The joys of living in the country

The boys had spilled something sticky in their cupholders in the car, so I decided to clean it out. I started pulling Lego's out of places I didn't even know existed, but then I started to see little black things.

Now, before I go on, let me just say that I realize that my car does not deserve the 'cleanest car award', but it also doesn't deserve the 'dirtiest car award' either. I've seen dirtier and messier cars than mine.

While I didn't see any food around, I did see lots of toys and crafts the boys make in church. However, I did see lots more black grains of rice looking things. Upon further investigation, I realized it was mouse poop.

I was astonished. How does a mouse climb into a car?

I started a mad cleaning frenzy. I started to pull everything out of the car. Whatever was in there came out. I even tried pulling the seats out. If Jerry was in my car, and Tom did not exist in my house, I was going to find the little sucker. I like Tom & Jerry, but only in cartoons.

I vacuumed every inch of that car. To say it was gross is an understatement. I'm even embarrassed to write about it, but I want ya'll to know my mishaps.

I opened the glove box to get the little duster to clean out the air vents. Lo and behold, what do you think I found? A stash of food. Not just any food either. This stash consisted of popcorn chicken that was as hard as a rock and half eaten chocolate balls. Jerry was stocking up for the spring.

I called Hubster for support. He wasn't supportive. I hung up.

I was on a mission to find that dirty stinkin' rat.

After cleaning out every corner of the car, wiping down all parts of the car and vacuuming everything from the floor to the ceiling, I still didn't find Jerry.

Hey, at least my car is looking good!

Yes, I'm a biker momma without the leather

Hubster and I went on a bike ride on Saturday. I'm not talking bike like thin tires, 18 speed, pedal 'till your legs feel like they are going to fall off bike. No, I'm talking about this bike.

Now, I enjoy taking rides with my husband. I don't think my husband enjoys taking rides with me in enclosed vehicles because then all I do is yack. I'm with the kids all day and want some adult conversation when he's around. He's with adults that act like kids and doesn't want much conversation at home. He does listen to me, but I'm sure that all he hears is 'blah blah blah blah blah'.

So we went on what biker's call 'an awesome riding day'. You know, the sun is out, it's in the 60's and there is hardly any wind out. The kind of weather that biker's look forward to. You see them riding with just a sweatshirt and feeling the wind on their face. Not many bugs out there because it's still a little cold for them.

But not me. I had on a t-shirt with a sweatshirt over, then a heavy coat zipped up all the way to the top. Add some gloves and a full face helmet and I'm good to go. I do have to say that even though my upper body was nice and warm, my lower body was a little cold. I couldn't even feel my toes after a while. That's what I get for wearing tennis shoes with air vents. Silly me.

While on the back of this bike, their is no way to 'talk' to Hubster. So I just start with my warped thoughts. These are my true confessions.

Man, I am so warm, that sun feels good. I wonder how long it will be before my hiney starts hurting. Good grief, I have an itch on my nose. I can open the shield, but my gloves make it a little hard to scratch. Hmmm, I guess I'll just have to wait. Maybe if I twitch my nose the itch will go away. No such luck. OK, just think about something else.

Wow, I never noticed how cows just like to hang out in groups. I wonder if they ever get tired of sniffing each other's utters and butt. Look, there is a goat on the top of a small barn. I wonder if he's thinking like Leo on the Titanic, "I'm king of the world".

I'm kind've tired now, but sleeping on the back of this bike is not an option. I'll just be road kill if I nod off. So I'll just sit here and count cows. Nah, there's too many of those. I'll just count how many other bikers are out. Nah, that hurts my neck trying to turn. I'll just sit here and sing "O Happy Day". But wait, I don't know that song. Oh well, let me just sit here and take in all of God's beauty.

I guess It's OK to talk to myself. I sure hope myself doesn't answer. I sure wish this itch on my nose would go away.

Let's spell out words instead of saying them

Adventure Boy has been spelling lots of words that he hears. I suppose it comes from me spelling words to whomever is on the other end of the telephone line. Especially when I don't want the boys to understand what I'm trying to say.

Now AB is spelling words when he talks. The boys were watching Tom & Jerry and AB told their cousin that T-O-M is D-U-M-B. Their cousin agreed. Then UB says, yes, he is very D-U-M-B in this one show. Their cousin agreed again. AB then said T-O-M is a pretty D-U-M-B C-A-T right? The cousin looks at both of them and asks, "Why don't you all just say the word?"

Their response?

"That's a bad word and we are not supposed to say it."

That's MY spot you're sitting at

Hubster plays in a Christian Band. They were playing at a church on Sunday and as 'groupies', we followed him.

I'm kind've hesitant to enter a different church that is not my own, because you never know where to sit. Everyone (40 and older) that has been a member of a particular church for more than five years claims their pew, their chair, or just their spot.

Unfortunately, in our church, we have some pew claimers. They are mostly elders that don't like to move from their spot. They claim it and get upset with someone that moves them. I'm not sure why, because they can still worship from another spot. Maybe that particular spot has super worship power. Who knows.

Several years ago, we had some visitors come. They sat in a pew and some of the members actually told them that they were sitting in their spot. I'm really not sure why those people never came back to visit us. :)

Then we had an incident in which a particular person would actually leave notes on their spot. Tacky I know, but they felt they couldn't move to another location.

Of course our church is not the only one that does this. I talked to a friend this week and she told me that it's done at her church as well. Those old people sure do throw a fit when they don't sit at the same place every week.

So back to this church we were at on Sunday. I plopped myself down and watched as people starting filling the sanctuary. Several people looked at me, but no one said anything. I'm not sure if I just happened to not sit in someone's spot, or if I was too far up front and no one actually sat there. Most people are back row Baptists.

When I said that no one said anything. I meant it. Not even during welcoming did they say anything. Although, a young boy sitting behind us did say hi and shook our hands. For some reason, I attract the kids not adults.

I actually didn't care whether people greeted me or not, as I was not visiting to join the church. But I wondered why we are all like that. We get scared to approach a stranger, even in church. We get in our moods and say "oh, let someone else greet them, I'm not in any mood". Or really, I don't know why that happens.

But when we see someone 'new' at church, sometimes we put up a guard. But we have to put aside our attitudes and do what Jesus would do. He would welcome anyone. He would approach everyone and make them feel welcome.

So I challenge you to get out of your comfort zone the next time you attend church and greet someone new.