I really am bummed that Katie is leaving the Today show. From the different comments I’ve read around the blogosphere it doesn’t seem like there is much middle ground, people either loved her or couldn’t stand her. I’m a member of the former group.

For as long as I can remember I’ve turned on the Today show and watched as I helped the kids get ready for school or had coffee with my husband. I loved the banter between Katie and Matt.

Most mornings I had to switch the channel at 9 so that a certain toddler could watch “Dora the Explorer” but not this morning. I stayed tuned in the entire three hours. I’m really going to miss the Halloween specials and the Christmas celebrations which were very much a part of my holiday routine.

On another note, I’m completely irritated at their choice of replacement for Katie. Meredith Vieira?!?!?!? Come on! I cannot stand that woman. She comes off like a bitter, hardass. Who wants to wake up to that?

Not me. Which is why when she comes on board in September… I won’t be watching the Today show anymore.

Anyway, that’s just my opinion…

Related Tags: Today show, Katie Couric, Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira

The Scene: Friday morning, Ethan and Kate are at school and Mike is getting ready to leave for work. Maggie is dancing around jabbering about Dora (the Explorer), boots and a waterfall, which she pronounces “waterBALL!”

The Dialogue:

Mike: I’ve got to go… I’m running late.

Me: Ok, love you! Have a great day. Maggie! Come tell Daddy goodbye, he has to go to work.

Maggie: Eeeeeeek! Catch the baby!!! Catch the baby!!! (trying to get Mike to chase her)

Mike: Daddy will play with you a bunch this weekend, baby. Come give Daddy a hug, I have to go!

Maggie: Upstairs!!! Catch the baby!!!! (completely ignoring that Mike is leaving… denial is NOT just a river in Egypt.)

Mike: See you girls later! Love you!

*door closes*

*Mike drives away*

Maggie (from the stairs): Hey MOM!!!! Hey Mooooom!!!

Me: Yes, Maggie?

Maggie: I think that Daddy went bye-bye.

I had a tough time choosing a renter today. I almost had to pull out my last resort… having the kids take a vote. I’m glad I didn’t because deep down I know that it would have ended badly and most likely with bloodshed. While I don’t worry about the kids, getting blood on my new carpet would really irritate me.

Give my new renter, Tricia’s Musings, a welcome click please! You might even like her Thai Chicken recipe that she has up now. I’ve read through several of her posts and I like the way she writes. She’s very real and very open. :o)

While we’ve been in this house for two weeks (two weeks yesterday actually) this morning was our very first Saturday where Mike and I could close the bedroom door and stay in bed listening to the kids chase each other around the house. The weather treated us to a lovely view through our bedroom windows, the sky was blue with big, fluffy, white clouds… absolutely perfect!

(Even with Maggie yelling, “Katie!!! Are you awake? Katieeeeeeeeeeee!!! Are you here?!?!?”)

Now it’s nearly noon and Kate is getting ready to head over to a friend’s house to spend the night. We’ve already solved “The Mystery of the Missing Bathing Suit” which was found at Nana’s house after all… *snicker* *snicker*

Since I don’t want to bore you to death I’ll sign off now and wish everyone a safe and happy three-day weekend! (for those of you who get Memorial Day off)

Oops! Wait, wait, wait!! Before I forget… did you happen to see my super cool blogroll over on the sidebar? Yep, it’s a nifty little script I got from Joe over at Eat At Joe’s. If you haven’t checked out Joe’s blog - you are missing out because he is freaking hilarious!

Thanks Joe, you SO rock!!!!!

Related Tags: Blogexplosion, Rent My Blog, renter, Eat At Joe’s, A Mighty Wind

My husband works for a small, yet successful, appraisal firm here in town. He shares an office with a guy who is nearly a male version of a soulmate, I’ll just call him C (they even grew up in the same area in the mountains) and… the company owner’s son (we’ll call him The Kid or TK), who at last count isn’t old enough to grow decent facial hair or purchase his own beer. Ok, so he’s like 20… but still.

A few weeks ago the following conversation took place and The Kid has been getting razzed for it ever since.

TK (on phone with client using grown up, serious tone): Well, I’m going to have to check with my office manager…

(gets off phone)

MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!

And, yes, “Mom” runs the office.

So now every once in a while Mike will pick up his cell phone…

Mike: Sure, I’ll just have to run that by my office manager.

C (Mike’s buddy) using shrill, high-pitched, whiney voice: MOM!!!!!!!!!!!

Funny? Absolutely… but if I had to work around these morons all the time I’d go bonkers.

