I’ll start by saying that it could have been worse.  I actually didn’t notice for a few hours.  (And I’m gonna apologize right now for not having any pictures) Here’s how it went down:

Our niece came over to visit with her two sons (the new one is just nine weeks old, super cute, and slept the whole visit).  Anyway, the girls were playing with their cousin, and they started to play school.  Outside.  Well, fine.  I saw Chloe walk by with a pair of safety scissors in her hand.  My magic mom sense told me that I should definitely question that.  So, I asked her just what exactly she was going to do with those scissors.  She told me that she was going to cut some paper.  Then, just following my gut (or maybe putting an idea in her head), I asked, “You’re not going to cut your hair with those scissors, are you?”  I just had a feeling.  She told me, “no.”  I made her promise, and she did.

They were playing school, we were chatting.  It was pretty hot outside that day, and the girls dug out the (extremely overpriced) spray fan that we got at Disney World.  They were spraying their faces and head to keep cool.

Fast forward to a couple of hours later.  I went out on the deck, and sat down in our little love seat.  As I look at the cushion next to me, I see a tuft of hair, at just about “Chloe-head” level.  So, I yell to Chloe.  She stands in front of me and I ask her, “Chloe, did you cut your hair?”

{{{{crickets chirping}}}}}

“Chloe, did you cut your hair?!?!?!?!”

First, about five seconds of  ”deer in headlights.”

Then, screaming, crying, and “I’m sorry, mom!”

I grabbed the brush and started checking out exactly how bad it was.  She cut the sides, which WAS over her ears.  Not any more.  I laid a guilt trip on her, told her that Jess (our hairdresser) was going to be very disappointed, and that her head looked wacky.  Through the tears, she said to me, “I **sniff, sniff** didn’t know **sniff, sniff* that it wouldn’t **sniff, sniff** LOOK PRETTY!!!!!”

HA!  I had to chuckle a little.  So, she went to school the next day with everything tucked behind her ears.  We took her to Jess (at Hot Heads Hair Design) today, and I think I like the way she fixed it better than the original haircut.

Let’s just call that one a joint effort

Have a great rest of your weekend!!!

Tomorrow is the last day of school.  Here’s a list of things I’m ready for:

• SLEEPING IN!
• Heading to the matinee
• Lazy mornings in PJ’s
• Trips for ice cream
• The kids splashing in the pool
• The drive in
• Riding bikes on the trail
• Carnivals

Things I’m not looking forward to:

• “I’m bored!”
• “She hit me!”
• “I’m hot!”
• Keeping their brains working

So, I guess I AM looking forward to summer.  But I also get excited about them going back to school.  Seeing that back to school is 76 days away, I’m just going to enjoy the Summer stuff first.  Then I can get excited about new pencils, glue sticks, teachers and outfits.  I’ve decided that I’m going to take some time to ACT LIKE A KID this summer.  I may even put my bathing suit on once or twice.  Why?  Because this is the last summer that I am IN MY THIRTIES!  I’m going to be carefree (I hope), fun and silly.  I will eat popsicles.  I will draw with chalk.  I will jump rope.  I will teach my kids to do a cartwheel.  Don’t get me wrong…I’m not going to be a boring, strict 40 year old.  But I think I’ll suck up the last bit of my thirties, and then get back to ‘the grind’ once I turn 40 and school starts again.

ENJOY THE START OF SUMMER!!!!!

There are parts of summer that get a little trying, though.  Although Becca and Chloe generally get along, there will be afternoons where they can’t be in the same room together without being mean to each other.  I’m sure there will also be lots of “I’m bored!!!” and “There’s nothing to do!”  I’ll take it though.  I think I’m ready.  But if you talk to me in August, I might be singing a different tune.

My friend Marlo asked me yesterday if I was going to be sad that they are both going to be in school all day come the fall.  You know what?  I’m not.  I don’t mean that in a greedy way, though.  I will definitely miss all our little conversations and cuddles.  And I WILL like to have some time back to myself.  But more than anything, I’m proud of them.  I’m proud of they way the girls became great friends on vacation.  I’m proud of they way they made friends in the pool.  I love that they are buddies, and ready to take on the Primary School as a team. I’m proud that they’re not extremely annoying or mean to other people.

I really think that I will enjoy watching them flourish, watching them make more friends, help people and become more confident.  I’m excited for the unknown that will happen as they grow older.  I will mention, though, that my tune may again change when they are older…like 13 and 15.  I can’t see that being too easy.

Have a great weekend, and GET READY FOR SUMMER!

But we had a blast.  We went on the kids’ favorite, the Jackrabbit at least three times.  We hit all of the classics…the Paratrooper, the Kangaroo, the Pirate Ship, the Turtle.  We went on Noah’s Ark, which completely freaked Becca out. (Chloe was a little scared too, but she just hides it better).  I think that most of Becca’s problem was having a couple of 11 or 12 year old boys behind her, making extra noise.  Becca was actually tall enough for the Racer and The Exterminator.  Which she thoroughly enjoyed (although, because The Exterminator is dark, she just sort of clenched my hand in fear the entire time.  But when we exited, she was really excited about it.).  The kids played games, won stuffed animals, got their cotton candy and had an overall great day.

Because the lines were so short, we really had ridden all that we wanted to ride by 4:30.  So, we headed home.  On the trip back, I asked the girls what their favorite part of the day was.  Chloe said it was winning the stuffed animals and riding the Jackrabbit.  Becca said stuffed animals and the Racer.  Then I asked what their least favorite part of the day was.  I was expecting Becca to say that it was Noah’s Ark, but she threw me a curve by saying that it was riding the three rides she rode in Kiddieland.  Chloe agreed.

There’s a little part of my heart that is sad about that.  They used to be so excited to get on those rides.  They look at me, so proud that they could ride something on their own.  That day, however, they looked at me like I was making them watch a documentary on making cheese.  I guess I can’t avoid the fact that they have to grow up.  At least I get to ride the fun rides with them!

Speaking of that, I had the opportunity to cross something off my bucket list (the Skycoaster).  Problem was, they were only accepting triple rides (meaning you had to have three people to go).  The girls were tall enough to go on, and I actually pressed it a bit.  Chloe was more than willing, but Becca wasn’t so sure.  Then Tony looked at me and very gently asked, “Do you want to be the Mom who scars them for life on Mothers’ Day?”

OK, guess not.  I’ll have to try another day…

Me?

I knew I had to drive to the North Side, while the Pitt game was happening (crappy loss) in this ‘first snow.’ I was pleasantly surprised, though.  It wasn’t too bad driving.  Usually those first flakes just freak people out.  Seems that us Pittsburghers don’t really get used to driving in the snow until maybe February.  I’m guessing that all the bad drivers were going to the mall.  I’ve come to this conclusion after driving on Black Friday.

Maybe it was due to lack of sleep, or the sheer excitement of ‘getting the deal.’  But there were many drivers (I hate to say it, but many WOMEN drivers) who either forgot how to drive or never learned.  There wasn’t a mass amount of traffic.  But still, there were problems merging onto the highway.  I merged in behind a white minivan who then continued to drive 45 miles per hour on the highway.

It’s a good thing my patience is one of my greatest traits.

My father, because he was a cop on the streets for so many years, has his own theories about drivers.  And the older I get, the more they turn out to be true.  These are the two that have stuck with me (although I’m sure there are more, right Dad?)

1. All the bad drivers come out on Sunday.  It’s a fact.  When I used to work at the airport, I worked every Sunday.  I would start at all different times of the day, from 6:00 in the morning to 4:00 in the afternoon.  EVERY SUNDAY I would have problems with other drivers.  Usually they were going to slow, or were afraid to do things like merge.  Or they would stop for green lights.  Maybe they thought they were about to turn yellow.  Who knows.
2. Never drive behind an old man in a hat.  They are terrible, slow drivers.  Over my past 23 years of driving I’ve put this one to the test.  I get behind old men in hats just to test the theory.  I’ve never gotten behind an old man in a hat who is a good driver.  Never.  I’m not sure if it has something to do with the hat or not.

