For Bobbi: Things That Are Not Fun To Spend Money On.

1. Tires. So not fun when you have to buy two to replace one. Right, bob?
2. Furnaces, water heaters, water softeners and any other ugly and expensive piece of equipment that belongs in the utility room.
3. Dirt. People around here have to buy dirt before they can plant grass. That sucks.
4. Groceries that are inhaled the minute they hit the cupboard. Sometimes sooner.
5. GAS for the vehicle. Although at less than $2 a gallon, you have to admit--it's getting more fun.
6. Anything with a purpose that's purely practical, such as insulation, shingles, plumbing pipes, etc.
7. Any type of bill, especially if it's from an orthodontist and is not covered by dental insurance.
8. Toilet paper.
9. Shoes that feel good in the store and kill the minute you wear them outside.
10. A bad movie at the full-price theater.

That's my list. What's yours?

i was running right before sunset tonite when the thought occurred to me: no one really knows where i am or what i'm doing. the husband was coaching hockey. the boys were playing hockey. i was out on a dirt road, aware that a mountain lion had been spotted in the area recently. i began to look warily at the corn fields. how fast do you have to run to escape from a mountain lion?

so here's the plan. if you get a call from my husband wondering where i am, and i seem to be missing for awhile...go look out on the dirt road. my thought is to toss my ipod out and maybe a shoe or something while the mountain lion drags me away. that way, you'll know where to look. and no, mom. i won't give up my dirt road or my run --really, what are the chances i'm going to get eaten?

but just in case, look for the ipod and the shoe. thanks.

this thanksgiving, i have something to be EXTRA thankful for. her name is chris, and she is flying all the way from colorado to spend the holiday with my family. i've known chris since high school. we became good friends the first summer we both worked at reptile gardens. she's one of those people who know me inside and out, and i am so blessed to have her in my life. thanks for saying yes, buddy. i promise the j boys will keep you plenty entertained. by the way, you best brush up on your star wars lingo and your snowball throwing technique...

see you soon.

have you ever passed up a gas station when your tank is on E just because you're pretty sure you can make it to the next town? do you wait until the very last day to get something important in the mail and then hope like crazy it arrives on time? or throw a pan of bars into the oven about 30 minutes before you need to take them to an event, realizing there's a good chance they might not turn out? or worse--leave the house late knowing you can speed and probably still make it on timish.

i do this stuff ALL THE TIME. i'm not sure if my adventurous nature simply causes me to create this extra adrenaline out of nothing, or if i have a serious procrastination problem, but it makes my husband insane. i don't blame him. last night the poor guy had to take a gas can with him to sioux falls and bring it back home to fill up my truck so that i don't get stranded while driving to a meeting today. even though i'm fairly sure i could have made it to the next gas station.

thanks husband. once again, you are the goods.

happy b-day karen. i hope you get spoiled rotten.

well, we had a pretty fun time on saturday night. big j got to skate out with the stampede hockey players, and he had a crowd of 18 in the stands to cheer him on. hockey season has officially started with practice three nights a week and scrimmages/games most weekends. i'm all stocked up on under armour and fleecewear...bring it on...

this is an unpaid endorsement, i swear. but for any of you who have not been checking in on karen's gig at the washington examiner (she's the third one down in the row of writers), you are missing out on some good stuff. like the tastiest turkey recipe this side of, well, virginia. and the latest big city phenomenon called "slugging" which is not about hitting people. and today, she is going to write something really funny, as soon as she is done at the gym. she promised.

so. get yourself over there and read my favorite writer. she's trying to make a living here, people. :)

quote of the day:

there are your fog people and your sun people. not sure which kind you are? fog'll do that to you.

from brian andreas, author of the book 'still mostly true'

well the wedding was awesome, from the very beautiful bride to the toasts that made me cry to the jam-packed dance floor that kept begging for "one more song" well beyond closing time. little j did a great job escorting his cousin kate down the aisle, and stood up there like a big man the whole time. i now have a new "sister" and she is a keeper. how lucky am i?

tomorrow the last of the 12 kids in my husband's family gets married. it is going to be a huge occassion, with everyone home and so happy. little j is a ringbearer, and looks like a big man in his tuxedo. we are taking off right after school today for a weekend of no sleep, craziness and tons of people. by now, the kids outnumber the adults so the volume is always a factor. monday will find me ALONE, in a daze, slowly trying to shake off all the chaos. it's kind of like shell-shock, i think.

despite the craziness and the blizzard, this is going to be a blessed weekend. it's always great to go to a wedding when you know there is real love, and that the bond will truly never be broken.

say a prayer for jared and nikki tomorrow at 2 pm. i just know they are going to live happily ever after, at last.

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. 100% chance of SNOW at terry peak today and tonite with up to 15 inches expected. 80% chance on friday, and more could fall this weekend.

my skis are dusted off and ready to go.

who's in?

someone please come get all this halloween candy out of my house before i have to buy bigger pants. thank you.

have you ever thought about what the world would be like without you? i think about it sometimes. you see, my mom was in high school when she learned she was pregnant with me. and i realize she could have made a different choice. she could easily not have had me. i'm sure the idea probably flashed through her terrified mind. she could have determined she'd rather attend her senior year and go to the prom and graduate with her friends rather than face expulsion as an honor student at the top of her class. but she didn't. she chose to have me, and to love me, and to be the most incredible mom a kid could ever want. but if she wouldn't have, i would not be. big j would not be. little j would not be. all the things i've done in my life would not have happened. you would not be wasting your time reading this blog right now.

seriously, though. i think i was worth being born. i thank my mom for being the kind of person who values life and wanted me, despite the rough road she knew she'd have to travel. i am so grateful that i am here. and i know my mom is grateful i am here.

so tomorrow when you vote, south dakota, think about that.

and i promise that's about as political as i'm ever going to get.