Spoiled on Valentine's Day...and Feeling The Guilt

I am feeling both spoiled... and like a chump right now.

I thought we were spending Valentine's on a date. We made dinner plans and chose a suitably romantic movie. I thought that was our gift to each other. Then I got breakfast delivered to me--freshly baked vanilla bread pudding.

What strikes fear in every woman who is trying to lose weight's heart? The pink box.



When I saw the pink box any woman who is trying to lose weight dreads, my heart fell. Then it crescendo-ed when he said with a gentle smile it was filled with fresh laundry. No scary, skimpy piece of lace. Nope, he did my laundry. He gets me!


Then I saw the roses. No fanfare. Left for me to find after he left for work. My friends? I thought the date was our gift. I had nothing for him.

Chump. And now for more chump....

For the kids, we didn't do our usually elaborate Valentines. Store bought with a cute backpack pin and blow pop at the last minute seemed just fine to Li'l Man.

PB and Eldest had made such a stink last year about having to carry around Valentine's treats that I took them at their word. PB even reminded me several weeks ago of the horrible mom I was "forcing her" to carry around a basket of treats at Halloween treats to all her classes. She did not want a repeat.

Then last night, both she and Eldest, realizing I was taking them at their word, asked at 9 PM if we could go to the store for treats for their friends.

I said no way. I felt a little miffed they expected me to go to the store last minute. I felt unappreciated from past years of staying up until midnight for their over the top treats for all their friends. So? I held my ground even though PB was working her incredible disappointed, sad baby girl face...

This morning I got this box from them. My husband and the kids had made a box full of handmade caramels, dipped in chocolate, and sprinkled with sea salt. My favorite:

PB was chosen as the box decorator and every inch of the box was covered:

She left for school with no Valentines and with me feeling even more guilt.

I ended up getting showered in breakfast made for me, handmade chocolates, and roses. I let life distract me and gave nothing in return. Who knew gifts could make a mother feel so craptacular. Sigh...

'lisciously scribed by Scout's Honor @ 8:59 AM 6 Witty Comments For Me  

Mixing it up in My Marriage: Otherwise Known As I Watch Too Much Food Network With My Husband

I do not have a normal marriage.

I repeat. I do not have a normal marriage. I am not sure I know anyone who does.

Yet, don't we all expect relationships straight from the Lifetime network? No, no not the psychodrama murder thy wife ones. You know. The Hallmark, Anne of Green Gables, Wear a tiara, and live happily ever after marriages.

Anyway, I try to challenge that happily ever after yawnfest by pushing my husband. He lately has become a grumpapus. So what do I do after cleaning, packing up the kids, and going to various after school activities until 8:30 tonight?

After he's worked a 12 hour day which I am sure is really, really stressful because his work environment is all mohawks, flip flips, and Yoda T-Shirts and rhymes with Cram-as-many-pretty-things-on-to-my-wish-list-a-zon.

Gawd, I hope his snot is not one of the ingredients.

So what about you? What challenge are you going to give your husband tonight?

'lisciously scribed by Scout's Honor @ 9:00 AM 0 Witty Comments For Me  

Washington Gay Marriage: Republican Representative Maureen Walsh Speaks Out in Favor of Same Sex Marriage

My friends. Most of you know I am a fiscal conservative. I often call myself a MODERATE Republican.

However, I am often NOT proud of what my party does-- really what a minority in my party does--that reflects on me. I have often shuddered at the ugliness of what certain outspoken Tea Party advocates shout or the bigotry and close-mindedness of fringe parts of the Christian Right push on to the Republican agenda.

I have even considered switching to the Libertarian party. But today?

Today, after watching the testimony of Washington Republican Representative Maureen Walsh, I am in love.

I love her bravery.

I love her ability to go against the grain of our party and do what is right.

What is fair. What is equal.

Transcript:

I don’t wax as eloquently as most of the people on the floor here, but I have allowed my heart and mind to guide me on a lot of different decisions I’ve made in the legislature. I think sometimes that’s what we have to do.

I too don’t want to wag my finger at anybody about which way to vote on this. It’s certainly an issue of consciousness for me that I’ve been weighing very heavily for the past few weeks.

You know, I was married for 23 years to the love of my life and he died 6 years ago. I think of all the wonderful years we had and the wonderful fringe benefits of having 3 beautiful children. I don’t miss the sex, and to me that’s kind of what this boils down to. I don’t miss that… I mean I certainly miss it, but it’s certainly not the aspect of that relationship, that incredible bond I had with that human being, that I really really genuinely wish I still had. And so I just think to myself: how could I deny anyone the right to have that incredible bond with another individual in life. To me it seems almost cruel.

Years ago my daughter went to elementary school. Many of you have met my daughter she’s a fabulous girl, she’s wonderful, my boys are great too, but she’s really something special. She was the light of her father’s eye.

So she went to school and there were a whole group of kids picking on another kid, and you know, my daughter stuck up for that kid. Even though it wasn't the popular thing to do it was the right thing to do. I was never more proud of my kid than knowing she was speaking against the vocal majority on behalf of the rights of the minority. And to me, it is incumbent upon us as legislators in this state to do that. That is why we are here.

And I shudder to think that if folks who had preceded us in history did not do that, frankly I’m not sure I would be here as a woman. I’m not sure other people would be here due to their race or creed. And to me that is what’s disconcerting.

And someone made the comment that this is not about equality. Well yes it is about equality. And why in the world would be not allow those equal rights for individuals who are truly committed to one another in life to be able to show that in the way of a marriage.

