Weekend Happenings

Good Friday morning!

The Gallery Pics are PROOF I really did find a meter parking space at the END of a row yesterday. I just slid the Big Gold Van in the space reserved just for me!

RANDOMNESS #1 - It was almost too easy. Finding my perfect parking space for the Big Gold Van only TWO blocks away from the building at lunchtime used to be unheard of... but there it was! Right beside the bus station.

I worked downtown for at least eight years out of the almost ten years I was a legal secretary. Except for the occasional bird falling on my head, I liked working downtown.

I loved wearing dresses and suits. I loved wearing Connie pumps in every color to match my dresses and suits. I loved the energy... the hustle and bustle. It was a very "Mary Tyler Moore" type environment... without the hat.

I enjoyed having lunch with my friend, Sue, in the food court I had eaten in so many times before (over 23 years ago). I almost felt like I was in my 20s again... footloose and fancy free. But then reality set in as I listened to Sue talk about learning the new computer system, etc. in her new environment. She had done so in less than a month. She is very smart.

Twenty-three years is a long time to be "out of the loop." I don't understand the lingo any longer. Thankfully, my friend is bi-lingual, so when we started talking about kids and family, I began to understand and contribute to the conversation.

Nothing compares to catching up with old friends, does it? It was so enjoyable, we're going to do it again in two weeks.

And I know just where to park!

RANDOMNESS #2 - The Faulkner Five had our church directory picture taken last night. Everyone had clothes matching the colors in Roxie's skirt, but not necessarily matching each other. (It's tricky to match young adults' clothing without being too obvious... but I think I pulled it off.)

I was so engrossed in making sure we blended, hair was combed, etc., it wasn't until we were about to go into the room for the actual picture taking I noticed Austin hadn't shaved. WHAT? (That's how I handled it, too. ALL CAPS!)

"Why on earth didn't you shave? You had a haircut at 5:30 this afternoon. You have a new ironed shirt the exact color of the leaves in Roxie's skirt. Your shoes match. Your sock match. Your pants match. Even your underwear matches. What were you thinking?"

"I was wondering if you would notice," he replied, grinning.

And like all good mothers everywhere, I reminded myself, "Hit him where it won't leave a mark for the picture!"

Before I completely lost it and kicked my 20 year-old in the shins, Mike walked up beside me and stated the obvious. "I don't think it will show up in the picture at all."

He had a point. Austin's beard is scraggly at best, but it IS light-colored. Thankfully, it was only two or three days' worth of growth. With good lighting and no close-ups, we had a very good chance of it not showing up at all.

I decided not to kick him.

Other than that, the shoot went off without incident. I was very pleased with our free family portrait, and even more pleased I stuck to my guns and just bought two 5" x 7" prints for the grandparents... even though the one of just me and Mike was SO good. (I looked 47. And that was without the touch-ups. With the touch-ups, I bet I would have looked 45. I'm going to regret not getting that one, I think.)

I'll post them when we receive them in the mail in a couple of weeks.

RANDOMNESS #3 - For those of you who may not have heard, they found the cobra which has been missing from the Bronx Zoo all week. I slept much better last night. For some reason, that story really bothered me.

April Fool's Day - I said I would share a couple of April Fool's Day pranks we've pulled in our family, but I think I'll just share the "big one" since today's post is getting a little lengthy.

When the kids were all in elementary school and preschool, Mike and I put them to bed March 31, and I went to work.

I peeled potatoes, cut carrots, baked a cake, made a fresh pitcher of sweet tea and put a roast in the crockpot. Then I went to bed with a smile on my face.

I awoke extra early the morning of April 1, set the table with good china, lit candles and popped the rolls into the oven. Mikie woke the kids up for "breakfast."

Their puzzled expressions when they walked into the kitchen were priceless. We sat down to eat, and we filled their plates with tender roast beef, veggies, rolls, etc. They just sat there.

"I want cereal," Austin said.

"Me, too. I want cereal, too," Josh chimed in.

Roxie didn't say anything. She was eating her roast beef.

"Guys. This is April's Fools Day. This is a joke. Everything is okay," I reassured them.

You could see the relief in their faces. "Can we have cereal now?" Austin asked again.

"No. It's a joke, but the food is real, and we're going to have dinner for breakfast."

"I don't think I can do that," Austin said, looking worried again.

"Me either," Josh agreed.

Roxie didn't say anything. She had finished the roast and was working on her potatoes with ketchup.

In the end, I put everything away for dinner that night. (Mikie was in agreement with Austin and Josh. He didn't think he could have a big dinner for breakfast, and not feel stuffed the rest of the day.)

And Roxie? Well, Roxie had roast beef, potatoes, carrots, rolls and cake twice that day. Once for breakfast, and once again for dinner.

Weekend Happenings

We have plans this weekend... unlike last weekend.

Mike and I are going to dinner with some church folk tonight, and we're really looking forward to that fellowship. Austin will be working, and Roxie and Josh are planning on going out to eat and watching a movie.

The kids have plans on Saturday with work, school, friends and such. Mikie and I are free. I hate to say we're going on a date, because whenever I say it out loud, something usually happens... but I'm kind of hoping we can!

We've had a couple of weeks with no birthday celebrations, so it's about that time again. After church Sunday, we'll be heading to Mrs. Faulkner's birthday lunch.

Not only will we be eating cake, but I'll get to see Matthew! And April is a good month because I get to see him TWICE! Gotta love April.

Have a wonderful weekend. April is a beautiful month... a little unpredictable, but beautiful just the same. Next week I'll be sharing some office mishaps from my younger legal secretary days, and I'll begin posting Spring AND Easter ideas. It's never too early to start planning for a memorable Easter!

Take care, and I'll talk to you Monday.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda