The Flea Market......really? fleas?

I've always liked the idea of having a housefull of vintage, old, but cool stuff. But I never could be okay with the idea of walking into a flea market though. I mean, really, fleas? Why this name I'd ask myself. I was convinced that any place with the phrase flea market attached to it had to be dirty. So, my actual first time in a flea market was a few months ago. And it was really cool. Now some parts were a bit dirty for my taste, but there were so many cool, vintagey things. Did I spell that right? Anyways, I loved the flea market; it was cool. It made me think, though. "Why on earth would they name such a neat, bargain-filled place a FLEA market of all things. So, I checked it out on Wikipedia and let me tell you what they had to say. (Note the all-caps.)

"The original flea market is likely to be the Marché aux puces of Saint-Ouen, Seine-Saint-Denis, in the northern suburbs of Paris. It is a large, long-established outdoor bazaar, one of four in Paris. THEY EARNED THEIR NAME FROM THE FLEA-INFESTED CLOTHING AND RAGS SOLD THERE. From the late 17th century, the makeshift open-air market in the town of Saint-Ouen began as temporary stalls and benches among the fields and market gardens where ragpickers exchanged their findings for a small sum."

Eww! Seriously? That is disgusting to me! And all these years I thought I was being paranoid. Oh, no no, these places actually got their name from the one and only flea, bug version.

I put this picture up yesterday, but here it is again:



I did get this adorable, retro looking chair for Riley for only $5 at the flea market. So, I will be back and will just have to not think about fleas while I'm there, although it will be pretty hard not to. They did have some oh so cool furniture though that I would love to get.

Still Here

Hey, to anyone who reads my blog. I've been wanting to post for a while, but have either not had the time or the brainpower when I do have the time. So, right now I really don't have the time or brainpower, but wanted to post something to let those who read my blog know that I'm still here. Let's see..........

Oh, cute pictures of Jack at the Y, working his desk job and eating a snack, a frequent break during his heavy workload. He was actually watching "Elmo's Potty Time" on the computer. Yeah, we're still working on that, got him some new Lightening McQueen and Spiderman undies.




Here's Riley with her Pop-Pop. She's sitting in her Bumbo that she is way too big for. For an entertaining read on the Bumbo, since my post is probably pretty boring (if you're still reading), check out this post. As you can tell Riley loved her Bumbo and still does.



Preview of future posts (because the pictures have not yet made it onto my computer):
1) Jack, yes Jack, not Riley, enjoying a tea party while Riley plays in the mud.
2) Beach fun
3) Jack's nude, but censored Guitar Hero playing
4) Build-A-Bear fun
5) And some great videos if I can ever figure out how to put them on here. Am I just retarded? This does not help me feel any smarter. I consider myself to be pretty good at computers, but everyone else I know can post videos. Even some who are kinda computer illiterate. And I don't know how. Once again I have a mac so this could have something to do with it. At least that would make me feel a little less dumb. Please help if you can.

Peace

My Little Parrot

The other day I was driving to work. The kids were with me and we we're driving down the main street of the Water's which has a lot of speed bumps. I guess the speed bumps made it seem like I was driving a little crazy. I don't know, but all of the sudden from the back seat Jack pipes up, "I get so nervous about you Mom."

I think he's heard me say stuff like, "Don't do that, you're making me nervous." There have been many more times that he has told someone that they made him nervous. Especially Riley, he tells her that all the time. He is such a little repeater.

We were on a walk recently and this dog was trying to come after us and Jack said, "That dog is very fond of us." When he gets in a bad mood about something he'll tell me things like, "I am so frustrated." or "I am so mad." He also likes to tell Riley "No no, Riley, no ma'am." I realize he gets all these sayings from me, so it's funny to hear him repeat them. He also likes to use the word "yesterday" and the phrase "next week." I'm not sure he really knows what they mean, but he likes to say them.

One of his original sayings, though, is "Repeat, Repeat!" He kinda got this from Toy Story I think, but he uses it to let us know when Riley's doing something she shouldn't be. It really is quite funny. He always busts her by yelling "Repeat, Repeat!" Usually if we hear the phrase, Riley's playing on the stairs because that's something he knows for sure that she's not allowed to do.

Another thing about Jack is that he does not use contractions very much. It's always "do not," "will not," "I am," etc. You get the picture. Anyways, this post was somewhat for humor, but mostly for recording purposes so I can say that I've "written it down." I know I'll laugh everytime I read these sayings of his. He just cracks me up so much.

Medical Receptionists.......Need I Say More?

