It's not easy being married to Mr. Perfect...

This morning was not a good morning. I got up 10 minutes late. I'm annoyed. It's raining. Tom tries to feed the kids pepper ham for lunch and I point out they don't like pepper stuff and won't eat it, so I'm annoyed I have to mix up the tuna fish and notice the stove and table were never wiped down after dinner, all that little stuff. So I'm double annoyed.

He leaves for school (substitute teacher) and the kids are IMPOSSIBLE. Not getting dressed, not brushing their hair. At one point I told them they could just walk to school in the rain and the next I told them "fine, we're not going to school" (Jamie, of course, was down with that). Just a bad morning.

So, I come back and a friend is on Skype and I'm venting to her that while Tom is this great husband, he's also a pain in the butt and I'm tired of being the one that always thinks of things ahead of time...

And then I get a text from Tom. "Look under ur keyboard".

Where I find this letter - and $20. (click to see it cuz I'm not retyping it)



Bastard. He makes it so hard to stay mad at him! Dagnabit! *laugh*

Sigh. I think I'll save the $20 and get us all Blizzards after the kids get their flu shots today. We all deserve them.

I guess at the end of the day, really the table and stove and all that stuff that annoys me when we forget is so minor...

I do want that maid though! ;)

A special comment on an old post

I get comments emailed to me so I know when someone comments here. I got a touching one to a 9/11 tribute I participated in back in 2006. I remember doing research on the NY fire fighter I was assigned. I was honored to learn more about him and be able to acknowledge him and his (not to mention his family's) sacrifice on that day. I am even more honored that a friend of his found our blog and took time to share a few memories with me. Check it out here - http://www.beauchampfamily.com/2006/09/911-tribute-louis-arena-ladder-5-fdny.html. It's interesting and I think that project touched me in ways I wasn't expected. I still think of him when 9/11 comes around or someone mentions it. Thank you, Eddie, for taking the time. Louie sounds like he was a true friend to many.

Here's your sign...

I have no idea why, but our neighborhood gets an INSANE number of people knocking on my door trying to sell me everything from siding to meat to jesus. The poor siding guy did me in this morning, so after telling him to go away, I made this.



And yes, it really is hanging up. I wonder if it will work. I really really really really hope so. My sanity depends on it!

Houston Wine Conference - possible road trip

A few of my friends over in Houston are holding this Wine Conference. Looks to be really good food and wine there. I'm not really a wine drinker though, but love new and interesting foods. I wonder if they will laugh me out of there? I think it sounds fun actually. Hmmm... anyway, here's some info. Any of my Amoms interested in a road trip? I wonder if us Austin girls can get kicked out of a wine thing? Hmmmm.... ;)

HOUSTON'S FIRST WINE CONFERENCE ARRIVES IN SEPTEMBER
Houston, TX – September 10, 2009 – Wine enthusiasts and foodies from around the country will converge on Houston September 26th for the highly anticipated Wine Conference. The event aims to connect people of all levels of knowledge and palates with experts in the fields of food and wine. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from and mingle with key speakers in an intimate setting, taste dozens of wines from around the world, and sample food from Houston's finest chefs.

The 2009 Wine Conference will showcase dozens of wines from countries including France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Israel, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Portugal, the U.S.A., and more. Wine makers and distributors pouring at this star-studded event include Virtuoso Selection, Fleischer Wines, Messina Hof, Salute!, Janco Beverage, American-Nordic, as well as several others to be announced.

Celebrity chefs include Iron Chef contestant Robert Gadsby (most recently of Bedford's fame), James Beard award-nominated Monica Pope of t’afia, Food & Wine magazine’s “Best New American Chef” Scott Tycer and Plinio Sandalio of Textile, Randy Rucker of Rainbow Lodge, Carmelo Mauro of Carmelo’s, Jonathan Jones of Beavers, and Clive Berkman.

A key element of The Wine Conference will be the educational sessions held in an intimate venue. Conference tracks will feature wine luminaries Gary Vaynerchuck, founder and Host of Wine Library TV; Guy Stout, Master Sommelier, CWE; Denman Moody, Wine Writer and Critic; Shawn Dougherty, CSW, Sommelier, CSWE; and Richard Shaffer, of Israeli Wine Direct. Discussions will focus on wine today, old world vs. new world, origins of wine, sharing your passion, discovering your sense of taste, and where to start. Learn more about the speakers at
http://www.TheWineConference.com/category/speakers.

"We wanted to create a wine event on a more intimate scale that would focus on educating our attendees and allow them personal access to renowned experts", said Wine Conference co-founder Geri Druckman. "The Wine Conference is a unique opportunity to experience the finest food and wine with leading experts in a fun, unpretentious environment."

Tickets for the premier Wine Connoisseur track are $149 each; tickets for the Wine Enthusiast track are $85 each. Limited space is available. Find out more about the tracks and register today at http://www.TheWineConference.com/register.

Follow The Wine Conference on Twitter via @WineConference, sign up for the newsletter at
http://www.TheWineConference.com/newsletter, and stay current with the conference on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/WineConference. For more information about The 2009 Wine Conference, visit http://www.TheWineConference.com.

What the flock?

Last night between and 6 and 10pm, a dozen or so pink flamingos showed up on my lawn along with a sign. We didn't venture too far out in the yard because it was dark and we were tired.

We've had some odd things happen to our yard over the years (someone stabbed our blow up Frankenstein, knocked over pumpkin heads, dumped and crushed a LOT of holiday lights into the our yard, random mostly harmless kid stuff like that), so we assumed some kids gathered up stuff from other people's yard and played a prank. No biggie. I posted to our neighborhood listserv that if someone was missing their flamingos, that I had them and they were welcome to come get them. Hey, who am I to judge how people decorate their yards...

Well, come to find out, this is a fundraiser for Westwood High School Project Graduation. So an anonymous friend (who-shall-remain-nameless*ahem*Martha*ahem*) had them to sent to us. How fun!



They will be here for 48 hours or so and then be removed. I donated to the cause because I thought it was hilarious. This one is pretty straight forward, but apparently there are other variations where you "have" to pay to get them removed from your yard. Or you can pay to have them moved to a friend's (or enemy's I suppose) yard... you can even buy flamingo insurance. LOL.

Anyway, fun! And it's for a good cause.

And now for a special annoucement...

Lanel Taylor, who works with me and is a fabulous friend and lady, is doing the Komen for the Cure. Please click here to if you are able to help. Even $5 helps this worthy cause (and it's tax deductible). Thanks much!

This has affected a few of my family members and I've seen friends go through a few scares as well. The risk factors are easy - you are female and you are getting older. Every year I try to give to breast cancer research in the hopes that we find a cure - if not in my lifetime, in my children's lifetime.

If you can help, then please do so, otherwise, please take a moment to post a note of encouragement to Lanel - you can just comment here :)

Thank you!