If you want to see the house...

One of my most favorite quotes came from a plaque that was being sold in a silly magazine. It said, "If you want to see the house - make an appointment. If you want to see the family - come on over."

Or something like that. It's been a long time since I saw the magazine. I think I've had a child or two since then. And I never got around to painting my own version. Never really had to. Until now.

Someone has made an appointment to see the house.

They called on Friday. You see, we've changed our house insurance. They want to send someone to come and take pictures of the INSIDE of my house. When she said that, I almost dropped the phone. I thought they'd want to take pictures of the outside of the house. It needs paint - but the kids don't play with play-doh on the outside of the house.

I just laughed and said, "I have 4 kids."

She chuckled back and said, "he won't mind."

"I do." I could have given her the list -- but stuck with the play-doh. When J-man plays with play-doh, he not only mixes colors, but he embroils his action figures into life and death situations where they are often up to their tiny eyeballs in colored, non-toxic goo.

I'm really glad that they called and made the appointment. I can clean up the play-doh (I'd been ignoring it) and pick up the varied and many messes Mini-e has multi-tasked herself into. I think the weekend is the worst on the clutter on our house. We spent time cleaning up the yard. It was a great and productive....too bad they can't inspect the outside of the house.

Thinking about having a clean(er) house made me think of my other favorite plaque. Probably from the same magazine.

"Yesterday, I cleaned the house.
You should have seen it."

Spring = rain

I'm sure you've seen the blog posts, the ones where jubilent bloggers tired of Winter's duldrums take pictures of things sprouting. It means spring is on the way. Hooray.

I love to watch spring emerge. New life! Things that have gone dormant are now coming back to life. There are a lot of preachable moments in the Spring. I mean, who hasn't had something go dormant that needs a rebirth?

I want to join in. I want to celebrate spring.
But around here spring means rain.

I'm not complaining, because about July, everyone will be complaining that it's too dry.

and if we didn't have the rain - I wouldn't get this:
Our red oak, having lost some precious, shade-giving limbs from the ice storm, is starting to leaf out!! That's a great thing!

Spring is here!

7 movies -- randomly, of course,

ClassicMama and her hubby, Not So Classic, both made lists of their favorite and random movies. I was so thrilled by their lists that I decided to invite myself to play along. The trick is, I'm challenging myself not to list movies that they've already listed. They've got some good movies listed...

I have eclectic taste in movies. I like to be entertained and I'll forgive a movie for a lot of bad stuff if it will give me good characters.

Here we go - 7 of my favorite movies...

1. His Girl Friday with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russel

2. The Hunt for Red October - the only good movie version of a Tom Clancy book...and probably the only Alec Baldwin movie I like.

3. The Italian Job -- I like the characters. I really like the way they interact with each other and that you actually seem to LIKE them. Well, maybe I like them.

4. Guys and Dolls -- It's a better stage play than it is a movie - but it's still one of my favorites.

5. Tomb Raider. I don't know why. I just like it. The plot is thin -- but Lara Croft is cool. (I refuse to acknowledge that they made a sequel)

When I was a teenager, I was introduced to Steve McQueen - I didn't want to watch all his movies...(The Sand Pebbles, for instance, is not my favorite. At. all.) but I really liked his character in two movies that rank as favorites.

6. The Magnificent Seven - James Coburn's character didn't have to die...but the movie is good.

7. The Great Escape. - awesome movie that didn't get ruined when I read the book.

There is my list of 7 random, favorite movies.
What are yours?

You've been Warned..

Inevitable...

It was inevitable I guess. One day, I knew I'd end up in the funny papers. :-)
It finally happened.
Juggling Paynes held a contest and I won!!!
Not just me - there are others, too.
but

Go See!!

And while you're there you can check out her other comics!

Thanks Cristina!