You may have already known these things.  But we sometimes forget to tell our children, nieces and nephews who are new drivers.  So, consider this a public service message.  Tell all the newer drivers in your life to remember these two things.

And please, please….don’t become an old man in a hat.

As an adult, I still enjoy Halloween.  But it sure has changed.  First off, it’s changed for the kids.  In my neighborhood growing up, we had a parade which was then followed by trick-or-treat.  Although it was a bit unconventional…we did our trick-or-treating on the Saturday before Halloween, in the afternoon.  ( I think it officially went from 3:00-5:00).  One day, one shot.  We would hit a haunted house some time in October, and we may have had a party at school.

Halloween now starts at the end of September.  I have to admit, we had our Halloween decorations up the third week of September.  We have treat bags for everybody at school.  Each child has a Halloween parade at school.  And there’s the neighborhood parade.  And there’s a pumpkin walk on our walking trail nearby.  Trick or treat at the mall, trick or treat at the hospital (um, not this year…thanks H1N1).  Hell, going to the Halloween store is almost as good as taking the kids to a haunted house.  Even the isles at Wal-mart and Target entertain the kids.  We have Halloween pencils, Halloween erasers, Halloween shirts and socks.

I actually get to go to a GROWN UP Halloween party this year.  Costume?  Um, I’ll figure something out that day.  Trick-or-treating?  I’m just hoping that it doesn’t rain…we did that one year…it wasn’t pretty.  Seeing that I’m pushing 40, on old people medication and get a buzz off of two drinks, my bright eyed child-like view of Halloween has just about vanished.  Although I still enjoy the scary stuff (and the campy stuff), I’m too worried about making the entire month of October chock full of Halloween fun for the kids.

Being responsible can sort of suck.  Until I see them watching Goosebumps, peeking out from under blankets.  And when it’s over, they ask for more.

Hee, hee.  I’ve gotten them all wrapped up in the Halloween crap.  They love it.  And maybe when I have grandkids I’ll get to just ENJOY it instead of PLANNING it.

See?  There is life after 40.

For the longest time I swore that we would never have a dog.  And now?  I have a dog.

I have also said that, for me, getting a degree (which I never DID actually get, even though I attended college) was not important.  I felt that I would always work for myself, and I could learn things on my own if I needed to.

Wanna know what I’ve been doing for the past couple of days?

Looking at school.

I’ve been checking out different programs, looking at how much things cost and contemplating what I want to be when I grow up.  Our life could actually go on just fine the way it is.  I’m the work at home mommy, Tony heads off to the restaurant to work.  We are financially comfortable, but it sometimes gets difficult to stash for a rainy day or make large purchases (like the deck we never put on our house).  The work that I do for the restaurant can GENERALLY be done in an hour or two a day.  But lately I’ve been thinking about what I’m going to do when Chloe heads off to kindergarten next year.

Now, don’t get me wrong…for a week or two I’d love to get them on the bus, come home, and go back to bed.  I have plenty of sleeping to catch up on.  But after that?  Who knows.

When I went to college after high school, I didn’t really go because I WANTED to go.  I went because I was SUPPOSED to go.  I didn’t have a plan.  I switched majors.  I tried different classes.  I was an education major.  I was a math major.  I was in engineering.  I think for a semester it was computer science, too.  But I was young, I was having fun, and when I started tending bar I had enough money to live.  I didn’t have any sort of burning desire. I didn’t have a dream.  Tony ALWAYS wanted to have a bar.  He had a goal.  Me?  notsomuch

I found a great program that I could take online.  It’s for Internet Marketing, which is something I’ve already dabbled in.  It’s through Full Sail University (which is physically in Winter Park, FL).  It’s something I’m already interested in.  It would give me some skills that I could use to gain employment OR help me to make money online.  But here’s the deal:  The program is $53,000.  Remember above when I said it’s hard to make large purchases?  Well, that’s a pretty big one.  And there’s no need to add that much to our little pile of debt.

