, I've been happy chair dancing today.

But, to top it off, I got, in the mail today, my CONCORA contract. Guess this means it's for real. Holy shit.

Another brilliant zinger... another vodka stinger...

When *headdesk* becomes a way of life... one winds up with a perpetual headache and needs a larger stash of vodka.

The two year old is now in a big girl bed and is potty training. The second is going quite well - we're down to 2-3 pairs of wet undies/day. The first is an unmitigated disaster; she is entirely too thrilled with the freedom. As a result, the girls aren't getting to sleep until at least 10:30 (they go to bed at 7). I'm concerned how this will play out once the five year old starts Kindergarten in a week and a couple days.

Said five year old is doing her level best to drive me stark raving mad. This little cutie said to me, as we all ate breakfast and I didn't get the food in the baby's mouth quick enough to suit the baby, "well, if my baby were crying, I'd pay attention to him." Yeah. She ignores every instruction she doesn't want to hear, wails like a banshee and/or ignores her punishments, and is generally as disrespectful as a teenager (actually, I think that may be an insult to teenagers). Pass the fermented potatoes - hey, it can be mixed with OJ; that makes it breakfast appropriate, doesn't it?

Random other things:

Newington schools says "no kids" for Open House but insists on their presence at parent-teacher conferences.

I have all of 2 social events scheduled in all of August that don't involve kids. They're the same night.

I'm loaded with ideas to blog about during the day when I don't have time to access the computer but my mind goes curiously blank in the evening.

I need to start being creative again. Not making is killing me slowly.

~~~
"Ladies Who Lunch", Company, Stephen Sondheim
http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/company/ladieswholunch.htm

I've got my laptop for pleasure and my guitar for pain...

Pteranodons are not dinosaurs Who knew?
I do know, however, that pteranodon screeches practiced in the car alarm the driver.

I like having my car to myself. I almost never have my car to myself.

I regulate my mood through music. Usually kid-inappropriate music.
I also regulate my mood through chocolate and booze. Both of which are too caloric to eat/drink to levels which will functionally elevate my spirits. (Heh, booze, spirits, get it?) Not to mention, using any substance to regulate one's mood is probably a bad idea.
Thus, my mood.

I hate my job but I can't gripe about it to Mr. PPG because he gets depressed that he doesn't make enough money so that I don't have to work. (This, mind you, is (sincerely) not my intention but an inevitable result.)

Where was I going with this? I don't remember. Oh well, tomorrow is also a day filled with wet underwear.

~~
Jay Brannan, from the Goddamned album. As opposed to the goddamned album. Which it certainly isn't. He's coming to Portland/Seattle and a bunch of other places that aren't near me. Go see him if they're near you. Great voice. Great lyrics. Great use of rhythm for emphasis.

6 weeks??!

Oy. I know I've been busy but, yeesh!

And tonight's just a shiny object too... bad blogger!!

Vacation pix from my trip to Portland and Seattle!
http://peppypilotgirl.zenfolio.com/p58197894

Highlights of the trip:
bacon maple bars (blissful sigh)
listening to ATC from BDL to PDX (happy pilot girl)
meeting one of my very best friends for the first time (she's as great in person and just as I expected)
meeting new friends and a cranky cat (grateful not to have been attacked)
wearing combat boots and not having anyone look at me funny
not having anyone wipe their nose on me
not having to fight for sole use of my water bottle
taking all the photographs I wanted (I narrowed those at the link down from 600+) without having anyone leave me behind inadvertently (that happens to me a lot normally)
did I mention the bacon maple bars?
fountains!
coffee, coffee, and more coffee (except for Sunday nights - LOL!)

Downsides of the trip:
getting up at 4:30 a.m.
my arrival at home being a nonevent for my family
um... there must be something else but I can't think of it now!

The best part though? Just being Kelley. Not Mom, nor wife, nor worker, nor daughter. Just Kelley. It was absolutely glorious.

Can't wait to do it again next year. Hopefully, they'll have me back!