Drivers! Start your Engines! or, "My fabulous day".

Most of the time, I present my staid, conservative side to the world. Today, my true colors came shining through thanks to my hubby's company. We went to the company picnic which was held at the Berlin Raceway. For those of you that follow my hubby's blog, please ignore this post and move about your daily business!

Today, we went to the races! It was awesome! Ok, I hate the overuse of that word, but really…

We arrived and "helped set-up" which amounted to 10 minutes of distributing goodies on to the tables. One of the goodies was temporary tattoos. Yes, I have a tattoo of a racecar on my ankle, and I am proud of it!

Once we had finished that, I excused myself and made a beeline for the racetrack. Sorry folks, I wasn't waiting around for this! I took Ian and Spencer with me. "Mom, it's hot." Were the first words out of their mouths.

"Hold on", I told them, "they are having the qualifier rounds. Let me watch a minute." The first pro-stock car enters the track. We watch as they circle around, the flagman swishes the flag around and Ian retorts, "First one on the track, I'm sure they are going to qualify!" The driver zips around a couple of times, the flagman waves a few more different colored flags, and just when we think the whole round is over, the driver goes in to an unexplained skid and smacks the wall. What a way to start the day.

Things just got better. We watched gobs of races, including one that was 50 laps long. We saw lots of car smashes, many fights for the winner's circle, and yes, my throat is sore from cheering on the winners and losers.

What an excellent day!

Expired!

I was in a car accident on January 12, 2009. You probably already knew that. I just passed the six month mark last week. It is hard to believe it was that long ago!

On January 20th, a handicap parking permit was issued for me. I remembered looking at the date on the tag...July...JULY! No way am I going to need a handicap parking tag in July. By July I will be back to bopping in and out of stores, restaurants, businesses, etc.

It's July. Today the handicap parking permit expired.

While I am not "bopping" anywhere. I do go wherever I want to go. It is amazing to me that I get around well and can continue on after such a trauma. The wheel chair and walker are long gone.

I am blessed to be able to throw that placard away today and not need to request a renewal!

(Although I will miss snagging those close parking spots!)

Getting my life back, one scoop of dirt at a time.

Do you realize that I thrive on "dirt therapy"? I mean, I really like to dig, and plant and even weed.

Over the past few years our yard has become completely out of control. Too many injuries, too little time. We have also realized that fresh starts are more our style than maintenance. It has to do with our upbringing. Both of us.

This year Pat has developed a passion for taking back the landscaping. Last week he pulled out a bunch of bushes, weeds and other manner of detritus in the yard. We realized the shrubs he pulled out were hand-me-downs! Who ever heard of such a thing! They came from my parents’ house when they re-landscaped ten years ago and they just refused to die. They are gone!

Today the boys and I put in a nice bed of perennials. When Spencer and I were shopping, he was convinced I was buying too many plants. I assured him I had done this before and knew what I was doing.

I am thrilled with the result!

...but I'm a pink girl!

Last week my boys went camping. All three boys. The big difference is that this camp out is the WEEK LONG excursion. Many asked what I did with myself all week, let's just say I wasn't bored. Life was good!

I knew I needed to wind down my "girl" week with typical "girl stuff" so of course it was movie and toe nail night. Since I planned this earlier in the day, I decided to treat myself to a new color of polish.

I was happy to be watching a great movie (Marley and Me) and having fab toes. I finished the toes and movie and tenderly stepped out into the light of day.

Coral. I had chosen CORAL nail polish! Aren't he only people that wear coral nail polish old ladies and Floridians?

I don't live in Florida.

Oh Crap!

BMP

For me, bmp used to refer to a type of graphics file. Now, BMP also refers to "Bone Morphogenetic Protein". I have some in me now. It is what they used to repair the clavicle section that didn't heal. So along with a new plate, I have some crazy compound in me that's supposed to help my bones grow together better. Look out Lindsay Wagner, there's a new bionic woman on the scene.

Ok, I am typing one handed again for a while, so maybe not so bionic after all!

What was I thinking?

I rarely watch Oprah.

I rarely jump on the "free" band wagon.

I have a love/hate relationship with KFC!

Something possessed me to join the crowd and download the coupons for the free Kentucky grilled chicken dinner. I even had to download software to print the coupons. Me. Stray software on my computer?! Nonsense!

I went to KFC the day after the coupons were announced. It was mayhem. I left.

Tonight Ian and I needed to provide dinner for ourselves. Ian loves KFC and I happened to have two dinner coupons. Perfect.

NOT!

We excitedly pulled up to the speaker (I know, I know, we should have walked in!) When the perky order voice asked if I would like to try their new grilled chicken, I chimed back with, "as a matter of fact, I had two free coupons for grilled chicken and would like to use them."

Then, Chirpy (pardon me, this is a tough part of the story...) chirpily informed me that they were not not accepting the coupon that I had painstakingly downloaded from the Internet. I could pull up to the window, fill out a form, and get a rain check.

Raincheck! Wha..? Raincheck?

KFC, if you can't keep the promise. Don't make the promise. Raincheck. Ridiculous.

Uplifting Post

Ok. I told you that getting today's earlier post off my chest would get me ready to have more "uplifting" posts, so when I saw this news story, I just had to pass it along. Hopefully, you will be as "uplifted" as I was!

 

Woman's underwire bra
deflects bullet

Bullet did not penetrate her skin

Updated: Wednesday, 22 Apr 2009, 4:21 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 22 Apr 2009, 3:43 PM EDT

DETROIT (AP) - The metal underwire in a Detroit woman's bra is being credited with deflecting a bullet fired at her during a break-in at a neighbor's home.

Detroit police Officer Leon Rahmaan says the 57-year-old woman apparently looked out her window Tuesday when one of three men fired the shot.

He says the slug smashed through her window pane before hitting the bra's underwire. It did not penetrate her skin.

Police say she may have gone to the window after a burglar alarm at the house next door sounded. Her neighbor was not at home at the time.

The suspects drove away after the shooting.