I'm SOOOOOOOO changing pediatricians! I just wasted 1.2 hours and at least $10 of gas because of an imcompetent medical receptionist lady. I love the doctor, it's not him; it's his help. Yes, I shall go there. In my life experience of receptionists at doctor's offices or really any medical establishment, I have experienced maybe, maybe I repeat, a handful of pleasant receptionists. Two days ago I called to make Riley's 15 month check up appt. The girl on the line was like okay we have a 1:30 on Thursday. I thought, this is not a good time because the kids will fall asleep on the way there and I'll have to wake them up, but man it's so soon. Usually I have to call like a week or two in advice of an appt. time. This was the only time they had though that I could make so I took it. I should've known it was too good to be true.

I drive the 20-25 min. to get there. I wake the kids up from a much deeper sleep than I expected and drag them in only to be told that my appt. was next Thursday like I was a moron. I respond, "But the girl only said THURSDAY," meaning this Thursday not next Thursday. Hello?! "Well I'm sorry. I would work you in but we only have two doctors here today." Thanks a lot lady!

Oh, I was sooooo mad! I went to get Jack and then went back up to the window and told the girl to cancel my appt. next week. She was like, "oh can you not make that time?" I said "No. I think I'm gonna just switch doctors." She looked at me with this stunned look on her face. Oh come on, you had it coming girl. This is the same receptionist who refused my son a lollipop BEFORE the doctor's appt. because you have to wait until AFTER. Nevermind the fact that I just told him he could have one at a last ditch effort to keep him from having a tantrum in the waiting room after we'd been waiting for at least 30 minutes. That was our last visit. The time before that I got there a good 15 min. early, the recommended time. Now this is huge for me. I'm rarely early to anywhere. But 15 min.? Yes! When do they call me back to the doctor? One whole hour after my appt. time. These people do not have a good running record with me.

Then of course on our trek home the kids do not fall asleep so I spend an extra 10-20 minutes driving around the "neighborhood" or as you'd call it the country to get them to fall asleep. This is truly the best way to get them asleep.

So, if anyone knows of a good pediatrician, I'm looking for a new one. Here's to all the rude receptionists out there. May you hear plenty of this in your years to come until you become a little more considerate.

Zelda Rare IV

In the car the other day on our way back from Nashville:

Jack: Look! It's a fire engine truck thingy!

Me: Where? Where?

Jack (while pointing to a pick up truck that has a couple of ladders on it): Over there! The fire engine truck is over there!

Me: Well, it does have a ladder......

Jack: Cause it's a fire engine truck. Come on Mom!

Zelda Rare III

In the car on the way home from Ming's Garden the other day, Jack overheard my mom talking about how he got rice all over his clothes. This is the conversation that followed:

Jack: Rice makes me happy.........Chicken makes me MEAN!

Hee-Hee: Ha, ha, how sweet. He said "Rice makes me happy."

Jack: No! Rice not make you happy. Rice makes ME happy.

Hee-Hee: Oh, okay, I'm sorry. Rice makes you happy.

Jack: And somedays, chicken makes me mean!

He must have eaten a little too much chicken! There was more to the conversation, but that's all I can remember. Just made me laugh.

Ode to Camp Wiregrass

(Sorry about the picture; it's the best one I could find online.) I've been thinking lately about Camp Wiregrass. This is where I used to go to camp as a camper and then as a counselor as I got older. I would go every summer; one summer I went like 3 weeks in a row. Since I've had kids though I haven't been able to go. So, that's like three years or maybe four since I've been. Might not sound like a big deal, really it's not I suppose, but I often think about what's going on there right now and how much fun the kids are probably having.

I remember swimming in the pool together on those sweltering hot days, painting the tables and walls of the craft hut, going to canteen and getting sour straws and Dr. Pepper, shaving cream fights, going on hikes in the woods, and many, many more fun camp things. From the outside this camp wasn't one that sounded like it'd be too fun. Compared to all the other camps out there and the ones you see portrayed on movies, Camp Wiregrass seemed kinda like a dud. No horseback riding, no big lakes with giant bouncy things, no jetskis, no ropes course or zip lining. None of those modern camp things. But I don't think I would ever go to any other camp over Camp Wiregrass.

The most memorable times happened down in the little chapel in the woods. This was where we'd having worship every night and have devotionals in the morning. This is also where we had talent shows and skits and such. The chapel was basically the "soul" of the camp. Any range of emotions were shared here. This was where I got up and sang and played the guitar in front of a bunch of people and felt totally at ease. That was the great thing about this camp. By the end of the week, you felt like these people were part of your family. Really, in a sense, they are. They're all part of God's family which makes this camp the best I've ever been to, and miss it so badly. Since we live out in the country and are constantly around nature, I'm reminded of it more often. I really could go on and on about all the fun things and memories from camp, but will stop here so as not to bore you to death.

So, there is my short ode to Camp Wiregrass, my home away from home.