My daughter came out of the closet a couple of years ago and you know what I thought I was going to agonize about that. Nothing’s different. She’s still a fabulous human being and she met someone she loves very much. And some day, by God, I want to throw a wedding for that kid. And someday I hope that’s what I can do. I hope she will not feel like a second-class citizen involved in something called a “domestic partnership” which frankly sounds like a Mary Maids franchise to me.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. That’s all I want to say.

How often do we see partisan politics force politicians to tout the party line or coalesce, moving away from the center? It's hard to move away from the pack. Just look at California's Proposition 8. Yes, it's hard to disagree, but not impossible.

'lisciously scribed by Scout's Honor @ 11:14 AM 2 Witty Comments For Me  

Dignified Fraility: Quality of Life for Elderly Pups

Seb is falling. Falling a lot. Each time my heart falls a little bit and breaks into a thousand pieces.

I am starting to get that sinking feeling we had with Grendel. Wondering when the dignity is gone.

With Grendel we knew it would end with the cancer. Hope was futile, so it was all about quality of her life. With Seb, it's not cut and dried. It's arthritis and fatty tumors. It's pain. It's frailty.

Still, we have always based our decision on mobility and more importantly, the wagging of the tail.

When the wag is gone, you know.

Yesterday, I took him on our typical walk around the block with a short detour in the woods. He fell.

And fell.

And fell.

There was very little wagging. It was more a hell-bent challenge he was staring down.

Since I am again dealing with my own health issues, the falls hit home.

I truly was not sure we would make it home. I try to cut our walk short. He refuses to stray from our course. If I pull his leash at all, the slightest pressure knocks him over. Stubborn old man. You win!



We walked 48 minutes and covered less than 3/4 of a mile. He stubbornly trod on. Then we would stop. He looked around dazed for a minute, then suddenly he would regain his momentum and his bearings. We inched on. I let him take the lead.

Three feet walked. One minute rest.

He is at least fourteen years old which is an amazingly long life for the 90 lb. crazy, bouncy, exuberant, naughty, but lovable dog returned twice to a kill shelter in Alaska before we snatched him up.

Now he is wise. He is calm water. He is stubborn. He is too proud for one so frail.

Lead on, Sebastian. Lead on.

'lisciously scribed by Scout's Honor @ 8:54 AM 4 Witty Comments For Me  

Weight Loss, Tigers and Promises to Get Naked: Let's Streak!

Motivation? Do you know where mine went? I've lost it.

It's gone missing. Resolutions gone. Feeling so tired.

I start hating on my body as always so I go to my latest crack Pinterest addiction and find this:




I need to be a @#$% tiger. Any other tigers out there that want to join my streak of tigers? Yes, apparently a pack of tigers is called a streak. I like that.

So much so that when I lose this weight, I promise to streak somewhere.

You heard me. Me prudish Scout. Will. Run. Naked. In. Public. When she loses 90 lbs.

So who is with me?

Yes! Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past, my friends. Heh!

'lisciously scribed by Scout's Honor @ 8:22 AM 4 Witty Comments For Me  

Baby Born on Highway: While Driving [Graphic Video]

Holy crap! Sorry, I am just shocked and amazed at this birth. The parents are just so calm:

Welcome to the world, Willow Mealea. I am so glad you are healthy.

'lisciously scribed by Scout's Honor @ 9:04 AM 2 Witty Comments For Me  

Inspiration

Source: modernemotive.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: i.imgur.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Heather on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Heather on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Heather on Pinterest

Source: funstoo.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

'lisciously scribed by Scout's Honor @ 11:08 PM 3 Witty Comments For Me  

Seattle Ice Storm: No Wussies Here

This stuff is what is taking down huge evergreens and covering highways causing major accidents. If you are in the Seattle area, be safe and stay inside!!

Need a closer look??

Yes very beautiful and even more dangerous. So far we have power , but trees keep snapping which are taking out power lines.

One hundred eighteen thousand homes out of power in Seattle area.

Parking complexes are collapsing from the weight according to the news. Our Seattle snow was already super wet and heavy and now add an inch layer of ice and now more freezing rain!

Formerly of Fairbanks, I am often a label-er of Seattle citizens as being humongous wusses when it comes to snow. Apparently the LA Times and most of the country agrees.

In Fairbanks, they never plowed, it dropped feet at a time, got to -67, and there were never snow days. Seriously, if it was -10 or above, pre-school children were required to get their own #$% snow gear and mittens on and REQUIRED to go outside to play. Today we are on day three of snow days from schools.

I see Seattle snow usually as the most ridiculously entertaining event ever, especially all the douches who abandon cars in the middle of the road or screech about the end of the world because of a little powder on their lawn.

Case in point, this video I posted on Facebook:



Yes, our first two snow days were total crap like the video. But this ice storm today? Mother Nature is not @#$% around so stay inside with your families.

Our family will continue to enjoy. Well all except Eldest:


I am one mean mom. After three days, this is his first time in the snow. Why?

When do kids not look forward to snow days?

When snow days happen the days before finals and their mom gleefully says they now have MORE days to study.

ENDLESS day to scram.

I did take pity and finally let him out:



I even let him go sledding. However, although my Alaska-raised kid typically wears shorts and t-shirts in the snow, I did make him put some gear on. Silly kids!

We don't raise no wussies at the Scouty household!

What's the weather like where you are?

UPDATE: OHHHHHHHHHH CRAP! Power is out at our water station. Seriously CRAP. No flushing. Conserve water. Now this is something new, Seattle! WTF!!

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'lisciously scribed by Scout's Honor @ 9:27 AM 4 Witty Comments For Me