So, I’ve been poking around CCAC (our local community college), and they have a couple of programs I’m interested in.  I pulled up my transcript.  I was amazed that I actually have 61 college credits.  (I actually have more!  Some are over at Pitt, but I can’t pull my transcript up online).  So, I think I’m going to give them a call this week and talk to an advisor.  There are even two programs that I can take online (an associates degree and a certificate).

But, uh, that whole thing I said about not wanting or needing a degree?

I’m a woman, and I’m entitled to change my mind.

I wonder what else I’m going to change my mind about.  For the love of god, if I start listening to country music, watching professional basketball or cooking a healthy dinner every day somebody smack me!

1. Inspire Bill for  idea for a book (I think I did this that night, but I can’t remember the book idea)
2. Teach Tony a lesson (remember…we were broken up.  And I taught him a lesson – I married him )
3. Learn how to fix a car
4. Be in a talk show audience
5. Roast a turkey – It wasn’t exactly the most fantastic turkey, but it wasn’t terrible
6. Quit smoking – nope, haven’t done that one yet
7. Convince Janelle she’s not fat (Janelle was a co-worker of ours.  She was not fat. Haven’t seen her in years.)
8. Go to Fiji
9. Open a bar (I’m surprised this was on my list back then.  But did it…livin’ the dream)
10. Get a degree (Although I attended college, I never did get a degree.  I’m not sure I want that one to stay on the list, though.  In my opinion, I can learn what I want to learn without getting a degree.  The only reason I would need a degree would be to advance at a job.  I plan on being my own boss for the rest of my life)
11. Drink at Sal’s Bar – Sal’s bar was a little bar in Crafton, PA.  It was an old guy bar. But I always wanted to go in.  I did.  It burned down a few years after I went in, so it’s a good thing I crossed it off when I did.
12. Get a tattoo – I did that.  Twice.  And they were both during that ‘break-up year.’
13. Marry a rich man – Semantics, semantics.  Tony was not rich when we married.  We are not rich now.  But who’s to say we won’t become rich?  I’m holding out for that.
14. Scuba Diving – I’ve been snorkeling, but never scuba diving.
15. Get a bitchin’ car – Yeah, that’s still on the list.  Unless you count a Chrysler Pacifica as a bitchin’ car.   No?  I didn’t think so
16. Drive on the autoban – Another interesting one….
17. Be on a t.v. show
18. See a volcano
19. Belly button pierced – that was when I was skinny.  No more.
20. Go to Seattle
21. Finish this list (I think it was actually ‘finish writing this list.’  That’s why it’s crossed off)
22. Paint a picture

So, that was the bucket list from way back when.  Sorry I didn’t get to finish this weekend.  I met up with old friends, headed to the science center, cleaned, napped…it was all good.

Anyway, you’ll notice that there’s no mention of kids or a family on this list.  Well, if I had written this list either six months earlier or six months later, that stuff would have been on there.   But, as I said, I was a woman scorned at the time, and had (temporarily) given up on the whole “white picket fence, 2.2 kids, American dream” thing.

I’m going to work on this list.  And, I think I’ll create a new one.  I may leave some stuff off that’s on this old list.  But I have plenty more to add.  I’ll need to think about it a little.  I’d love to see your bucket list!  Please share   You can leave a link in the comments here, or send me something on twitter (@hdowney) or facebook (facebook.com/heatherdowney).

Have a great day!

Anyway, I was poking around in the garage, seeing if I had enough crap to participate in our neighborhood garage sale.  I didn’t get very much accomplished, but I DID come across a bunch of old memories.  I looked through yearbooks.  I found an old program from my High School musical.  And I found this:

It’s a list of things I want to do before I die.  There’s some more on the other side, so I’ll save that for tomorrow. So, let’s investigate this a little further, mmmmkay?  Just remember – when I wrote this I was 24, drinking beer in a bar, and Tony and I were ‘on a break.’ (read:  he broke up with me, and we didn’t get back together for a year).