Oh and FYI, a few months ago I got a domain for this blog thinking that I might switch from Blogger to somewhere else… in case I do that you might want to update your links from amyhbp.blogspot.com to www.amysmusings.com ;o)

I’m not saying I will for sure… just saying I’m mulling the idea over.

I’ll just bet you were wondering, “When Amy is in a funky mood, what is playing on her computer?”

Ok, I’ll tell ya… although, it’s not in order.

1. I Want You To Want Me - Cheap Trick
2. Surrender - Cheap Trick
3. That 70’s Show Theme - Cheap Trick
4. Jackass - GreenDay
5. Minority - Green Day
6. King For A Day- Green Day
7. Basketcase - Green Day
8. A Little Less Conversation Remix - Elvis
9. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go - Wham!
10. Sunday Morning - Maroon 5
11. This Love - Maroon 5
12. Head Over Heels - Tears For Fears

The living room is still mainly empty, the music is blaring and the girls (Kate, 11, Maggie, 2) are dancing around wildly behind me as I blog.

Geez, my life is so strange.

to living in a brand new house, in a brand new neighborhood, where houses are still under construction.

Exhibit A: The view from my bedroom window.

Exhibit B: The view to the left of the deck off the master bedroom.

Lovely, isn’t it?

Now, to make up for you having to see that, I highly recommend you check the out the view here!

1. It can make you forget that just twenty minutes ago you really wanted to throw your 14 year old off the second story deck just to see if he might bounce.

2. It can make you remember that even though you’ve spent the last three hours with a 2 year old attached to your hip while your husband works late - that you still love him and want him to come home… to take the two year old.

3. When combined with an ipod at full blast and all the lights off it can make you feel as if you are in that lovely hotel in Cambria and not just feet away from three kids with only a hollow core door between you and utter chaos.

4. With the lights off can actually make you forget that you are merely a rowboat, a dingy, in a vast sea of endless boxes.

5. Can allow you to get reaquainted with music other than Laurie Berkner and songs from Dora the Explorer.

Thank God for Louis Armstrong, Michael Buble, Harry Connick, Steve Tyrell, and Bing Crosby.

Sunday, traditionally a day of rest. Ethan can be found out in the garage wailing on his guitar blowing off steam. It’s a type of spiritual cleansing for him, part of his preparations for the new week.

And, before he begins to sound completely enlightened and people start rushing to study the “Tao of Ethan” I wanted to share a few tid-bits of Ethan wisdom with you.

Ethan: Hey Dad!

Mike: Yes?

Ethan: Dude, I just realized that I’m playing “Highway to Hell” on Sunday!

——————–

One of Ethan classmates, we’ll call him “Magician,” leans toward religious fanatacism. He carries a bible around with him and his parents have taught him that homosexuals have “germs” that, should you acquire them, however innocently, will send you to hell. Freaky to say the least.

Magician: Ethan, I bet I can run the mile faster than you.

Ethan: Whatever.

M: Seriously, what do you want to bet?

E: Nothing. Not interested, ok?

Later, when telling me about the encounter:

Ethan: I told him to forget it. I know I can beat him and there’s no reason to make him feel bad.

Me: Good for you.

Ethan: Not to mention there’s the whole “God” thing.

Me: What do you mean?

Ethan: Well, he’s really religious, ya know. But, he can’t run a mile in under 9 minutes and my mile is a lot faster than that.

Me: Ok, what does that have to do with God?

Ethan: Well, he just seemed REALLY confident and I thought, what if God pulls it out for him this time?

After quite a hiatus from BE’s Rent My Blog - I’m back in the game! I’ve got a new renter!!

I’m on a high speed internet connection now and I honestly cannot see how I managed to put up with dial-up all those years. I’m also madly in love with my new wicked wireless mouse and keyboard… LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!!!

Sing it with me:

“Ooooooo, I got no strings to hold me down, to make me fret or make me frown…”

See, even I can be a little cheesy every once in a while… but, you probably already figured that out. ;o)

In other news, my darling husband is back to his old jovial self. I have to say, Mike is one of the most easy-going guys I’ve ever met… but in the rare instances of him being in a foul mood it’s usually a doozy. ;o)

The house is still fairly empty… but I’ve got an awesome collection of boxes. Small, medium, large… boxes as far as the eye can see, forget Juicy, I’ve got Box Couture!

It’s a lovely collection of special Home Depot and Lowe’s pieces with handmade accents ranging from black, to red, and blue sharpie all on a lovely neutral cardboard background, perfect for ANY style decor.

It almost seems that as soon as I get several unpacked a dozen more take their place. At this rate, I’ll still be unpacking by the 4th of July.

But, since a few people have asked, I’m posting some pictures. Keep in mind the place is still pretty empty…

Ok, several more pictures can be seen here!!