Greatest Birthday Card EVER!

I've reached the age where you don't receive many birthday cards.  Other than family, I only received one this year.  I'm not complaining - I didn't have to cook on my birthday and that is ALL that mattered.

My favorite card arrived from Japan.  I don't know where she found this card, but it is the perfect birthday card for me.  I would have purchased it for myself.  The card has made it to the hallowed "refrigerator gallery" in the kitchen and has given me many a chuckle since its arrival.

I've decided to share.  Thanks, Bethany - you are a gem!



and the inside...

The Cart O' Crap & "The Stranger"

Heathen #1 was old enough this year to join the high school's indoor percussion ensemble.  This year's performance piece is entitled "The Stranger" and was written by the director, Jon Donath.  It is a great piece of music and the kids do a fantastic job.

My child plays in the pit, on an instrument that I have lovingly dubbed the "Cart O'Crap."  It is this really bizarre looking thing on wheels that holds all of the odd, accent-making type instruments.


Heathen #1 and his
"Cart O' Crap"



Heathen #1 and his "Cart"
on the performance floor.

The entire piece is several minutes long, but you can hear a small portion here (and see Heathen #1 in action!)  Enjoy!

Breaking Boards

Heathens #1 and #2 have completed belt testing again for Tang Soo Do. Both Heathens past with flying colors (and kicks!) and were awarded their orange belts!  



  

Heathen #1 preparing to break a board.

 


Heathen #1 starting a side kick.



Heathen #1 receiving his orange belt.




Heathen #2 doing a "mid level knife defense."



Heathen #2 preparing to break a board.



Heathen #2 receiving his orange belt.



Re-Pete Goes Home

We found the stray's home!!!!  I didn't have to take him up to the pound (thank heavens!).  His owner remarked on how much our dogs looked alike.  This was the best picture I got of the two of them together.

Pete and Re-Pete

Pete and Re-Pete

Life is never boring at my Zoo.

Today, I pulled up to the house around 3:45.  As I was parking the car, a dog crossed the street in front of me.  And it was my Bantley.  He had slipped his collar or wiggled out of it.  Either way, he wasn't wearing it.

I got out of the car and called him, and he just looked at me.  He came a little closer, but then he bolted.  And that isn't like Bantley at all.  Heathen #2 went into the house to find his collar for me.  He immediately came back outside and told me, "Mom, that isn't Bantley.  Bantley's inside!"



Bantley is on the right.



This is the stray.

Can you believe how much they look alike?  We coaxed the stray inside finally around 5 pm.  None of us recognized him from the neighborhood.  So we now have a house guest until tomorrow afternoon when I can run him up to the SPCA.

Right now, the three of them are having a ball playing together.  Poor Duchess won't be able to move tomorrow.  She's getting a little old for this.  But at least Bantley has someone to keep up with him!

Costume Hunting in March

On Friday of last week, Heathens #2 and #3 came home and announced that they had to dress as their favorite storybook character on Wednesday of next week for school.  Ummm.....  okay.

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to throw together two storybook character costumes for BOYS with almost no warning?  It was definitely not a fun experience.

First, there were the discussions of (these are all my lines):
Who do you want to be?
That's not a storybook character.  That's from a cartoon.
No, that's not a storybook character.  That's from a movie.
No, that's a TV show.
(Repeat this conversation in your head for 3 DAYS with 2 Heathens who are NOT getting the picture.)

My mother-in-law did have a Peter Pan costume that would possibly fit Heathen #3.  But I didn't have anything for Heathen #2.  Finally, I went to the local costume store and spent an obnoxious amount of money on a costume for #2 and a fall-back costume for #3 in case Peter Pan didn't fit.

Here are the Heathens dressed for "Read Across America" Day:

Heathen #3 as Peter Pan

Heathen #2 as the Scarecrow from Wizard of Oz

Heathens #2 and #3 at the bus stop on "Read Across America" Day

Pink Vest Guy

I've always known that I'm married to a very social guy.  I've always known he has a good heart.  But I love it when drunk women take a shine to him and he's too nice to escape them!

Saturday night was the Pink Ribbon Ball.  I had found "the" dress the Thursday before, we rounded up another couple to go with us, I had found a sitter at the last minute, we were going to have a great time!

The Asst. Zookeeper met this lady in line for the bar and she just adored him.  She kept calling him "Pink Vest Guy" (for obvious reasons).  She was very polite about asking me if she could dance with him since "it is SO hard to find a man that dances.  You are SO lucky.  Are you SURE you don't mind?"

The Pink Vest Guy and his admirer

The theme was centered around birthdays and they gave everyone a hat.  This is the only picture of the Asst. Zookeeper and his hat that I would publish.  I have another one the simply SCREAMS "Madonna!"

Heather and I had a great time watching the boys dance and cut loose!