1. Kill Bill (Bill was my very good friend at the time. I didn’t really want to kill him, but he must have been getting on my nerves)
2. Skydiving – Yes, I’ve had the opportunity a couple of times recently.  I will do this.  Maybe next year.
3. Learn to play the harmonica – Interesting…
4. New Ride at Kennywood.  I still haven’t ridden this.  At this time, the new ride was the Skycoaster. I just haven’t gotten to it yet, because I’m not a fan of parting with the money.  But I will.
5. Ice Skating – I had done it when I wrote this, but I wanted to make sure I did it again.  I did
6. Roller Skating – Um, same as number 5
7. White Water Rafting – Did it, had fun, drank beer after.
8. Skiing (Ski) – I think I meant snow skiing here I’ve still never gone. I don’t really want to.  But I should do it once in my life
9. Skiing (Water) – Again, never did it.  Don’t really WANT to, but I should.
10. NYC – I have been to New York.  We went in high school and saw Cats.  But I want to go back one more time.
11. Disney World – When I wrote this, I had only been there as a kid.  I have since gone with Tony a couple of times.
12. Cancun – Yup, same as number eleven.
13. Paintball – I have played paintball.  But I don’t think (although I’m not exactly sure) that I’ve done it again since I wrote this list.
14. Ride a Dolphin
15. Go to Idaho (Please, remember…I was drinking when I wrote this…no offense to anybody in Idaho)
16. Move Out – I did this a few months after writing this
17. Blow a bubble bigger than my head
18. Milk a cow
19. Surf
20. Parasail
21. See Pearl Jam in concert (Not so sure I’m up for concerts, but I’d try again for Pearl Jam.  I think.)
22. Eat 1 lb of grape jelly beans (There’s no way I could do it in one sitting, though)
23. Build a cool sand castle (I’ve build sand castles, but nothing really COOL)
24. Pet a giraffe
25. See Letterman
26. Kill 2 birds with 1 stone ( I think I meant this literally…if not, I can cross it off)
27. Go to Vegas (Yup, never been to Vegas)
28. Meet Brad Pitt

Stay tuned for 29-50 tomorrow!

Truth be told, I LOVE Kennywood. I’ve held onto that love of roller coasters since I was five years old. My first big memory of coasters goes back to West View Park. I used to ride the kiddie coaster over and over and over again. Then the park closed. If it had stayed open just one more year, I would have been old enough to ride the big coaster. No worries, though. There were plenty of other places to ride coasters.

Now, Becca and Chloe aren’t quite tall enough to ride all the ‘big’ rides, but they ARE tall enough for the Jackrabbit. They both love it, and have been talking about it all week. And Kennywood has the best food, too (Unlike Cedar Point, whose food absolutely sucks!). I’m gearing up for some Potato Patch fries, a corn dog, some funnel cake and our traditional exodus treat…cotton candy. (Wow. Fried, fried, fried and sugar). By the time we get back tonight, my feet will hurt, my patience will probably be fried (heh, heh…more fried), and I’ll need a Tums or two. But that’s how it always ends, and I still consider it a great day.

So, Sookie, Bill and Eric will have to wait. I’m sure they will be a read that lasts until 2:00 in the morning.

Oh, I did get another book with my Amazon order. It’s a collection of short stories called “Bite,” and Charlaine Harris has a Sookie story in it. I enjoyed the story (It’s about her cousin Hadley’s death), but I wouldn’t suggest purchasing the book just for that story (like I did). It was only thirty or so pages, and I could have lived without it. Or tracked it down at a library.

So, Happy Mothers’ Day, whatever you decide to do! And a big thank you to my Mom. Although I appreciated her before I had my own children, now I really ‘get it.’ And she did a hell of a job. And she kept her sanity. Amazing.

***OOH, one last thing. As I was gathering links to this post, I found that you can pre-order the NEXT Sookie Stackhouse book, due out October 6th. Looks like the name of it is “A Touch of Dead.” Yeah, I’m gonna have to go do that. Once I get some extra ‘me’ cash!