July 4th is right around the corner and I’ve never been more depressed or upset.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty much the most patriotic person I know, with Presidential legacies and all.

And usually on July 4th, since moving to Raleigh, we’ve spent the 4th at a Carolina Mudcats game, celebrating America’s greatest game (that’s debatable…at least on my part), but hot dogs, sodas, ice cream, patriotic music & fireworks.

But this year, since the pool opening party here in Hedingham wasn’t on Memorial Day weekend like it was supposed to…the Board decided to move the party to the 4th.

While I’ve done an event without The Boss…this will be one of my BIG events without The Boss.  And holy hell…do I feel lost.

How many trays of baked beans?  How many of green beans?  Do I do potato salad or cole slaw?  Pudding?  Fresh fruit?  What about the chicken?  And I know I can’t forget the hot dogs.  I did bring back the sno-cones, though.  And NO GRILLING (even though I really, really want to…)

Why did you leave me and not give me any notes on this shit?  All you ever said was, “you do your part & I’ll do mine”.  Well hell, that shit doesn’t help me now.  What do I know of setting the racks?  I mean…I know Lou will be there…but he’s not you.  And as much as I love him….and as much of a help he’ll be….its not you.

I have put this off till the last minute…I know, I know, I KNOW!!  And I’m so at a loss.  I’ll start tomorrow…I promise.

And just for the record…I still miss the arguing.

Yes, I have great lookin chillins (that’s what they’re called here in the South).  But that’s not the reason for this post.

All of my children attend year-round schools (which are AWESOME) and they are currently tracked out until July 7th.  Its nice, they get 9 weeks of school then a 3 week or 4 week vacay (it alternates).

So since we’ve got 4 of the kids home 24/7, there are only so many sessions of Rock Band, Zelda, Mario Party, Sims Racing, Ghostbusters, Call of Duty 3, SimAnimals & the like we can take in this household.  There is only 1 family TV and they’ve got the Wii hooked up to it.  And NO ONE watches my TV (yes…I’m stingy with my toys…I don’t share well.  Oh & I just got Obscure: The Aftermath & if anyone knows how to get out of the frat house…I’d appreciate a tip or two.  Thanks.)

Anywho…the point of this post.  Those two you see to the left of this post kept pestering me & DC wondering what a blog is, what purpose does it serve & can they have one.

So not wanting to be the uncool parents, we relented and gave them each their own blog.

Claudia, the one who looks a hell-a-lot like me & my sister can be found at:  Claudia’s Thoughts.  She’s very handy with writing, I know she has several of those spiral notebooks filled with stories, poems & SONGS.  Yep, my 13 year old progeny writes songs.  But check her’s out.  Right now its a little “Pepto” for my taste…but there are design changes in the future.  It’ll be cute.

Gabe, the 4.5lb kid who has a question for every answer we give also had to have his own blog & you can find him at: Video Game Inc.  Which knowing my son, is very apropos.  If they could mainline Zelda, my son would be more of a junkie than he already is.  Stop by and see his stuff.  I dig the original Mario theme, cause I learned to kick ASS on that game back in the day. 

Mostly, they just wanted an outlet, to vent, chat, question, etc.  And don’t we all?  I love the idea of blogs and have since DC turned me on to them eons ago.  (Sometimes I write some pretty funny stuff…other times…not so much).  But stop by, let them know you were there.  They’ll appreciate it.

And I’ll appreciate the break from the Wii.  It’ll give me a chance to play a game or two. 

Two birds, one stone.  This is me thinking.  Scary, huh?

What, you thought I was being mysterious?  You should know better.  I was being quite literal.

The house has been completely rearranged.  Why?  Because I am an enigma wrapped in a straight-jacket.  Seriously.

We have impending visits coming up….Auntie Kristin will be here Wednesday.  And the Male Parental Unit will be here in 2 weeks.  Thus, being the southern woman that I am…the house has to be immaculate.

Yes, even though I’m sicker than shit.  Which is what I am this morning, for some ungodly reason.

Right now the house is a bee-hive of excitement, everyone working on some chore or another.  Claudia is currently cleaning the bathroom (theirs) and will be cleaning the kitchen immediately there after (or I will be forced to kill her).

Gabe is working on his laundry…which is fun in itself to watch.  The boy will never get a job in a laundromat.

Lea is in the process of cleaning out her rabbit cage while Pop is cleaning the garage and doing my bird-cage.

Jake….he’s still trying to finish his breakfast.  He’ll do anything to get out of doing chores.

The only things left are to run the vacuum cleaner, sweep & mop floors and clean the ceiling fans & AC vents.

Yes, when folks come to visit…I clean like a mad woman…which is what I am.

I had planned on going to the pool today, since the temps should be near 90, but feeling as sick as I do…I think I’ll use my “get out of jail free” card.  I feel like doo-doo.  I think I woke up about 2:30AM with a horrible stomach ache and haven’t been back to sleep since.

Since I feel like the Queen of the Damned (and being the mother of 4 willfull, disobedient morons…I think I qualify HIGHLY) and am sicker than all jeebus, I think since I worked my ass off yesterday cleaning my room & the livingroom…I deserve the day off.  I think I’ll sit in bed, getting in my daily fix (Facebook is sooooooooooo addicting) and possibly taking in some of my favorite HBO show “TrueBlood” (good God, I love all them Vampires…especially Eric the Viking).

I hope you are having a better day than I am.  Until later on…..live long & prosper.  (That was just for DC).

Oh & yeah….them’s MY photographic skills going on in that there photo.  You can say it…I’m cool. 

Since you won’t let anyone know its your BIRTHDAY….I guess I will.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TO THE MYTH…THE MAN….THE LEGEND.
MR. DALE CHALLENER ROE.

How old are you now…..57?  77?  97??  Hell, its better than being 42, cause then you’d be the answer to life, the universe & everything.

Oh wait…you ARE that already.

Smoochles from The Zoo
And lots of love from your GF & most-of-the-time whack-o,
JT