Weekend Happenings, Blog Linkage

Good Friday morning!

RANDOMNESS #1 - I love watching The West Wing. Sadly, I love watching The West Wing WITHOUT Mikie.

After we watched the first episode together, he looked at me and said, "I don't usually like to watch more than one episode at a time."

Okay.

I thought it was a little late to let me in on that enormous fact, but I dealt with it in a semi-adult manner. (Little or no whining.)

But then he just kept talking.

"I also don't think I want to watch an episode every night. I like to spread it out a little."

Who was this man pretending to be my husband who had one hour earlier agreed to watch a show with me over the next few weeks for some special (and inexpensive) "us" time?

"How much do you like to spread it out?" I asked.

"Maybe twice a week... but more realistically, once a week."

I just looked at him.

What is the use of waiting nine years for a series to end if not to watch nine seasons in a period of six days or less?

I tried to explain to him how "cancelled" or "retired" series-watching worked, but he would have none of it.

And then I was forced to replace him.

Although Austin has watched The West Wing before, he agreed to watch it again. And because I taught him at a very young, impressionable age, he knows how to watch it.

"Do you want to watch one more, Mom? It's only 1:32 a.m."

It's very gratifying when you realize you "raised one right."

Mikie and I watch Duck Dynasty after church on Wednesday nights. We watch the most current episode, and then we walk away. When the season is over, we will wait seven or eight months for the series to return again.

We like living on the wild side.

RANDOMNESS #2 - The First Week of School will soon be one for the history books. Roxie has had homework every night this week, along with basketball practice.

I offered her a "Friday Homeschooling Option" last night.

"What's that?" she asked.

"Every Friday, you can stay home with me, and we'll homeschool my way," I explained.

"What does that mean?" she asked again.

"First, we'll sleep until we wake up so we'll be well-rested and ready to learn. Second, we'll beautify and get ready for our field trip. Third, we'll go shopping for a new purse since we didn't have time to get one before school started Monday (what with it starting 24 hours earlier than we had originally planned). Fourth, we'll have lunch at an old barbecue joint I saw on Andrew Zimmerman: Bizarre Food in Alabama. Fifth, we'll go see the new movie The Butler because of it's entertainment value AND historical relevance."

I looked at her. I didn't know if she needed more convincing, so I said, "We'll go to at least three stores and 'compare' shop for the purses. That will count as Math. As we're eating our barbecue featured on Andrew Zimmerman: Bizarre Food in Alabama, we'll talk about the digestive system. That will be our Science. And I think it's pretty self-explanatory why we chose The Butler for a homeschooling Friday."

"Do you mean it? Can we really do that?" she asked.

"Would you really go with me?" I asked.

"We probably need to wait a few weeks before we start. There are football games and lunch and I have a lot of friends in my classes on Friday."

Curses. Foiled again!

"Well, I wish you had mentioned that before I worked on my lesson plan. Those things don't just write themselves, you know."

I think I'll try again in November.

RANDOMNESS #3 - Austin received his first "Professional" paycheck this past week.


Hopefully, there will be many, many more of these in his future.

Blog Linkage

1. Go to Nitty.Gritty. and read today's post entitled "The day that Daddy came back." I love stories about good daddies.

2. Go to www.kellehampton.com and read yesterday's post entitled "Enjoying: Car Line." Kelle puts a "positive" spin on the car line situation... and I like that about her.

Weekend Happenings

1. Friday is a pretty simple day. Roxie's going to the first football game. Austin is working at the Chick. AND JOSH IS COMING HOME FOR THE WEEKEND! Pretty simple AND pretty great.

2. Saturday will be filled with car washing, I think. There isn't a clean vehicle on the property, and I want that to change... tomorrow.

3. I haven't mentioned it, but Sunday I'll be celebrating my 52nd family birthday party at my Mom's house. Katie will bake me a spectacular cake (because that is what she does), and I will open gifts (because that is what I do) and fun will be had by all (but, especially me).

I don't actually turn 52 until next Monday, but it has been my experience in five decades that when someone invites you over to feed you birthday cake and give you gifts, you don't haggle about the actual date as much as you just RUN to the venue where the event will be taking place.

And in case any of you are wondering... I'm continuing to age exceptionally well.


Perhaps you recall my "gray sweater/gray pumpkin" pic from a year ago.

With the right angle, lighting, DISTANCE and so much more, I AM AGELESS!

Have a lovely weekend. The cooler temps have left Central Alabama and have been replaced by 100 percent humidity... as it should be in August.

I'll be back Monday with a little birthday celebration (narrative and pics), Randomness, a new recipe I HOPE will actually happen between now and then... and more.

Take care, and I'll talk to you next week.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda

P.S. Sorry about the lack of pics. I've posted some animal photos to fill in the gaps today. Some old and some new.